Great Company, Great Food!
The Benedict brothers of West Los Angeles had us over for dinner last night. We met Steven, the older of the two, at an arts and crafts show at Bahía de los Ángeles’ natural history museum, where he invited us for dinner. He picked us up in town in the late afternoon and we drove south on a dirt road along the shore to the end of Bahía. The brothers own a small, white house at a beach, their get-away for more than 20 years. Their backyard a desert garden above the beach front, their views fantastic, looking out over the entire bay, the setting sun reflected on the mountains across.
The meal was opulent. A home cooked dinner, generously offered to us sailors for only good company in return. Steven and Alan served broiled chicken with various vegetables, a salad and a fabulous desert of fresh papaya. The brothers are each thriving in LA and come down here as often as possible. They love the rustic lifestyle and the roughness of Baja. They love sailing and fishing in the Bahía. They told stories of years ago on the Baja, when the roads weren’t good and people drove from the US with a spare carburetor.
Just yesterday, Radu met a couple of guys at the gas station who were looking for someone to get help with their tow truck, which one of them went to get from Ensenada to tow their rental car back to Ensenada and now the tow truck had problems too. Sailing might be an easier way of getting around in these parts…
The highway 1 was paved down the Baja peninsula in 1973, but not yet connecting all remote locations to Ensenada and the US, it shortened the trip to LA to 11 hours. Bahia de los Ángeles got electricity only 5 years ago. Locals reported a surge in stomach problems, because nobody was used to drinking ice cold drinks. There is Wifi, but no cell service. That might come next, but the brothers are not bothered if not. Secludedness is what they came here for. The small community compound, they live in, shares water from a large communal tank. Stoves are run from propane. Before the power lines they used generators. Rural living, Steven and Alan so full heartedly enjoy.
We told stories about our sailing adventures and the Sea of Cortez, about Canada and Romania and about we got our boats and got off the dock. About cruising, cruisers and the life. We talked about LA and the lure of making it, and leaving all that behind.
What a great evening! Thanks to these two strangers, who took us in and wined and dined us. Thanks, Steven and Alan!
