01 This is where we went - Guadaloupe Canyon.jpg

02 A more detailed version of the map of Guadaloupe Canyon.jpg

03 After a relatively short drive, Silke, Anja and we arrive at the Salt Lake at dusk and make our way up the mountain in the dark.JPG

04 We set up camp and enjoy the warm night with its million stars in the hot tubs.JPG

05 Silke likes to sleep outside.JPG

06 We prefer our tent, although we stripped it of its roof.JPG

07 So that we now have a room with a view.JPG

08 Early morning light.jpg

09 Later morning light.JPG

10 The mountain that watches over the campsite.JPG

11 View from outside the tent towards the mountain.JPG

12 While Silke makes arrangements to go watch the Indian paintings, Mark photographs some giant bumblebees.JPG

13 Girly Talitha with her cool new shades - an early birthday present.JPG

14 We decide to hike up the canyon and do the paintings on Sunday, the campsite is where the palm trees are in the valley.jpg

15 along the way there are several pools with cold water.jpg

16 Mark dives in.jpg

17 and under.jpg

18 and surfaces.jpg

19 To go in again.JPG

20 The view down the valley.JPG

21 Anja and Silke warming up in the sun.JPG

22 More view down the valley.JPG

23 Silke en profil.jpg

24 Grashopper en profil.JPG

25 Silke and Talitha in the relative cool of the canyon wall shade.JPG

26 The sun peeks around the mountain.JPG

27 Steep garden design.JPG

28 Hey a lizard.JPG

29 Talitha amidst the boulders.JPG

30 It's wasp picture time.JPG

31 Waspish beast.JPG

32 Big bad wasp.JPG

33 Break time at the furthest point of the hike.jpg

34 The climb down is not alway easy.JPG

35 It takes good balance and slick movements.jpg

36 And the occasional sit on your ass and slide action.jpg

37 Talitha helps Anja over rock one, Mark helps both over rock two.jpg

38 Local on the look-out.JPG

39 But we make it safely to the campsite .JPG

40 Where the rest of the group has arrived as well.JPG

41 We spend another evening in the hot tubs filled with naturally hot spring water.JPG

42 Zie de maan schijnt door de bomen.JPG

43 After a hearty breakfast on croissants and German jam - thank you mamma Silke-.jpg

44 And looking at our little treasure map.JPG

45 We set out to find the Indian paintings ourselves, since the guide was too busy to take us.JPG

46 Rough-roading starts at the campsite, we will park the car on rock later that day - ouch!.jpg

47 River crossing just outside the campsite.jpg

48 The whole group - fltr on the back row Mark, Talitha, Anja, Sam, Juanito - front row Silke, Dovie and Natasha.JPG

49 We hike up the ridge, looking for the water hole that is our reference from the map.JPG

50 The rear of the group.jpg

51 Catches up with Silke the photographer.jpg

52 Beautiful views of the arid landscape.JPG

53 Mark and Talitha hike up to a promising cave to look for the paintings while the rest waits down below.JPG

54 Finally we find the water hole, now where are those paintings.JPG

55 Mark takes a break for some water.JPG

56 Paintings, we have found them!!!!!.JPG

57 And around the corner there are more.JPG

58 Silke in a cave.JPG

59 I spy with my little eye, and the color is green, our cars look tiny in the landscape.JPG

60 We head for the cars to go for the next site, supposedly there are caves with paintings too.JPG

61 But first there is a lizard and Mark plus camera plus lizard.jpg

62 Equals photogenic lizard.JPG

63 On location two we try hard and look for caves.JPG

64 Juanito and Mark in a cave.JPG

65 Mark exploring the caves.jpg

66 Talitha exploring the caves.jpg

67 We find only this face in the rock, but no paintings alas.JPG

68 But we keep our happy face on.jpg

69 But we keep our happy face on.JPG

70 It looks like you're going nowhere, but then you see a sign for Mexicali.JPG

71 It takes a good car to cross the Salt Lake.JPG

72 On the Salt Lake are the remains of cars that were not fit for the journey.JPG

73 Talitha taking pictures of the wreckage.jpg

74 Good car, bad car.JPG

75 Juanito knows a good restaurant (Chinese!) in Mexicali, where we have dinner before crossing the border.JPG

76 The Mexican - American border is a big fat fence in Mexicali.JPG

77 The Mexicans are trying to sell us all kinds of things - from candy to statues to balloons to dolls - to make a living, we buy nothing and head back to San Diego.JPG