Posted by jiminalta on March 2, 2008, 11:25 am
207.216.246.242

heading south the 3rd chapter Posted by jiminalta Well A slight error in my last post has placed us slightly further down the road . I will clarify by saying , after leaving Hermosilo we traveled about 120 kms and not 150 kms > we had stopped in Tecoripa Not Tonichci as mentioned in the last instalment . Well nnobody is reading this anyway!Its simply for my records. Leaving bright and early the next morning we head out on the road at about 5:30 to 6 . Looking for the morning light. Travel for the first 100 kms was swift as we chases the morning sun up in the sky. Passing Tonichi and on to Sn Nicolas, Well at about that piont that we left Tonichi we were in for some winding road and did we ever get it for the next hr or so we wound our way past and over some of the most beutiful countryside you will see . Although a tuff rd to drive I would certianly invite one and all to take this rd as it is one of the prettyest you will find . Traffic is almost none existant as you wind your way towards the falls at Basaseachic aprox 330 kms from where we had left this morning . Passing Sn Nicolas and continueing on we did finnally arrive at Basaseachic Falls After more than 6 and a half hrs of turning speeding up and slowing down we arrived . Finding we had to drive into the state park to access the falls by foot. I believe we paid a nominal fee of 20 pesos or somthing like that to enter the Park area and on towards the falls . At the turn about there are several shops and tiny resteraunts most at this time of year closed for the season as the winter season is not the best for sales in this area . With the elevation as it is and the time of year Im guessing it would be about plus 10 in the area thaT day. As we slipped from the jeep a fellow about in his early 60s approached us , a tag of a guide hanging from his neck.A great grin was plastered on his face and a big hello . We struck up a friendly chat with him in broken english and me in my jarbled spanish. He had asked us for a few pesos to allow him to guide us into the falls area. we gladly axcepted and were off . Now If you are going into the falls area its not a bad idea to have a fellow help you but if you had met this fellow you would want to hire him in a minute as his jolly look and smiling face struck you very quickly , this was a good man. He led us toward the falls down the steep canyon and into a narrow gorge . All of a sudden there in front of us was nothing , absulutly nothing . Far in the distance we saw the rim of the far side of the canyon . Looking at the pleasant stream flowing past us really dosnt do justice to this marvel for at this time of year the water level is vasetly depleated. Signs of high water perhaps 20 feet higher up the canyon walls attest to the rage of this torrent at times ( spring run off)and into summer.As we approuch the precipass the wind seems to come from nowhere and drives at us as we near the face of the cliff. Now some of you may not have heard of Basaseachic Falls but they are well known in this area of Mexico as the highest around , these falls are approx just over 900 feet high or so Ive been told . Now as you walk up to the edge and the valley opens in front of you a small fence is ringing the edge , I mean the edge drilled directly into the rock at the very brink of these falls is a fence of chain link about 3 feet high. Bon cant force herself nearer but as they say no sense no fear I approuch as our guide stands and watches still smiling and happy I walk to the edge camera in hand . Peering over the fence allows you to see this magnificent sight. This perfect sheer drop of as I mentioned over 900 ft and the stream cascading down down down, forming spray on its decent to the valley floor bellow. A large pool of pristeen clear water lays at the bottem and a small stream runs away to the south down past the canyon walls and out into an open valley beyound. Truely this is one of the visual treasures I will keep in my memory banks . One thing is for sure Basaseachic will live in my memories for a while .We wandered around the area for nearly an hour taking in the sights from every angle strolling a bit further down the trial but by then it was latter in the day and we had Creel in mind we decided not to wonder down to the bottem by pathway . This treck takes from or guides explanation aprox 2 more hrs each way but we have since learned its about an hr each way. In any case we returned with our guide and gave him about 70 pesos for his time he was very happy with this and clapped me on the back several times thanking us . Back to the jeep and driving on we traveled on to Creel . Now Creel is about anouther 150 kms from the falls and we were on our way driving at breckneck speeds as we have moved for the most part back onto the plains or foothills moreso . We arrived at Creel at about 5 and found a room for about 600 pesos . There where others but it was a nice place and right downtown . No need to drive back from the bar so we took the place and as it worked out, it was to be a great way to meet some wonderfull folks, folks we keep in touch with to this day. After an experience we went throug together latter in the trip. But for now I think a breck is in order and time to have a snack as its lunch time here as it was time for an evening meal there . I will leave for now and rejion the readers and our new friends perhaps later. Todeleeedooo for now jiminalta