Karen and Eric of Trans Americas Journey at Paquime.

The road there is a wild and long one and their account is excellent- it starts as the leave Creel and wind down through San Rafael, leaving the pavement:

We left the pavement behind in San Rafael, not long after leaving Creel. Many of the simple dirt roads that eventually took us all the way to El Fuerte were built to give access to the mines in the region and most were not on the detailed maps in our Gia Roji road atlas. The locals and the mine employees all know exactly where they’re going so no one ever bothered putting up any signs either.

See the whole story here as well as many other adventures in Mexico…and all over.

Chico chatting about birds along the Rio Fuerte

We often float down the river in the early morning from the little village of Ocolome. The Ocolome Indians are a small tribe that did not survive the Spanish as well as the Tarahumaras up in the Copper Canyon area.

Chico Villasenor is our mainstay guide and trip support person there in El Fuerte. He and his family have been guiding there in the area for 30 years and I always learn something new when we are out on the river with him.

Sometimes we go in kayaks- they are easy to rent there in El Fuerte (Tres Amigos).

North of the Copper Canyon area theChihuahuan Desert stretches for miles and miles up into the US. Near the town of Janos, The Nature Conservancy runs a 40,000 acre place called Rancho Uno.

This place is quiet, vast, captivating and our Authentic Copper Canyon groups are beginning to use this place as a first stop. The is a vast array of grasses, birds of all kinds- and it is all surrounded by mountains- an incredible environment for bird watching, relaxing and hiking.

Take a look at this video I recently shot with Juan Luis, the manager of the herd.

Words connot catch the peace and wonder of this place as evening gathered in and the buffalo grazed.

So we are comimg out a few weeks ago and at various stops along the way a burrito or tamale vendor will hop on and work the crowd. The drivers don’t mind and they ride for free- they are offering a public service I guess.

Then at San Juanito, a guy jumped on with an accordian and we got this little serenade- enjoy! Watch out Mexican Idol!

When we pull up to the bank and walk toward the petro glyphs, Rafael begins to discuss the plants and their medicinal uses- as in this video. He shows us common plants along the trail that will help with sore throat, back pain, tooth ache, nervousness, etc….absolutely fascinating.

His name is Rafael. He is Ocolome Indian from thelittle village of Ocolome, and as he sits at the rear of the boat, you soon realize you are in the presence of a treasure-house of knowledge. Like he knows every plant and bird we are encountering.
So, we are off on the Rio Fuerte early on a January morning- perfect weather in this magic place at the foot of Copper Canyon. The air is 70ish, a light breeze, and the fresh smell of the river is on us.

The group is quiet as we float…enchanted by the surroundings. The only sound is the ripple of the water as we float, the occasional splash of a paddle in the water…and the murmuring of Rafael. I realize that he is talking about the birds we are beginning to encounter- “vermilion flycatcher” he whispers and his eye is tuned into a low branch- sure enough there is a little flit of crisp red that moves, then darts to another tree. The attentive ones in the group take notice and I hear the first of 1000s of “awesome!”s.

More later with video—cranes, herons of all kinds, medicinal plants…