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n the tour business, it’s as important to finish as strong as you start, which is why Rancho Sordo Mudo is the final stop
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on all of our tours. Located on Mex 3 at the 75 km mark, 39 km (24 miles) north of Ensenada, Rancho Sordo Mudo is a Christian-based residential school for deaf children in Mexico. Te Everett’s started the school 40 years ago aſter their son, Luke, lost 85% of his hearing from a series of illnesses at the age of five. Ten during a trip to visit missionaries in Mexico, they learned that there was nothing being done educationally or spiritually to fill the needs of the poor and orphaned deaf children in Mexico. Te Everett’s sold their home and business in North Carolina and went to Mexico as Faith Missionaries. Te RV Park, which is across the highway from the school entrance, was originally constructed for the use of visitors who help at the school. Te founders, Ed and Margaret Everett, were avid RVers and purchased 500 acres in the beautiful Guadalupe Valley and began to pioneer a ministry to the deaf. Te RV Park itself has seen better
days, although fundamentally intact and in reasonably good shape, the campground has several back-in spaces and 20 pull thru sites that will accommodate rigs of all sizes. Tey have a great large covered picnic area, washrooms with showers (unfortunately not open), 15/30 & 50 amp outlets and water at each site (also not working) and a common pull through dump station. Situated among the vineyards of the picturesque Valley of Guadalupe, you are surrounded by palm and citrus trees and the park fee is by donation, with the proceeds going to the school. Although the park has suffered in more recent years from the lack of RVers experienced by Baja in general, the school operators are now prepared
to re-invest in the campground ensuring all facilities are returned to working order. Tis initiative includes recruiting Campground Host(s) to assist in operating the campground, maintaining services and participating with school activities. Anyone interested should contact Howard & Janet Grobstein, Rancho Sordo Mudo Managers at
janet@deafdisciples.com or (805) 341-6919.
Valle de Guadalupe Over time we have visited many of the local wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe including L.A .Cetto, Bibayoff, Casa Pedro Domecq, La Casa de Dona Lupe, Adobe Guadalupe and Chateau Camou. All our tours now include a Wine Tour & Tasting at L.A. Cetto and Casa Pedro Domecq. Baja’s Wine Country enjoys a Mediterranean climate which is ideal for grape growing and there are few microclimates in the world that can claim such unique characteristics that include elevation, soil, seasonal change and temperature. Add to this a tradition of winemaking from Spanish, Italian, French and Russian cultures and you’ll find the Valle de Guadalupe is very different from California’s rich vineyard country or the Okanagan Valley in BC. Tis fertile valley is still very laid back and less pretentious. You still can feel the old world charm that exudes from its boutique vineyards and quaint mission style haciendas and French inspired inns. Tough Mexico is more famous for its other “nectars” made from Nature’s bounty - like tequila, rum, mezcal, and Mexican beer - it also has a long and interesting history of making wine, beginning in the days of the Spanish conquest. But it’s only been in the last 100 years or so that Mexico’s wine industry resurged onto the international market. In fact, the grapes of Napa Valley owe much to
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