Love lasting

For several days there was contemplation whether to go and visit “El Triple” or go straight to the rancho of the Gonzales family at Punta Boca del Salado.
“El Triple” is the location on the Pacific Ocean-side of the peninsula Baja California where as of 1979 long periods have been spent to make sequences, the Vista-series and the PS-series.

However, some years ago all the land of “El Triple” was bought by an American developer to build a resort.
And indeed, last year a visit was made to “El Triple” and right on the bay where so much time was spend and so many pictures were made, building activity had started.
It felt the place had been confiscated.
Lost forever.
And within an hour “El Triple” was left to find a new location more to the south next to a lagoon.

As of last year, we are now having an economic crisis.
That is serious and deep.
Hence, the thought was born, that maybe, maybe the building activities at “El Triple” had been halted.
And that it had become an option again to stay.

Once a new visit to “El Triple” was contemplated, the mind was shooting speculating thoughts in all directions.
What would be found?
What would happen?
Was the project abandoned and in ruins?
Or was the resort almost ready?
Was the area fenced off and access made impossible?
Or could the usual location be enjoyed again?

For a while there was doubt.
To go and see “El Triple” again.
Doubt fed by negative imaginations how the situation would be at that magical place.
But at the last town with a supermarket, in Ciudad Constitucion, supplies were bought and 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of La Paz, the Fuso Szulc entered the dirt road to “El Triple”.
A dirt road now with deep washboard ridges very much feared by every driver.
Because it slows down enormously and it seems to shake the vehicle to pieces.
Speed could not exceed 10 miles (16 km) an hour and therefore, it took two hours to reach “La Aguja”.
The settlement at the Pacific just north of “El Triple” that is being developed by a South African and his wife.
In a house at the gate of “La Aguja” lives a Mexican friend and his family.
He was very well and his wife and children also.
He explained that indeed, the economic malaise had slowed down any building activity.
Even at “El Triple”.

Next, close to “El Triple”, at “La Ballena”, lives another Mexican friend who is hired to guard the “El Triple” property.
Fernando.
After one year not meeting, there was embracing and happiness.
And inquiring how life was going: with the health, with the family and with the work.
No, Fernando said, not much is going on at “El Triple”.

Ready to go.
And indeed, not much had changed.
Opposite from the location where camp was always made, there was the construction of the resort.
But in the year that had passed, not much had happened.

Hence, it was decided to stay, park properly the Fuso Szulc for the night and see what was to happen.

While putting vegetables in the fridge, a yellow Jeep arrived.
A man shouting friendly words.
“Hi Michael!!!”
It was Jeff Knaus from San Francisco: one of the two owners and developers of “El Triple”.
A most friendly man that had been met a few times before.

He explained it was no problem to stay at “El Triple”.
Although for legal reasons a lease had to be signed with a $ 1 symbolic payment.

And Jeff said that there happened to be a party that very evening at the resort under construction and offered a warm invitation to attend.

So, while the sun went down a group of people were drinking beer and sipping wine overlooking the beach where so much conceptual photography was made.

The wonderful surprise is that the building of the resort turns out not to be a negative at all.
By coming again, by opening up for life to present new experiences, everything falls into place.
“El Triple” continues to be.
Like love lasting no matter what.



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