LIDICKER 1959 (March 31 cont.) Much of the country from the vicinity of Tecate to the pine belt. Left camp at 14/10 & continued E. The drop from Rumoroso to the desert is very spectacular & steep. The desert flat is reached only 15.6 mi. byrd. from Rumoroso, although there are some sandy wastes extending considerably farther into the mountains. 19.2 mi. Beyond the start of the desert, irrigation begins & life habitat ends. The junction with the San Felipe cutoff is 9.5 mi. further. We went into Mexico for gas & then headed S on highway 5 toward San Felipe. 14.2 mi. S of jet. With Highway 2 turnoff to San Luis irrigation stops & good desert starts. Irrigation starts again at La Puerta & continues for 2.4 mi. Then there is desert for 1.4 mi. after which there is more irrigation & bottomlands along the Rio Hardy. We began to see water birds 9.5 mi. S La Puerta. The road follows along the base of the Sierra El Mayor & in 1 place the river comes within 50 ft. of the ruta with the road in between; in other spots swampped (flooded areas) come right up to the base of the mts. At 18.4 mi. S La Puerta is a small settlement called El Maritimo. Here the river turns eastward & 2.7 mi. further desert starts, although large areas have been flooded & consist of salted mud. At the south end of the Sierra El Mayor the