Greetings from Baja
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Hola los Zoners de los Ustados Unidos. Made it down to Baja a week ago and thought I would check in.
After my trip to the Philippines got canceled at the last minute, quickly switched to Plan B, whereby I would fly down to Phoenix, meet my brother coming over from ABQ, and then drive down to Baja in his Sprinter for a couple of weeks of isolated camping. Been down here a week and so far so good.
Spent the first night camping in the Sonora Desert outside Yuma, AZ, then crossed the border at Tecate. Easy peasy. Border dude stuck his head in the van, told us to come on through, park in town, and come back and get our papers. Tourist visa stamped with no problem and border dude said go drink cerveza y tequilla. We had our marching orders.
I had a big brief due for work so we spent the first couple nights in deserted campgrounds on the Pacific side with reliable wi-fi. Wicked rain and wind came off the Pacific and got soaked, but got my brief filed on time! Last big work deadline for a while.
We then headed into the interior. With all the wet weather, desert is in full bloom.
Finally made it to the Sea of Cortez last night.
I have a flight scheduled back to PDK from Loreto on April 1, but will see if that happens. Frontera es cerrado. If the flight gets canceled, the plan is to ride back with my brother and cross back over and take a domestic flight (or rent a car if flights aren't flying). Mi hermano is un medico and needs to get back to his hospital by April 15, so don't see them not letting us cross. Also, from what we are hearing, any US citizen can still cross back over provided they have a valid ID and are not running a fever.
In the meantime, we are camping outside of town, avoiding restaurants and bars, only going into town for essentials (aberretos, tequila, y cerveza), and staying a healthy distance when talking to the various locals, ex pats, and travelers we are meeting.
Anyway, hope you all are doing well up there and I tell you its a damn good time to be out of the States. Way more chill down here. Wi-fi is hit or miss and its starting to become more miss, so I will post a full review in the travel folder if and when I get back.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Hey Ken! Portland has had
Hey Ken! Portland has had awesome weather, but rain returns this week...
Love seeing your Baja pics...
As an 11 yr-old in the 70s, my dad thought it would be a good summer vacation to drive from Oregon to the tip of Baja and back -- in a car w/o AC, LOL.
My main memories from there were Loreto, Mulege, taking the nasty ferry from Baja to Mazatlan and thinking that central Baja looked like the surface of the moon.
Travel safe!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rasputin O'Leary
Armadillo's ?
Armadillo's ?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
The Pacific Ocean has no time
The Pacific Ocean has no time - Andy Dusfrene
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
my cousin is in Los Barrilles
my cousin is in Los Barrilles on the cortez side.
Whales should be migrating North from San Ignacio, (nice town by the way!)
also the rd out to the coast in santa rosalalita is paved/easy...great fishing/cmaping N. of there...
watch out for cows and vados.
be safe and enjoy the magic.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>Mulege
>>>Mulege
We are camped outside of Mulege right now and yes, central Baja does look like the mountains of the moon:
Here is our campsite last night south of Santa Rosalia:
You were down here in the 70s? That was just after they built Mex Hwy 1 allowing regular vehicle access and considering how deserted most of the place is now, can only imagine it back then.
It's weird following the news from the States. We talk to friends and family and see the news on the inter-webs (and the late night AM radio we pick up -lol) and it seems so surreal and not at all in line with the chill, life as usual vibe down here.
>>>watch out for cows and vados.
Yes. Saw those and made it through. Did get banged up on a topes that wasn't clearly marked.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
Como esta la Mota?
Como esta la Mota?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Ken, Yup, I think it was the
Ken, Yup, I think it was the mid-70s, LOL. I feel fortunate and grateful for my family's random wild excursions. Another one that came to mind: In 77 or 75, I landed in Madrid to a lock-downed airport w/ machine guns and army on the tarmac showing force: First day of the constitutional monarchy post-Franco era!
Maybe my dad had read news about the new highway and sought adventure....
Pretty sure we stayed at the Hotel Mulege.... and we also enjoyed visiting La Paz.
Cabo wasn't CABO back then -- nothing much there.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
>>>It's weird following the
>>>It's weird following the news from the States. We talk to friends and family and see the news on the inter-webs (and the late night AM radio we pick up -lol) and it seems so surreal and not at all in line with the chill, life as usual vibe down here.
That brought back memories. I was in Thailand for 9/11. Same feeling.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: JP (J Bomb)
Love that area. A massive
Love that area. A massive celestial energy.
Ken is a lawyer? Must make note should I run into any unforeseen difficulties during my PDX excursions.
Have fun.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace
Load up on some Mexican
Load up on some Mexican Chloroquine...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Have a Blast PDX Ken and
Have a Blast PDX Ken and enjoy the Warm weather
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
also, i've always wanted to
also, i've always wanted to go see some of the cave paintings and such, i hear they are well worth it
enjoy the boojum, cirio, cardon, and elepahnt trees
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy
In 1992 we walked across the
Thanks for the updates on your trip
In 1992 we walked across the border near Tijuana then took a cab to the airport and rented a brand new Volkswagen beetle built in brazil(They were still making them in the 90's) Drove it to Cabo and back in 3 weeks. Camping along the way.
Stopped at an old travertine mine just off the highway about halfway down.
Found and isolated beach to camp at near Todos Santos. Coconut trees on the beach.
Regret not exploring the mountains between Cabo and La Paz.
Have a blast!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
Living the good life outdoors
Living the good life outdoors during quarantine, think you made the right call!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Jealous...will have to live
Jealous...will have to live vicariously through your travels.
Keep posting pics
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mylar
Safe travels, Ken.
Safe travels, Ken.
In the 70s and 80s, I used to make annual trips with some buddies to Baja.
If you happen to go through San Quintin, stop at the Ceielto Lindo Hotel and RV Park.
From what I understand they still serve an awesome jaiba (crab) dinner. Was $5 with rice, beans and tortillas back in the day.
We used to hit that place for a couple of days and whack golf balls up and down the beach there, which was practically empty this time of year.
The water was warm and we'd swim with the dolphins, too.
At night, we'd hang out in the little bar/restaurant. I used to play the guitar they had hanging on the wall and the bartender/owner would give me free drinks.
They also had a little diner just for breakfast where they would cook up any fish you caught.
Rooms were filthy, but we had sleeping bags. The place was on a generator, which they shut off at night. Toilets only worked during the day.
Aggregate walkways went from the bar to the rooms. I can attest that it was easy to crawl along the walkways in the dark from the bar to find my room.
Back then, no phones or TVs. Great place to chill completely.
Found some pix from early 80s, I think.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy
Nice Saab^^^^
Nice Saab^^^^
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
My Friend Bought A Ranch In
My Friend Bought A Ranch In Loreto - He Lives Down There Full Time. The Fishing Is Awesome There.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
This Is The Perfect Time Of
This Is The Perfect Time Of Year To Drive From San Diego To Cabo - You Will Be Blown Away By The Beauty ! Ive done 3 trips in The Past with One Lasting 5 Weeks !! I Miss Doing that.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Ken! Don't rush to return
Ken! Don't rush to return home: Wheeler just extended Portland's emergency declaration until April 9!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
Lick some toads whilst there.
Lick some toads whilst there.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bucky Badger
4D chess from Mexico? https:/
4D chess from Mexico?
https://god.dailydot.com/mexico-blocks-border-corona/?fbclid=IwAR1-aTVgx...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
An American investment banker
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Good Baja stories folks.
Good Baja stories folks.
Spent the last 10 days camping on the Sea of Cortez. Did a lot of hiking, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking (dive shops closed). The rumor mill is churning with reports of upcoming closures and travel restrictions in anticipation of Semana Santa when all the locals head to the beaches for the week long holiday. Sadly, time to head back to the States.
I will post a full review in the travel folder when I get back and get settled in, but here are a few pics in the meantime:
Sierra de Gigantes (overlooking where we camped last couple of nights):
Playa de Escondia on la Bahia Concepcion where we camped three nights. This was probably the highlight of the trip. The panga belongs to a dude named Ramon who has lived on that beach for 30 years with his Canadian wife (Canadians are everywhere down here). He is the dude in BSS' story above:
As noted above, my brother and I have been good about social distancing. The only exception was on Playa Escondia where there was a community of interesting folks living in palapas on the beach and who have been down there since well before the outbreak began. People were pretty friendly and weren't too worried and by the time we got there, it was pretty clear we didn't have the virus. We hired Ramon to take us out fishing in the bay in his panga. Dude was master of his vessel and knew the waters well. Anyway, here is funky outcropping we saw as we were tooling around in the panga on the search for fish. Caught a snapper and a couple of cochinos. Fish tacos were had: