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- #41
Baja 2018 Fotografía
- Thread starter Markuson
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indycole
GOLD Star
Let's see how long this stays up before Smugmug puts the kibosh on it due to my gratuitous use of music from Pixar's Coco. (click on the photo... it will take you to a video with drone and gimbal footage)
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- #44
Let's see how long this stays up before Smugmug puts the kibosh on it due to my gratuitous use of music from Pixar's Coco. (click on the photo... it will take you to a video with drone and gimbal footage)
Awesome, Cole! Wow. Your piloting and videography with that little drone is amazing!
Love the music too.
- Thread starter
- #45
Evidence of alien critter found in Baja...
We're planning to do Glacier NP and BANFF either next summer or the one after that if you (or anyone) wants to join us. Part wheeling, part hiking.
Nice, missed all this chatter but I did start to compile some thoughts and will add here in spurts.
For starters, there are now hundreds of photos here, more and more getting uploaded every day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tz63FaJQJm81Eg8u1
My/Carlos unedited drone and other video footage here (we're working to consolidate all videos and potentially recreate what Cole already put together) but for now if you just can't wait and want to skip through some boring parts: Z Carr
Reflections
Overall: what a great trip. what a great group of peoples. My highlights were really in line with Coles', after dealing with high sustained winds and temps only in the low 70s the decision to make the long haul to the east coast indeed turned out to be a good one. Thanks to the "Windy" app we could see where on the peninsula wind was at its lowest, options appeared to be bahia Concepcion and a small part of bahia de los angeles, the latter a much closer but also much more northern location, and here we were at day 3 of an 8 day trip.
This brings me to travel times, in general, this group covered ground efficiently and we were generally an hour (or two) ahead on a 4hr - 6hr travel day (took us 2 - 4 hrs). All stops took at least 30 minutes. Keep this in mind as people tell you to get gas whenever you can. At least while we were there, gas stations were plentiful for the most part.
At first we traveled too slowly, then too quickly. We traveled in different orders each day and found our groove by end of Day 3. An efficient and safe pace. The roads for the most part, surprisingly good. Yes parts with monster pot holes (hence all the tire shops) but in general roads were better than expected). Except for that road (I5 I believe) south of san felipe. By my count, around 1650 miles over 8 traveling days. It was the right amount of travel IMO, we got to see a lot, but never really felt tired or rushed.
Pre-Trip:
This would turn out to be one of the last times we'd see our "cowboy"... or does it?
For starters, there are now hundreds of photos here, more and more getting uploaded every day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tz63FaJQJm81Eg8u1
My/Carlos unedited drone and other video footage here (we're working to consolidate all videos and potentially recreate what Cole already put together) but for now if you just can't wait and want to skip through some boring parts: Z Carr
Reflections
Overall: what a great trip. what a great group of peoples. My highlights were really in line with Coles', after dealing with high sustained winds and temps only in the low 70s the decision to make the long haul to the east coast indeed turned out to be a good one. Thanks to the "Windy" app we could see where on the peninsula wind was at its lowest, options appeared to be bahia Concepcion and a small part of bahia de los angeles, the latter a much closer but also much more northern location, and here we were at day 3 of an 8 day trip.
This brings me to travel times, in general, this group covered ground efficiently and we were generally an hour (or two) ahead on a 4hr - 6hr travel day (took us 2 - 4 hrs). All stops took at least 30 minutes. Keep this in mind as people tell you to get gas whenever you can. At least while we were there, gas stations were plentiful for the most part.
At first we traveled too slowly, then too quickly. We traveled in different orders each day and found our groove by end of Day 3. An efficient and safe pace. The roads for the most part, surprisingly good. Yes parts with monster pot holes (hence all the tire shops) but in general roads were better than expected). Except for that road (I5 I believe) south of san felipe. By my count, around 1650 miles over 8 traveling days. It was the right amount of travel IMO, we got to see a lot, but never really felt tired or rushed.
Pre-Trip:
- If you're a BOA customer you can exchange currency at market rates online for a very nominal fee and they deliver to your door. Exchange while you go (ie paying in USD at whatever the local establishment rate is) you'll pay no more than 10% more (places exchanged at a rate of 16 to 17 pesos to a dollar vs 18.5 pesos per dollar at market exchange rate).
- About 5 days before the trip, our 3rd amigo realized he'd booked the entire trip for the week after. What a bummer. Went from 3 Amigos to something more like Cheech and Chong.
- 6 rigs all gathered at a Guitar Center just north of TJ crossing. We talk about the big blue building on the right, just after you go through, to get your FFM stamp. Off we go.
- I'm last through, and I see the tail end of the 5th truck as I also see it pass the big blue building. By the time I get over to where I can park, there was Cole and Brad pulled to the right. Park in a bad illegal spot and off we went taking turns getting our FMM stamps.
- But where were the first 3 trucks?? Tony was in the lead, then Mark-Mo, and then Mark-A. Brad in the 4th spot did not see Mark-A as he came through.
This would turn out to be one of the last times we'd see our "cowboy"... or does it?
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I am glad you caught that in inspection. I always check those bolts during stops. UCA long bolt tends to come loose if not torqued properly. It is hard to torque due to limited space. I had to tighten them in Moab last year in the parking lot. Lower two bolts on steering knuckle ball joint bracket tends to get loose. Wheel needs to come off to torque them properly.
Hit a bump so hard I felt the steering wheel cock right. Got underneath and I could spin the passenger side lower cam adjustment bolt. No bueno. Did as best we could to mirror image it to the driver side (which was loose but had not lost alignment). Tightened both down (thanks @TonyP - 207lb-ft and I must have maxed out around 206lb-fit ha).
Then @Mark Mehalic shows up from Arizona and is completely missing the nut on the passenger UCA through bolt. Good thing Cole had a whole bag of nuts n' bolts. More on magic Mark-A later. All trip he was "now you see me, now you don't".
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- #57
The fact Cole did NOT fully lose a tire is news!
I think he said he's lost 10 in the last couple years (yes, TEN!).
And about loose suspension, etc.
-Cole's inclusion of a variety of OEM bolts was genius.
My rig was fine despite a severe high-speed beating, but I'll be following suit and ordering a variety of bolts.
Maybe Cole can post part numbers... Seriously helpful having those in his bag.
Day 1 (Post Border Crossing):
- Alright so @TonyP, @Markuson, and @Mark Mehalic were gone. Finally after a few mins the phones all got connected to MX service and Cole was able to connect w/ Tony and Markuson (who were together) and Mark Mehalic was alone on the streets of TJ. Evidently the steady stream of locals ooogling his rig was enough to send him back North towards US border, which turned out to be a lengthy 4hr wait to cross back into the US. At that point, MM had enough and high-tailed it home. And then there were 5.
- After getting lapped by traffic (locals) we realized the proper pace was something just north of the speed limit. Sounds familiar, and when in Rome you do as Romans would do. Next stop: Surf Brewing Sushi Pub - the beer was good, food was meh. Was able to fill a 1 gallon growler which was great.
- Night 1 we camped in Camalu (La Cueva del Pirata) - 4 rigs on a bluff, the wind was around 20mph. I thought I'd be smart and hunker down in a cove just below them. Turns out the cove was a local party scene until about 2AM, and then about 4:30AM it becomes an active boat launch. Live ya learn.
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Looked like an awesome trip! I freaking love Baja. What's the story with that camp wok/grill thing right above this post? That looks pretty cool. Where can I get one?
We had a couple of them on the trip and used them daily, Tembo Tusk Skottle: TemboTusk Skottle Grill