I'm thinking about it. I need a fix. I've had a few folks from this group join me in the past. So, here goes ...
Tentative dates: 11-26 April. To avoid all the spring breaks and Easter. Subject to change.
When folks think about Baja it's usually racing, cantanas, partying, palapas on the beach. Well, that is the trip I avoid. I put effort into getting away from the crowds. You will use your transfer case. Some trails are just sandy. Others will challenge your gearing and clearance. My places are remote. Let me say that again … REMOTE. What we call remote in the USA is sissy stuff. Your cell phone won't work once we head south of San Felipe. I don't care what Verizon will tell you. Climbing to the top of a mountain is not going to help. If you need to be connected, stay home (more on this below). Also, no guns, no drugs. If you get caught I will deny knowing you.
OK, so realistically what do I do, and what could you expect? For this trip I plan on the usual the first week. Cross at Yuma/San Luis first thing in the morning and drive down the Sea of Cortez side. I have a couple of favorite beaches. They are not too hard to get to. One is easy, just slow. The other is easy for 95%, but it has one section that will get your attention. Four wheel drive is not needed to get there, low range is. Four wheel drive is necessary to get out due to a steep, loose climb. These are not your broad, white sandy beaches. They tend to be rocky, but not always. I usually stay more than one night at these locations. The harder they are to get to, the longer I'm going to linger. If you can't sit still and relax this might not be the trip for you. Other places on the SOC side I might want to visit are Bahia Los Animas, and Bahia San Rafael. @Beowulf and I dubbed one of the beaches "Grouper Beach" for obvious reasons. If it's not gill netted it's a grouper every cast.
I will fish from shore. Fishing is either great, or I will just practice my casting. It all depends on if the locals have recently gill-netted the beach.
About half way though the trip I will stop in Bahia de los Angeles. Objectives are fuel, food, water (RO), fish tacos, wifi (slow), and visit a friend at the Museo.
Fuel: you need to carry at least an additional 5 gallons. Have a fat pig 80? Better make it 10 gallons. Sometimes we need it. Sometimes we don't. I don't remember if @evanz80 needed his extra last time. I know Mike has. Hell, Mike needed to siphon gas from a boat to get home. I think by the time April rolls around the new Pemex in Catavina will be open. No more buying fuel from jerry cans.
I really like the Gulf side. But, this trip I want to spend more time on the Pacific side. So the second week will be spent exploring. What usually keeps me away from the Pacific is the fog. It can be wet. Ask Evan. But, this time I want to suck it up. Evan and I stayed on a beach two years ago that rocked. I want to go back. We did share it with surfers, but they were cool. In fact we are more likely to encounter others on the Pacific side because of the surfing.
Camping in the mountains is also an option. Mission Santa Maria is a favorite destination for the off-road crowd. Some consider the road to be the roughest road in Baja. It just has one tippy spot that might concern me with the rtt. Otherwise, it's Mike's favorite place. Even through we didn't drive to the mission I think @2manycruisers also liked this place. Also camping in the mountains at Matomi oasis is an option, depending on road conditions. The last time I was up there the cabin was occupied by "farmers" and I was a little uncomfortable. He turned out to be harmless. But, the destination is always worth it.
About this whole connection thing. I will have my inReach. I will be sending out twice daily "I'm OK" messages. It helps cut down on the heartburn at home. I can add any contacts you want to the list. If you need to send a message you are welcome to use my tablet. Just keep in mind you will be using my account and there will be nothing private about it. Not saying I will read your stuff … in fact I will delete them as you send them. But you need to be aware.
Also, since it came up recently, you must be able and willing to crap in a hole.
Previous trip examples:
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Tentative dates: 11-26 April. To avoid all the spring breaks and Easter. Subject to change.
When folks think about Baja it's usually racing, cantanas, partying, palapas on the beach. Well, that is the trip I avoid. I put effort into getting away from the crowds. You will use your transfer case. Some trails are just sandy. Others will challenge your gearing and clearance. My places are remote. Let me say that again … REMOTE. What we call remote in the USA is sissy stuff. Your cell phone won't work once we head south of San Felipe. I don't care what Verizon will tell you. Climbing to the top of a mountain is not going to help. If you need to be connected, stay home (more on this below). Also, no guns, no drugs. If you get caught I will deny knowing you.
OK, so realistically what do I do, and what could you expect? For this trip I plan on the usual the first week. Cross at Yuma/San Luis first thing in the morning and drive down the Sea of Cortez side. I have a couple of favorite beaches. They are not too hard to get to. One is easy, just slow. The other is easy for 95%, but it has one section that will get your attention. Four wheel drive is not needed to get there, low range is. Four wheel drive is necessary to get out due to a steep, loose climb. These are not your broad, white sandy beaches. They tend to be rocky, but not always. I usually stay more than one night at these locations. The harder they are to get to, the longer I'm going to linger. If you can't sit still and relax this might not be the trip for you. Other places on the SOC side I might want to visit are Bahia Los Animas, and Bahia San Rafael. @Beowulf and I dubbed one of the beaches "Grouper Beach" for obvious reasons. If it's not gill netted it's a grouper every cast.
I will fish from shore. Fishing is either great, or I will just practice my casting. It all depends on if the locals have recently gill-netted the beach.
About half way though the trip I will stop in Bahia de los Angeles. Objectives are fuel, food, water (RO), fish tacos, wifi (slow), and visit a friend at the Museo.
Fuel: you need to carry at least an additional 5 gallons. Have a fat pig 80? Better make it 10 gallons. Sometimes we need it. Sometimes we don't. I don't remember if @evanz80 needed his extra last time. I know Mike has. Hell, Mike needed to siphon gas from a boat to get home. I think by the time April rolls around the new Pemex in Catavina will be open. No more buying fuel from jerry cans.
I really like the Gulf side. But, this trip I want to spend more time on the Pacific side. So the second week will be spent exploring. What usually keeps me away from the Pacific is the fog. It can be wet. Ask Evan. But, this time I want to suck it up. Evan and I stayed on a beach two years ago that rocked. I want to go back. We did share it with surfers, but they were cool. In fact we are more likely to encounter others on the Pacific side because of the surfing.
Camping in the mountains is also an option. Mission Santa Maria is a favorite destination for the off-road crowd. Some consider the road to be the roughest road in Baja. It just has one tippy spot that might concern me with the rtt. Otherwise, it's Mike's favorite place. Even through we didn't drive to the mission I think @2manycruisers also liked this place. Also camping in the mountains at Matomi oasis is an option, depending on road conditions. The last time I was up there the cabin was occupied by "farmers" and I was a little uncomfortable. He turned out to be harmless. But, the destination is always worth it.
About this whole connection thing. I will have my inReach. I will be sending out twice daily "I'm OK" messages. It helps cut down on the heartburn at home. I can add any contacts you want to the list. If you need to send a message you are welcome to use my tablet. Just keep in mind you will be using my account and there will be nothing private about it. Not saying I will read your stuff … in fact I will delete them as you send them. But you need to be aware.
Also, since it came up recently, you must be able and willing to crap in a hole.
Previous trip examples:
Baja October 2017
I went down with Evan this time. Nine days, roughly. Gulf side. Pacific side, briefly. Back to the Gulf side. Then two nights in the mountains at a palm oasis. Here goes a few pics. Gulf camp #2. Coco's Corner. Evan found his big-boy pants in Baja. With Sr. Coco.
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Pappy's Baja Adventure, March 2017
Another Baja Adventure in the books. This year, I turned 60 on a remote Baja beach. Nobody around. Nobody, for three days. Bliss. I crossed on March 10th, and made a bee line for the Bahia de los Angeles area. I camped at a bay north of BOLA for three nights. I had the whole place to myself...
forum.ih8mud.com
Baja Adventure 2016
Another adventure done. Not as epic as some I've done. Played tour guide to a Baja newbie so I just went to familiar places. Temperatures were in the 80's during the day, and 50's at night for most of the trip. We had three days of crazy, stupid wind in the 20+ range. Two nights we had 46*...
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Baja Adventure, October 2015
After a false start, Mike and I made it down to the peninsula for 9 nights. We had mostly great weather with days in the 80's, and nights in the high 60's or low 70's. Three of the days were windy, two of them crazy windy. One evening was cloudy and we had a brief sprinkle. Last April I went to...
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Baja Adventure 2013
It's official. Mike and I are going. We both have vacation requests approved for Friday, Mar 8, through Friday, March 22nd. As usual I'm going to open this up to the group. Pictures from 2011 are up at: Baja Adventure 2011 Note that if you are looking for a cantana tour of Baja, this is...
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Because that's when he'll have to plot out the availability of 93 octane fuel in MX for his rice rocket.
