Baja Adventure: 2011

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

All the fuel at the Pemex stations is unleaded. Sometimes we get to choose between regular (Magna) and Premium. There wasn't any diesel at Ganzaga but neither of us are looking for diesel so no big deal. Those converting over to diesel will need to plan to carry a lot of fuel if they are traveling in this section of Baja.
-Mike-
 
Just two things on my my mind:

1: would be a cool trip to take sometime. club run?

2: If an 80 should be able to store more than a 40, Mike why do you need a roof rack with more stuff? have a lot respect for you, but if you say there is hair dryer somewhere in there.......?:flipoff2: Hope you have lots of fun and get the time off you need.
 
2manycruisers said:
A bit funny that you have all your stuff within the confines of a little softtop 40 and Mike had to pack on the roof to get it all!

Beautiful pics, I'm so jealous.
Click to expand...

You beat me to that ?
 
Actually, most of what I carry in the 4Runner is in da'40. I did have to leave a few things behind, but not much. When I pack the 4Runner my gear is on one level and I can look out the rear view mirror. With da'40 I'm packed in three levels and the rear view is worthless. To give Mike some credit, he will carry extra fuel for me (10 gallons) on this leg. So far I haven't needed extra from his roof (I have used fuel from my bumper, twice). Tomorrow and the day after will be a different story. We will both pull into Gonzaga Bay on fumes if I guessed wrong.

On a brighter note, da'40 is getting 14mpg rather consistantly, with a 16mpg fillup today. Mike, well, around 10 with all that roof drag. I've offered to pack a few cans in da'40 on the return trip. Da'40 is also a torque monster at sea level.
 
Rudical said:
Just two things on my my mind:

1: would be a cool trip to take sometime. club run?

2: If an 80 should be able to store more than a 40, Mike why do you need a roof rack with more stuff?
Click to expand...

1) a club trip to Baja will never happen. It is way more complicated than Jon makes it seem and the club has trouble coordinating a day trip to the puerco.

2) The simple answer is that Jon knows what he is doing and I don't. The longer answer is that I'm carrying more "stuff". I don't have a sub-tank and didn't want my truck's range to be a limitation on where we could go. Jon's 4-Runner carries 40 gal and gets better mpg than my 80 so that was the main reason for the 35 gal capacity on the roof. The other boxes on the roof are spares and fluids, just in case. I have the truck packed so that I can sleep inside. I pitched a tent the first 2 nights but I am happier and more comfortable inside the 80 at night. I'm also carrying (and using) a lot more water than Jon. I haven't learned how to be frugal with the water. I did a lousy job packing foodstuff and planning meals. I've done camping a few days at a time but 16 days with very limited chances for re-provisioning was a lot more than my experience. Plus, a guy can't be that long without a hair drier, can he? And finally, I was assigned the responsibility to carry the electronic communications gear. Pics to follow.

-Mike-

-Mike-
 
I also brought a watch which only serves as a distraction. My bad. I took it off this morning and may give it to a local.

We're leaving wifi soon. Next update from Baja in a few days.

-Mike-
 
Beowulf said:
1) a club trip to Baja will never happen. It is way more complicated than Jon makes it seem and the club has trouble coordinating a day trip to the puerco.

2) The simple answer is that Jon knows what he is doing and I don't. The longer answer is that I'm carrying more "stuff". I don't have a sub-tank and didn't want my truck's range to be a limitation on where we could go. Jon's 4-Runner carries 40 gal and gets better mpg than my 80 so that was the main reason for the 35 gal capacity on the roof. The other boxes on the roof are spares and fluids, just in case. I have the truck packed so that I can sleep inside. I pitched a tent the first 2 nights but I am happier and more comfortable inside the 80 at night. I'm also carrying (and using) a lot more water than Jon. I haven't learned how to be frugal with the water. I did a lousy job packing foodstuff and planning meals. I've done camping a few days at a time but 16 days with very limited chances for re-provisioning was a lot more than my experience. Plus, a guy can't be that long without a hair drier, can he? And finally, I was assigned the responsibility to carry the electronic communications gear. Pics to follow.

-Mike-

-Mike-
Click to expand...

Geez Mike, you really did not need to explain. I could guess most of that except for the hair drier issue. Sarcasm Mike. Quit your yapping , have fun, and do the show and tell thing that makes the rest of us jealous.
 
Great pics - it sounds like a great trip. We'd like more pics when they are available and when technology allows it. As Onur said - EPIC!

Also, I know Jon would have preferred taking the 4Runner, but it's nice to see the photos with two Cruisers out there together!
 
We are in Gila Bend for the night.

The cruisers received many comments along the way. Guy at the border offered me $12000. Lots more to come after we get to a real keyboard and can work pictures better. Mike has had it with the inspections. Every time they paid me little attention. Mike, Not! First day ... three inspections for Mikie, the first after just crossing the border. The second at the usual Hwy 5 & Hwy 3. The third in the boonies. We were on to the first camp and came across a humvee with solder kids. They pulled off when they saw us and jumped out. I was in the lead. What Mike didn't see is after they pulled off one of the kids climbed up on the humvee and manned the 50cal. He didn't point the thing at us, but did swing it around. It was loaded ... I could see the belt. Mike also was sent to secondary at the border.

Mission Santa Maria was insane. I can say over and over how bad the roads are, but until you drive a road like that you just don't comprehend. I know it didn't happen if there were not pics ... but I flopped Da'40. We had just come down the nasty climbs and entered the first oasis where there were several crossings. I had just come through the super deep one (pics forthcoming of the drive out) and entered the second, not seeing the bypass. I sank in and tilted to the passenger side flopping into the bank and trees. Turning into the bank put me back on four wheels, but Mike was too far back to get pics.

The climb out was crazy. Pics and VIDEO of that.

A few pics. Pacific coast. Mike splashing through Matomi.
along the pacific.webp
pacific.webp
Mike splashing.webp
 
OK, maybe a few more pics. Our camp in Santa Maria Oasis. We hiked down the canyon a little bit and came to this large pool.
palms and pool.webp
santa maria camp.webp
 
Last edited:
Great pics - a tropical oasis! Sorry to hear about the 40 flop - hopefully not too much damage?

Can't wait to hear more about the trip!
 
evanz80 said:
Great pics - a tropical oasis! Sorry to hear about the 40 flop - hopefully not too much damage?

Can't wait to hear more about the trip!
Click to expand...

No damage. My tires and slider went into the bank, with my tires mostly under water. Top just went into the trees.
 
I need to clean up the captions. A selection of photos at Flicker.com.
 
Jon -

Great photos as usual! I think my favorites are in Santa Maria Canyon.

Does da 40 have a new name - Milli? There must be a story there...

Thanks for the trip pictures. I'm still looking forward to more stories on Saturday. Glad to hear no damage to the truck with your flop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom