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Author: Subject: Trip Report South to La Paz - Nice Weather and Nice People
The Gull
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[*] posted on 1-4-2004 at 07:46 AM
Trip Report South to La Paz - Nice Weather and Nice People


December 18 left the 5 fwy at Palomar in Chula Vista and got gas and exchanged dollars for pesos at the Costco. Turned out to be the best exchange rate (11.1) for over 10 days. Crossed the border @ TJ later, pulled into the declaration lane and got visas. Noticed that the sign on the Migration and Bank said that they are both open 24 hours. It took less than five minutes.

December 19, we left Rosarito Beach and joined up with Family Guy and the family at 6 am. We got their delicious fudge for the road and got to see a flaming sunrise over the bay of Ensenada. Our first stop was Panaderia Carmen at KM 124 north of Colonet. You can easily see the sign and the green building from the road. Breakfast! The cookies had the taste of mesquite because of the wood fired oven he uses. It was about 8:30 am and the owner (forgot his name) had already been working. He has been the baker for 21 years and he has plenty of years on him. Packed the car with more cookies and rolled off.

Got gas at El Rosario with the attendant puposely showing me the meter was zeroed before pumping. We took pictures and signed our names into the book at Mama Espinosas. To this point, the road was great, the gas station honest and the check points waved us through.

Next stop Guerrero Negro for gas and chow. The road was great. The military check points waved us through. The inspection and immigration station was courteous. We were told to pay for the insect spray for the tires and underside of the car. Our visas were checked and found in order. Family Guy stopped there to get his family their visas, no problems.

Gas station in town on the north side of the main drag was honest. Las Cazuelas (first place on right as you enter town) provides chocolate clams in a garlic sauce as the "house" courtesy appetizer. It took two days to stop stinking of garlic (so I was told).

Family Guy and the Gull parted company at that point since our plans were different past GN. We made it to Santa Rosalia that night. Total travel time 12 hours including gas and food stops. Driving time 10.5 hours. Air temp during the day between 80 and 90.

Olga and Irma who own the Hotel Frances are wonderful ladies and lovely hostesses for the traveler. The hotel was beautifully decorated for the holidays. The rates were low and the room was very nice and quiet. Their restaurant was excellent. We hated to leave. Stopped by El Bolero Panaderia and found no bolillos ready.

The former baker at El Bolero has started his own panaderia. Hard to find!! As you are going into town take the second street you come to that goes up the hill. The opening of that street is across from the Pollo Carbon Restaurant (seaside) and next to a green building called Abarrotes Baja Sin Mayoreo. Follow the street up the hill about 6-7 blocks to one street short of the end or the road and take a right, go about five houses and it is on the left. It is a big white kind of different looking house. If you have trouble tell any of the locals around there you want to find "El Bachicha" and they will point you to it. Pan is ready only twice a day at 7am and 2pm. They have an "abierto" sign in the window, but you have to knock to get them to open. Load up as everything is about 25 cents per item.

Back on the road, between Santa Rosalia and Loreto, the vados (gullies) are in bad shape as the road is getting more and more potholes scoured out as the government only cleared off the rocks and debris from the hurricane washouts. Some are very dangerous with big dropoffs and 10 miles per hour is about as fast as you want to approach them. A number of cars on the side of the road who failed to learn that.

Military checkpoints waved us through, gas station in the middle of Loreto tried to start pumping without clearing pump to zero (got caught) and the day time temperature was 80 to 90. Arrived in La Paz in about 7 hours with the one stop. Road from Cuidad Constitucion had 3-4 places where the road was gone, especially the sections approaching the bridges over the arroyos. The water must have overrun in those areas.

We rested for nine days on the beach in La Paz with weather in the 80's and good snorkeling.




�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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