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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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San Diego to Bahia de Los Angeles report
Spent Saturday 2/3 at a friend’s house in San Diego to get an early start on Sunday morning for Baja. Thought Sundays Super bowl game will keep
everyone off the highways and Mexico doesn’t wake up until 9 or 10 giving me a good start. Arrived at the border xing in TJ – San Ysidro at 8:10 am,
parked the truck/trailer and headed for the Migra and the Bank to pay for the Tourist Card. 15 minutes later pushed the button, received a green light
and was OFF! The scenic drive sign was easy to follow and after climbing the hill and descending at a rapid pace on the back side of the hill, turned
right and about 300 meters ran into the first military check point. They
were only stopping people southbound, no NB blockages. They waved me through  and then off to pay the first toll. The 4 lane highway to Ensenada – piece of cake, no or very little traffic on the road. In
Ensenada, took the harbor route because I remembered it as being easy. Sure enough – GREAT so far. Things changed a little once back of Hwy 1. 3
lanes – slightly narrower than a normal USA road, yet easy until the first dozen Topas arrived. Wow – 1 or 3 mph was the max you could go when
stumbling over these things – grand prize  – a larger mound to drive over at
the end of the little topas. There must have been at least a 100 mini topas in each town. Or it felt that way.
Okay – we’re now south of Ensenada and the road immediately becomes less than appetizing with its narrowness. First on coming Bus – okay squeezed by
that one. Good!
And after coming up the first major hill (after Maneadero) – HI there – another military stop :moon:. Fortune smiled upon me – waved on through. This
check point stopped traffic in both directions. The highway was pretty easy to drive once you got use to a road with about a foot or so on either side
of the tires. If the whole trip is like this ----- no white knuckling will be necessary. Ha ha ha . The hills and curves were another story – slightly less space than on the straight aways. Cars, buses, and
trucks took their portion out of my lanes. Brake here, brake there, ooops almost pulled too far to the right and lose a wheel. Heart beat just jumped
a couple of hundred beats…….. Well the old panadaria just before Colonel is gone – closed . To bad I was looking forward to some of the sweets he had made in the
past. Okay on to Playa Pabellon. It’s getting to be noon and you still have a ways to drive. Stopped at a Pemex for diesel 20 km north of San Quintin.
Wow, I liked this 1.83/gallon – Por Favor – fill this thing to its max. Very happy  at the
service and the cheap diesel compared to 2.99 or more. Slid behind a semi upon departing the Pemex station and it was a breeze following him.
Everybody moved so I was all smiles. Okay, sign says Playa Pabellon RV Park 1.8 km ahead. Of course turned too soon and ended up by the Old La Pinta
Hotel. Turned around and found success on the next go around. Pulled in slowly at Pabellon by 2:45 pm (roughly 4hr drive) and was waved on to any
camping site. I owned this place. Found the spot which spoke to me and set up the satellite dish immediately to watch the Superbowl game. What a
life!!! BBQ’d - slept like a log with the waves in the back ground – and feasted on the scenic sundown / sunrise too. Only 1 other camper there, yet
the beach (a drag strip / runway for planes) was at low tide and fun to walk on – dodging cars every now and then. 10 ddls per night. Great.
Next morning – up at 5:30 after making the decision to head to BdLA instead of spending another night at Pabellon. MAN OH MAN – happy to leave as a
wagon train of 40 RV’s arrived at once. They took up the whole place. Time for the road. Well Monday proved to be a lot more demanding on driving
skills than Sunday. More traffic and where did all these buses and semi’s come from??? The road from Pabellon south felt as if it was half as wide as the northern portion. Breakfast at Mama Espinoza’s or around the
corner for an early taco. That’s the ticket. Arrived in El Rosario and the place is packed with 12, 14, or 18 airstream trailers. Glad I got gas
before San Quintin because there was no way to get breakfast, diesel, go to the rest room, stop in at the Cactus Motel, Nada. The town was a hugh
parking lot. Okay moving on – another 100 topatitos and one big one. The road is so narrow now that on coming RV’s and buses are turning on the left
turn signals in indicate that you’re too far left on the road. What do you mean; I can see the yellow line in my mirror. The white line on the right
has already disappeared. No way can I move. Okay slow, slow, stop. Cars behind me, pls don’t honk. I don’t want to end up like another trailer or 5th
wheel I saw in millions of pieces back a couple of kms. Come up the first grade after El Rosario and there’s another military stop. Okay, I’ll get
out. 5 minutes and I’m on my way again. Driving slowly 30 to 50 max, I found myself holding up all the airstream travelers. Okay – pull out the first
opportunity – great the heart and blood pressure can ease again. HERE COMES A CURVE AND 2 BUSES – yipes – stop and let them by since they’re taking up
both lanes. Swoosh – first on coming bus passes thanks me for stopping on the highway before the curve and the 2nd jammed by. The compete distance to
the Bahia de Los Angeles exit was a white knuckler where there was no room for non concentration. Took a hugh breath after the turn off. WHATE A WIDE
ROAD TO BAHIA….. Arrived around 3 pm ( 7 hours driving). Of course stopped to take some photos. Daggetts had my spot already for me – great
hospitality. Have a Palapa and facing the beach. The campground is pretty full but nice. Plan to spend a month here and do daily side trips.
SORRY TO BE SO WORDY – but needed to give the play by play. Next update – what ever side trip is taken.
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Another photo at Playa Pabellon
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Okay one more of papellon
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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5:30 am at Bahia de Los Angeles from Daggetts place
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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arriving at BdLA
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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The afternoon arrival at daggetts
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Cirio working the heavens
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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The Elephants Hide Away
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Oops, Elephant sighting
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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A Happy Ending to a 2 day road trip. Llegamos 
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Oh  . Almost forgot - Pabellon's camp sight.
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15938
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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SWEET
keep your elbow in the window!!!!
bien viaje....
[Edited on 2-7-2007 by woody in ob]
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
Member Is Offline
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Whew! Glad we made it!  
Real nice pictures, too! Thank you, Bajalover.
I look forward to... whatever side trip you take next.
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Mike Supino
Nomad
Posts: 351
Registered: 10-16-2002
Member Is Offline
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What is the weather like?
Therianthropic
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
Member Is Offline
Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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Dude, that is one Kick burro report!!!! Thanks.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
Member Is Offline
Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Mike, The Weather at 7:23 pm 2/6 is 60 f outside, 69 in trailer and 85 in my heart after 3 glasses of wine. Tomorrow much the same, highs in the
upper 70's , sunny, warm. Really nice after the cold weather in SoCal.
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Enjoyed the report! Nice pictures, thanks. Hope you have a great time. What side trips do you have planned?
Have fun!
Diane
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9006
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Bajalover.......the Faulkner of Baja.
Nice report, man.
You going down the Rosalia grade..........?
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
Member Is Offline
Mood: getting ready!
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Thanks dude feels like Im right there with you
Hey can you say ARmando with the jet ski last January says Hi to Ruben and Amanda at Daggetts, if you see them, thank you....
READY SET.....................
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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Nicccceee
nice pictures,exellent trip report.enjoy your trip,and will you consider a side trip to the copper m ines,north of La gringa,on my last trip to Bola I
run out of time..
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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