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KevinFromUtah
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 12-3-2012
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First Time Baja Fail.
After years of daydreaming, reading books and forums, and making plans, I finally crossed the border into Tijuana on Dec. 13 and started heading
south.
The plan - me (23 years old), little brother, and best friend driving my '93 4runner down the Pacific side for a few days, camping and surfing, then
crossing over to Bahia Concepcion for a few days to hang out and kayak, then down to Los Cabos to meet up with some friends on a cruise.
Spent the first night in Ensenada, enjoying the food and checking out town. Left town the next morning, with the goal of getting to Santa Rosalillita
by dark.
Throughout the day rained pretty hard on and off. In San Quintin swapped drivers and let my brother take the wheel. Every curve I kept reminding him,
slow down, slow down. Finally I just told myself I needed to relax and stop back seat driving. After all, he's been driving for years, he knows what
he's doing.
Well, about 20 minutes South of Catavina, the rain was picking up again, and as soon as we came into the curve I knew we were moving far too fast. We
started to slide, then fishtailed majorly with each over correction. Finally slid off the left shoulder and rolled twice down the embankment.
Amazingly and thankfully, none of us had more than a few scratches. Sadly the same couldn't be said for my 4runner, which ended in some kind of
impound lot / junk yard in Punta Prieta.
Thanks to the amazing help of the people of Baja and a couple of awesome American surfers (thanks Brandon and Will), we were able to eventually get a
ride for us and our stuff back to the border and meet up with family to take us home.
Although I was disappointed to see so little of Baja, everything I did see I loved. The people were so helpful and kind, the landscape was amazing,
everyday tasks like getting gas or buying lunch took on a sense of adventure. It might take a year or more of saving up again to invest in another
vehicle, but as crazy as my family or friends think I am for it, I'll definitely be coming back. But next time I think I'll do all the driving.
[Edited on 12-24-2012 by KevinFromUtah]
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
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Well on the positive side, you made it back in one piece to do it again later!
Cortez Blue Philosophy
"That, that does not kill you, makes you stronger"
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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Glad everyone is fine, what an experience
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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The good news: there will be 93 Forerunner parts available in Punta Prieta now.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
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Holy crap! You are lucky it happened next to that dry lake rather than some hilly cliff area (if that picture is indeed where it occurred).
Stoked you are OK.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Ouch
Glad you are OK.
Please post your experiences with your Mexico insurance carrier.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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Glad your OK!!
Were you insured? If so the next adventure working with the Ins. Co.
You were so close.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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a real Baja classic....like the sign says, these roads are not for high speed...
I'm glad you are all OK...you were very very lucky...next time and we all hope there will be a next time...get on baja time and go slow and easy!
and may this be a reminder to you who drive the highway much much too fast.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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Welcome to Nomads Kevin, glad you're OK....
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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what she said !!
Glad your alive and lucky,,there used to be a few signs that said something about this road was built to promote econemy not high speed
driving...Ive seen so many wrecks in baja and from the end results I've seen high speed,, was almost always involed....so who ended up with your
trans/motor ??? .....K&T
[Edited on 12-24-2012 by captkw]
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bajario
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 1-7-2008
Location: Cardiff
Member Is Offline
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When I catch myself going faster than I should I remind myself of the old sign i've seen on that road... (translated) .... better to arrive late than
never.
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 951
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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We are so happy to see you are OK.....now you'll have another opportunity to see Baja. The county and the people truely are why we keep coming back.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Feliz Navidad Kevin, all signs say your fortunate. Looks like you will have another chance on Mex 1. Great choice in vehicles............. sorry you
had to see Baja in action under these circumstances.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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WOW! just keep reminding yourself how lucky you all are.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64850
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Well that is a wonderful but sad trip report... Your observations about the people and the country are correct... For you to be so positive after what
happened to you guys and your Toyota makes you a perfect member of this forum! Welcome! Oh and as asked above, what was the insurance outcome if you
even bought Mexican auto. insurance?
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajario
When I catch myself going faster than I should I remind myself of the old sign i've seen on that road... (translated) .... better to arrive late than
never. |
These large billboard size signs were located in many places along the Transpeninsular Highway after it was completed and inaugurated in December,
1973:
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
..so who ended up with your trans/motor ??? .....K&T
[Edited on 12-24-2012 by captkw] |
Im heading to fabulosa Punta Prieta as we speak.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Now you can tell all your friends who probably told you not to go to Baja because it is a very dangerous place that they are correct. It is
dangerous!
I am sure it will be a very Merry Christmas for all of your family just having all of you back safe and sound.
Return soon, drive slower and you will have time to enjoy even more of the scenery. And you can rest easy knowing that every usable part on your lost
vehicle will find a new and happy home.
[Edited on 12-24-2012 by DianaT]
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Wow, a half mile earlier and this could have been worse!
Congratulations...you're a big winner!
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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road sign
Thanks DK brings back some good mems....I have always said to folks..."driving the baja hwy,is like flying a 727,,,hrs of boredoom,, With moments of
shear terror" The road today is alot better,safer,and WIDER !! K&T edit
and smoother except those "hidden" topes !!!
[Edited on 12-24-2012 by captkw]
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Sweetwater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 915
Registered: 11-26-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: chilly today hot tomale
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Kevin,
It happens. Glad to hear you are OK but sorry to hear your Toyo is toyotalled. This reminds me of my Bad Company moto ride last February. I'm telling
the guys to slow down, we're hundreds of miles south of the border. It wasn't until our return from La Paz that one set of moto rims got so punished
that the tire went flat. Fortunately again, no injuries.
Unless you are in a SCORE race, it's not a race and there is so much of Baja to slow down and enjoy... IMHO
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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