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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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1966 (age 8.5), trip from Tijuana to Cabo by Jeep:
1966, my first dorado, off Cabo San Lucas:
1966, ferry dock at La Paz (with my dad):
1967, Calamajué Canyon gold mill site:
1967 (age 10), with Luis, founder of Nuevo Mazatlan:
1974, camping at Nuevo Mazatlan:
1975 (age 17), road to El Mármol:
Jump ahead to modern times, 1999 (age 41) at Mission Santa María:
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Falling in Love
1958. Avenida Revolucion, Tijuana.
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gueribo
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 10-16-2014
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What a cute kid!
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BajaTed
Senior Nomad
Posts: 859
Registered: 5-2-2010
Location: Bajamar
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Walter Hussong of Quintas Papagayo in Ensenada was my late Father's good friend.
His Swedish GF @ the time was a hoot. 1967
Es Todo Bueno
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6929
Registered: 8-5-2011
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1976 Avenida Revolucion - probably the same place MrBillM went to, or the joint next door.
K38 the same year, and then the surf trips began. Drove first time to Cabo in 1986. I'm a water guy, dirt roads only when necessary to get to the
break.
Now it's boats on the Sea of Cortez.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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In February of 1988 I vacationed in Barra de Navidad but took the ferry over to Baja to drive home to Tofino BC using another route. A friend had
told me to do a quick stop to Laguna Ojo de Liebre to check out the lagoon where Gray Whales birthed and raised their calves. I planned a 2 hour lunch
break to just have a look at it.
I found the dirt road and much to my delight, as I drove up to the edge of the lagoon, I saw dozens of whale spouts right in front of me....I mean
many dozens! I was in whale heaven!!!
There was a very handsome fisherman leaning on his pickup truck parked beside his panga and he motioned to me asking if I wanted to go see the
whales....the rest is history!
I stayed weeks and ended up conceiving my daughter Sirena in teh lagoon on that first Baja visit! thats the short version!
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bajamedic
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 12-5-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just waitin for baja
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1965, I was 10, my Father and Uncle were building a small Church in San Felipe. My father was the Manager at a Lumber Yard in San Jose, CA, he would
post a list of needed materials on the front of the cash register, as the Contractors were ordering their materials, they would add a window, door or
2x4, etc to their list, telling my father it is for Baja. When my father and uncle would fill their trailer, they and sometimes we as a family would
head to San Felipe. They worked part of the day and then fished the rest of the day. As a kid I loved getting to run the dirt streets with the local
kids, go into a bar for a warm Pepsi and play on the beach. I loved watching the locals launch my uncle's boat with an old army truck with lots of
guys sitting in the back to hold it down from the wave action, it seemed like they would back it out a mile of two before it would float off of the
trailer. I recall the feeling of terror when I had lit a string of firecrackers off in the street just as a Policeman came around the corner, I
thought I was in trouble... he just laughed and waved as he went by. JH
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9268
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by shari  | In February of 1988 I vacationed in Barra de Navidad but took the ferry over to Baja to drive home to Tofino BC using another route. A friend had
told me to do a quick stop to Laguna Ojo de Liebre to check out the lagoon where Gray Whales birthed and raised their calves. I planned a 2 hour lunch
break to just have a look at it.
I found the dirt road and much to my delight, as I drove up to the edge of the lagoon, I saw dozens of whale spouts right in front of me....I mean
many dozens! I was in whale heaven!!!
There was a very handsome fisherman leaning on his pickup truck parked beside his panga and he motioned to me asking if I wanted to go see the
whales....the rest is history!
I stayed weeks and ended up conceiving my daughter Sirena in teh lagoon on that first Baja visit! thats the short version! |
Wowwww. That is awesome. I don't think anyone is gonna top that one.
[Edited on 5-25-2021 by JZ]
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billklaser
Nomad
Posts: 142
Registered: 3-31-2011
Location: Loreto, Lopez Mateos
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In 1967 spring break at USC I was a junior. Went with my older brother and a friend from San Diego to San Quintin. We towed a 13' Boston Whaler with a
CJ5 jeep full of diving gear. As I remember the pavement stopped a little ways south of Ensenada. From there a lot of wash board dirt. Very little in
San Quintin then. We set up camp next to the Old Mill behind a tall concrete block wall to block the wind. That was the wall that is now the south
wall of the restaurant next to the Old Mill. We were going over to San Martin Island for a little diving. Got swamped going out of the bay, then
there was a hugh blanket of Red Tide at the island. Diving was terrible.
Had to go to work and finally got back to Baja in August of 1988. We took 4 weeks off of work and loaded a large camper with gear for diving.
carried a 12' inflatable and a diving compressor to fill tanks. My wife and 4 children (all in high school) with 3 of their class mates. My daughter
drove her FJ40 land cruiser along. First stop was LA Bay. Then Mulege, Loreto, and stayed in La Paz for a one week dive trip on the Rio Rita with
John Riffe. Back to Loreto for a bit before heading back to San Diego. Everyone in the family loved the Loreto area, so bought our place in 1990. As
a vacation home, we came to Loreto for about 10 days every two months.
Now retired so spending more time in Loreto, with a 25' Davis. Of course spend a lot of time out on the water.
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dravnx
Nomad
Posts: 106
Registered: 10-27-2005
Location: N. Cal.
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1992, I had just gotten my private pilot's license and me and my roommate were at a bar celebrating. This gal sat down next to me and asked what we
were celebrating. I told her and she replied that she too had her pilot's license but had never really used it. We continued chatting. She started
telling me about a trip she had taken the previous year to San Felipe. It sounded intriguing so I asked her if she wanted to go back. She said sure,
when? I said next weekend. The next Friday, we loaded up my Pathfinder and hit the road.
We drove straight through to SF and set up camp at Pete's Place. This was July 4th weekend and it was like trying to camp in a pizza oven with quads
running up and down the beach non stop. The next morning we pulled up stakes and headed out. We ended up camping at Laguna Hanson for a couple of
nights and then headed home. There's nothing like banging a bar pickup in a tent on the shore of a lake in Mexico.
The gal is long gone but the lure of Baja has never left.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3779
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Really great photos, David.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
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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this is a terrific thread...loving the stories but also would love to see more photos of the good old days!
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Don Pisto
Super Nomad
Posts: 1241
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline
Mood: weary like everyone else
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| Quote: Originally posted by dravnx | 1992, I had just gotten my private pilot's license and me and my roommate were at a bar celebrating. This gal sat down next to me and asked what we
were celebrating. I told her and she replied that she too had her pilot's license but had never really used it. We continued chatting. She started
telling me about a trip she had taken the previous year to San Felipe. It sounded intriguing so I asked her if she wanted to go back. She said sure,
when? I said next weekend. The next Friday, we loaded up my Pathfinder and hit the road.
We drove straight through to SF and set up camp at Pete's Place. This was July 4th weekend and it was like trying to camp in a pizza oven with quads
running up and down the beach non stop. The next morning we pulled up stakes and headed out. We ended up camping at Laguna Hanson for a couple of
nights and then headed home. There's nothing like banging a bar pickup in a tent on the shore of a lake in Mexico.
The gal is long gone but the lure of Baja has never left. |
gal might be gone but so is the lake!
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9268
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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Oh, come on now.
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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My grandfather used to take my dad down to Baja. I fondly recall my dad telling me stories of them camping in Ensenada as a kid.
Then my dad eventually started exploring Baja as a young man. He drove to Cabo San Lucas before the road was completed. He spent a month or so there
before returning.
As far as I know, my first time in Baja I was only months old. We camped all over Baja as a kid. I can remember many birthday parties sitting around
campfires.
My grandparents bought a place next to the old Fox Studios. I used to collect mussels at low tide and fish the rocky areas around there. My first
drink was at the Rosarito Hotel...I think I was about 14. I always thought I would inherit my grandparents' place. Sadly my grandfather died of a
massive heart attack when I was 17 or 18.
I went on my pilgrimage to Baja when I was 27 or so. My buddy and I drove my 1993 Tacoma down to Cabo and back fishing, camping, and living the life.
We spent a total of 6 weeks exploring every dirt road we could find. One town especially struck a cord with me...Bahia Asuncion.
My girlfriend in college and now my wife started doing longer trips To Baja. We eventually got married in Elias Calles, BCS. I proposed to her at
Agua Verde on Christmas morning.
On another trip with some good amigos, we revisited Bahia Asuncion. I think this must have been about 15 years ago. We randomly met Shari at a
tienda. Shortly thereafter, we bought a place, site unseen. It was a tear -down but we didn't have the money to tear it down. With a lot of love,
our place has become our home.
Since then, we have had two kids both of which have spent at least 3 months of every year in Bahia Asuncion. Our little casita is slowly growing as
are our kids.
We finally decided to make the move down to Asuncion full time in a few weeks. Our house in San Diego is in escrow and we are selling almost
everything we own. Our kids will attend the local schools and we hope to volunteer there as well. We plan on brewing beer, raising a huge garden,
tutoring online, and spending time learning the culture, language, and becoming more involved in the daily life of our village. We definitely feel
closer to Mexico than the United States...especially more recently.
So, I'm not sure when I fell in love with Baja. But I can say Baja is a part of me and my family.
Cheers!
Zac aka Bajaboy
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9268
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy | My grandfather used to take my dad down to Baja. I fondly recall my dad telling me stories of them camping in Ensenada as a kid.
Then my dad eventually started exploring Baja as a young man. He drove to Cabo San Lucas before the road was completed. He spent a month or so there
before returning.
As far as I know, my first time in Baja I was only months old. We camped all over Baja as a kid. I can remember many birthday parties sitting around
campfires.
My grandparents bought a place next to the old Fox Studios. I used to collect mussels at low tide and fish the rocky areas around there. My first
drink was at the Rosarito Hotel...I think I was about 14. I always thought I would inherit my grandparents' place. Sadly my grandfather died of a
massive heart attack when I was 17 or 18.
I went on my pilgrimage to Baja when I was 27 or so. My buddy and I drove my 1993 Tacoma down to Cabo and back fishing, camping, and living the life.
We spent a total of 6 weeks exploring every dirt road we could find. One town especially struck a cord with me...Bahia Asuncion.
My girlfriend in college and now my wife started doing longer trips To Baja. We eventually got married in Elias Calles, BCS. I proposed to her at
Agua Verde on Christmas morning.
On another trip with some good amigos, we revisited Bahia Asuncion. I think this must have been about 15 years ago. We randomly met Shari at a
tienda. Shortly thereafter, we bought a place, site unseen. It was a tear -down but we didn't have the money to tear it down. With a lot of love,
our place has become our home.
Since then, we have had two kids both of which have spent at least 3 months of every year in Bahia Asuncion. Our little casita is slowly growing as
are our kids.
We finally decided to make the move down to Asuncion full time in a few weeks. Our house in San Diego is in escrow and we are selling almost
everything we own. Our kids will attend the local schools and we hope to volunteer there as well. We plan on brewing beer, raising a huge garden,
tutoring online, and spending time learning the culture, language, and becoming more involved in the daily life of our village. We definitely feel
closer to Mexico than the United States...especially more recently.
So, I'm not sure when I fell in love with Baja. But I can say Baja is a part of me and my family.
Cheers!
Zac aka Bajaboy |
Awesome story. Agua Verde is a special place. You picked that one well.
How old are your kids?
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy | My grandfather used to take my dad down to Baja. I fondly recall my dad telling me stories of them camping in Ensenada as a kid.
Then my dad eventually started exploring Baja as a young man. He drove to Cabo San Lucas before the road was completed. He spent a month or so there
before returning.
As far as I know, my first time in Baja I was only months old. We camped all over Baja as a kid. I can remember many birthday parties sitting around
campfires.
My grandparents bought a place next to the old Fox Studios. I used to collect mussels at low tide and fish the rocky areas around there. My first
drink was at the Rosarito Hotel...I think I was about 14. I always thought I would inherit my grandparents' place. Sadly my grandfather died of a
massive heart attack when I was 17 or 18.
I went on my pilgrimage to Baja when I was 27 or so. My buddy and I drove my 1993 Tacoma down to Cabo and back fishing, camping, and living the life.
We spent a total of 6 weeks exploring every dirt road we could find. One town especially struck a cord with me...Bahia Asuncion.
My girlfriend in college and now my wife started doing longer trips To Baja. We eventually got married in Elias Calles, BCS. I proposed to her at
Agua Verde on Christmas morning.
On another trip with some good amigos, we revisited Bahia Asuncion. I think this must have been about 15 years ago. We randomly met Shari at a
tienda. Shortly thereafter, we bought a place, site unseen. It was a tear -down but we didn't have the money to tear it down. With a lot of love,
our place has become our home.
Since then, we have had two kids both of which have spent at least 3 months of every year in Bahia Asuncion. Our little casita is slowly growing as
are our kids.
We finally decided to make the move down to Asuncion full time in a few weeks. Our house in San Diego is in escrow and we are selling almost
everything we own. Our kids will attend the local schools and we hope to volunteer there as well. We plan on brewing beer, raising a huge garden,
tutoring online, and spending time learning the culture, language, and becoming more involved in the daily life of our village. We definitely feel
closer to Mexico than the United States...especially more recently.
So, I'm not sure when I fell in love with Baja. But I can say Baja is a part of me and my family.
Cheers!
Zac aka Bajaboy |
Awesome story. Agua Verde is a special place. You picked that one well.
How old are your kids?
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My daughter, Mikayla, is 11 and my son, Gabriel, is soon to be 13.
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Marty Mateo
Nomad
Posts: 103
Registered: 12-7-2019
Location: Vanisle Sur
Member Is Offline
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My first trip was in the winter of 1993 ,a buddy and I drove down from Vancouver Island. We were both between jobs and had a bit of money so one day
sitting in a pub looking out at the cold rainy weather we hatched a plan to go south. I can’t remember how we chose Baja as both of us had never
been and knew little about it. All we got from people when we said we were going was the retelling of a friend of a friends horror story.
By strange coincidence a day or two later we were walking my buddy’s dog on the beach and got talking to a couple who had recently returned from
Baja. They ended up giving us a map of Baja and a lot of great info. I had ,a few days prior to our pub meeting ,been given a 1968 Dodge Monaco which
turned out to be, for a freebie,a fairly nice car . I put a new battery in it ,replaced the front tires and filled the trunk with camping gear we were
off. We also had along my buddies large dog who rode along happily in the back seat .The car ran well down through the States but was consuming a fair
bit of oil ,like about a case of oil. We ended up finding a replacement engine through a friend and using his shop, swapped engines. Unfortunately
that took out my surfboard budget (planned to learn to surf) but off to Tijuana we headed. We crossed the border without talking to anyone ,just some
guy directing traffic and found ourselves in downtown Tijuana. Not sure if you needed an FMM back then but we were unaware . After a brief interaction
with a police officer, it seems we were driving the wrong direction on one way street we continued on south. There were tons more adventures on our
trip , we made it around the southern tip and contrary to the horror stories we had nothing but warm and generous experiences with everyone we met.
 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Some great stories! 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed | Walter Hussong of Quintas Papagayo in Ensenada was my late Father's good friend.
His Swedish GF @ the time was a hoot. 1967 |
Met Walt Hussong when he attended my Viva Baja #4 party in 2003. He is from a long line of Walt Hussongs... My dad and an older Walt Hussong went to
San Diego High together!
Here is a photo of Walt at Viva Baja #4:
Here is Walt-Hussong,
the great grandson of the founder of Hussong's Cantina!
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