San Diegan To Hike Baja Peninsula

It was a blowout! YES!

I don't know Mike personally from all the accounts here he sounds like a likeable fellow (if a bit stubborn) but hes obviously a bit clueless when it comes to handling big pack animals. To expect the donkey to lug 150 lbs 10 miles a day is too much still! For that distance maybe 80-100 lbs...
Too bad don kay can't talk, if he could Mike would have gotten an earful I'm sure. If I were the donkey Mike would have gotten hooves to the tackle already!

Quote:

Originally posted by astrobaja I don't know Mike personally from all the accounts here he sounds like a likeable fellow (if a bit stubborn) but hes obviously a bit clueless when it comes to handling big pack animals. To expect the donkey to lug 150 lbs 10 miles a day is too much still! For that distance maybe 80-100 lbs... Too bad don kay can't talk, if he could Mike would have gotten an earful I'm sure. If I were the donkey Mike would have gotten hooves to the tackle already!

blane

Still having trouble getting John to help you carry the bags, eh?

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS Quote: Originally posted by DianaT all pack animals have limits. Still having trouble getting John to help you carry the bags, eh?

He is definitely NOT trainable in anyway----been trying for years, but he gives new meaning to stubborn as a mule or burro.

You have to treat all pack animals properly..or lose the trip. Weigh it right, load it right, tie it right...and don't wear out the packanimal.

Mi compadre, Randy, and I and took 2 quarterhorses and two pack horses most of the length of the Canadian Rockies from south to north..then CNR'ed back ...

....long, long before Brokeback Mountain came out...

[Edited on 11-23-2010 by Pompano]

6:36 am SPOT this morning!

Maybe he just forgot to push the button last night? Here is what was in my email this morning:

Younghusbands spot
Latitude:29.52468 Longitude:-115.26944 GPS location Date/Time:11/23/2010 06:36:09 PST
Message:Everything OK. Walking with Don Kay down in Baja.

This is the same place as Sunday night, Nov. 21, in Puerto (Santa) Catarina fishing village.








[Edited on 11-24-2010 by David K]

Diane knows it was just a joke.

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano Mi compadre, Randy, and I and took 2 quarterhorses and two pack horses most of the length of the Canadian Rockies from south to north..then CNR'ed back ... ....long, long before Brokeback Mountain came out... [Edited on 11-23-2010 by Pompano]

So,what you're telling us, your travels with Copilot is a whole new experience.

do donkeys like turkey? (most donkeys i have met were herbivores)

i think donkay is a gringo, so maybe he has a vegetarian t-giving tradition from his youth and he may be sad to miss the holiday.

but solo is a mexican mutt, and i don't think he will regret missing a holiday that he has never experienced.

And while Solo is getting his roadkill special, Mike can sneak up on the kill and get him a real Baja turkey (vulture)!!!
O.K.-- lobster sounds better!
Happy Dia de Gracias everyone!

Looking forward to hearing that the intrepid threesome are on a good road, any kind of road, heading south and enjoying those wonderful lonely Pacific beaches.




And watch out where you tread....




And give SOLO a hug from me. She really is a gentle sweetheart of a dog... right out of the Peaceable Kingdom...



And that Don Kay, what a treasure....


Happy Thanksgiving Pilgrims!

My good friend Meño Casteneda was a really good sport to answer my knock at 4:00AM yesterday morning and accompany me out to see Mike and company at Puerto Catarina. I was bringing some more water and a few other supplies for Mike and my co-pilot (not as pretty as Pompano's) Meño had the hot coffee and plenty of lighthearted conversation for the 3 hour drive ahead.

It was a really cold morning drive through the desert on Hwy 1 south of El Rosario with the temperatures reaching freezing a couple of times. Reminded me that sticking close to the coastline has its advantages this time of the year.

When we finally reached Mike down at the puerto it was a great sight to see him run up, still in good spirits with Don-Kay munching on some hay with Solorina right behind. We sat and just talked for a long while as Mike shared with me all that he had gone through the last week and especially the last few days.

He was really appreciative of the help Neil and crew brought days before. Don-Kay had gone almost 4 days without any water and he had just a very small amount left for himself. After their panga left Mike tried to keep moving forward but the going seemed to prove tougher with every step. They ended up having to make camp in an uncomfortable spot in a very tight ravine that night and Mike got little sleep.

The next day they pushed on, trying to get around the point but it was becoming obvious that it was just not meant to be. There was no path that Don-Kay could follow and trying to keep him moving across the rocks was becoming increasingly hazardous as Don-Kay had taken a couple of falls, each time dropping the load and Mike was concerned that the next fall would be the last for the poor animal that was now bleeding from the falls.

He shared with me that he was at the end of his rope and just about to send out another signal for help when something quite amazing happened. Mike told me the story of how he, Don-Kay and Solo were able to get out and eventually reach Puerto Catarina with arms waving and a very excited voice.

After he shared his story Mike asked me to not publish those details right now as that will probably be a chapter all to itself in his book. I can tell you that it involves some great people down here that selflessly gave of themselves, their time and resources under some extraordinary circumstances, asking nothing of Mike in return. I will respect Mike's request in that regard but I can tell you that it will make a great read.

At that point Mike's adrenalin started to subside and I asked him what else he needed. I then noticed that he had a few cactus quills in his arm. He shared with me that he had spent most of his time extracting them from Don-Kay and he wasn't even aware he still had a few left himself. We shared a good laugh about that as I helped pull the last ones out.

So with the last reminder of the past few days gone he then asked if we could get him to El Rosario. He needed to make some phone calls, send an email or two and restock up on supplies.

Making sure Don-Kay and Solo were OK, we took off back down the road and made the drive back north, stopping to have lunch with his friend Ed at Baja's Best who also provided us with some alfalfa for Don-Kay. Mike told me he wanted to make a quick post here on Nomad and used Ed's computer. After a great lunch we headed to the grocery store and then another stop at Antonio's to gas up and we were on our way back down again.

On the return trip we talked a lot about what had gone wrong and the road he would be taking from here. He agreed that Don-Kay needed a lighter load and told me that he had dumped a lot of his personal gear to make that happen. He was aware that he had just come through a very perilous section of the coastline and from here on out he was going to stick to the roads that would lead him directly between ranches, small towns and fish camps.

Once we got back to the Puerto Catarina camp Solo ran up, obviously very happy to see that Mike had returned and Meño ran into some old friends of his he hadn't seen in a long time.

We talked awhile longer and Mike assured me that the days they had taken off to rest there had provided the time and opportunity to get the team refreshed and with new energy to hit the road again. He planned on packing up and heading out for Canoas at daylight.

Yes, he will be taking the inland route around the mesa and not the coastline route!

A round of hugs for all and we said our goodbyes.

Really wish Mike the best and a very big thanks to my good friends Duro, Meño and Chava who all played key roles in this adventure.

Mike will share the story about a few other characters who played a role in his book, I am quite sure...



[Edited on 11-25-2010 by BajaGringo]

It would appear that an adventurous feline wants to join the expedition, and is really suckin-up to the existing participants. The more the merrier????

Great story and shots. I just hope I am still around when the book comes out-----I REALLY want to know how Mike and company got to Puerto Catarina from El Canasto arroyo.

And once again, kudos to all that helped, and went way out of their way to support this effort. NOMADS are the greatest!!!

Barry

Quote:

Originally posted by Graham

Updated map to bring us to tonight's location (Nov. 24)... I changed the highlight color as the previous one blended with the ocean and arroyos.

I hope to see a new SPOT signal tomorow night... perhaps along that 8.5 mile road.

Well I can see why hes doin this in Mexico because if it was done stateside he would be arrested by the SPCA by this point!

Everybody knows that you can go a long time without food but WATER?

I ain't buying his book

Punta Canoas Info

Quote:

Originally posted by astrobaja Well I can see why hes doin this in Mexico because if it was done stateside he would be arrested by the SPCA by this point! Everybody knows that you can go a long time without food but WATER? I ain't buying his book

and if they/we/you did, Mike would be alone trying to send a SOS to a passing panguero who would be looking at those deep ravines thinking, "solomente un bruto......" and keep going.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night. you guys rock! i'm still trying to turn over a new leaf, but all of my trees dropped their leaves a month ago!.!.!.!



but i agree Dennis, i could walk around the world if there were Big Men like BajaGringo and the boys at San Carlos to carry my water.

Suerte, Mike.

as i see this thread, he hasn't even made it to canoas.

BTW, if you've been paying attention for the past "X" years, you'd know that Mike is entering "the area that shall not be named" although i'm sure every map, gps co-ord and rumor of a bypass will be forthcoming so that Mike will know just where to go.

and Curt, BTW, that's a nice fish. and what did your wife ever see in you (from another thread)?



you know i'm kidding, right? new leaf and all!

Quote:

Originally posted by astrobaja Well I can see why hes doin this in Mexico because if it was done stateside he would be arrested by the SPCA by this point! Everybody knows that you can go a long time without food but WATER? I ain't buying his book

Imagining the perfect adventure...

Don Kay sure looks happy and healthy enough !! as does dog !! once mike reaches La Bocana we will see for ourselves.

i sure worry much much more about the dogs in all these villages in baja who are sitting inthe sun for years at a time and never walked, never run and mostly ignored all their lives....

one of these days Mike will make it to la bocana and we shall get to hear some stories too.

no matter how well you plan, we all know that any trip to baja is not just a vacation but an adventure. why do you expect Mike's trip to be any different ???? when you get stuck in sand on the beach, should the locals leave you there because you should have planned better ?? hehehe HAHAHA

Apologies to Graham....

Apology accepted cardonhugger... and I thank you making it on this Thankgiving day.

I did a few things on my trips that I would never do under "normal" circumstances and looking back over 27 years I know I'm in need of a little forgiveness too.

Certainly Mike is making the tough decisions himself on his trip, sometimes against my advice. And so far he's still going and learning and getting away with it.

The rest of the trip will be different and hopefully easier, but certainly not routine. And you're right CH, if Mike runs into the wrong characters on the wrong remote beach he may be in deep burro doo-doo.

Wishing you many happy adventures on your amazing solo Baja adventures.

Picture of me from 1983 where Mike will soon be.



[Edited on 11-27-2010 by BajaNomad]

Quote:

Originally posted by Graham Picture of me from 1983 where Mike will soon be.

Billy club?

Well, I for one feel reassured if Mike and crew run into any unsavory characters in remote areas, Don-Kay has a serious truncheon onboard for defense.

Nov. 25, 2010

Mike and company had the most progress of their trip covering 16 miles from their previous SPOT location.

Hmmmmmmmm, looks like a 'pot calling a kettle black' to me.

Pretty funny.

WORDS---It's all in the interpretation, and here is a prime example. We (all of us) ALWAYS bring our bias to the table, unfortunately.

Barry

Barry, you are correct and I apologize for posting while angry and not really thinking it through---so let me try this again.

Nov. 26, 2010

Another big day for Mike and company... At least 14 miles traveled from last night's position.





The AAA map doesn't show the road that is close to the coast that Mike is using... see the Topo map below...

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho Get real, you can't do it!

In spite of the fact that this is the Mike and David show [] Mike should be thankful that someone is keeping track of him. His margin for error is thin.
Keep up the good work, David.