PHOTO TRIP REPORT - SAN DEIGO TO COYOTE BAY - NOV 2008

PART ONE:

"START POINT - SAN DIEGO"

Due to an anomaly, I had to return quickly to mi Baja casa and so could not take some leisurely side trips I had planned..damnation...next time for sure.

Anyhow..I did take the time to snap events and features at random while in San Diego and on the vast fast lane of Baja.
So grab some popcorn, pour a drink, and kick back...leave the driving to me.
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NOTE: NO CYCLISTS WERE INJURED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PICTORIAL.

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LEAVING SAN DIEGO

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SANTEE LAKES CAMPGROUND...A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

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SCENIC MISSION BAY

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MY FAVORITE BURGER STOP...SHELTER ISLAND BOLL WEEVIL

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NOW THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE!!

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OR FISH!

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ALWAYS LOVED ROLLERCOASTERS..

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SUNSET AT IMPERIAL BEACH .. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.


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NO MORE CRUISES FOR ME...UNLESS I GET TO TROLL..


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A RELIABLE GUIDE IS HELPFUL.

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PART TWO:

"WINDSHIELD VIEWS OF THE BAJA ROAD - NOV. 21-22, 2008"
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GAS PRICES HAVE FALLEN CONSIDERABLY

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WE OVERNIGHTED AT PROTERO STATE PARK ON US SIDE NEAREST TECATE CROSSING - VERY NICE AND WOODED - $30 NIGHT


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THE TECATE-ENSENADA HIGHWAY WILL SOON BE 4 LANES


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FOR THOSE FIRST-TIMING IT FROM TECATE SOUTH..HERE IS WHERE YOU HIT THE MAIN HIGHWAY AT ENSENADA...

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TAKE THIS AVENUE DOWN THROUGH THE TOURIST DISTRICT ALONG THE WATERFRONT. WATCH FOR THE STOP SIGNS AND HORSE CARRAIGES.

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LOOK FOR SAN QUINTIN SIGNS

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NOW YOU ARE OUT OF ENSENADA AND IN THE COUNTRY. UP THE GRADE PAST SANTO TOMAS.

WATCH OUT FOR TRUCKS BURNING BRAKES COMING DOWN THE GRADE...LIKE THIS ONE!

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THE ROADSIDE FRUIT MARKETS OUTSIDE SAN QUINTIN

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I CAN RECOMMEND THIS NEWER MOTEL HIGHLY..LA VILLA DE SAN QUINTIN. HAS EVERYTHING FOR $45

IT'S ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF TOWN...ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE AVENUE. INTERNET-SAT TV-PHONES-CAFE-SECURITY-TRAILER PARKING

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NATURALLY WE ALWAYS FILL AT NOMAD BAJACACTUS'S PEMEX AND STAY AT MOTEL WHEN NOT IN MOTORHOME



HEY..ANOTHER PLUG FOR THIS HONEST GAS STATION IS OKAY..CONGRATS, ANTONIO, ON CREATING A NICE STOP.

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EL ROSARIO AT BOTTOM OF HILL AND READY TO TURN LEFT FOR SOUTHBOUNDERS. ACROSS THE STREET FROM MAMA'S.

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MAMA'S

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE CAFE'S LOGBOOK


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MOTEL NEXT TO MAMA'S


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JUST AROUND THE CORNER A BIT IS THE 'YELLOW' CAFE...VERY GOOD FOOD AND COFFEE

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TRAGIC SHOOTING AT THIS CAFE..LA MIJITA...AN INNOCENT DIES...Rest In Peace, Elsa.

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BEFORE THIS BRIDGE WENT IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO JUST OUT OF EL ROSARIO, WE WERE FLOOD-STRANDED HERE FOR 2 WEEKS.


PART OF THE RACE CREATES A ROLL-OVER DUST CLOUD WHEN A TIRE BLOWS NEAR A CHECKPOINT.

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THIS SEMI CARRYING PRODUCE BECOMES ROADKILL

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WE ENTER BOONJUM COUNTRY

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SUNSET ON THE HIGH DESERT NORTH OF CATAVINA..TRYING TO MAKE USUAL SANTA INEZ CAMPSITE BEFORE DARK

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OUR SHADOW PULLS AHEAD

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A SIGN OF PROSPERITY IN BAJA SUR...SOUTHBOUND LUMBER.

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WE SLEEP THE GOOD SLEEP AT RANCH SANTA INEZ...THEN EARLY THE NEXT DAY WE PUSH ON TO OLDTIMER CARMELITA'S AT JESUS MARIE

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THIS ROADSIDE CAFE JUST SOUTH OF THE ARMY DEPOT AT GN HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR, TOO.

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A QUICK CHECK AND YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY INTO SAN IGNACIO

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TRES VIRGENS APPEARS IN THE DISTANCE.

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AND FINALLY GETS CLOSER

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THE INFAMOUS STEEP GRADE (WIDOWMAKER) ABOVE SANTA ROSALIA HAS CLAIMED MANY LIVES


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THIS IS WHERE YOU GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT THE SEA OF CORTEZ..JUST BEFORE STA. ROSALIA..STOP FOR A CANDID MOMENT AND RELAX.

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LIKE THIS DRIVER

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THE MARINA AT STA. ROSALIA...HOME TO MANY CORTEZ SAILORS

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COYOTE BAY CAMPING BEACH...LOTS OF EMPTY PALAPAS AVAILABLE NOW

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HOME AT LAST ... TO THIS GREETER ON MY FIREPIT


MY INTERNET DISH WAS A LITTLE OUT OF WHACK FROM ALL THESE DANG HURRICANES LATELY, BUT LOS FRAILES AND PROTEGE, MARIO, ADJUSTED AND CONNECTED ME PROMPTLY. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT WAYNE?

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AND THAT IS THE END OF ANOTHER BAJA ROAD TRIP...GLAD YOU COULD SEE THE SIGHTS WITH ME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.

AHHH...NOW IT'S TIME TO RELAX AND ENJOY COYOTE BAY.

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DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY AND SAY HI WHEN IN THE AREA. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
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[Edited on 12-1-2008 by Pompano]

Excellent.

Thanks for sharing your journey down to Bahia de Conception.

Beautiful, Thanks for taking me along,

Hoping to get down your way sometime this winter.k

[Edited on 11-30-2008 by Keri]

A needed trip !

VINCE

You bet, Vince. You certainly had the good luck that day.

I recall being stranded this side of that river plain. (Hey, you might say we were...Marooned?) I spent a bunch of time there, about 2 weeks, in my old Chevy pickup camper..having poker parties, hunting firewood, campfires, singing, telling stories, sharing times, and cooking, baking things for many other stranded travelers. There must have been over 200 of us all camped together, tourists, truckers, farmers, salesmen, and families.

It was actually not such a bad camping experience after you got over not being able to either north or south. The road had washed out behind us..trapping us between raging waters. It rained and rained and then rained some more. The Army flew in tents, cots, water and food twice in helicopters and air-evaced anyone with serious health-related problems.

It was an intense time, but we made many new friends and everyone managed pretty well. That's how it is when you share hardships. Like being stuck in a blizzard Up North. We entertained ourselves...just like we did in early years at Coyote Bay...and still do today.

To pass the days and nights, we all did various things, helped with this and that. I had the poker game concession in my camper...taught knots, cooked, rationed rum, and told tall stories around the fire. (Too bad Graham M wasn't there, he certainly would have wrote a different 'marooned' book about this unique event, but he wasn't around until many years later. Remember when he gave slide shows in Coyote Bay at my place, NOLS, and Jungle Jim's? ) I did meet Baja author Tom Miller who later wrote 'Eating Your Way Through Baja", which he signed for me one night at Lake Chalapa roadside cafe.

I can also remember Raul, a trucker who was a frequent card player and excellent singer. His rig was the first one at the head of the southbound lineup just north of the flooded river. One day he told me that it looked okay to try for the other bank, as the water seemed to have slowed and was shallower...so he thought. Well, I told him I was ready to roll behind him in my 4WD 454 Mighty Chev 3/4t with 19ft center console/trailer behind...



Raul dropped his trailer, dieseled down into the water ...almost half-way up his hood ornament... and thinking Raul was a goner, I was about to call out for the poker IOU's he owed me..but he lumbered through and slowly climbed the other side, muddy water coming out of his toolboxes..whew.

What the hell, I thought...I'm a good swimmer, It's an adventure, I'm young and can do the impossible. I put her in 4WD, checked that all the windows were open just in case, said a small prayer, and hit the water hard. I found the bottom real fast and Old Blue kept going even though water was pouring through the door panels. I remember thinking how cool this was...watching the river invade my cab over my boots. I kept from spinning too much and slogged through to the other sloping embankment behind Raul's tracks. Just as I got near it got a mite deeper from Raul's tire ruts and I noticed the boat in my drivers side mirror...it was tied to the trailer pretty good..and was starting to float, lifting the trailer with it and started angling downstream with the fast current. I hit it damn hard right about there, not wanting to go searching miles downstream for my Cortez fishing experience. Well, of course I made it up that hill dragging mud and rocks underneath the skid panels, and finally up to where Raul was smiling from ear to ear. We both had some fun that day.

Within another two days all the other vehicles that wanted to had made it across, thanks to ropes, chains, tows, and many helping hands. Whenever I drove that pickup afterwards, those memories came back...but I never had to test another flash flood of that magnitude.

Never a dull moment, huh Vince?

Santiago, that highway cafe north of GN's Army post is indeed very good...La Espinita. We've eaten there many times..mostly breakfasts, because we have used thier backyard as a campsite for quite a while and it's great to join them for coffee and huevos rancheros.

Also some rooms available, but don't know anything about those. The food has always been devoured by us. Also very nice people..good hosts. Try it and report back.

Why Tecate route rather than TJ?

jdtrotter..you asked when we were in SD and why we take this route, too, so I will answer for both you and Santiago.

We were in SD parts of August, September, and November. This last trip we were up there from late Oct. thru Nov. 20th.

Tecate before TJ always. Just personal preferences really. We only take the TJ tollroad when in a real rush, which is almost never.

I did drive it back in September for the first time in many years with a convoy who had to take this route...smelly, petty theft awareness, congested traffic as usual, but we had no real problems, other than being recklessly overtaken by a armored truck with red lights flashing, siren blaring, and machine guns at the ready...on their way to punch holes in druggers, we hoped.

All in all, between the two, we choose immediate crossing times, no hassles, tranquil parks, wineries, fine dining, and a pastorial scene with barnyard smells coming from cows....not from sewers overflowing across streets into abandoned condo projects.

Coming back the last time at Tecate, we were 4th in line...almost immediate crossing time and no hassles.



The difference in miles and time does not matter to us. Been going the preferred Tecate route for 30some years and highly doubt we could change now. Been to Laja's or Mustafo's? Try them. The case buys at LA Cetto are unbelievable for my favorite red table wine.

The highway is being rebuilt as I type this into a 4-lane all the way to Ensenada. The distance from Tecate to Ensenada is the same as from TJ, but is, in our opinion of course, a much better experience. Like taking the Interstate or country roads, it's just the way we like to travel.

Last, but actually first...the quiet and scenic campground at Portrero State Park is a very nice relief from the hectic traffic around San Diego..gets you primed for Baja times.

Fun trip report , Roger.... and an equally good trip down memory lane.

But I'm with Judy on this.... were you driving the widowmaker and taking pix at the same time???
How do you do that.

Nena

bajajudy...I solved that issue a long time ago, being a Baja Road vet.

I have a camera mounted on my Got Baja? cap. The camera's shutter is triggered when I raise my Pacifico.

Actually, whenever I take a photo I either stop or am very careful of my surroundings..plus use a small palm-size camera that is easy to use with one hand. Not hard at all...just point and shoot.

p.s. Hi Nena, just saw your question now...same answer. Don't worry, it's NOT dangerous as all or I wouldn't take the risk of not taking those new twin boy-grandchildren fishing!


[Edited on 12-1-2008 by Pompano]

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve&ebby We will be at Santispec December 24th . Where are you? We will try to come by and say Hi.

Hi Steve&ebby, just drive south from Santispac and watch the kilometer markers. I live in Coyote Bay between km 107 and 108. See you there..and maybe at Ana's too.

Merry CHRISTMAS in advance.