BajaNomad

Female Nomads

masymas - 1-5-2011 at 05:12 PM

Any women out there who have done the drive in the past year with advice or warnings? It's been a few years since we last drove the Baja.

woody with a view - 1-5-2011 at 06:20 PM

not much has changed. i'm still a guy, too!

DENNIS - 1-5-2011 at 06:25 PM

Where I went to????

DianaT - 1-5-2011 at 06:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by masymas
Any women out there who have done the drive in the past year with advice or warnings? It's been a few years since we last drove the Baja.


How far are you going? My sister drives back and forth to San Quintin alone on a regular basis. One female ex-pat in Bahia Asuncion drives on her own back and forth. The wife of one of our local friends drives to Ensenada on a regular basis--- so it is done a lot----some advice.

Do not drive at after dark.
Be sure you have plenty of gas if you are headed way south---fill up in El Rosario
Plan your trip so that you are not too tired---there are large gaps between some towns.
Just ask for suggestions as to where to stay depending on where you are going. Be a little specific.

And have a GREAT time. One friend I know who camps a lot alone in her small RV always puts out two chairs and has a pair of men's boots that sit outside.

krafty - 1-5-2011 at 07:43 PM

Just did the drive down to Cabo last month and what Diana said-I would add to keep important papers and dinero in a backpack or purse and if asked to exit your car at checkpoints, take it with you-

masymas - 1-5-2011 at 09:23 PM

Thank you ladies for your helpful replies. I am headed all the way down to the East Cape. I follow the tips you gave when traveling anywhere alone but appreciate the reminder about checkpoints. I have some dogs with me. Must I take them out of the car at checkpoints? I also plan on bringing some things for my house down there.

Paulina - 1-5-2011 at 09:38 PM

Ditto on everything posted above.

I might add a few more suggestions;

Make sure your vehicle is in great working order. Know how to change your own flat, have the tools close at hand including road reflectors.

Give someone your itinerary and check in with them.

If possible carry a Mex. cell phone and emergency #s ( A very good friend of mine loaned me a Mex. cell phone and wireless internet to have on hand during my adventures.)

At check points I would only unlock and open one door at a time for inspection, and stand right there. A few times I was asked to go open another door or the back of my truck, to which I refused.

To add to Diana's post, along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line. It's too bad my dog didn't snore to add to the effect.



Have fun!
P<*)))>{

Paulina - 1-5-2011 at 09:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by masymas
I have some dogs with me. Must I take them out of the car at checkpoints?


I don't take mine out.



P<*)))>{

masymas - 1-5-2011 at 10:16 PM

Awww... love the dog photo! I like to hit El Rosario (or Catavina if delayed), San Ignacio, Mulege or Loreto. Decent restaurants, old churches, and comfy beds are always worth a stop imho! No rv this trip so will be relying on hotels. Recommendations are welcome.

BajaNuts - 1-5-2011 at 11:28 PM

I did the drive a couple years ago without the help of BajaNomads, and did fine.

There were good gringos along the way to help with a phone call. After arriving in La Paz, I met a couple other Nomads in person. Great group of folks around here in general....despite the occasional snarky comment...

Here's a thread that's good info for us girlies~
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36760

Are you headed down and back or just south?

And welcome~~~

karmatourer - 1-6-2011 at 12:03 AM

If you are making the drive in early Feb,I will be riding my motorcycle down via Tecate and plan 3 stops along the way,the final being Loreto.I am heading to Cabo where I live.

masymas - 1-6-2011 at 02:00 AM

Thanks again for the replies. It is comforting that all of you mention what I consider to be typical Baja situations so it appears as if things have not changed too much since I last drove down. Need to leave early next week (10th or so) and it is just a one way trip. Will be in San Diego on the 9th. Please u2u me if you are interested in caravaning. Ademas, tengo un esposo muy fuerte, celoso, y un poco loco, y por eso, no puedo viajar con hombres solos.

Santiago - 1-6-2011 at 08:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I might add a few more suggestions;
....along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line.
P<*)))>{


P: OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?

wilderone - 1-6-2011 at 09:12 AM

It hasn't changed much - the sections of road improvements are very nice - wider coming into El Rosario so you can go a little faster; any new section now has a shoulder, and there are better "slow down" type road warnings that prevent high-speed, blind curve, over-the-center-line incidents.

TMW - 1-6-2011 at 11:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I might add a few more suggestions;
....along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line.
P<*)))>{


P: OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?


Some guy will bust in looking for his wife or girlfriend, so be careful.

Bob H - 1-6-2011 at 11:35 AM

We only take Luke out when he has to go! He was not very happy at this stop... hahaha

Paulina - 1-6-2011 at 03:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I might add a few more suggestions;
....along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line.
P<*)))>{


P: OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?


Some guy will bust in looking for his wife or girlfriend, so be careful.




:lol:

djh - 1-6-2011 at 03:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I might add a few more suggestions;
....along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line.
P<*)))>{


P: OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?


What will happen is your buddies will all be winking, slappin you on the back, and hi5'n you, but unfortunately, your girlfriend / wife will kick yer backside......!


:no: wow.... is this a hijack ??? My first, I think !!

shari - 1-6-2011 at 04:06 PM

djh...welcome to the mile highjack club!!!:lol::saint:

santiago...bad boy

BajaBlanca - 1-6-2011 at 04:09 PM

SAN IGNACIO - STAY WITH JANE AT CASA LEREE - A GARDEN ROOM
www.casaleree.com

LORETO - STAY WITH STEVEN AT COPA CABANAS - VERY REASONABLE AND CLOSE TO HAPPY HOUR AT AUGGIE'S !!

masymas - 1-6-2011 at 10:36 PM

Thanks for the hotel recs. Will follow up with them.

David K - 1-6-2011 at 10:42 PM

Don't forget the finest and best bargain highway-side motel in Baja... The Baja Cactus in El Rosario (next to the Pemex gas station)... a good first days drive, 225 miles/ 5 hours from the border.

roadhog - 1-7-2011 at 09:55 PM

Met several women driving Baja. Mas loco.

Skipjack Joe - 1-8-2011 at 03:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I might add a few more suggestions;
....along with the boots and chairs, last summer I added X-lg men's clothing to my laundry line.
P<*)))>{


P: OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?


No worries. They'll know you're from Frisco.

wilderone - 1-8-2011 at 08:50 AM

"OK, so if I set out some spike heels on my patio and hang some women's underwear on my clothes-line will I be OK too? I wonder what would happen?"
Maybe some guys who would want to visit by the hour.

Funny story (and slight hijack): When my friend first moved to a small town in Chiapas, he would notice homes with a red light on in the doorways some evenings. He believed these were homes of "ladies of the evening", and lamented that some of the women he saw standing in the doorway were so young, pretty, and felt badly for them. Months later a new friend of his suggested they get tamales for dinner and proceeded to one of the red-light houses to buy fresh local made tamales. Turns out that on Wednesdays, local women make tamales and other homemade goods, and the red light in their doorway advertises those that sell tamales.

TMW - 1-8-2011 at 11:16 AM

How many were hot tamales?