BajaNomad

Upcoming Cabo ride

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 07:28 AM

dtbushpilot - 1-12-2011 at 07:41 AM

Great, let's go......dt

Welcome to Nomads Barb, tell us a little about yourself and your upcoming ride....

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 07:44 AM

Ola! Where to begin? We're in serious preparations for a big ride and this looks like a most excellent resource.

I've travelled all the way down The Peninsula several times over the years, but not lately. Had to get my nerve up, or more accurately, I had to get better informed about the current reality and ignore the hype. (Sounds like to a large extent it hasn't changed much except that the Gringo tourists have all gone away.

I travel by motorcyle (I don't want a pickel...), usually solo but sometimes with one or two good buds. This time is different.

I've talked up my great rides down there so much a bunch of friends have been on me to take 'em down there. So I'm going to. Leading a few of them down (7 other couples -- generally wayyyy too big a crowd for me).

Well, I've got a bunch of questions but will start with a few:

I wonder if this is shaping up to be a wet season. I've had a couple of kind of dicey rides down there, both times in El Nino years. And I'm rather concerned about the road conditions down at the big construction site south of Ensenada. Sounds like that can be no fun at all!

We're going to want to hit an ATM in Ensenada on the way down, but we're not laying over there on the way south. I'm sure I can picture a big bank and ATM at a supermarket on the main highway south so we don't have to go into downtown, but if someone can refresh my memory, that would be muchly appreciated.

I also wonder just how bad it will be coming back across to the north on a Sunday afternoon. Sounds like a zoo.

We're not going to be in any hurry on this trip: 5 days down and 5 days to come back up. Should be a nice introduction for these folks.

Heading south on Feb 3 and crossing back on the 14th.

Anywho, looking forward to "meeting" some of you; maybe see some down the road.

Regards,
Barbarosa aka Redbeard

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 07:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Great, let's go......dt

Welcome to Nomads Barb, tell us a little about yourself and your upcoming ride....



___________________________

I gots some learnin to do. (Thougth I'd lost that first post and started over!) Don't know how to quote and reply.
Will try this and go from there.

Anywho, thanks for the welcome.

Barbarosa

Mike99km - 1-12-2011 at 08:48 AM

Sounds like fun! Coming home no big deal just split the lanes, bikes do it all the time. I just get my pesos at Costco if they're open, if not I get it from my bank before I go. Plenty of ATM in Ensenada, make sure you check out what bank your bank works with.
My guy from at NOAA thinks that the rest of the year will be on the dry side and he's more right then wrong.
MMc

Bajahowodd - 1-12-2011 at 03:35 PM

As a creature of habit, I always stop at the bank just before the La Bufadora turn-off, on the right side. Usually easy in and out.

estebanis - 1-12-2011 at 03:57 PM

Go back through Tecate then split the lanes. South of Manedero is in much better shape. You will need to ride a bit slow and dodge the potholes. Consider staying in Erendira at Coyote Cal's on the first day. You guys could take the place over! http://www.coyotecals.com/

dtbushpilot - 1-12-2011 at 04:10 PM

If you can stay at Coyote Cal's do it. Great place, great folks, fabulous massage....

What bikes are you riding?....dt

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 05:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
If you can stay at Coyote Cal's do it. Great place, great folks, fabulous massage....

What bikes are you riding?....dt



Hey, already a great new find! Most excellent. I know a bunch of great places down there but this is a new one to me.

(I was contemplating taking 'em to Celito Lindo but since it's been years -- don't know current status -- and I gots a big group and all, I chickened out. We will at least hit that bar, tho.)

Regarding bikes, 7 of us (couples) will be 2-up on late model Harleys, all Baggers, and one couple will be on 2 BMWs.

Let's see... some of the other stuff:

I gather the only bank with a Mexican partner is BofA (Santander Serfin). I'm pretty sure there's one of them right on Hiway 1 in Ensenada next to a big supermarket.

And I Shirley hope the weather guy is right about being on the dry side the rest of the season.

Thanks for all the good stuff.

Bajahowodd - 1-12-2011 at 06:21 PM

You talkin' seven couples or seven people? Makes a big diff inasmuch as there are many fine hotels along the way that offer a limited amount of rooms.

dtbushpilot - 1-12-2011 at 07:49 PM

Heading South you can turn off the highway just past Santo Thomas to take the senic dirt road to Erindera and Coyote Cal's.....but don't do that on your bikes. Take the paved road to and through Erindera to Coyote Cal's. They are on the only road on the North end of town. Would probably be a good idea to make reservations with a group your size......dt

tripledigitken - 1-12-2011 at 08:22 PM

Barbarosa,

We use the ATM in Ensenada which is a couple of blocks south after you turn right at the harbor, it's on the left side of the road. We were a group of 4 bikes and a truck and found Rice and Beans a good stop at San Ignacio, without reservations. El Morro in Santa Rosalia usually has many rooms and off street parking. The old La Pinta in San Quintin, now called Mision Santa Maria Hotel, would be a good choice with lots of rooms, has a restaurant, and no reservations shouldn't pose a problem. All of those choices should be between $40-$55.

Take lots of photos. Riding the length of Baja is one of my favorite rides to do.

Have a great time.

Ken


Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 10:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Barbarosa,

We use the ATM in Ensenada which is a couple of blocks south after you turn right at the harbor, it's on the left side of the road. We were a group of 4 bikes and a truck and found Rice and Beans a good stop at San Ignacio, without reservations. El Morro in Santa Rosalia usually has many rooms and off street parking. The old La Pinta in San Quintin, now called Mision Santa Maria Hotel, would be a good choice with lots of rooms, has a restaurant, and no reservations shouldn't pose a problem. All of those choices should be between $40-$55.

Take lots of photos. Riding the length of Baja is one of my favorite rides to do.

Have a great time.

Ken

Thanks, Ken. I bet we do!

I'm pretty sure I know an ATM where we can skirt town and just stay on the hiway.

To the prev question about 7 folks or 7 couples (trust me, I know the difference <g>;) it's 7 newbie couples I'm taking down there which is 16 of us. So for once I'm making a ton of reservations. (Did I mention it's waaayyyy too big a crowd for me? <g>;)

I know that old La Pinta in San Quintin but have never stayed there. (Great fondness for Celito Lindo. This time we're doing Hotel Jardines. Sure looks like a great find!

dt, thanks for the tip. Gotta at least check it out. Sounds terrrific.

tripledigitken - 1-12-2011 at 10:15 PM

Barbarosa,

I feel for you leading noobies on a trip like that. Trust you instincts in all things!

Ken

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 11:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Barbarosa,

I feel for you leading noobies on a trip like that. Trust you instincts in all things!

Ken

Barbarosa - 1-12-2011 at 11:06 PM

(still gettin the hang of this place)

Just to be clear, they're *Baja* newbies. Good riders and good buds who are intimidated by all the hype of recent years. Wouldn't go down there by themselves. We're set to have a *great* time.

Barbarosa

rts551 - 1-13-2011 at 08:32 AM

Jardines is a great place. Make reservations as it fills up fast. I believe that Bancomer and Wells Fargo are partners.

Martyman - 1-13-2011 at 09:48 AM

Cielito Lindo has gone downhill in the past few years. Hotel Mission Santa Maria is on the same road-nice rooms and ambiance-check it out!

Barbarosa - 1-13-2011 at 10:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
Cielito Lindo has gone downhill in the past few years. Hotel Mission Santa Maria is on the same road-nice rooms and ambiance-check it out!



Sorry to hear about Cielito Lindo (tho it's as i feared). Hotel Mission Santa Maria is the old La Pinta (Desert Inns).

We're booked at Hotel Jardines and totally stoked about it!

Bajafun777 - 1-13-2011 at 11:13 PM

If you come back into the USA through Tecate the trick of cutting in line with motorcycles is like this-------------- The crossing from USA into Tecate has you going down the street all the way down to the Park and the Street is called Benito Juarez. At this intersection of this street coming from crossing into Tecate and Benito Juarez you will be going west on Benito Juarez for just a short block or so. You will turn up on the first street that is a one way street going north off of Benito Juarez street, note you will be turning right off Benito Juarez. I think I go about 6 streets upward like you would be going back to the border fence. After these 6 streets, I look for the one way street going back to the east which will take me across that street you drive down into Mexico which takes you to the park on Benito Juarez.

Now, you will still be on your eastward way on that street once you cross this border entry street, to which you will take the first one way street taking you north to the border fence which you can see when you look up the street. As you get to the top of this street you will see the long line of cars and the cement road blocks with the entrance gate back into USA customs in front of you. These cement blocks are about two motorcycles wide so getting between them and cutting into line is real easy.

The Tecate police do not bother you as this is where all the motorcycles slip in sort of like Mexicali cement block opening all of motorcycle riders use. Can't remember the streets names but doing this is so simple as you clearly see the border fence and you clearly see the cement blocks with opening for your departure. Hope this is not confusing as it is one of the fastest motorcycle crossing other than Mexicali that I think of which I have used several times.

I know I will have several on this site give you names of the streets and that is great or may take issue with my directions but what the heck they will get you there and no lane splitting. Take Care & Travel Safe bajafun777 "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN"

karmatourer - 1-14-2011 at 12:41 AM

I'll be riding down from San Diego about that time if you're interested in making it an even bigger crowd at gas stations!:P

Dave - 1-14-2011 at 12:54 AM

I cross frequently at San Ysidro on my bike. I use the Sentri lanes and cross over to a regular lane right before the gate. Minimal lane splitting and never a wait. Unless you enjoy riding out of your way I can't see any benefit to crossing at Tecate.

Barbarosa - 1-15-2011 at 08:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by karmatourer
I'll be riding down from San Diego about that time if you're interested in making it an even bigger crowd at gas stations!:P


Oh, rapture! <g>

Guess you missed the part about this already being waayyyy too big a crowd for me.

See you down there. (How far you going?

Barbarosa - 1-15-2011 at 08:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajafun777
If you come back into the USA through Tecate the trick of cutting in line with motorcycles is like this--------------
<snip th' trick>


Ah yes. I can picture it (from quite a long time ago. Thanks for the reminder, but i won't be over there this time.