BajaNomad - baja-obsessed?

baja-obsessed?

dirtbikr - 11-13-2011 at 01:44 PM

I must be going crazy, whenever I come home from baja I just obsesse about going back. Steinbeck was correct when he said his famous words. FOR WE MUST LIVE! It seems for me when I cross the border (south) I am in heaven, I guess when crossing the border I am out of the rat race and I can breathe easier, no tele, phone,newspaper, I truely feel alive for a change, I must be going crazy!

vivaloha - 11-13-2011 at 02:01 PM

I appreciate your raw positive emotion about baja...

welcome to baja nomad.

at one point or another we have all had your youthful
super fired up zeal about baja...you have found it...
all that freedom, all that open terrain, beautiful unspoiled
hills, and flowers and cactus...

there is also an "anything could happen" aspect to the
baja trip...making it home safely with a pocketful of wide
open experiences is partly what being down there is about.
intrepid, different, free...

glad you are digging it dirtbkr...

i appreciate your stoke factor for the wide open baja!

VA

Islandbuilder - 11-13-2011 at 02:03 PM

Have you considered that instead of going crazy, you're going sane? Our "normal" lives are so disconnected from who we really are and what we need, we must be crazy not to step out and live in ways that bring us joy.
Just sayin'......

Osprey - 11-13-2011 at 02:08 PM

Encantada

It really didn’t hit me until we were at 30,000 feet. Big Bob Cleary was asleep on the aisle seat, I had nothing to look at out my little window because of the cloud cover that started right about the Loreto area. We were on our way home from a spur of the moment fishing trip to southern Baja California. We both know summer fishing in the Sea of Cortez is better than winter fishing most of the time but we were tired of the cold and rain in the bay area and just took a shot. Bob called me up at 10:30 at night. We both knew the water was still warm, the fish were biting near Cabo San Lucas – we are both avid members of Baja Nomad chat board so we were up on the fishing, the weather. Sherry was at her folks’ for the holidays and the business had already shown it couldn’t get any slower. I had the boarding passes printed by 11:00 and about 35 hours later we were in the air, destination, Los Cabos.

It was actually hot the first fishing day and we both got a bonus of nearly a limit each of sierra and three nice dorado aboard a superpanga out of Mar Del Sol. The next day we got blown off, the next was likewise windy so we hired a tour taxi to do a little sightseeing. The driver, Javier, took us up in the mountains to some interesting little farming villages. At the second one, Miramonte, we stopped for tacos and beer at a little family joint that was really just a house where they turned one room and the patio into a quaint little café. They were very friendly – the cook was sitting at the next rustic table mixing something in a bowl. I smiled at the woman and leaned over to see what she was making.

“No es comida. Es medicina.”

A short balding Mexican man brought us some more salsa and chips and said. “Martina es una curandera.”

Another glance at the bowl revealed a nasty looking mess of sticks, stems, leaves and dirt.

“Es para té, para rhuma, Señor Scott.”

My hand automatically went to my left wrist – I left my I.D. bracelet in the room. Then it went to the pocket of my T shirt but nothing on me or on my gear could tell the woman my name. Bob and I hadn’t exchanged two words while we ate – the goat meat tacos were that deliciously different, the cerveza a perfect partner for the food.

“You know my name? ¿Conoce me nombre?”

“Si, y su amigo, Roberto.”

Bob said “She knows my name?”

Before I could answer him she said ¿“Son buscadores, como vagabundos, Nomads?”

In my best broken Spanish I asked her how she knew about the Nomads. If I got most of it right she said it was from her friend from another nearby village. She is a real bruha, she can cast spells, heal without herbs. Her name is Delia and she’s from the village of Santa Amalia.

When I asked her how Delia was connected with this internet group she was vague.

“Ella puede encanta muchas gente. Muchas embruhados agui. Delia no es una hechicera para malo, solamente cosas muy buena.”

I think she said ‘She can charm many people. Many under her spell here. She does her magic for good, not evil.’ – that’s close anyway.

I asked her why Delia would charm Norteamericanos.

“No se, posible para invite aqui, possible para recibe regalos.”

Now, on the plane and almost home I actually questioned myself about this crazy afternoon in a little Mexican village. What about the Nomads? Isn’t it true their posts sometimes show a total obsession with anything to do with Baja California? Don’t some of them make all kinds of trips down here just on impulse – like Bob and I just did? Could there actually be some force moving us around? We don’t all come down for the same reason; some just like to hang on the beach, others love to fish, some are surfers, windsurfers, offroaders. But they all seem to be dying to get back down here no matter where they’re from or when they were down here last, whether they wrecked their rigs, suffered with Moctezuma or lost a truck full of gear to banditos.

Don’t they sometimes go through hell and high water to get here – risk all kinds of problems at the border, run the drug/crime/death corridor, pull huge trailers, boats, toys down a narrow two-lane with no shoulders. Some run down with no real plans as though they were being chased. Diver’s cabin fever when being snowbound is palpable, you couldn’t keep Woody from Baja waves unless you killed him and with Bajacat, lots of others, Baja is their very lifeblood, the sine qua non of their fulfillment – I would think many Nomads would agree there is something pulling them, something powerful, ineluctable about the place, the idea of the place. Are they, are we all possessed?

No Scott, you’re not gonna go there. Just something in the goat meat, just a crazy couple at a taco stand messin’ with the gringos. When Bob wakes up I’m not even going to talk to him about it. I might mention the thing about Delia, the village.

Just for kicks, the next time we come down, for our regular planned trip in May, maybe we could find the village, look her up, check out the crazy story. Maybe bring her a little something. What would it hurt?

Curt63 - 11-13-2011 at 02:10 PM

Si, poco loco.

I am the same, but I get that feeling after leaving El Rosario. The border region has lost much of its charm for me.

Its all about empty beaches, taco stands, small fishing villages and empty coastal roads for me

Woooosh - 11-13-2011 at 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curt63
Si, poco loco.

I am the same, but I get that feeling after leaving El Rosario. The border region has lost much of its charm for me.

Its all about empty beaches, taco stands, small fishing villages and empty coastal roads for me

I was coming to Rosarito Beach when the main road was dirt and there were more horses than cars... you have to know when to pack it up when the big changes come I suppose.

shari - 11-13-2011 at 02:36 PM

yep dirtbiker, you are not alone amigo...you are possessed as many of us are...baja grabs your spirit and wont let go. After years of coming and going, I finally succumbed to her and decided to stay. LIfe has never been the same and I am a better person for it, happier, healthier and more relaxed.

When I would go back home, all I could think about was baja and spent the months away packing and planning our next trip....and I wasnt truly happy till I was on that wide open road south once again.

could have been somthing in those goat tacos all right!

welcome to the sand box pal...I look forward to some of your stories.

vivaloha - 11-13-2011 at 02:58 PM

Osprey's got baja on the brain...he eats, sleeps and writes short stories about it...Thanks Osprey...keep it up!

Cypress - 11-13-2011 at 03:16 PM

Baja, Neat country. Good people. :bounce:

BajaBlanca - 11-13-2011 at 03:19 PM

welcome to BajNomadLand dirtbker and vivaloha !!!

bajabass - 11-13-2011 at 06:20 PM

Hola dirtbker! You are now one of the afflicted!! :tumble:

Welcome aboard.

24baja - 11-13-2011 at 06:26 PM

My name is Connie and I am a bajaolic. I joined this 10 step program to make a clean break of this drug and I am still fighting a daily battle!!!

grace59 - 11-13-2011 at 07:04 PM

Welcome Dirtbikr! You are not alone! Whenever I cross the border going south I feel like a weight has been lifted from my soul. I feel so happy, content! When I have to leave I want to cry...when I am back "home" it seems as if I've been gone from Baja forever...even if it's just been a day.

Marc - 11-13-2011 at 07:55 PM

Welcome to the club. :cool:

yakyak2010 - 11-14-2011 at 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dirtbikr
I must be going crazy, whenever I come home from baja I just obsesse about going back. Steinbeck was correct when he said his famous words. FOR WE MUST LIVE! It seems for me when I cross the border (south) I am in heaven, I guess when crossing the border I am out of the rat race and I can breathe easier, no tele, phone,newspaper, I truely feel alive for a change, I must be going crazy!

I know. It's our crazy that most people don't understand and some can never feel. But to us it is heaven.

David K - 11-14-2011 at 02:21 PM

I once saw a spare tire cover on back of a 4x4 that said: 'CAUTION: DRIVER HAS BAJA FEVER' love it!

My slogan: 'So Much Baja... So Little Time'

DianaT - 11-14-2011 at 02:42 PM

Quote:

There is always a good feeling when we cross the border headed south---Baja is a good place to be.

Then again, there are other places calling, new places to explore---I guess we will never stop wanting to see more up until the day we can no longer do so.

805gregg - 11-17-2011 at 06:54 PM

I had that feeling in the early 60's when I first started visiting on my own, Baja is very different now. If I see a car with dark tinted windows or a cop car I wonder if it's my turn to get screwed over. Drugs, and lack of jobs and work has turned Baja. Many years ago (about 20), we were heading north behind 2 Federal cop cars, a large gringo truck towing a large boat was heading south, both cops did a quick u-turn, multiply that by at least 10. You are a victum waiting for the perp.

motoged - 11-18-2011 at 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 24baja
My name is Connie and I am a bajaolic. I joined this 10 step program to make a clean break of this drug and I am still fighting a daily battle!!!

Well, I am doing the "13th Step" with Baja....shameless, I know....but I am powerless... :biggrin:

Cypress - 11-18-2011 at 11:38 AM

It's easy, just go to another warm place during the winter. :yes:

But, if you're committed to Baja, go for it, it's a nice place. If the fishing were better, I'd probably be down there right now. :yes:

bajabass - 11-23-2011 at 11:32 AM

Amen on that! My little place in La Mision is the perfect close to the border, just out of the rat race hideaway. I hid there almost every weekend for about 8 years. The first toll booth was instant tranquilo :biggrin:

Mengano - 11-23-2011 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaeng
How is that for credibility?

Credibility starts with making truthful and consistent statements about the same thing over time. Here are the statements you made over a 3-week period about the exact same people and geographic location.

November 23, 2011
"Soon as the toll road diverts south, and the maniac drivers killing themselves to get to Playas de Tijuana are no longer on the road, we feel so at ease and peaceful..."

November 5, 2011
"Meanwhile, cars behind us started stacking up. Horns were blasting, middle fingers being given to us, it was just nasty to see this. I was saddened to see how low people can be."

Hope you can understand that problem. If you don't, that's OK, it just explains why you fit in so well in Mexico.

David K - 11-23-2011 at 12:42 PM

Baja is a magnet...

and we are bits of iron :light:

Mengano / Fulano......

mcfez - 11-23-2011 at 01:53 PM

For you only:

Letting go of attachment to these negative thoughts and emotions is liberating. This is a process in itself that is well worth the effort. Very effective methods to help to place the mind at ease have been developed over thousands of years. Perhaps Meditation would benefit.

Try listening to music to inspire you while posting in the Bajanomads. You'll give positive comments.

If this doesnt work for you...try a one way hike to the Siberian front. We wont miss you.

[Edited on 11-23-2011 by mcfez]

David K - 11-23-2011 at 02:04 PM

Well, 'we' includes more than you may think! I agree with Deno's overall opinion on how life is better if you see the positive in things and don't focus on the negative.