David K and Baja Angel on the road: from La Paz & Asuncion. NOW HOME!

Hola Amigos,

We are on Day 5 of our 2 week Baja adventure vacation.

Having the best time... and the peninsula is wonderful. Where is evrybody, no tourists from north of the border anywhere we go?

Saturday was Tecate to Mexicali to Shell Island, fantastic!

Sunday to Gonzaga, Coco's, Calamajue Canyon then to El Crucero and HWY.1 to Bahia Concepcion (long drive, but worth it).

Spent 3 nights at La Perla on the bay, then today headed for La Paz. Had an awesome fruit plate in Loreto (thanks to Phil C for letting us know the fruteria's location since the one by the mission closed).

Arrived La Paz about 4 pm. Staying at Bajatripper's near downtown. We walked the malecon at sundown and had a great meal watching all the people out for the evening... Today is Baja Angel's and my 4th wedding anniversary, and she has wanted to visit La Paz since we have been traveling Baja.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A brief road report:

Lot's of Hwy. 5 being repaved and widened from the Sand Dunes to Hwy. 3 jcn.

Pavement south of Puertecitos still ends just north of Los Delfines (about 10 miles from Papa's driveway) with road construction to just short of Papa's.

Coco looks great... we spent almost an hour with him. He needs a m/c battery for his quad (a Suzuki, I think)... I took photos of it and the battery.

After all the time to get our tourist cards, the inspector at the state border near Guerrero Negro just smiled from his doorway and waved us on without a look, or even a bug spray there.

Hwy. 1 is in excellent shape with just the Cuesta del Infierno being re-paved, out of Santa Rosalia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The plan is to do some day trips out from here, including a Cabo loop, just so she can say she's been there... then back north away from that place! LOL

We hope to get out to visit with Juan y Shari on our trip north and keep having a great time!

Gas is only $2.95/ gallon and the roads are vacant of any norteamericanos! Lot's of Mexican families on vacation, which is great to see... but it is just so beautiful down here, and the weather is great... warm, but great!

Well, a big thank to Bajatripper and Zully for their hospitality and with that, I will say good night until next time...

David K, on the road in Baja!









[Edited on 7-29-2012 by David K]

DAVID K & ANGEL

HOLA, AND CONGRATS !!!! K & T

Sounds fun! Happy Anniversary

Great to hear you guys are having a good time. You both deserve it. Keep the reports coming, David...........

And stop by Lopez Mateos for a mule ride with Alazan and his cart or kayak in the canal. Spare room awaits!

Felicidades!

Happy Anniversary!

Nice offers.

THURS. Update

I know it is already Friday morning, but let me give you a quick update.

First, I was so tired last night when I posted that I forgot to mention what a nice visit we had with Olivia and Mark at Playa Buenaventura... They still can smile after all the garbage they have been dealing with, knowing in the end that good must outweigh evil. We had killer cheeseburgers Monday afternoon there with ice cold XX. Truely cheeseburgers in paradise. It was also Day 5, not 6 when I posted Wednesday evening.

Okay, so today after a good sleep we headed south to see some history! Traveling together in Bajatripper's Toyota 4Runner, we visited El Triunfo, San Antonio, Real de Santa Ana (behind a locked gate now), San Bartolo, Los Barilles for dinner at 5 (Smokey's Grill?) then north on the rough coastal, cliff road past Punta Pescadero to where it pops over the mountain to San Juan de los Planes. We saw a turtle nest and fresh track from the water to it!

Don't worry, I took lot's of photos!!

Weather awesome everywhere, and we even drove through a downpour on Hwy. 1 near San Bartolo, with lightning and thunder. Dry as a bone everywhere else, however.

Friday, I think we will tour some historic things in the city and also go out to Tecolote and Balandra. Saturday will probably be our Cabo loop day and Sunday maybe San Evaristo and Mision San Luis Gonzaga and Los Dolores at La Pasion... maybe??


Thank you all for the nice wishes and ideas!
'runner... we have driven the road from Asuncion to Abreojos in 2007... easy drive, great coast!
Blanca... WOW so nice an offer, we just may see you (maybe Monday?)

Again a big thank you to Bajatripper (Steve and Zully) for the great time we are having in La Paz!

Bye for now!!

If you get stuck, get edm1 to pull you out and Bajatripper to rig the strap - works for me!

Hap E An a vers R E,

Thanks!

Okay a brief FRIDAY REPORT:

Went to two museums and saw much on the history of Baja CA Sur on display. Went to the plaque at where it is believed the mission was at La Paz. Went to Balandra Bay and walked to the mushroom rock for photos. Went to Tecolote Beach for some relaxation and a swim... jelly fish got me on the ankle and Baja Angel on her arm, pain gone in 30 min. Bajatripper and Zully never went in, laughs on us! LOL

Tomorrow is our Todos Santos, Los Cabos, La Ventana loop trip, leaving early.

Sunday, going out on a boat to see sea lions, etc.

Monday, heading north!

Great times here with Bajatripper and family! Pretty cool to be staying in a guest room, in the former villa of a Mexican general!

SAT. DAY 8

What a great day today was! Went to the tip via Todos Santos and a stop at San Pedrito beach... Like a South Pacific island! The Pacific Ocean water was warmer than then the gulf was at La Paz!

We went to Cabo San Lucas (and had fun) ... but don't tell anybody David K had fun at Cabo!!

We took a boat ride out to the cape (El Arco) arch rock and went around into the Pacific Ocean, then back into the Gulf of California (yah, I know it's the same water... but that is the common dividing point.)

Had lunch at Cavendish's Tavern... including mango margaritas!

On the road again, a stop at El Tule beach then the estero at San Jose del Cabo, looked for Baja Books and Maps as we drove around to get a photo of the mission (church on the mission site).

Stop in Santiago to again see the church on the mission site, then to the Santiago Zoo... and it is still open with lots of people enjoying the park. We didn't go in...

On to Las Cuevas... and a giant bat cave!

We were looking for John and Rachael (the walkers) all along Hwy. 1, but did see them today.

Passed by Los Barriles and saw LOT's of sportfishing boats anchored offshore.

It was getting late, so we didn't go north to La Ventana... but stayed on Hwy. 1 and hoped to buy some pitayas in El Triunfo. Several vendors were along the highway 2 days ago, but alas, none were still out when we came through today (about 7 pm).

Tomorrow we will take a panga to see more seal lions in the morning.

So many photos taken!!!

See you guys again soon!



[Edited on 7-23-2012 by David K]

David K, You've got go to the Giggling Marlin(if it's still in operation) and get hung upside down by your heels. They'll give you an upside down shot of tequila if you can do a sit-up while hanging by your heels and take a picture of you.

/\/\/\/\ That I gotta see /\/\/\/\

SUN. DAY 9

It's late, but I wanted to just say thanks to the nice words and again to our hosts here in La Paz (Bajatripper: Steve & Zully)!

Today we took a boat ride to the north tip of Isla Partida and swam with the sea lions and tropical fish, plus a picnic on a nearby beach and explored the ruins on Espirito Santo Island.

Dinner tonight (Sunday) at Jesse's Tres Virgenes Restaurant... it was OUTSTANDING!!! Alas, Jesse wasn't there, but his brother (Pedro) and staff gave us VIP treatment and it was just another great example of what a wonderful city La Paz is, as well as the entire state of Baja California Sur, so far! I did chat a bit with Jesse on the phone, and it was good to at least hear is voice, again!

The plan is to head north in the morning and spend a couple of nights at Shari's place in Bahia Asuncion before crossing the state border into Baja California (norte)... and a couple more days back to the USA.

This has been an outstanding trip and vacation... Baja Rocks!

Thank you Bajatripper and Zully for your wonderful hospitality!

Okay, you all probably will get a break from my posts for the rest of my vacation, so look for the trip report in about 7-8 more days... Hope you like photos, too!!

Adios Amigos... signing off from LA PAZ, BCS, MEXICO!

[Edited on 7-23-2012 by David K]

TUE.

WED.

David K. Glad to hear your vacation went well! A seasoned Baja traveler! Looking forward to your pictures.

what's funny is that David K doesnt like mustard!!!

he did like the lobster omelet this morning though...having a little gathering of the minds for supper here at the Blowhole and then I have to kick them out because of a big meeting here tomorrow with the Governor...lots of bigwigs filling the town's rooms.

Does that mean the road will be repaired?

I would have posted something sooner, but David and Baja Angel simply wore me out and I've just now gotten up from a long nap of recovery.

Glad to see your trip is continuing on a positive note, David. It was a pleasure to host two true Baja Lovers such as you and Baja Angel and an honor to share with the two of you some of what makes Baja so special to us. I also want to thank you again for finally getting me to the ruins of Santa Ana, which had eluded me on two previous occasions. Thanks to you knowing where to look, we were able to sweet talk a ranch lady into opening a locked gate so that we could have access to the nearby ruins—which the people at the ranch call “El Mortero.” I’m taking the liberty to post a few photos of that outing since you acted as my tour guide on that part of the trip.

For anyone who’s interested, Santa Ana was founded in 1748 by Manuel de Ocio, a retired soldier who had been posted at the Loreto Mission. Santa Ana has the distinction of being the first non-indigenous-based community in either of the Californias. Until its founding, the Jesuits had been successful at enforcing their claims of exclusivity in peninsular affairs. But Ocio, who had made a fortune in pearls in the years before he tried his hand at mining in what would become the Southern Mining District, was able to somehow secure a land grant from the viceroy and became the peninsula’s first official European civilian settler. He lived at a nearby ranch of the same name (and still occupied).

While looking for information available on the web, I came across this site, which is in Spanish. I list it because it contains photos of ruins that are very different from those found during our visit. Our group was down in the arroyo where the work was done. David and I wondered where the town where the people lived was at. Perhaps this site provides the answer.

http://www.californax.com/calx1/d001acalx_txt_intro/0050_ICO...

Photos of our visit to Santa Ana, or someplace we mistook for it.

After the lady at the ranch let us through the gate, we drove down to the arroyo and parked to walk down to the ruins. It was a nice day for a hike and this patch of desert is about the only spot in all of southern Baja that has gotten some recent rains, it seems.


The plumerias (locally known as cacalosuchos) were blooming even in the dry areas of our trip, so the ones down here were really looking good.


Baja Angel got to try some wild pitahiya and we all had mangoes from an old huerta


This was the first hint of the old construction in the area, it had recently been unearthed by heavy-duty machinery.


Above view of what was described to David as an old waterwheel mill drive


A view from below of the same structure


Another view


An old oven David remembered seeing on his previous trip


I'll leave the photo posting of the rest of your stay down here to you, David.

You two have a safe trip home.

[Edited on 7-26-2012 by Bajatripper]

so neat to meet David and Baja Angel - here is a pic of the lunch

and here is a picture of their $20 donation to the London bound teens :

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ Does that mean the road will be repaired?

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo Once the guvnor takes a drive on the road from Vizcaino to the BA turn-off, I'll bet the road will be repaired by the end of August! Quote: Originally posted by Russ Does that mean the road will be repaired?

Which patio would you like to eat on? How bout desayuno under the rock room arches...


Happy Hour on our patio


and some baja talk in the evening in our new "Dolphin Room"

It's been fun hearing about the various trips they have done and mission history.

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca so neat to meet David and Baja Angel - here is a pic of the lunch

i remember the incredible curry dish you made for us, Blanca!!!! can't wait for seconds.....

Thanks Ateo,

Just wanted to let you know that we began the trip on fuel purchased where I met you! So, in a way... you got us off to a good start! Thank you!

Here is a quick look at our trip itinerary:

Baja California July 2012: 2,622 miles

Day 1 (Saturday July 14th): To Shell Island via Tecate, Mexicali, San Felipe.

Day 2 (Sunday): To Bahia Concepcion via Coco’s Corner, Calamajue, Guerrero Negro, Santa Rosalia.

Days 3, 4 (Monday, Tuesday): At Bahia Concepcion plus Mulege dinner.

Day 5 (Wednesday July 18th): To La Paz via Loreto and Ciudad Constitucion.

Day 6 (Thursday): To El Triunfo, Real de Santa Ana, San Bartolo, Los Barriles, Punta Pescadero, San Juan de los Planes, La Paz.

Day 7 (Friday): La Paz Museums, La Balandra, El Tecolote.

Day 8 (Saturday): To Todos Santos, El Pedrito, Cabo San Lucas, El Tule, San Jose del Cabo, Santiago, Las Cuevas, La Paz.

Day 9 (Sunday): To: Isla Espirito Santo, Isla Partida, Las Tres Virgenes Restaurant.

Day 10 (Monday July 23rd): To Bahia Concepcion via Las Pocitas, Cd. Constitucion, Ligui, and Loreto.

Day 11 (Tuesday): To Bahia Asuncion via San Ignacio, Punta Abreojos, La Bocana.

Day 12 (Wednesday): At Juan y Shari’s Bahia Asuncion Bed & Breakfast, Fossil Hunting.

Day 13 (Thursday): To Bahia San Rafael via Vizcaino, Pozo Aleman, San Francisquito.

Day 14 (Friday): To Shell Island via Bahia de los Angeles, Laguna Chapala, Bahia San Luis Gonzaga.

Day 15 (Saturday July 28th): To San Diego via San Felipe, Mexicali and Tecate.

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca so neat to meet David and Baja Angel - here is a pic of the lunch

WELCOME HOME, DAVID AND ANGEL----sounds like a GREAT trip.

(I would recommend BF Goodrich All Terraign AT's next time)

Barry