Humboldt Chris and Robin - 11-3-2012 at 10:36 PM
We just got back to Arcata last night after a LONG slog from San Quintin. Had a great trip in beautiful warm weather, a bit of wind here and there
but nothing overwhelming. Here it is, pics to follow if I get off my lazy butt.
Crossed in Mexicali the morning of Oct 18, easy drive to San Felipe. Gassed up, and headed to Puertecitos. We have stayed for years at Playa
Destiny, but it was a fish camp, and was pretty much a ruin. Stayed in the little cove just before town. Took off next morning to Gonzaga Bay, the
road is fast and completed to about 10 miles from papa Fernandez. The last 10 miles was graded and in great shape. The road into Rancho Grande was
the usual washboard. Camped at Campo Beluga for a couple days, in hot and calm weather.
Stopped at Coco's on the way out. He seemed in good spirits and looked prety good, better than our last time through. He is waiting for the Baja
1000!
Off to Bahia de Los Angeles, the road out to Chapalla was as bad as I've seen it. Very rocky. Styaed at Campo Archelon for five days, had a good
visit with Antonio and Bette. A young family from Encinada was staying in one of the little cottages, kept us in fish tacos and ceviche the whole
time. Great weathwer, a little afternoon wind but nothing ferocious.. Our usual route is to head to Las Animas and San Francisquito but everyone we
talked to said the road is trashed from the summer rains and advised us against it. We went back to Highway 1 and went south, stayed at Santispac for
a a couple nights. Watched the Giants in the bar and got hammered on the strong margaritas.
Went to loreto for one night, stayed at Rivera del Mar park for showers and laundry. Great dinner at Octavio's.
Headed back north as the rains had created so much grass that my allergies got to me - forgot the Clariton. Went to Punta Abreojos and stayed at
Renee's Camp for three nights, and had a blast kayaking the estuaries. Caught some great fish - groupers, corvina, triggers! Bird life was
phenomenal. That was our first time there and we loved the place!
Headed up to San Quintin, ate at Jardines for the first time. Stayed at Los Olivos - think we'll go back to Don Eddy's in the future, but Jardines
is on the top of the list for good! Next day we started for the border. Had an easy drive through Ensenada, took the Tecate road and ate in
Francisco Zarca at the little carne asada taco stand across from the Pemex, our favorite last meal in Baja! Lots of road improvements to Tecate,
drove through town with a pocket knife in the console and a dog in our laps and didn't get pulled over! Crossed the border at 2:30 PM, no line at all
and for the first time ever we didn't get pulled into secondary!
It was a fantastic trip, the desert was green, lush, and tons of wildflowers/cactus blooms everywhere. Road damage from Paul from Mulege to Loreto
has been mostly cleaned up and the work on that steep grade down to Sta Rosalia seems to be pretty well done. Lots of improvements all along Highway
1.
Back to the rain in Humboldt, our tans are falling off in chunks!!
David K - 11-4-2012 at 12:24 AM
Thank you for sharing!
bkbend - 11-4-2012 at 07:24 AM
Good report, thanks. A great way to do the trip, three-four days in a spot then move down the road to the next nice spot.
Bajaboy - 11-4-2012 at 08:11 AM
sounds like my kind of trip...
TMW - 11-4-2012 at 11:43 AM
Thanks, glad Coco is doing good and the highways are OK to Loreto.
BajaBlanca - 11-4-2012 at 12:02 PM
you were so close to us, next time, head further on past campo rene into abreojos, turn right at calle miguel dominguez and head across the salt flats
to la bocana.
once in la bocana look for calle erizo, the one that paralells the ocean
look for the last house with electricity and there we be ! enjoy a coffee or a beer on the front porch with a spectacular view.
can't wait to see your pics.
brewer - 11-4-2012 at 03:47 PM
Great trip report. I've gotta hit campo Rene again, it's been years. There was a sailboat mast in the channel from a boat that sank the last time I
was there. Long time ago.
I'm taking that Chapala road out around the 18th. Should be in horrible condition after the 1000 goes through!