BajaNomad - TRIP REPORT by Ateo (photos by BajaLucy)

TRIP REPORT by Ateo (photos by BajaLucy)

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 11:49 AM

OK, not the most original title for a trip report....................

Just got back last night from 10 days in Baja. The family had a great time. Our main destinations: San Q, La Lobera, Mision San Fernando Velicata, Catavina, BOLA, and a couple of surf spots.

We crossed around noon and headed towards the hotel I will no longer name because it's always booked these days. =)

RIP SALSIPUEDES

We stopped in San Q and asked for panga recommendations. We wanted to take the kids on a tour of the bay, but it never came together. We wanted to get on our way southbound. There were rumors of a large swell headed our way...............

Dinner at............

Cleanest sign in Baja, until I got done with it. Just added one sticker. C'mon cut me some slack.

The road in to La Robera was pretty mangled. At one point I was gonna turn around but the inner immature teenager took over and I launched the Tundra over some crappy portions of the road. The trail zigzagged all over the place. The tourism board guy I met in San Q said the road was closed for a while because access was impossible.

After a brief stop at La Lobera, we headed south to Mision San Fernando Velicata.

The quick drive in was quite beautiful. No one around except a cross country moto dude heading solo in to the hills.

I just couldn't resist putting David's book up for the photograph. I'm guessing this book will lead me to other off the beaten path spots in the future (Disclaimer: Velicata is not off the beaten path though - very easy access)

From there we headed into one of everyone's favorite Baja regions - Catavina. Things got a little bit psychedelic.

Got back on the highway for a while and pulled off for a doggy potty break and did a little recon on some side roads I've been interested in.

Trotted on a few more miles to BOLA where we pulled in for dinner at Alejandrina's and stayed at Villa Bahia.

The next morning we bailed for the Pacific Coast. It was pouring rain from just outside of BOLA to our destination. The road was a dangerous animal. I kept my speeds low as I had a lrge chunk of my family tree on board and the only guy alive who will pass on the family name. Ha ha.

Fueling up.

Unpacked. Staying here for 5 days.

As night approached so did the rain clouds. We got dumped on pretty hard that night. Had to get out and make adjustments to keep from getting washed away.

The next day we headed north up the coast to do a little exploring. Most roads were inaccessible due to the rain but we found one road that was doable.

The main road out was not passable and eventually we had to turn around. No need to sink the rig for a little exploring.

We headed back to camp and I did some reading.

And a surf.

New Year Eve Moon Rise

New Years Day 2013

Mimosa con Tajin

We hiked about 4 miles roundtrip down to the next point.

Headed out a few days later and came across some fisherman that were fixing a flat. Cool dudes.

Been having computer issues lately so I'm gonna post this now.............more photos later.

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by Ateo]

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 11:56 AM

nice selection of TKT and Hornitos to wash it down.

also, that A/C compressor to air up tires is an old classic!

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by woody with a view]

bajario - 1-6-2013 at 12:00 PM

Man, I love trip reports like yours. It's like I'm almost there with you. I can read this over and over. Look forward to more.

Maybe I need to focus less on work on and more on living. :light:

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 12:03 PM

Part 2:

Headed into San Q to find our favorite place booked so we headed to overflow spot: Hotel Cirios. Like some have noted, it's very basic and in the winter it can be cold. But it was clean and had hot water.

Old Mill

San Q exploring:

We had about 450 pounds of mud on the vehicle so we stopped by La Curva Car Wash in Colonet. 30 pesos to rinse the undercarriage.

La Fonda

Poco Cielo Salmon. The best.

Saturday Morning Barrel

Great trip. We crossed at a secret spot back into the USA. 20 minutes. The agent at the gates of dawn welcomed us back into the country. He was so cordial. It was refreshing.

Got home to find these in my mailbox. Thanks BajaNomad.

-Ateo

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view

also, that A/C compressor to air up tires is an old classic!

Exactly, I've heard about this but this was the first time I saw it in action. I walked up and asked if they needed anything and they were like, "no.....................we got this -- done it many times". I walked back to my truck defeated. =)

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 12:12 PM

i'll try to out do you next weekend when my 9 days south of the border begins!

hoping for yellowtail and empty lineups!

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 12:16 PM

Good luck Woody. You shall score copious amounts of olas y pescado.

DENNIS - 1-6-2013 at 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo

Cleanest sign in Baja, until I got done with it. Just added one sticker. C'mon cut me some slack.

Just tell everybody you covered a bullet hole with the sticker and it becomes a public service.

Did anyone ever tell you what Lobera means.
No??
Well.....sit back and I'll tell ya.
Un Lobo Del Mar is a seal. Not an Easter Seal nor a Seal of approval, but a Seal that swims around your white Sea Bass as you try to get it to the gaff.
A Lobera is where the Seals hang out on shore.
There. You owe me a cold Pacifico.
Thanks for listening.

.

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 12:51 PM

any time, Dennis!
:cool:

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

I learned a new Spanish word today! Gracias DENNIS. I'll swing by next time and get you that Pacifico!

bajaguy - 1-6-2013 at 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
Part 2:

Headed into San Q to find our favorite place booked so we headed to overflow spot: Hotel Cirios. Like some have noted, it's very basic and in the winter it can be cold. But it was clean and had hot water.

-Ateo

Dog brushing its teeth???

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by bajaguy]

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 12:56 PM

or practicing relieving himself while standing!

:lol:

DENNIS - 1-6-2013 at 01:08 PM

Room with a doggie water bowl. At least he's not using the shorter version.

wessongroup - 1-6-2013 at 01:11 PM

Thanks much, great to get out with you and yours

Bob H - 1-6-2013 at 01:17 PM

Now THAT's a very special trip report with unique photos!!

Sidamone - 1-6-2013 at 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

-Ateo

Dog brushing its teeth???

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by bajaguy]

washing down his Ambien

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

-Ateo

Dog brushing its teeth???

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by bajaguy]

Ha ha ha hilarious! Now if only I cold get these kids to brush without reminding them! Funny thing is I didn't even see the dog doing this when I took the photo.

Thanks Bajario, Wesson, Bob H for the kind words.

Sidamone - 1-6-2013 at 01:24 PM

those were incredibly creative photos, congrats.

HelloMrSoul - 1-6-2013 at 01:26 PM

Thanks for the great trip report.

Those kids are building a lifetime's worth of memories.

Thanks to you Ateo for turning me on to this site. Quickly I am favoring this site over all the dirt bike sites I am on including the one I am supposedly a tech expert on! I love change. BajaNomad reminds me of what some like AdvRider were years ago and what I reckon The Hubb is the only one left; everyone is so mature here. Amazing.

Thanks to all and Happy New Year!

Bajaboy - 1-6-2013 at 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelloMrSoul
Thanks for the great trip report.

Those kids are building a lifetime's worth of memories.

Thanks to you Ateo for turning me on to this site. Quickly I am favoring this site over all the dirt bike sites I am on including the one I am supposedly a tech expert on! I love change. BajaNomad reminds me of what some like AdvRider were years ago and what I reckon The Hubb is the only one left; everyone is so mature here. Amazing.

Thanks to all and Happy New Year!

Looks like a great trip....thanks for sharing it with us.

zac

David K - 1-6-2013 at 01:33 PM

Wonderful report Ateo!

I hope Doug doesn't delete it as it strays a bit beyond the PG-13 level he has set!

That is a sweet photo of the book with the mission behind it...

Thank you for taking us along... I miss Baja!

PS Dennis, I think 'Lobo del Mar' is also the sea lion, which is mostly what is there, (I think)?

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 01:36 PM

what is rated R? puh-leeez....

BajaLucy - 1-6-2013 at 01:36 PM

Awesome report Ateo, cant wait for next trip :bounce:

Whole family enjoy
Peace Out'

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaLucy
Awesome report Ateo, cant wait for next trip :bounce:

Whole family enjoy
Peace Out'

Thanks BajaLucy and let me be the first one to welcome you to BajaNomad! We had a great trip.

David K - 1-6-2013 at 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
what is rated R? puh-leeez....

Talk to Doug about it, it doesn't bother me... in the least! :lol:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Baja Nomad, posted after a 'R rated' picture was posted, and he removed:

BajaNomad
Super Administrator

Registered: 8-1-2002

posted on 5-15-2005 at 10:13 AM

I had to delete that image, as this site is rated PG-13. Sorry everyone.

btw... that which Baja beach was that?

--
Doug

DENNIS - 1-6-2013 at 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
PS Dennis, I think 'Lobo del Mar' is also the sea lion, which is mostly what is there, (I think)?

Well...thank you, David. Your correction alone tells me you know what I was saying.
Maybe you can clear up why a Lion of any type is called a Wolf...Lobo.
Inquiring minds etc etc etc.

BajaLucy - 1-6-2013 at 01:53 PM

/Users/xxxxxxxxx/Desktop/IMG_3732.jpg

Cant wait to discover more missiones en Baja thanks to Author we would know more about missions and how to get to them txs

[Edited on 1-7-2013 by BajaNomad]

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 01:53 PM

Bonus Material:

My wife, who claims to be a fireworks expert, launched a bottle rocket into the wind and it immediately went off course, landing in my son's hair. He yelled "hit the deck!!" as it approached but it still nailed him. It was a scary moment to say the least but I think it taught a few people to be more careful. Fortunately it wasn't a bottle rocket that explodes as well......just one of those that launches.

DENNIS - 1-6-2013 at 01:56 PM

Quote:

[quote

Must be this disgusting, smutty picture. For shame. For shame.

.

Pacifico - 1-6-2013 at 01:59 PM

Great trip report and photos! Did you haul all that firewood in with you? Well done!

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
[quote

Must be this disgusting, smutty picture. For shame. For shame.

.

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacifico
Great trip report and photos! Did you haul all that firewood in with you? Well done!

Yeah, we hauled it all in and ended up leaving 5 pieces for someone to find! Packed it in first then covered it all with camp gear. I know a guy who gives great deals on wood in Oceanside. U2U me if you want the details.

motoged - 1-6-2013 at 02:03 PM

Ateo,
Your great pics tell a great adventure story....gracias :saint:

BajaLucy - 1-6-2013 at 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
Bonus Material:

My wife, who claims to be a fireworks expert, launched a bottle rocket into the wind and it immediately went off course, landing in my son's hair. He yelled "hit the deck!!" as it approached but it still nailed him. It was a scary moment to say the least but I think it taught a few people to be more careful. Fortunately it wasn't a bottle rocket that explodes as well......just one of those that launches.

it was an accident The whole cohete was set up properly but chair got on the way' and land on poor boy

David K - 1-6-2013 at 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
PS Dennis, I think 'Lobo del Mar' is also the sea lion, which is mostly what is there, (I think)?

Well...thank you, David. Your correction alone tells me you know what I was saying.
Maybe you can clear up why a Lion of any type is called a Wolf...Lobo.
Inquiring minds etc etc etc.

I am asking, not correcting (note I put a ? there)... Are they seals or sea lions at La Lobera? I wrote about the place, and had been told it was a 'sea lion' crater.

As for Lobo del Mar... Wolf of the Sea... I think that is as good a name as the English 'Sea Lion'... I mean is it more Canine or Feline ?

DENNIS - 1-6-2013 at 02:11 PM

They bark like dogs.......Sea Dogs........arf arf.

David K - 1-6-2013 at 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaLucy
/Users/jonmartin/Desktop/IMG_3732.jpg

Cant wait to discover more missiones en Baja thanks to Author we would know more about missions and how to get to them txs

Thank you for finding them interesting and asking more!

The book has the locations, but not GPS'ed. For satellite images of all the mission sites with GPS go to my missions pages that begin at http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions (this was made long before the book).

The page with the excat mission locations, north to south is http://vivabaja.com/missions4

I have not been to all the missions in Baja, but my co-author has been to them all. If you want some more help, directions, or more mission questions answered, I will try to answer them for you. I suggest you visit the books Facebook page for more photos, too... http://facebook.com/oldmissions

Thank you!

Curt63 - 1-6-2013 at 02:52 PM

Excellent report. Nice pic effects. That restaurant looks so "garden like". Glad you got to visit Woody's sister. Any big surf? It was epic here.

Curt63 - 1-6-2013 at 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelloMrSoul

Quickly I am favoring this site over all the dirt bike sites I am on including the one I am supposedly a tech expert on! I love change.

Welcome aboard HelloMrSoul! What is your area of technical expertise? Lots of treadheads here on Bajanomads.

Fell free to add some epic Baja pics from your travels.

Cheers, Curt

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curt63
Excellent report. Nice pic effects. That restaurant looks so "garden like". Glad you got to visit Woody's sister. Any big surf? It was epic here.

Some very big surf at some spots just south of where I was. I withheld the photos because I didn't want to make people froth. :lol:

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 03:13 PM

^^^^you're a good man, Charlie Brown!^^^^

pappy - 1-6-2013 at 03:34 PM

good trip and nice report! like the photos too!

Curt63 - 1-6-2013 at 04:42 PM

Lets see those big wave pics :yes:

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curt63
Lets see those big wave pics :yes:

Surfline is gonna publish my shots Monday. JK.

woody with a view - 1-6-2013 at 05:15 PM

go ahead and show em. just crop out the IDing features.... call it scorpion bay or punta perfecta and we'll all know EXACTLY where it is!

wished our paths would have crossed

skipowell - 1-6-2013 at 05:38 PM

We were at some of the same places about the same time. Where you in Punta Santa Rosalitta area around New Years? The muddy roads and all?

shari - 1-6-2013 at 06:15 PM

This was a great trip report dude...I love the effects you used to doll up your photos...love the neon and UFO's....really fun to scroll through and see familiar spots through someone elses lens! Bravo

BajaBlanca - 1-6-2013 at 08:31 PM

really excellent report ! you take us right along for the ride ! and whooohooo welcome bajalucy !

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowell
We were at some of the same places about the same time. Where you in Punta Santa Rosalitta area around New Years? The muddy roads and all?

We were close by. It was pouring rain Sunday night right?

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
This was a great trip report dude...I love the effects you used to doll up your photos...love the neon and UFO's....really fun to scroll through and see familiar spots through someone elses lens! Bravo

Glad you dug the UFO's and neon. That's all mi esposa. It's good to see some distorted stuff from time to time -- just to mix it up for no good reason! Gracias Shari.

Ateo - 1-6-2013 at 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
really excellent report ! you take us right along for the ride ! and whooohooo welcome bajalucy !

Yeah, BajaLucy wants in on the fun. Hopefully she'll share some experiences, recipes, and perspective!

Hope to see you and Les soon -- maybe with the kids this time!

Ateo - 1-7-2013 at 09:49 AM

Was this the type of photo you surfers wanted posted?

La Fonda, 1938

David K - 1-7-2013 at 10:40 AM

Add a GPS, but make it some place in China! :light:

TMW - 1-8-2013 at 11:20 AM

Great report, loved the pictures and how they were presented.

BajaGeoff - 1-8-2013 at 11:28 AM

Great report Ateo!

Skipjack Joe - 3-18-2014 at 11:14 PM

Your B&W 'psychedelic' images are really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Don't know how I missed this report.