9 day trip to the Pacific coast

Took a 9 day trip to Pacific at the end of August. Had a great time, even though we got skunked in the fishing department; so, sorry no pictures of any BIG fish . Biggest was a 15" +/- Jacksmelt , then a few 6-8" Halibut we let go to get bigger.

Weather was variable some foggy days some sunny days, and then a little after midnight on Sunday the 25th it started to rain on us. No fun since the tents had come down to help make packing up in the morning easier. All 5 of crammed into the shade structure….but rain still blew in the sides. We usually try to drive home in two days with a stop in the Rancho Martires area, south of El Rosario; but with everything being wet and rain still falling when we hit the pavement, we drove all the way home in a day. It rained all the way to just south of TJ and helped to wash some of the mud off. Amazingly all the military checkpoints were open in the rain, but they basically just asked the usual "where have you been"…..saw our camping gear, and let us go.

Border wait was 2 hours at 11:30PM on Sunday to 1:30 AM on Monday! And they sent me to Secondary for an additional 45 minutes to take our “pork products”. And even though the guy who sent me to Secondary, said they would only do the Ag-inspection, the Secondary person made me pull a bunch of stuff out of the truck, pop the hood, walk around with the dog….. She did find several leftover partially filled bottles of alcohol we had brought from home, but did she did not take them even though she chastised me by saying “We don’t care if you brought it from home, as soon as it crosses the border it’s ‘international alcohol’. You can only have one liter.“.

Only had two vehicles stop by our camp the entire week, all fisherman from Punta Blanca. Once on our first night when they stopped by on their way into town, and they asked for a couple of sodas and cervezas for the drive; and on our last day (the rainy one) when two different guys stopped by to see if we had any lighters; we of course gave them several as well and most of our left-over sodas, cervezas and some food.

Only vehicle issue was a flat tire, that took 4 plugs to patch….no way was I going to put on the spare in the rain. We discovered it when we stopped by a La Virgen Shrine to give thanks for a fun trip. While cleaning off some of the mud I heard a hisssssss. Just as I was finishing up the plug the same guys we saw on the first day in camp drove by on their way back to Punta Blanca. As is the Baja tradition, they asked if we needed help, but as I was just about done we said all was good.

Here was our shade house on a foggy day. Experimenting with the filter settings on the new camera..


Can’t be good for this old Ford…..Fishermen towing their Panga back to camp at the end of the day.


This Pelican stopped by hoping for a handout. He let us walk really close to him.


Feeding Dolphins, right in front of us


Riding the waves. This size was considered big during our week.


Another


A new sport Stand up Kayaking (aka: SUK)




Set up the “Coyote Cam” again this year. It’s a wildlife camera by Cuddeback






Saw this sleeping guy during a road trip to Punta Blanca. He apparently did not hear us drive up


Blue Boy


Here we are after crossing San Jose Canyon. We were worried it might be full of water, but just a lot of slippery mud.


And a sunset to end it

Only the sleeping coyote was taken in Punta Blanca during a day trip for a change in scenery. The rest are from a secret spot along the secret stretch of coast known as the 7 sisters

But based on this trip, there's no fish, no waves cool water, and rain; so no reason to really drive 1,000 miles anyway......

[Edited on 9-16-2013 by Taco de Baja]

Few more details on the trip:

The storm and rain that hit us early Sunday was apparently from the far reaches of TS IVO. We likely got around 1/2" rain by the time we left ~11 hours after it started. Roads weren't too bad except for a very steep hill with large cobbles that is a PITA even in dry conditions....The FJ almost did not make 1t up. Think greased ball bearings the size of tennis and bowling balls, deep ruts, and tires packed with mud. Our vehicles were splattered with lots of mud, but most got washed off in the constant rain all the way to TJ. The undersides, however were packed with mud, sand, and gravel on the frames, springs, axles and everyplace else under the trucks. . I'm sure San Diego appreciated us adding sediment to the streets to wash out and replenish the vanishing beach sand.

Packing up is the rain is something I really don't want to do again. Only bonus was it was 75 degrees, so I did it in a bathing suit, no shirt....I was wet anyway, so what the heck.

El Rosario was a complete mud pit by the time we got there at 5:30. Lots of people out though despite the rain. Same for all the towns between El Rosario and Ensenada. You'd have thought it was Saturday night on a warm summer evening. In addition, although I generally try to avoid driving in the dark in Baja (aside from early mornings on the Toll Road), I really can't recommend driving at night in the rain....Some scary moments with slow trucks weaving all over the road to avoid potholes [or maybe they were drunk] making passing a very dicey option; in addition to having to keep an eye out for the usual nuts who pass on blind hills and corners .

Water temps were cool when we arrived ~62 F, but warmed up through the week and got up to an acceptable 68-70 F.

[Edited on 9-16-2013 by Taco de Baja]

Thanks Brooks, a real nice report, considering it comes from a trip to "you know where" and you don't want to get yelled at by "you know who"!

Emily chillin'....coyotes, what coyotes?

Me too ! Is your avitar a pic of the same local ?
"Let the sleeping dog lie" is a pic of a lifetime.... Thanks so much.
We had yotes steal my sons cloth diapers back a while in that section of coastline..... bet her pups had a comfy den

We had a medium sized dog on our trip last year, no issues. She slept in a tent and hardly made a peep. Coyotes still came into camp though.

In 2007, a large white dog on walk-about adopted us for a few days and would bark whenever the pack would show up at night. Don't know where he came from; closest fish camp at the time was miles and miles away. I think he eventually left because we named him "Paloma".

We had a medium sized dog on our trip last year, no issues. She slept in a tent and hardly made a peep. Coyotes still came into camp though.


now thats a smart dog! coyotes! I didn't hear any coyotes! did you hear any coyotes?

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Originally posted by Taco de Baja

Yep....I've met a few females that operate that way

Isn't Scammon's Lagoon an anachronistic name?

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Originally posted by Bajahowodd Isn't Scammon's Lagoon an anachronistic name?

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Originally posted by motoged Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd Isn't Scammon's Lagoon an anachronistic name? How is it an anachronism?

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Originally posted by Bajahowodd Quote: Originally posted by motoged Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd Isn't Scammon's Lagoon an anachronistic name? How is it an anachronism? Because Mexico has called it Laguna Ojo de Liebre for many years.

Thanks I am familiar with both location names....and it also seems to depend on the maps used.

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd Quote: Originally posted by motoged Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd Isn't Scammon's Lagoon an anachronistic name? How is it an anachronism? Because Mexico has called it Laguna Ojo de Liebre for many years. Thanks I am familiar with both location names....and it also seems to depend on the maps used.

Somehow "Eye of the Jackrabbit Lagoon" doesn't sound as nautical or 'whale-able' as 'Scammon's Lagoon"???

edit: Jackrabbit Spring is a closer translation, as springs are known as 'ojos de agua', in Mexico.

[Edited on 9-26-2013 by David K]

Norte Americanos like to shorten names... Baja California becomes 'Baja' or (specially if Canadian) 'The Baja'.

When asked where did you watch the whales at, I think the reply will be 9 out of 10 times "Scammon's Lagoon" instead of saying "Eye of the Jackrabbit (or Jackrabbit Spring) Lagoon" or "Ojo de Liebre Lagoon'.

That is unless you went to San Ignacio Lagoon or Magdalena Bay!