While driving northward from La Ribera to the border we encountered 2 types of travelers caravaning northward. The first group was encountered just
south of Loreto on Tuesday afternoon and again today in Catavina. These people were on street bikes and many wore jackets with Eagle Rider printed on
them. Many bikes were ridden tandem. After doing a Google search this evening it appears that this is some kind of tour group business.
The one thing I can say with certainty is that except for about 3 bikes, these people were totally oblivious that other travelers were on the road.
Not only did they ride bunched up to make passing them a hazardous effort, they rode well below the accepted speed that most other drivers were
driving.
At Catavina they had stopped, apparently to gas up from the barrels, and then several pulled directly in front of us as we drove through that area.
This second encounter of this group provoked me into a less than safe passing of the entire group that were ahead of me. I am sorry that I did that
but I was pi---d off and they still had their heads up in the shade. Probably still do. On the first encounter south of Loreto, there were maybe 5
vans virtually bumper to bumper leading these lost "ducklings" along the road. I would tend to blame their leaders for not giving instructions on
how they might space themselves to allow others the option of passing without causing danger to either party.
On the encounter with about 12 or so RV's that were caravaning northward and south of El Rosario, in contrast to the motorcycle riders, ALL of these
large RVs were smart enough or more alert to their surroundings and allowed plenty of spacing between their rigs so that others could easily and
safely pass when conditions allowed. This group was, I think, Baja Winters. Cudos to these wagonmasters for educating their clients in reasonable
road courtesy.
The difference in the tactics shown by these two groups could not be more different. One group would tend to aggravate many solo drivers while the
other would not be an issue at all. Go Figure, different strokes.
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