BajaNomad

Late Jan/early Feb 2017 Baja Trip (Pre-Report)

David K - 2-2-2017 at 11:27 PM

I am on the peninsula this week and next. A full trip report is coming when I am back home.

Day 1 was Monday, 30th of Jan. Traveled to San Ignacio via San Felipe.
Passed Nomad MICK south of Mexicali.
No problems with fuel or any hint of Trump issues.

Gonzaga to Chapala unchanged, still 23 unpaved miles, very little construction activity. Looks like about 2 additional miles paved could open? Over 3 years now without new paved sections opened.

Hwy. 1 from Chapala to the state border is really getting pot holed bad! Reminds me of the highway in the 80s.

Day 2: San Ignacio to Punta Chivato. Found the Jesuit flood control dike, went to the Tres Virgenes cabins and was impressed! Missed meeting Pescador, as he was fishing (good Nomad name). Met and stayed at Russ's place where those great sunrise photos are taken. Russ was a great host, took me for a ride on his Polaris and showed me the area sites. He made great tacos, too. Thanks Russ!

Day 3: Explored Santa Ines beach, Mulegé, and most of Concepcion Bay beaches. Wall to wall RVs, mostly Canadians per their flags.
I camped at La Perla, with only one other using the palapas there... from Quebec.

Day 4: Explored San Nicolas, San Juanico, San Basilio, the visita of Londo, and arrived in Loreto. This place has sure grown!

Still to come: San Javier, Comondu, La Purisima, and more!

I will be signing books in Loreto Friday night at Caballo Blanco and in L.A. Bay next Tuesday with a slide show there.

Once I leave Loreto, I don't think I will have Internet again, unless I stay where there's wifi. Using wifi in the hotel here tonight and was also at San Ignacio.

Gasoline is still 16.16 pesos per liter in Baja norte and 16.56 in Baja Sur.

20 pesos per dollar at most stations. I am using pesos purchased in Calexico at 20.20:1.

Back here tomorrow, then into the Never Never.


EDIT:
From Loreto, went to Ligüí and Ensenada Blanca on Friday before my lecture. ncampion, Mike Younghusband, and many more were there.

Left Loreto Saturday morning for San Javier, both Comondú towns, San Isidro and La Purísima (stayed there Saturday night).

Sunday took the east road to Concepción Bay with a side trip to Comondú Viejo... the 1708-1736 mission location.

Monday went north to Mission San Borja, stayed in the nice palapas built by José.

Tuesday went to L.A. Bay, stayed at the Villa Bahía. Had a PowerPoint presentation at the museum then dinner at Alejandrina's with Mary Ann Humfrevile, 24 Baja (two for Baja), bkbend, and others.

Wednesday drove home with an hour stop to explore Luz de Mexico, a gold mine.

Detailed, photo-filled trip report in the works!


[Edited on 2-10-2017 by David K]

ehall - 2-3-2017 at 05:05 AM

Wow, sounds like a great trip.

mtgoat666 - 2-3-2017 at 06:59 AM

Make time for whale watching

(I recall you said you have never been whale watching in baja)

David K - 2-3-2017 at 08:26 AM

No whale watching this trip, no time and no wife with me. Baja Angel wants to do the whale thing, so that will happen only with her.
Thanks for the suggestion, however.

sancho - 2-3-2017 at 10:56 AM

DK, You've been getting quite a bit of time so. of the border.
Book signing, congratulations.You live and breathe the peninsula
more than just about anyone


edevart - 2-3-2017 at 12:53 PM

Can't wait to hear more about the cabins at Tres Virgenes. Photos and prices would be especially useful. It's gorgeous up there....

MMc - 2-3-2017 at 02:13 PM

Glad you're south of the border DK.

StuckSucks - 2-3-2017 at 03:31 PM

Looking forward to seeing photos from this epic trip.

Also, this thread gets bonus points for no political Trump/wall-speak (yet).

David K - 2-3-2017 at 04:44 PM

Thanks amigos.
Yes, details galore on all the places. Tres Virgenes cabins looked great! Only 350 pesos. Very nice with bathroom inside each and a wall mural. Photos coming.
Thank you Sancho and MMc for the nice words. Off to my Loreto book signing now.

David K - 2-3-2017 at 11:06 PM

Nice turnout tonight and surprise to see Eric of the Amigos de Baja forums where all were on before Nomad became the #1 Baja forum
Mike Younghusband was there, too and he wants to travel with me tomorrow and show me some cool sites on the way to Comondu.

I won't have Internet for the next few days while I am in the never never. Until I am back in civilization, stay classy Nomads!



TMW - 2-3-2017 at 11:07 PM

Is Mike going to write a book about his walk down Baja. It would be great.

David K - 2-3-2017 at 11:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
Is Mike going to write a book about his walk down Baja. It would be great.

It's at the publishing company!
So, soon hopefully!

David K - 2-7-2017 at 10:59 PM

Saturday, Mike went with me to San Javier and part way to Comondú, in his truck, to show me something cool he discovered. I will show the photos when I do my trip report.

In Bahía de los Angeles tonight, then probably home Wednesday. I hear it is raining this week? Clear skies here in central Baja!




tiotomasbcs - 2-8-2017 at 06:10 PM

Glad you were able to get a quick trip and substantial visits to some very beautiful places. Living down here you get used to the side trips and sometimes become too sedentary. Every trip south of the border when still living up north is reinvigorating! Saw Mike down here in TS a month ago and enjoyed his usual vibrant conversations! Viva Baja. :bounce::bounce: Tio

David K - 2-9-2017 at 07:37 AM

Thanks!

I got home last night at 6:30. It was a breeze drive from L.A. Bay, including an hour to explore a gold mine... At 5:11, I arrived at the Tecate border, and there was NO LINE, I drove right up to the booth!!! It was an amazing end to an amazing Baja expedition !!!

I am going to post a ROAD CONDITIONS report first, in that forum then do an in-depth TRIP REPORT in this forum... It will take me a few days, as I need to download the hundreds of photos and pick a few to share (you know how hard it is for me to not give more, rather than less!

Having the DeLorme inReach device was wonderful. Not only to produce a track map of where I drove but to text or email with my wife and friends from anywhere! A couple couldn't figure how to reply, as it comes from a Garmin email or from a strange phone number, I suppose? I will try and figure that all out.

OK, some coffee breakfast, hug the wife, and will get started!

Oh, the Tacoma was FLAWLESS... and not even a flat tire... and some of the roads were PRETTY BAD (San Javier to Comondu and La Purisima east to Hwy. 1, just south of Bahia Concepcion).

[Edited on 2-9-2017 by David K]

PaulW - 2-9-2017 at 09:02 AM

David, What Inreach settings are you using for such a long trip?
Send interval
log interval

David K - 2-9-2017 at 09:12 AM

10 minute send, 1 minute log. The map still occasionally draws long straight lines between the 10 minute sends and that, of course, does not follow the road well.

Do you know how to eliminate the 10 minute lines but retain the better track that connects all the one minute lines?

PaulW - 2-9-2017 at 11:30 AM

David,
I have a 12v for power and an going to use 30 sec and less log and see if it is better. Probably will over load on a long trip.
No answer on the long lines.

David K - 2-9-2017 at 01:18 PM

Paul, Do you also have the occasional long lines connecting track points? 4x4abc showed me a way to delete the odd waypoints that create the long lines, but it is a tedious process of looking up the times of points on a huge list.
I need to research that some more... when I have time.

I am downloading over 400 photos, right now onto Photobucket... Stay tuned...

Here is a sample or two, I will make a NEW thread for the trip report.






Still above sea level! ;)










mulegemichael - 2-9-2017 at 03:24 PM

dk....sorry to have missed you; we're at our home in mulege right now...we went to pet the whales at san ignacio yesterday and weren't disappointed...stayed at terry and garys place san ignacio springs b and b and had a wonderful time...i guess one of these days we will cross paths...horrible down here today; 86 and calm for the most part.

David K - 2-9-2017 at 04:03 PM

That would be swell!:light::bounce:

BajaBlanca - 2-9-2017 at 05:13 PM

Wow! what a long trip you took. The quick glimpse of the photos leaves one wanting more!

David K - 2-9-2017 at 10:01 PM

Sorry that I haven't posted the first installment, yet. Had a busy day!
Road Conditions report first.
HERE THAT IS: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85752

EDIT: The Full Trip Report has begun, see Day One: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85756

[Edited on 2-11-2017 by David K]