Humboldt Chris and Robin
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Registered: 11-13-2004
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Just back from a month (and its damn cold here at home)
We did pretty much the whole peninsula this last month, another wonderful Baja camping trip, this time in our new Northstar pop-up with my wife and
myself, and our three dogs! Here it is, with road reports, etc.
Crossed at Mexicali Dec. 17, got our Vagabundos-purchased visas stamped with no problem. South to San Felipe, topped off the gas tank, and got to
Puertecitos for the night. Camped at Playa Destiny ($15, up 5 from two years ago). The road has been repaved, but with all the dips for the small
vados, still went slow.
Next morning, went south to Gonzaga Bay. Road out of Puertecitos was as bad as I've seen it along the stark red volcanic rock mts, but plenty
passable. Stayed two nights at Papa Fernandez beach, all to ourselves. Had shrimp omelettes at the restaurent one morning. Wind came up, so off to
Bahia de Los Angeles. Road out to Coco's was fine, chatted with him, then on the the highway and BOLA. Army checkpoint at Gonzaga Bay unmanned.
Stayed at our usual - Campo Archelon - for three nights, some wind and a weak storm passing by. Weather cleared so we headed south to Playa San
Rafael for one night and caught a lot of fish from the rocks just south of the "coyote's" fish camp. Then to San Francisquita for two nights. Road
over the pass was rough and narrow, but still plenty passable. Two planes landed at San Francisquita while we were there. Caught a big hogfish for
Christmas dinner. Went out the El Arco road as I chickened out on the Vizcaino shortcut in my new rig! chitty washboard all the way to the highway,
but righteous wildflowers the whole way. Army just showing up to man the checkpoint as we were leaving.
Got dark so we camped in San Ignacio for a night, met Olaf Melling on his way to South America. Stayed in Mulege at Maria Isabell's for two nights.
Toured the incredible flood damage and pigged out on seafood the entire time. Went south to Ligui and camped by ourselves for two nights. Pretty
windy, but beautiful place. New Year's Day we punched it south and got to Los Barreilles at dark, stayed one night but too crowded for us. Went to
Cabo Pulmo for two nights, camping at Pepe's and did a little snorkeling. Nice and warm! The 4th of Jan. we headed around the east Cape road, whales
working all along the way, got through the Cabo zoo and camped at El Cerrito with the freebie folks. Tried to find our old spot at San Pedrito but it
is no longer and all divided up into lots. It had been six years since we were in the Todos Santos area and it has grown beyond description. Had one
hell of a dinner at Art and Beer and a totally calm, windless day on the Pacific coast - more whales working along the coast.
From Todos Santos, made it to El Requeson on Bahia Concepcion for one of those biblical windstorms. Kept us awake all night!! Made it Back to Bahia
de Los Angeles the next day, stayed three nights. Headed out on the 9th and stayed a night at the Old Mill RV park in San Quintin and had our last
seafood pig out at the restaurant. Crossed at Tecate on the 11th after figuring out the new border crossing and going through secondary inspection
with a really, really rude border agent.
We were really stoked in our new pop-up. After figuring out the one blown fuse, it all worked well, and we stayed in it every night of the trip, and
in some serious weather a couple times! After all those years of camping out of the back of our Ford pick-up, we are following a thread I've seen a
number of times on this board - a couple aging hippies moving up to the pop-up campers!!
It was a wonderful trip as always - and we still are in love with Bahia de Los Angeles and that stretch of the Sea of Cortez from Gonzaga Bay to San
Francisquita!!!
Chris and Robin Haynes
Arcata, CA
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Sounds Great! We hope that we will be able to spend most of February in Baja with our new Outfitter-pop-up truck camper.
Thanks for the report
Diane
P.S. We were married in Arcata----still love that area
[Edited on 1-15-2007 by jdtrotter]
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landrover65
Newbie
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Registered: 1-14-2007
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Road South of Puertecitas
Is the road really bad all the way to Gonzaga Bay or just the first approximately 20 miles? I really want to go that way in about a week with my
Truck camper and pulling a boat. I plan to air down, but I'm limited to about 45 lbs due to the weight of the camper.
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Humboldt Chris and Robin
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
Registered: 11-13-2004
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It is pretty bad in those first fifteen or twenty miles, but I can't imagine any kind of camper/pickup having a problem if you go slow. Pulling a
trailer and boat? That's another story - I think there are better experts on this board than me.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Appreciate the report. 
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Bajalover
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Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
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Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Great Report Chris. Sounds like a fantastic trip. I remember the camping days. Now retired - pulling an airstream 30' and have planned to go to Bahia
De LA 2nd week of Feb. Plan on staying at Ruben Daggetts campground. Plan first night around San Quentin and next day to Bahia.
Guess I shouldn't encounter any problems as long as I drive safely and stay where other trailers/RV's are.
Where did you stay in Bahia?
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64946
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Chris stated he stayed at Archelon (next to the turtle research station/ old gov't trailer park) at Bahia.
What I experienced last November following the Baja 1000: The road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga is rough over the hills and rough over the plains
all the way to Papa Fernandez'. Actually, the first 10 miles south of Puertecitos were really smooth except one spot, then got it bad.
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Bajalover
Nomad
Posts: 227
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: The Cottage at Ocotillo Hills
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Mood: Strongly - Missing Baja
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Thanks David. Guess I'll take the coastal toll road so the rivets don't fall out of the Coors Can.
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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