LotsaRocka
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-20-2010
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May7-May17 California to Concepcion
Well, we just got back a few days ago but the details are already getting fuzzy so I better get them down. It had been over two years since our last
trip south so we were feeling the pull of the peninsula. This website and the trip reports were helpful in keeping the dream alive through the
drought so I figured I better repay the favor and relate some of our adventures to the next readers out there.
So, on May 7th we crossed over at night into Tecate. There were only three of us this trip (well four with the dog). My wife and I and our five year
old son. We tried to entice more tripmates but had some last minute cancellations. We’re from northern California and always make the mistake of
thinking we can just wing it and find a campground space around San Diego. But, being Friday night, of course everything was full and instead of
paying $50 for a state park campground we settled on a $20 room at Hotel Paraiso in Tecate (probably just should have gone with the campsite because
the Hotel Paraiso doesn’t make you want to linger at all). Backtracked for a tourist card in the morning and then headed south on 3 towards Ensenada.
Just outside of town we spied what looked like a BMX track down in a quaint valley with kids riding their bikes on it.
Next, we cruised through the Valle Guadalupe and picked up some local olives and honey to liven up our supplies. Stop for our first tacos deliciosos
in Maneadero and continue on. What do you know, it’s getting dark as we pull into El Rosario so we decide to try out this place we haven’t been
before called the BajaCactus, some of you might have heard of it before. Anyway, for only $30 our bad memories of the night before were soon melting
away. We caught a free production at the town hall right off the plaza by a traveling group of singers and actors from TJ.
Next day, we awake refreshed and head south for the desert. Before Catavina I notice some cool looking rocks (imagine that) I haven’t seen before so
we drive a little closer and then hike out to them. We climbed up to this amazing formation that can best be described as a giant eggshell rock that
was hollowed out on the inside and looked as if it might collapse at any second.
Well, we enjoyed some PbandJ then hiked back. Bay of LA was our next stop so we turned left and of course arrived there in fierce wind. Well, the
conditions quickly made us abandon thoughts of a tent and we got a room with a great vista at Casa Diaz.
Guillermo supplied us with some tasty dinner and then we fought the wind on the walk back to our place.
The next morning we stopped by the museum and browsed a bit, and what caught my eye but the new Baja Almanac. I had just discovered a couple days
earlier that I had (conveniently) forgotten our trusty AAA map somewhere on the journey so I convinced myself that I was meant to finally lay down the
big money ($25) for a real map. Wow, I spent the next half hour drooling over it in the park while Wade took advantage of the playground. So, after
stocking up on food and water we headed out of town south on the dirt (finally some real road). We were cruising along for awhile and had just passed
camp gecko when I wanted to get the new Almanac out to examine my surroundings. Try as I might I couldn’t find it anywhere in the 4runner. Oh no! I
just realized I left it in the park. Doohh! Do we backtrack? Will it still be there? So, reluctantly we turned around and sped back into town, but
luck was not with us and the Almanac was nowhere to be found in the park (someone else was really stoked). I still can’t believe I did it, but I went
back inside the museum and bought another! Boy was this Almanac getting costly.
Problem solved, we headed out again and enjoyed the magnificent desert for the next couple hours. We pulled into the first turnoff to Playa San
Rafael and my wife said let’s say. I was a little nervous because of the hellacious winds the night before but rock/paper/scissors settled the
discussion. Thank goodness she won because we had an amazing three days and two nights of Baja heaven.
Not a soul around (just a brief visit from Pancho who lived a mile or more down the beach) just us and the sky, ocean, and desert. Caught some fish,
did some beach combing, and played some wiffle ball with the fam.
Unfortunately, we ran out of water, ice, and beer after three days so we had to continue on. Of course, we had the obligatory getting stuck and
having to dig our way off the beach. It only delayed us by a half hour and was good exercise. We didn’t detour to San Friscisquito and instead
turned right towards El Arco. From the map it looked like a short cut but the road got pretty rough and we soon found ourselves moving a big boulder
out of the rut. Ate the last of our tuna and crackers while visiting the cool church in El Arco.
As usual, San Ignacio was our oasis. After being in the harsh desert for a few days that place always seems to soften things up. Got a nice room at
the Hotel Posada and soaked up the culture on the plaza after rinsing off the salt and sunscreen in the shower. The next morning we took the kayaks
out for a paddle on the lagoon. I’ve always wanted to but never got around to it. Well, it was really cool, went farther back there than we thought.
We met a nice family up at the source creek so we let them borrow our kayaks while we explored on foot. Next stop, Mariscos Pepe in Santa Rosalia
(most of this trip was exploring new places for us, but we just can’t pass up our favorite fish taco stand).
Stocked up with more water, beer, and ice in Mulege and then landed on Santispac for four days.
We chose the site down by the lagoon, even though it’s closer to the road, it has such undeniable paradise quality. Of course it was perfect. The
swimming, the kayaking, the hiking, the lounging, all great. The best part was, we had no idea what day it was, we were just living in the moment.
It’s strange how satisfying that simple state can be.
Some of the highlights were watching our five year old master kayaking by himself and his beaming smile (we had to drag him out of the boat at the end
of the day), seeing a sea turtle swim past the kayak, and hiking to some of the little peaks for a marvelous breathtaking view.
Well, my hands are getting tired of typing and we had to turn around and head north after relaxing in concepcion. We are left with lingering,
satisfying, vibrancy and a renewed approach to enhance our normal life (we’re also left with a bunch of little itchy gnat bites from santispac, they
help remind us of the good times!)
I don’t think I’ve done the destination justice with my words, it’s just hard to describe. This trip was one of the best. We didn’t even have to
repel any crooked cops looking for bribes. We also got the feeling that the military checks were a little more lenient this time. Maybe that’s
because we are looking more like the wholesome family and less like the partying college kids with every subsequent trip. The only incident that was
out of the ordinary was coming into TJ on 1 libre from Rosarito there was a police roadblock of about thirty cars just after La Gloria on both north
and south lanes of the highway. They funneled the traffic down to one lane each direction and were doing searches of some vehicles. Besides that, it
was no worries and the most injurious thing to happen to us was a nasty cut from a hastily chewed chip at Guillermo’s. I better be more careful next
time.
[Edited on 5-23-2010 by LotsaRocka]
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geomike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 10-3-2009
Location: Very near to the middle of nowhere.
Member Is Offline
Mood: feeling an irresistable pull towards Baja...
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Great report Rocka we were just at el Coyote a couple of weeks before you and I can sure relate to the "what day is it anyway" feeling!
One thing, your photo links didn't come up?
Mike
You are entitled to your own opinions...not your own facts.
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LotsaRocka
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-20-2010
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Pics
Yeah, I thought if I copied and pasted the html from my flickr page the photos would come up, but it looks like I missed something, I bet someone will
have a suggestion...
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Barbareno
Nomad
Posts: 410
Registered: 11-4-2007
Location: Vernon BC
Member Is Offline
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Thanks for sharing. Time well spent.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Really nice trip report and thanks soulpatch for the link to the photos---enjoyed them a lot.
Favorite is your little boy in the kayak---he looks like a natural.
Glad you had a good trip.
[Edited on 5-22-2010 by DianaT]
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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WELCOME to BajaNomad, nice report,and pix I like the one in the Bajatoilet, very funny stuff.. thanks.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64831
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great report of a family enjoying The Baja Feeling! Welcome to Nomad!!
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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I thoroughly enjoyed your trip report, LotsaRocka. Your boy looks like he had a great time and will, as many of us, want to return to Baja throughout
his life.
nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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LotsaRocka
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-20-2010
Member Is Offline
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Thanks Everyone! Does anyone have an idea why my html for my flickr-hosted pictures didn't work?
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LotsaRocka
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-20-2010
Member Is Offline
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Thanks Diana, I've got it now!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64831
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Looks great with the photos added... now you're a pro! More trips please!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LotsaRocka
Thanks Diana, I've got it now! |
You are very welcome and the photos look great in the original post----really perfect for the text
As stated, I will now delete the other post as I do not like to ever post a photo belonging to another---but that one with your baby in the kayak is
still my favorite. :-)
Diana
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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Great post and photos......thanks for sharing!
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