kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
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TJ Crossing January1, 2 or 3?
Hello,
My first drive down Baja. Looking for a caravan or buddy sometime in the first week of 2011. Currently my plan is to leave the border at sunrise and
shoot to Guerrero Negro by sun-down. I am flexible on this part if someone knows this route better for a preferable first night sleep & eat. From
that point on I would not need a buddy as I plan in looking for some wind to kite board in Loreto or other beaches. Ultimately landing in La Ventana
near La Paz by the end of the week.
I've been to Central Mexico over 30 times on the last 25 years, semi-fluent, just never drove my own car there. I'm all set with the car insurance and
FMM.
Thank You.
Kip in Tacoma WA
[Edited on 11-21-2010 by kiterkip]
[Edited on 12-7-2010 by kiterkip]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I would overnite in El Rosario....try to eliminate driving after dark
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
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El Rosario
OK, Thanks. So I'm guessing this would be roughly 8 hours of first day driving. Yes, that's my prime directive to Never Drive at night. I had friends
that hit a cow near La Paz a few years ago and had to spend time at a police station. Took some $$ to clear it up.
Thanks,
kip
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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When driving a car or pickup without a trailer...or in the motorhome....I leave the border very early AM..like 4-5am...and make it to Guerrero Negro
(GN) for the first night. Very easy and doable. Fill with fuel before leaving Rosario Pemex (Antonio's - BajaCactus)
Last stretches are straight...keep a normal eye out for livestock and animals...just like USA countryside or Canada. I have no great aversions to
driving at night in Baja, but I am quite experienced..have made over 145 round trips to date....and I know how to field dress most any critter that
commits suicide on my beefed-up brush guard.
In GN, I stay at Malarrimos for many reasons...not the least of which is for nostalgia's sake. Good ambiance, food, bar, sat tv, comfy beds, etc.
[Edited on 11-22-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4340
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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What we like to do is set a goal and then have a backup plan in mind. Like "let's get to GN in one day" (usually simple) but if we get delayed and run
out of daylight then "let's camp at Rancho Sta. Ines or get a room in Cataviņa or get a room in El Rosario or camp at Cielito Lindo" or......... There
are many here with much more windshield time in Baja then us but over the years we have had a hard fast plan derailed by the following unplanned
events, in no particular order: flooded vado (three+ hour delay),road construction various places traffic stopped or controlled one lane, Semana Santa
parade HWY 1 shutdown (El Rosario-that was a fun diversion and we took lots of photos and dropped copies of them off on a subsequent trip thru town)
Dia de La Revolucion parade in Colonet HWY 1 shutdown (another great chance for photos and cultural immersion),overturned flatbed truck blocking both
lanes in the windy mountain ridge south of El Rosario, overturned dump truck full of scrap metal south of Punta Prieta area, fatal one car overturn in
the big vado on north side Cataviņa (two+ hour delay - local authorities needed permission from SQ to move the deceased body from roadway) , fuel
delivery problems (fuel filter in truck as well as fuel delivery to station delayed),four flat tires on one trip, three occurring in one day, extra
long leisurely lunch at El Paraiso with a few extra beers to wash down the mariscos, stopping to assist broke down vehicle and ferry occupants back in
the other direction for nearest assistance, broken sway bar mount on truck found just prior to heading on to the dirt (before road was paved) - this
involved a funny bit of education on my part, as the welder who fixed the part wanted $20.00 to do the job (very fair) but likely felt that to do the
actual repair in the 15 minutes it could be done in would be bad form so he stretched the job into 90 minutes so I might think that I was getting a
solid deal- next time I will ask a price and tell him I will gladly pay him extra to 'mas rapido por favor', the point being that it helps to have
something in mind as a fallback so that you don't push yourself too hard. Roll with the punches and remember the journey is at least half the
adventure. Having said all that my money is on you hitting the border at o'dark thirty and making it comfortably to the Malarrimo and the stars
aligning and they DO have abalone on the menu that night. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by elgatoloco
What we like to do is set a goal and then have a backup plan in mind. Like "let's get to GN in one day" (usually simple) but if we get delayed and run
out of daylight then "let's camp at Rancho Sta. Ines or get a room in Cataviņa or get a room in El Rosario or camp at Cielito Lindo" or.........
Having said all that my money is on you hitting the border at o'dark thirty and making it comfortably to the Malarrimo and the stars aligning and they
DO have abalone on the menu that night. |
Wow, Thanks everyone. I'd also be very open to tent camping at Rancho Sta, or Celito Lindo, or rooms at Catavina, El Rosario. I will map all these
options and if there's delays and it's an hour or two before dinner, my plan will change.
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castaway$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
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Mood: Fish on!
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If you don't want to drive in the dark I would consider a different stop, days are really short that time of year and even if you aren't towing
considering normal breaks for food,stretching and bathroom your reallly going t ohave to push it.
Live Indubiously!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65069
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Things like slow trucks, military checkpoints, accidents all have to be part of the estimate of travel time... In a perfect world, it takes 5 hours to
get to El Rosario from the border and 9 to Guerrero Negro. Days are short in winter and you lose an hour with the time change at the state border.
Really, just enjoy the journey and not just the destination... Baja has a whole lot to offer between Tijuana and La Ventana... Sounds like you are
open to experience more than one or two places on your trip.
A side trip (paved) to Bahia de los Angeles is a big part of experiencing Baja... Also, do take the mile side trip into the town plaza of San
Ignacio... Drive into Mulege and take the road to the very end along the river and have a meal at El Patron, with your feet in the sand.
Bahia Concepcion is next and you will want to make contact with the water there... it's addicting.
Bahia de los Angeles, just 8-9 hours from the border, but a whole world away!
Entrance road to San Ignacio, don't miss this!
Mulege... some call it the Hawaii of Baja!
Bahia Concepcion
Bahia Concepcion
The important thing is to not be in a hurry! While there are road crews finally widening sections of Mex. 1, most of the highway in the center of Baja
is only 19 feet wide, with no shoulders and often on elevated roadbeds with no easy pull offs...
Photo taken south of San Quintin, about 200 miles south of the border.
[Edited on 11-22-2010 by David K]
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
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Bump... still looking for buddies, companions, pitbulls.
Kip in Tacoma
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karmatourer
Nomad
Posts: 118
Registered: 12-2-2010
Location: SW Fla.
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I may be leaving San Diego for Cabo around the 9-10th.I'll be riding my motorcycle and plan overnights in El Rosario,Black Warrior and Loreto.
PM me if interested.
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
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Still haven't hooked up with anyone to caravan with. Going solo I guess. January 2nd is now my day to cross at TJ.
Fist night will be in El Rosario. What's the favorite secure and safe motel/hotel there?
Kip in Tacoma
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mulegejim
Nomad
Posts: 470
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
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I happen to like the Baja Cactus - 011-52-616-16-58850. Ask for a room in the back away from the highway. Jim
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