My first trip was 1978 at age 47 in a FJ-40 LandCruiser with my girlfriend to the Puerto Santo Tomas area (where Jack Smith of "God and Mr. Gomez"
lived). Mr. Gomez had a small tienda, so with a few snacks purchased there, and a surprise rubber chicken (Rena was not much of a cook) we had lunch
with a few of Mr. Gomez's pigs for company.
The road to the ocean from the highway wandered back and forth through a small stream and passed an inviting side road south which we took on the way
out. I was hesitant to go through the gate but afraid to show fear in front of the weaker sex who was urging me onward. The road passed a house and we
received a friendly wave. We took a road toward the highway in a few miles and got my first taste of Baja four wheeling, seeing a burro alongside the
trail. Been getting braver ever since.
Have not read "God and Mr. Gomez"? Get it, read it.
[Edited on 1-6-2012 by Neal Johns]
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
Early '40s, rough camped on beach about 2 miles south of Ensenada pier (Now part of town) Swam in ocean until waterlogged and played on the small
dunes with my brothers and sisters. Out of nowhere some kids arrived and would return to play with us every day. We taught each other words and, more
importantly, that friendship transcends language barriers. I still remember their names.
I had been to Baja before but my first memory is from 1977, I was 6 and my dad and I moved to the very last house in south Playas De TJ. QUINTAFELIZ
(a group of 5 homes hanging over the ocean). First memory I have was not sleeping all night from the waves pounding below and the fact that in the
morning we would wakeup with the ocean all to ourselves! Second best memory pulling into Mikes Sky ranchs in my dads ford fiesta and seeing (his 1971
chevy k10 had blown the trans and there was no way he was going to miss this trip) the faces of everyone wondering how we had gotten there. (mikes
back then wasnt the cake walk it is now)
Good times! Hope my kids have some good memories of Baja too.
Even though I have posted these photos on another thread, I just thought I would share them again, considering the context. As I have already posted
my story, these were taken in San Felipe, 1965. JH
My first trip to Baja was 1979. I was 19 and went down with a couple of buddies that I'd gone to high school with...we went to TJ, Rosarito and
Ensenada. I remember hearing Mariachi Music for the first time (every hotel room seemed to be right above the bar!), drinking strong Margaritas,
eating Lobster dinner for the first time because I could actually afford it, Hussong's and all the friendly people that we met. Grew up...got married
and talked my husband into his first Baja trip in 1998...Loreto...after much exploring we have decided to build a house in San Felipe and love that
area. I love the Baja mix of desert, sea and mountains.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
Thankyou to Baja Bound
Mexico InsuranceServices for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.
Emergency Baja Contacts Include:
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