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jpwcupa
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-26-2009
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first time to baja & solo
Nomads,
Never been to Baja and I was thinking of heading down the penisula to see what it has to offer this weekend. i will be leaving san diego ~6 a.m.
I was looking to go to the San Miguel area hang out for the day and then start to head back around 5 p.m. Any other suggestions? I'll have a kayak
to check out coves, beaches etc. I can stay until Sunday but don't have the time to do the research i would like to regarding the safety issue and
camping overnight. Worse, i don't speak spanish...yet! I do know that i need Mexican insurance and i have a quote. However, should i be concerned
that i will be a target with USA plates on my van?
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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you may want to head a bit further south of San Miguel with a kayak...out our way, near Punta Banda. You can go into the Estero or go into the big
blue. San Miguel is for surfers (correct me if I'm wrong).
Leave SD at 6 you'll be in our 'hood by 8:30- 9:00. In fact, just in time for the pancake breakfast to benefit our volunteer fire department (that
will be in Campo La Jolla). Where is Ensenada Slim? He kayaks in this area all the time!
If you get to the pancake breakfast, just come on in and ask for Kathleen....I'll be in the kitchen, neither barefoot not pregnant. We'll get you
introduced around and directed to where you want to go.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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Welcome to the forum JP~
Many others will give you plenty of suggestions of where to go/what to do...
One thing I have heard so many times is GET THE INSURANCE! It is a small price to pay even for a short trip. There are many threads here relating to
this topic. Just use the "search" function and you will have some good options. Just make sure you choose one of them!
Best wishes to you for a great first, accident-free, trip!
BajaNuts
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jpwcupa
I can stay until Sunday but don't have the time to do the research i would like to regarding the safety issue and camping overnight. Worse, i don't
speak spanish...yet! I do know that i need Mexican insurance and i have a quote. However, should i be concerned that i will be a target with USA
plates on my van? |
Just don't camp in any isolated place. I'm sure San Miguel has a camp ground.
USA plates? Seems like most cars down here have them. It's not an issue.
No Spanish? No problem. Just speak with a good attitude and you're in.
About those pancakes......It's recommended that you and your kayak stay out of the water for at least three weeks after you have a plate full. In the
past, people have disregarded this warning and disappeared, like sucked to the bottom in the Bermuda Triangle.
Tourists off the cruise ships wont be allowed to reboard the boat if it's known they pigged out at a Punta Banda Pancake Breakfast. They have to be
taken back to the states dangling on the hook of a tow truck.
It's not that the pancakes arn't lite and fluffy, it's just that.....well...I'll leave it up to you. 
I do agree with the suggestion that you camp and Kayak in Punta Banda. The coastline will give you a much more interesting outing.
Oh yeah...just kiddin' about those hotcakes. I'll see you there if you make it.
An added thought....The local campgrounds will be crowded this weekend. The high heat in Mexicali and other places up there brings people over
looking for relief. Bring ear plugs if you like to sleep at night.
[Edited on 8-27-2009 by DENNIS]
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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Personally I would not camp anyplace north of Punta Banda these days. Or, for that matter, north of El Rosario for Pacific beach camping. Way too
many people in any public campgrounds, and "remote" camping would be too scary. I'd recommend finding a hotel, especially if you are just down for a
day.
I have good memories of camping in the Punta Banda and Estero area as a kid in the early 1970's...but times have changed.
If you are open to other ideas you could go to some of the campgrounds the San Felipe area on the Gulf, but it will probably be well over 100 this
weekend. October to May is a much cooler time for being on that side of the peninsula. There would be lots of nice coves to check out in your kayak,
and no waves.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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Go for the weekend if you want to, you'll be fine ether way. If you want to kayak, another place to check out Playa Saldamando. It's just before the
end of the tool road and there is a sign.
There will be a swell in the water this weekend. San Miguel will be tough to launch at, while Playa Saldamando will be more calm.
I'll be at San Miguel this weekend. look me up if you want. I'm in number #9.
Camping at San Miguel can be very loud as the locals show up and party most of the night. Don't leave anything out as it might walk away.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Personally I would not camp anyplace north of Punta Banda these days. Or, for that matter, north of El Rosario for Pacific beach camping. Way too
many people in any public campgrounds, and "remote" camping would be too scary. I'd recommend finding a hotel, especially if you are just down for a
day.
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I almost completely agree although there are a few places out here that I consider safe and not overly crowded. Toscanos, at La Bufadora would be one
of them.
Remote camping, as you say, is out of the question unless you're with a group. And, even then, it's a risk.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mike99km
I'll be at San Miguel this weekend. look me up if you want. I'm in number #9.
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OOOKKK...Did everybody hear that? Free ice cold beer all weekend at Mike's place. Very generous of you, Mike.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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El Rosario, or farther only works if you have more time. Otherwise, you'll spend as much time driving as kayaking. It would take a combined 8 hours
roundtrip. A choice between San Miguel and Punta Banda boils down more to how much of a party animal you are.
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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baj trip
Try Santo tomas or Erendera(SP) just a short drive past Ensenada, If you only have a weekend. Ive done this from LA on a weekend
DAND
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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When did I say "free or cold" regarding beer. Stop on by and we'll see.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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the implication was clear..... an ice cold beer after dropping in on reno, priceless! reno is still there, right?
just kidding. reno has ridden more big waves than me and my friends, combined!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
just kidding. |
No. No you're not. It's free frosty beer and all you can drink. Throw some extras in the trunk when you leave. I think it's Mike's birthday and
he wants to celebrate with his Nomad buds.
I'm gonna make some, a lot of signs for the phone poles. Number nine, right?
OK....I'm on it.
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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Reno is living in town not in the village, he still charges. He also makes great boards.
I'm in the printing business and I've got the signs covered. They have arrows on them so you can follow them. I promise they'll by this time tomorrow.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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Mike
remember Star and Steve? we ran into them at juanico 4-5 years ago. they sounded like a perfectly choreographed train wreck. we never took them up on
their offer to "hang out" at their pad on the hill.... they did take us up on our every opened beer, tho.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
Star and Steve? |
Star? Was she the "Illustrated Lady?" Maybe someone different.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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you knew her, didn't ya?
ink in all the wright/wrong places.....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
you knew her, didn't ya?
ink in all the wright/wrong places..... |
Ink everywhere. She told me she had room for just one more....an Aztec calendar. Jeezo.....have you looked at the detail in one of those things?
She used to tend bar at the La Bufadora restaurant. Left town and went up to Puerto Nuevo and tended bar. Left there and, word is, went to Texas.
Nice gal but, gawd only knows what was going on inside her head.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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SI' MON.....
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jpwcupa
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-26-2009
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Nomads,
Thanks for all the input! instead of heading down this weekend i'm going to do a little more research this weekend and plan a 4 day trip in the
future. I will actually be leaving from L.A. at 4am so i think i need to go farther south to get a more authentic baja! I figured i would enter
Tijuanna at 6 a.m. So there will be alot of driving to and fro. However, you guys have been great thanks. I will hassle you later but thanks for
your hospitality!
Dennis - what the heck was up with your comments on the pancakes? Are they made with habaneros or some other device that will ruin my inards?
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