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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Why Caravans?
Wht not?
Many people are very social and like to share their hobbies with those of like interest. RV'ers are no exception. I'm sure that many who Caravan are
also first timers to Baja also.
It can be very intimidating taking on Mex 1 for the first time in a 10 ton rig solo. So the caravan operators fill a valuable service and get those
into Baja that might not otherwise come.
Many of us Baja NOMADS tend to be just that, Nomadic and enjoy getting off the main roads and taking in Baja in it's secluded Glory. Not to infer
unsocial, just more independent than the average RV'er in a group.
Caravans are becoming more aware of their presence and its impact to other drivers aswell. By having a radio operator at the rear they can alert the
rest that they need to spread out to allow overtaking. I have pulled over and taken a nap or drank a Pacifico to let them get on down the road,
rather than attempt passing ten or more.
Peace, Love and Fish Tacos!
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Oh, no. Not again! Guess I'll have to live with the stigma forever ... 
A lot of folks sign up with us because of fear factor. We try hard to downplay that aspect and show them that Baja is not the hellhole CNN & the
Trib portray. 1/3 of our guests come back to enjoy Baja on their own in following years.
Probably the greatest factor that makes people come with a caravan is the social aspect. They may have gone to rallies or conventions with other RVers
in the past, and found that they make a lot of lasting friends. I know a LOT of our guests do!
Yes, certain not-to-be-named tour groups are rather gnarley & unfriendly, but not us! If you see us in a campground or on a beach, come right on
over for a beer. Nomads are ALWAYS welcome in our group.
Smart RVers with a limited time allowance want to make the most of their vacation. That's why they pay people like us to show them the most
interesting activities and places they can fit into their time in Baja.
We often chat with solo travellers who get very disappointed when we tell them about wonderful places to visit or stay that they unwittingly drove by
and missed out on.
Also, if you come up behind a Baja and Back caravan & have a CB, get on channel 32 and say Hi. We will try our utmost to help you on by.
Cheers to all, and "Keep the rubber side down". 
Barry & Vanda
PS: Thanks, Dennis.
PPS: HEADING SOUTH TOMORROW!!! Look for us on the hiway south from Vancouver. Hoping to run into some of y'all.
[Edited on 11-4-2009 by Baja&Back]
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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And, if no CB?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65409
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
There is one caravan company leader who is a Baja Nomad, a nice person who tries to make the experience positive and has his group space far enough
apart so passing them isn't so hard. |
| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
Oh, no. Not again! Guess I'll have to live with the stigma forever ...
A lot of folks sign up with us because of fear factor. We try hard to downplay that aspect and show them that Baja is not the hellhole CNN & the
Trib portray. 1/3 of our guests come back to enjoy Baja on their own in following years.
Probably the greatest factor that makes people come with a caravan is the social aspect. They may have gone to rallies or conventions with other RVers
in the past, and found that they make a lot of lasting friends. I know a LOT of our guests do!
Yes, certain not-to-be-named tour groups are rather gnarley & unfriendly, but not us! If you see us in a campground or on a beach, come right on
over for a beer. Nomads are ALWAYS welcome in our group.
Smart RVers with a limited time allowance want to make the most of their vacation. That's why they pay people like us to show them the most
interesting activities and places they can fit into their time in Baja.
We often chat with solo travellers who get very disappointed when we tell them about wonderful places to visit or stay that they unwittingly drove by
and missed out on.
Also, if you come up behind a Baja and Back caravan & have a CB, get on channel 32 and say Hi. We will try our utmost to help you on by.
Cheers to all, and "Keep the rubber side down".
Barry & Vanda
PS: Thanks, Dennis.
PPS: HEADING SOUTH TOMORROW!!! Look for us on the hiway south from Vancouver. Hoping to run into some of y'all.
[Edited on 11-4-2009 by Baja&Back] |
THERE HE IS! Sitting past Awful Art 3 years ago at Viva Baja Cactus... (Glad you posted, Barry!)
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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That's helpful.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65409
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Sorry I didn't get a better photo... Maybe Doug has one? Barry (yellow shirt) is next to Vanda (striped shirt) who is next to Art ('got baja?' hat).
A few Nomads met us for the dinner part of our Tijuana full day tour and party... who couldn't attend the whole event... Baja&Back, jeans, and ??
Photos at http://vivabaja.com/vivabajacactus (Nov. 2006)
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
And, if no CB? |
Honk, wave & gesture - nicely! 
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
Yes, certain not-to-be-named tour groups are rather gnarley & unfriendly, but not us! If you see us in a campground or on a beach, come right on
over for a beer. Nomads are ALWAYS welcome in our group.
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The really unfriendly caravans we have encountered were not yours----I am sure you would encourage a different attitude.
Caravans are not for everyone, but some really enjoy them.
Curious, after going down with one of your caravans, do you know how many never return, how many return on their own, or how many return on another
caravan? Certainly not exact numbers, but just a general idea. Strictly curiosity.
Diane
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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If it's Tuesday it must be Mulege.
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Daj
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-3-2009
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
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Thanks for the info, everyone!
I was not interested in partaking in a caravan journey,
I was just curious!
thanks!
-A
\"Broken hearts are for buttcracks\" -Frank Zappa
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Why Caravans?
.
.
Indeed..why not? Caravans have been a part of the Baja scene since before the blacktop went in back in 1973. We were always 10-12
vehicles strong when making our first trips on the old Camino Real part of the Baja Road. Usually a week or so from end of pavement at San Quintin to
Mulege areas. You didn't worry at all about 'slow caravan vehicles' ahead of you back then..we were all slow...and you were damn glad just to see
another human being. And if you met a decrepid old stake-bed truck on a narrow stretch..someone backed up.
Then after the blacktop was finished in '73.. caravans REALLY got moving.
Caravans ahead of me on the Baja Road worry me not at all. I have met very few that held me up for any amount of time. No inconveniences to
us...knock on wood. All have been very attentive and gracious drivers..and usually very good drivers at that. More so than your average hotrodding 4
wheelers.
Caravans serve a good purpose for those that need ..or can use..them. They also greatly enhance the local economies, something I am very much in
favor of.(..and who cares about ending a sentence with a preposition. )
Great memories. Years ago... When we heard that a caravan was on it's way south and would pass through Mulege, we would all rush to the stores and
buy everything in sight..fearing the dreaded CARAVANERS would descend like locusts and eat/drink all our precious supplies. Actually, I
really 'do not' remember having any serious shortages due to caravans. But it sure was fun IMAGINING THE WORST...and you got to play being a
Packrat.
See the silver Airstreams in this caravan collage? That was the first big caravan to hit the new Baja Road back in 1974. Encamped next to Posada.
.
All caravans ..one way or the other...
.
.
Some of our Baja Caravans
.
We took a 3 rig caravan to Alaska in 2000. Wonderful experiences and great amigos. I have returned every year since because of that first fun trip.
If not for the advice from wagonmaster John, we would not have found a great campsite overlooking this mountain range and cruise ship channel.
Vunderbar!
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So many folks who first caravanned to Baja..stayed to build and become partial or full-time residents. Of course...SOME just stayed for
obvious reasons...
.
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And lastly...JR would have had something to say about this subject.
"Come on, Follow me, you little chicken coopers." 
.
.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3602
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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The downside of Caravans
Some years back, while driving my smaller Class C heading South, just North of San Ignacio, I passed a Caravan going North. A 5th Wheeler coming
down hill took the turn too fast, hugging the center of the road, and side swiped me smashing my driver's side mirror. Swapped the passenger mirror
to the driver's side leaving me blind on the passenger side. Couldn't find a replacement and had to have one shipped from California.
I spent the night in Loreto at the Riviera where a Caravan (heading South) pulled in. Talking to a guy who was driving a large, expensive Class A
and his driver's side mirror had also been smashed, by a Caravan heading North.
I'm guessing that a bunch of RV'ers coming down in Caravans are driving the road for the first time -- and they don't know how to drive the road.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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That happens all the time. Especially on the hairpin curves. There's a reason to travel with a professional, such as Barry. One of his jobs is to not
only instruct, but to maintain safe speed on the curves.
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