Muddyrabbit
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 3-15-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
Returning again.
Last week my girlfriend Meredith and I made the decision to return to Baja in February 2012. Motoged posting his latest trip report over on ADV
probably did not help.  It will be my third trip, and Meredith's second. A
few of you probably remember how our last trip crashed and burned, and many thanks to those here on BN who lent us assistance, advice, and encouraging
words during the whole fiasco. I have no desire to rehash all the drama from the last trip, so please don't ask, I'll just say that my first trip
went much smoother. However it is a real testament to the magic of Baja that we can't wait to return. Even after all the bad from that trip, Mer and
I are still able to look back on the first half and moments of the rest with fond memories. It has left us both with a lingering feeling of
unfinished business, myself especially. I remember when we got to Kiki's in SF at the beginning of the last trip it felt like a homecoming, and more
so when we made it back at the end of the trip.
Unfinished business #1 will be to find Antonio in Vizcaino who trailered our bikes to SF after my injury. We weren't able to get enough cash out of
the ATM to pay him our agreed price for the rescue, and it still eats at me that I was not able to make it right. If I have to spend days in Vizcaino
just to find him I WILL make it right.
Unfinished business #2 will be to make it to meet Shari and stay at Baja BNB. After all the encouragement and help she gave up last time I think I
will get the same feeling rolling into her place that I get rolling into Kiki's.
|
|
|
Muddyrabbit
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 3-15-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
Almost forgot my question! We may have Meredith's Mom and Stepdad along on this trip. They are considering joining us for the cross country journey
to get to Baja (we have an old school bus now for trips), and then doing some exploring on their own in a rented jeep. Their main concern is all they
hear on the news is the talking heads telling everyone that all of Mex is now a land of banditos and murderers. I know plenty of gringos are still
going down with their RVs, but I think they need to hear it from someone besides me. So, the eternal question that I hate to ask, "Is Baja safe?"
They may stay in the San Felipe area, but they may also drive down to Ascuncion to meet us there when we come through on the bikes. What would you
say to them about general travel by car (jeep) in Baja? Also, where to rent a jeep?
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
best of luck on your next adventure. Good to see that you got back on the proverbial horse.
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
way to go rabbit for wanting to make things right...we'll be waiting for ya here...sounds like a party!!!!
|
|
|
mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
|
|
tell your folks to have a good time and keep their eyes on the road...i drove from mulege to northern washington round trip five times last year and
twice already this year and never get tired of the wonders of baja...using common sense in all situations is a must...the #1 factor being "dont drive
at night"...they'll have a blast!
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mulegemichael
tell your folks to have a good time and keep their eyes on the road...i drove from mulege to northern washington round trip five times last year and
twice already this year and never get tired of the wonders of baja...using common sense in all situations is a must...the #1 factor being "dont drive
at night"...they'll have a blast! |
you're a mad man...once a yr to NW WA is more than I want to do these yrs. I have decided to just leave a rig in the states and fly back/forth now.
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13242
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
we also drive around Baja from tip to tip about 3 to 5 times a year. safe safe safe.
and we agree: never drive at night.
and remember that every trip to Baja is an adventure !
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
we also drive around Baja from tip to tip about 3 to 5 times a year. safe safe safe.
and we agree: never drive at night.
and remember that every trip to Baja is an adventure ! |
I don't like the 1300 miles from WA to the border, I also could do without the catavina/GN stretch. I know it's cool with the rocks and all, but I get
tired of looking at rocks and flat open desert after a while...esp after looking at them 30 plus times. By the time I get from my families house in WA
to my home in baja I have been in the truck for 2250 miles, or about 45hrs.
But that is a cakewalk compared to soldotna ak to the eastcape...4800miles straight...yuk, yuk, yuk
I also agree no driving at night...unless it's early morning.
|
|
|
mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
|
|
fishman...yes, i am a madman...but when a girl named jimena gets into your shorts there's lots of stuff that needs replacing so; back and forth, back
and forth, back and forth...and....i hate the stretch from sequim to the border..i LOVE it from the border to mulege!...diff'rent strokes, diff'rent
folks...
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
we also drive around Baja from tip to tip about 3 to 5 times a year. safe safe safe.
and we agree: never drive at night.
and remember that every trip to Baja is an adventure ! |
I don't like the 1300 miles from WA to the border, I also could do without the catavina/GN stretch. I know it's cool with the rocks and all, but I get
tired of looking at rocks and flat open desert after a while...esp after looking at them 30 plus times. By the time I get from my families house in WA
to my home in baja I have been in the truck for 2250 miles, or about 45hrs.
But that is a cakewalk compared to soldotna ak to the eastcape...4800miles straight...yuk, yuk, yuk
I also agree no driving at night...unless it's early morning. |
I've grown to almost dread that stretch, which could be extended to be El Rosario to GN. But, different strokes in that when I mentioned it to my
daughter, she disagreed and told me the stretch she dislikes most is Cd. Constitucion to La Paz.
|
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
I took my wife to Loreto in '08 and then to Copper Canyon in '09. Many miles without any problems. For me the worst part of the drive in Baja is
Ensenada to El Rosario. On the mainland it's trying to find my way around in Hermosillo. I just can't figure out that place.
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I've grown to almost dread that stretch, which could be extended to be El Rosario to GN. But, different strokes in that when |
I could do w/o TJ to San Ignacio, and then south of loreto to North La Paz. I like to stop on the top of the pass south of loreto. The view from the
top is down at Aqua Verde... however the access is now fenced. We used to overnight there and wake up and soak in the view with the coffee.
I'll never grow tired of Santa Rosalia to Loreto. It is the main reason I drive until I get to Santa Rosalia...I want to wake up and enjoy my coffee
as I drive along the dead calm SOC and watch the bait balls exploding, the pelicans diving..etc. This section of baja is magical.
After that... I am bored until I can see La Paz and then bored again until I reach Barrilles... then I get excited as I know there is only 1 hr more
until I get home and out of the truck.
But I agree different stokes...
I loved every bit of driving baja up until about the 10th time. Now I basically dread it. For me it is 45 hrs in a car, or 4.5 hrs on a plane. I can
hardly sit still for the 4.5 hrs on the plane.
I know... I just mentioned the majority of baja, the fact is i really don't like driving long distances anymore unless it is discovering new
areas/views, esp with a 1y/o on board.
But that is just me...I am sure everyone else will love the drive... up until you reach the number of trips where it is more work than fun.
|
|
|
Muddyrabbit
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 3-15-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
So, my original question about convincing the in laws that Baja is safe to travel and not just full of murdering banditos?
|
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Muddyrabbit
So, my original question about convincing the in laws that Baja is safe to travel and not just full of murdering banditos? |
Muddy, Go for it!! I have never felt unsafe in Baja or in Mexico proper.
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mulegemichael
fishman...yes, i am a madman...but when a girl named jimena gets into your shorts there's lots of stuff that needs replacing so; back and forth, back
and forth, back and forth...and....i hate the stretch from sequim to the border..i LOVE it from the border to mulege!...diff'rent strokes, diff'rent
folks... |
I feel for you w/ jimena. I was one of the first cars heading south after the storm, we got stalled in WA because the storm took out so many parts of
the road. To top it off I was hauling a 30 travel trailer, which was not fun due to the condition of the road.
while we didn't get by the hurricane...we did get hit by banditos the day of the storm, as did a few other homes. It was a hurricane raid... and it
really sucked...but it was nothing like the damage suffered in mulege, ccd, insurgentes, lopez mateos, san carlos...etc. I have 100's of photos of
that trip. simply amazing, the power of that storm.
For the OP's original question...tell your family to watch your local evening news, there is way more violence north of the border, than south of the
border...as long as you are not a narco or a thug.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
