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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bigzaggin
David -
You're missing La Pasadita, our must stop taco joint in El Rosario. It's right around #33. I have pictures somewhere.
AWESOME shrimp tacos. Really nice people. Surprisingly clean bathroom in the back. |
Could it be a new name for #34 ? As I said, this was accurate in 2006... You know how they like to change names or change ownership!
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redhilltown
Super Nomad
Posts: 1130
Registered: 1-24-2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bill erhardt
| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Driving at night is no problem, just keep the high beams on and your eyes open.
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And/or, find a rabbit, the bigger the better, and stay back a hundred yards, or so. A bus or an empty tractor/trailer is ideal. Let the rabbit blow
the livestock off the road and the oncoming traffic back on their side.
I would rather not to drive at night, but if circumstances dictate and I have a choice, I much prefer the predawn hours to early evening hours after
nightfall. Most of the livestock has done its wandering for the night, there are a lot less drunks on the road, and fewer drivers rushing to get
where they want to be. |
This is great advice! I always like it when driving in Mexico I am "locked in" with a couple of other cars driving a similar style (ie: not
tailgaiting) at a similar speed...makes me feel safe for some reason.
As to the safe TJ to Ensenada toll road, isn't that where the notorious kidnapping took place after the Baja 1000 a few years ago?
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bent-rim
Nomad
Posts: 294
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Marin County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living la vida mota
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Ask the McMillins about the toll road at night.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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I always drive to Baja....during the night. It's cooler....less traffic. I do however stick behind a big rig or RV. A few good breaks....perhaps a 30
minute nap. Still here...alive...so far 
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
Member Is Offline
Mood: bewildered
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We just (an hour ago) got back home from a 3-week trip into Baja as far as Loreto. We crammed way too much stuff into our short time in Mexico, but
still had a great time.
I avoided night driving, for the same reasons already mentioned. I did push late on one night, leaving Ojo de Libre at about 1430 heading north. After
driving out to check out Santa Rosalilita, I decided to try for El Rosario. We ended up stoping in Catavina, at the Hotel Mision.
Expensive!
It was raining, and cold, so the place had collected most of the gringo's on the road for the night. The resturant (what an amazing ceiling!!) was
slammed, and the poor waiter was literally running from table to kitchen to bar to table......
Anyway, I had thought of going further, but I was very tired and very consious that my situational awareness was dropping fast. Stopping was
expensive, but very wise.
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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Several times we have driven at night and several times we have had unexpected things occur to our vehicle that we did not intend to happen. Call it
bad luck or just a "kick in the butt" for not getting off the road before night.
It only takes once to have vehicle problems on roads in Mexico at night with semi-trucks going by you so close you will not need a shave for several
days. Just not the thing to do and I understand traveling at night can be peaceful use to do it like David K talks about. Can remember only too well
the times we got off work at 5pm, got kids some snacks for the road trip down to San Felipe as we did that drive. Did this a lot and stopped for
shrimp tacos or shrimp to cook later at the house. I know a number of you used the roadway to San Felipe when the water from the Colorado was on both
sides of the roadway just like we did. However, back then lots of Americans and others on that roadway at night but no so much anymore unless
holidays. Possibel vehicle problems are never a thought until they happen and at night on Mexican roads is just to dang stressful and DANGEROUS!!
The vehicles driving without lights are another factor and the animals on the road are always the biggest risk at night just like they can be in the
daytime. Take Care&Travel Safe------- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Driving at night? I had no choice!
Hiking up Cañon del Diablo at 1 p.m.
At 3 p.m., the shadows started getting longer... (uh oh!)
Laguna del Diablo at 4 p.m.
Hwy 3 Roadside repair at 4:45 p.m.
Dinner in Valle de la Trinidad
Ensenada at 9 p.m. (phew! We made it!)
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BajaAnthro
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 2-20-2012
Member Is Offline
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redhilltown wrote: "This is great advice! I always like it when driving in Mexico I am "locked in" with a couple of other cars driving a similar style
(ie: not tailgaiting) at a similar speed...makes me feel safe for some reason."
I definitely agree. I drove down from CA last month. There was a really long stretch where I was traveling along with another car at about the same
pace. Makes sense to find a "rabbit" or "lock in" to others cars--especially at night. On this last trip I ended up driving for a couple hours at
night north of G. Negro, where there was a lot of roadwork. A few of us kind of informally stuck together through that stretch. Tagging along with
others (when possible) seems like a good idea to me.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Night Driving???
The only problems that I have driving at night are the potholes........oh, and that strange Mexican Moror Vehicle law that states all oncoming cars
must have their bright lights on or have at least one headlight out of adjustment....
PS I always follow about 100-150 yds behind another vehicle
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7433
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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Do any Nomads see a difference between driving at night with a full moon and driving at night with no moon? I've considered driving at night in baja
with a full moon, thinking that the moonlight would be enough to make a safe difference, but, as of yet, have not done so. My biggest issue with
driving at night is that in many places there are not enough road side reflectors, nor reflective painted lines to define the roadway.
[Edited on 2-24-2012 by SFandH]
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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I did do the tagging thing when our flight to Loreto was delayed by several hours and we didn't end up leaving for Mulege until it was already dark.
I stayed behind a semi the entire trip (very weird since I'm so used to passing them when I can). When he was crusing along the straightaways at a
decent speed it was pretty easy; what got more difficult was going 10 mph in the hills and on curves; but at least I arrived without any problems.
Great point about car repairs at night; hadn't thought about that. It would be pretty hairy pulled off on the side with the semis flying by during
the day, but having that happen at night would really be a vacation-killer, for sure.
Thanks for all the perspectives everyone; this has been really helpful.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
HOLA,the inshure company's due survey's in the us..and they find you chance's of getting in a wreck are 90percent at night,,[Edited on 2-23-2012 by
captkw]
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I think that what I'm deciphering here is that in the US we have a 90% chance of getting in an accident if we drive at night? Really? That would make
for an awful lot of nightly accidents, wouldn't you think?
There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gallesram
Agree with (and appreciate) the comments; except the toll road is the safest road for me since I have yet to encounter an animal and the road surface
is generally very good. Has anyone had an issue with crime at night? I have focused more on animals and potholes (as well as people driving with
their lights off) as being the real concerns. |
I've never encountered a problem on the toll road, but once while staying in a hotel in Ensenada a caught a Mexican news report on TV of a Mexican
family that ran into a row of rocks that someone had placed across the toll lanes heading north, blowing out a front tire and making them pull over.
Once they were by the side of the road, a vehicle with a bunch of guys pulled up and robbed them of their posessions. Probably didn't make the news in
US because it didn't involve Americans. But that must not be a frequent occurrence, or for sure we'd have heard about it by now.
There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SFandH
Do any Nomads see a difference between driving at night with a full moon and driving at night with no moon? I've considered driving at night in baja
with a full moon, thinking that the moonlight would be enough to make a safe difference, but, as of yet, have not done so. My biggest issue with
driving at night is that in many places there are not enough road side reflectors, nor reflective painted lines to define the roadway.
[Edited on 2-24-2012 by SFandH] |
One of my best m/c rides in Baja was a number of years ago when I arrived in GN at about dusk and decided to press on. At about Vizcaino the full
moon came up and with the bright moonlight I rode all the way to Mulege. It was a beautiful experience and I felt I had great visibility
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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night driving
HOLA< I can say,with a lot of time on the road,,full moon's mean more wildlife (cows,etc) and I slow down, myself...K&T
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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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I am a Baja Road vet, and these are easy choices for me to make.
Lately, say in the last 10 years, I have found that night driving is much more relaxing and safer than daytime driving. At night there is far less
traffic, the drunks and Baja 1000 wanabees are pretty much passed out by then...or wrecked already, the few semi-drivers are very professional and
considerate of high-beams, they use left blinker on to let you know it's safe to pass, etc. If you know the rules of the road, it's a pretty good way
to make the best of it from TJ to Cabo.
So...pay heed to all of our individual opinions & experiences listed here....and add that info to your own safety and expertise
level ..because utimately it is YOUR decision to make.
One thing for sure: If you go on the Baja Road 'white-knuckled' and nervous, your chances of a driving mishap are greatly increased. Practice some
cone-driving clearance tests in an empty parking lot, distance-judging, low-light manuevering, guessing how close to you can drive to the right edge,
stuff like that...
you know your own skill level, so...use common sense....get prepped. It's your life ..and mine...and all of the other drivers out there wondering if
the next vehicle will be the one that kills us.
Anyway, just my 2 cents..and Hope that helps....Relax and Enjoy your trip! 
..and if you are still able to write afterwards...please don't forget the Road Trip Report
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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Thank god I'm driving a VOLVO !!! K&T
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Roger
Said much better than I could.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
I am a Baja Road vet, and these are easy choices for me to make.
Lately, say in the last 10 years, I have found that night driving is much more relaxing and safer than daytime driving. At night there is far less
traffic, the drunks and Baja 1000 wanabees are pretty much passed out by then...or wrecked already, the few semi-drivers are very professional and
considerate of high-beams, they use left blinker on to let you know it's safe to pass, etc. If you know the rules of the road, it's a pretty good way
to make the best of it from TJ to Cabo.
So...pay heed to all of our individual opinions & experiences listed here....and add that info to your own safety and expertise
level ..because utimately it is YOUR decision to make.
One thing for sure: If you go on the Baja Road 'white-knuckled' and nervous, your chances of a driving mishap are greatly increased. Practice some
cone-driving clearance tests in an empty parking lot, distance-judging, low-light manuevering, guessing how close to you can drive to the right edge,
stuff like that...
you know your own skill level, so...use common sense....get prepped. It's your life ..and mine...and all of the other drivers out there wondering if
the next vehicle will be the one that kills us.
Anyway, just my 2 cents..and Hope that helps....Relax and Enjoy your trip!
..and if you are still able to write afterwards...please don't forget the Road Trip Report |
Well stated --- and I think you should start a school of driving for RV caravans! We personally drive mostly during the day as we like to see the
desert, but you make some very good points for the after dark travel.
However, off the main highway can be a very different story. We drove the Viscaino-Tortugas road once after dark when it was really full of potholes
and that was not fun as the potholes are far more difficult to see at night, especially on a very dark night.
Enjoy!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Interesting... I have found pot holes are far easier to see at night and gauge their depth... the darker the shadow, the deeper the hole! Perhaps
upgrading your headlights or adding HID off road lights (for use when nobody else is in sight) is in order?
All in all, I still believe driving in daylight is a wiser choice in Baja... seeing the boojum tress is more than worth it! Cows also like to lay down
on the still warm asphalt at night... in vados... and they are usually very dark skinned cows!
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