| Pages:
1
2
3
..
8 |
lovebahia22
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-26-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
advice for the first time drivers?
any advice for a girl in her twenty somethings, who will be driving for the first tine, trip south, pas tsan quintien. simple and to the point.
|
|
|
fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Did you ever go on that fishing trip to Ensenada about a month ago?
How'd that go?
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
|
|
|
bajajurel
Nomad
Posts: 276
Registered: 6-17-2009
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fishing for fun
|
|
Drive only during the daylight hours and take it easy and enjoy the scenery. Always stop and get gas. Carry an extra 5 gallons of gas especially
from El Rosario to Guerrero Negro. Have your vehicle serviced before you leave home. Make sure your spare is in good condition and you have a good
jack and lug wrench (I also carry a tool box). Carry plenty of drinking water and some food, a big hat, good walking shoes just in case and a 1st Aid
Kit. If you do break down get your vehicle off the highway. Always someone will stop to help you if you do breakdown. If you can - caravan with
others and take the usual precautions any woman should reasonably take. Watch out for the semis. Check for road conditions before you leave.
Learn to speak Spanish - it helps.
I drive from San Diego to Guerrero Negro on the first day, then Santa Rosalia or Loreto the second day, then Puerto Lopez Mateos or La Paz or Los
Barriles the third day, etc. etc. Of course I fish on the way so the stops also depends on what's biting.
Keep it between the lines.
Jerry
bajajurel
|
|
|
805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
Find a companion.
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Take your time and explore interesting places along the way.
|
|
|
grmpb
Nomad
Posts: 103
Registered: 5-24-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
if you are going to go south of el rosario you need to fill your tank there. no other gas stations until bola or jesus maria 20 miles north of
guerrero negro. other than people selling it out of barrels in catavina and the junction of hwy. 1 and the raod to bola
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
You will do fine... many single American girls have driven the highway.
As stated above, top your tank at the Pemex gas station in El Rosario... It is an honest station run by a Baja Nomad member ('BajaCactus'/ Antonio).
How far past San Quintin are you going? The next Pemex station on Hwy. 1 is at Villa Jesus Maria, 200 miles from El Rosario. Gas is also sold from
cans at Cataviña and the Bahia de los Angeles junction (77 and 140 miles from El Rosario).
Yummy food is found all over... in the remote areas, look for truckers parked next to ranchos... that double as cafes on the highway... and there are
always places to eat and taco stands in every town.
El Rosario is 220 miles from the border and makes an excellent first night stop if you begin in Southern California. The Baja Cactus Motel next to the
Pemex station and the Turista Motel, 2 miles down the highway are both very nice and inexpensive motels with great beds and showers... rates between
$25-$35 is all.
|
|
|
rocmoc
Nomad
Posts: 234
Registered: 5-25-2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Live today like it maybe your LAST!
|
|
When in doubt SLOW down!
When in doubt DON"T stop!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
|
|
|
Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
Member Is Offline
|
|
I'd like to add a a few suggestions;
Don't dress "girly". Wear clothing that won't hinder you should you break down, have to ask for help, change a tire, etc.
Wear a wedding ring. Buy a fake one if you need to.
Because you are alone, don't stop to help anyone along side the road. Don't give anyone a ride.
If anyone would ask me where my husband was, and it happened frequently, for example at military check points, I would signal that he was following
along behind me, a few minutes back.
I used to have some men's clothing in the truck, carry a pair of men's working boots to put outside the door at my place, as well as the clothing to
make it appear that my "husband" was around camp. If I was ever asked about him I would say he was out fishing, ran into town, etc.
It's best to not to be vulnerable. A single woman with a wave and wearing a smile can put out the wrong message.
Have a fun trip,
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
|
|
|
DavidT
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 4-9-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Take twice as long to drive half as far.
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
|
|
|
BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
always pay attention
Drive as if everyone else has the right of way even when they dont.
If the car in front of you has its left turn signal on they are telling you to pass. This does not always mean its safe to pass. Use your own
judgement.
|
|
|
elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaDanD
Drive as if everyone else has the right of way even when they dont.
If the car in front of you has its left turn signal on they are telling you to pass. This does not always mean its safe to pass. Use your own
judgement. |
If someone is behind you and YOU want to turn left put your signal on AND stick your hand out the window to indicate your intent, otherwise they may
try and pass you as you turn.
Have Fun!
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
|
|
|
Dianamo
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 12-27-2005
Location: SF Bay Area, CA when not in El Cardonal
Member Is Offline
Mood: ...still in Baja
|
|
very good advice from everyone
Search for someone to caravan with on this site, who may be traveling at the same time.
Personally, I would feel safer in Baja, if my car broke-down, than I would on any American freeway.
BUT:
Never let your guard down!
Listen to your intuition!
Have fun!
Minds are like parachutes...they only function when open!
\"The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.\" - Plato
|
|
|
BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
Member Is Offline
Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
|
|
Welcome, lovebahia22!
Here's a link you should read! It talks about giving the wrong impression and what Mexican men interpret.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36760#top
It happened to me, walking on the beach, I smiled at a guy driving along the beach and said "hola"...(just being friendly like I always am back home).
Next thing I knew, he turned around, got out of the jeep and started "hitting" on me.
Especially being a "young thing", dress casual and comfortable, but not flirty. Don't draw attention to yourself by going into a restaurant for a
bite to eat in short-shorts, a bikini top and stilettos. 
You may not ever dress that way anyway, but I thought I'd mention it.
Trust your instincts and have fun!
Oh yea, make sure your cell phone works in Mexico. I've heard that Nextel or Verizon carriers don't work for calls (someone correct me on this one!),
but if you have AT&T as your service provider, your US cell phone will work in Mexico anywhere it picks op a signal. Rates are .25-.45 cents a
minute, but in an emergency, at least you have a signal.
[Edited on 9-10-2009 by BajaNuts]
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
T-Mobile probably has the best coverage in Baja.
I was wondering if DK gets a spiff for everytime he promotes Antonio's gas station and hotel?
|
|
|
oldjack
Nomad
Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
Mood: retired
|
|
I use AT&T and it seems to work very well all up and down the pennisula... temporary highjack: if DK gets some consideration for recommending an
EXCELLENT motel so be it... I would just like the concierge(sp?) service Antonio provides him and his troops
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
I do note that the original post merely mentioned going "past San Quintin". Wonder how far past. It's probably just me, having joked about DK, but I
just don't get a good vibe in El Rosario. Been ignored in the larger of the markets. Had maybe the worst meal in all my trips at the Baja's Best.
While it's true that the physical plant at Baja Cactus is outstanding, I find the place too noisy. We basically stopped staying in El Rosario a couple
of years ago. San Quintin has several very fine hotels, the obvious best of which is Jardines de Baja. They have a great restaurant next door. I
usually gas at the newer Pemex by Los Pinos, and easily make it through to Jesus Maria with plenty to spare. (like if I want, all the way to GN)
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
T-Mobile probably has the best coverage in Baja.
I was wondering if DK gets a spiff for everytime he promotes Antonio's gas station and hotel? |
Interesting, my T-Mobile got zero coverage on Hwy.1 ...
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Maybe you should have called them to turn on your international coverage. We've had great service. But, between El Rosario and Guerrero Negro, no one
has much, as it's mostly off the grid.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
New Nomad, perhaps. But traveling Baja for almost three decades. And there you go again, pitching for the businesses. I've got nothing against any of
them. Fact is, if Bajabound gives me a better quote than their competition, I'll enter my credit card number. I just have my preferences, to which I'm
entitled. And I will repeat that although I have been to an untold number of towns, villages and cities in Baja, I just prefer to do nothing more than
drive through El Rosario. Just to expand on this a bit. I noticed that on your recent trip, with your wife, you stayed at at least two places that
were owned and operated by non-Mexicans. If you are so pro-Baja and its heritage..........
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3
..
8 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
