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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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9 day trip to the Pacific coast
Took a 9 day trip to Pacific at the end of August. Had a great time, even though we got skunked in the fishing department; so, sorry no pictures of
any BIG fish  . Biggest was a 15" +/- Jacksmelt  , then a few 6-8" Halibut we let go to get bigger.
Weather was variable some foggy days some sunny days, and then a little after midnight on Sunday the 25th it started to rain on us. No fun since the
tents had come down to help make packing up in the morning easier. All 5 of crammed into the shade structure….but rain still blew in the sides. We
usually try to drive home in two days with a stop in the Rancho Martires area, south of El Rosario; but with everything being wet and rain still
falling when we hit the pavement, we drove all the way home in a day. It rained all the way to just south of TJ and helped to wash some of the mud
off. Amazingly all the military checkpoints were open in the rain, but they basically just asked the usual "where have you been"…..saw our camping
gear, and let us go.
Border wait was 2 hours at 11:30PM on Sunday to 1:30 AM on Monday! And they sent me to Secondary for an additional 45 minutes to take our “pork
products”. And even though the guy who sent me to Secondary, said they would only do the Ag-inspection, the Secondary person made me pull a bunch of
stuff out of the truck, pop the hood, walk around with the dog….. She did find several leftover partially filled bottles of alcohol we had brought
from home, but did she did not take them even though she chastised me by saying “We don’t care if you brought it from home, as soon as it crosses the
border it’s ‘international alcohol’. You can only have one liter.“. 
Only had two vehicles stop by our camp the entire week, all fisherman from Punta Blanca. Once on our first night when they stopped by on their way
into town, and they asked for a couple of sodas and cervezas for the drive; and on our last day (the rainy one) when two different guys stopped by to
see if we had any lighters; we of course gave them several as well and most of our left-over sodas, cervezas and some food.
Only vehicle issue was a flat tire, that took 4 plugs to patch….no way was I going to put on the spare in the rain. We discovered it when we stopped
by a La Virgen Shrine to give thanks for a fun trip. While cleaning off some of the mud I heard a hisssssss. Just as I was finishing up the plug
the same guys we saw on the first day in camp drove by on their way back to Punta Blanca. As is the Baja tradition, they asked if we needed help, but
as I was just about done we said all was good.
Here was our shade house on a foggy day. Experimenting with the filter settings on the new camera..
Can’t be good for this old Ford…..Fishermen towing their Panga back to camp at the end of the day.
This Pelican stopped by hoping for a handout. He let us walk really close to him.
Feeding Dolphins, right in front of us
Riding the waves. This size was considered big during our week.
Another
A new sport Stand up Kayaking (aka: SUK)
Set up the “Coyote Cam” again this year. It’s a wildlife camera by Cuddeback
Saw this sleeping guy during a road trip to Punta Blanca. He apparently did not hear us drive up
Blue Boy
Here we are after crossing San Jose Canyon. We were worried it might be full of water, but just a lot of slippery mud.
And a sunset to end it
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Great stuff...can't wait to blast off next week with the kids.
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Curt63
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Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Nice report. Good Trip. Thanks
No worries
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Paulina
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Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Thank you for the report and taking the time and effort to post the pics too.
P>*)))>{
[Edited on 16-9-2013 by Paulina]
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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Very nice photos. Thanks for sharing.
Punta Blanca, is that where the photos were taken?
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DocRey
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Registered: 2-27-2013
Location: SADM, Playas de T.J./Rancho Cucamonga, CA
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Mood: Cautiously Optimistic
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Very cool. Thx.
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TMW
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Great, thanks for the pixs and report. Punta Blanca is one of my favorite fishing spots. As to the alcohol at the border, I was told it didn't make
any difference which side it was purchased on you can take only so much back per person. But like you she let me keep my extra with a promise not to
do it again. Now we give it away before getting to the border.
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by edm1
Very nice photos. Thanks for sharing.
Punta Blanca, is that where the photos were taken? |
Only the sleeping coyote was taken in Punta Blanca during a day trip for a change in scenery. The rest are from a secret spot along the secret
stretch of coast known as the 7 sisters 
But based on this trip, there's no fish, no waves cool water, and rain; so no reason to really drive 1,000 miles anyway...... 
[Edited on 9-16-2013 by Taco de Baja]
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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thanks for the report...the sleeping coyote shot was my favorite!!! great pics....we have had more fog this year than usual...todays fishers bailed
because of fog...dang. A new sport is born SUK...stand up kayaking!
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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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Few more details on the trip:
The storm and rain that hit us early Sunday was apparently from the far reaches of TS IVO. We likely got around 1/2" rain by the time we left ~11
hours after it started. Roads weren't too bad except for a very steep hill with large cobbles that is a PITA even in dry conditions....The FJ almost
did not make 1t up. Think greased ball bearings the size of tennis and bowling balls, deep ruts, and tires packed with mud. Our vehicles were
splattered with lots of mud, but most got washed off in the constant rain all the way to TJ. The undersides, however were packed with mud, sand, and
gravel on the frames, springs, axles and everyplace else under the trucks. . I'm sure San Diego appreciated us adding sediment to the streets to wash
out and replenish the vanishing beach sand.
Packing up is the rain is something I really don't want to do again. Only bonus was it was 75 degrees, so I did it in a bathing suit, no shirt....I
was wet anyway, so what the heck.
El Rosario was a complete mud pit by the time we got there at 5:30. Lots of people out though despite the rain. Same for all the towns between El
Rosario and Ensenada. You'd have thought it was Saturday night on a warm summer evening. In addition, although I generally try to avoid driving in
the dark in Baja (aside from early mornings on the Toll Road), I really can't recommend driving at night in the rain....Some scary moments with slow
trucks weaving all over the road to avoid potholes [or maybe they were drunk] making passing a very dicey option; in addition to having to keep an eye
out for the usual nuts who pass on blind hills and corners . 
Water temps were cool when we arrived ~62 F, but warmed up through the week and got up to an acceptable 68-70 F.
[Edited on 9-16-2013 by Taco de Baja]
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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brewer
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 1-4-2011
Location: BCS
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Mood: Grateful
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Nice trip report. We caught some IVO on the east side, it was a mess. A couple days later it was all patched up and fine.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Brooks, a real nice report, considering it comes from a trip to "you know where" and you don't want to get yelled at by "you know who"!
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pappy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 679
Registered: 12-10-2003
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thanks brooks! report well done....
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Mexitron
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Nice pics Brooks...bummed I couldn't make it this year but not entirely sad i missed out on the rain and mud...though we're planning a winter trip so
maybe I'll get the same!
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Jorge
Game cameras in Baja, what a great idea! |
I think every camper would be amazed at how soon the "silent ones" come into camp after the lights go out, and how often through the night and early
morning they parade back and forth. We always see the prints, but time stamping the visits is really neat.
This year it seemed like it was only a few solitary coyotes, or maybe just two individuals. Last year we had a pack of 6+ that visited. One woke me
this year up lapping fresh water from the ice chests out of a bucket less than 6 feet from my cot.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I love the night camera shots... I am just not sure if I want to know what is outside my tent after I go inside!!! LOL
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Chupacabra
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Registered: 7-11-2013
Location: La Jolla, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Taco de Baja
we got skunked in the fishing department |
Great pics, thanks.
I wonder if the rain shut down the fishing? We were down just after the rain, and all the runoff had turned the water reddish-brown and very murky.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
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Enjoyed your report. I'm jealous. Thanks for taking the time to post. 9 days. Did I say I'm jealous? Dig the SUK.
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 11-28-2009
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I'm just curious about the Baja coyote. We travel with a larger dog so not an issue but are they aggressive with small dogs?
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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We took our 50 lb dog there last year, no problem but she slept in the tent with us and the noise of the waves likely drowned out any noise the
coyotes would make. A small dog---I'd be pretty careful---the coyotes are around occasionally around during the day and they'd love a snack if given
the chance---don't leave the dog alone, day or night.
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