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LukeJobbins
Nomad
Posts: 196
Registered: 3-11-2014
Location: Lemoore, Ca
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Kayak trip around baja
I am new to this forum but a somewhat experienced baja traveller. I am starting to plan a kayak trip around baja starting in the gulf and going down
around and ending in SD. I plan on starting the trip in about 3 years. I am planning on going solo and super light-wieght. I am going to have a
desalinization kit, a compact 1-person tent and small camping supplies and plan on mostly eating fish I catch(bringing 2 rods with fishing supplies
and some money to stop in places and reload on lost lures/line etc). I am definitely doing a lot of planning and want to just cruise slowly and spend
about 8-10months. I would like to bring a surfboard or 2 if I can figure out a way to pack it on a kayak. If anyone has any suggestions or resources
about my travel or anyone wants to support me on the trip with a place to stay or supplies staged on their property or whatever please let me know.
The more I know from you guys before I go the more enjoyable the trip will be.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Here's some kayaking info on doing the Sea of Cortez via my Coyote Bay neighbors of many years...NOLS. (National Outdoor Leadership School.) Since
the 70's, I would say they are the experts on that kind of a trip. Happy planning...
http://www.nols.edu/courses/baja-sea-kayaking/
plus another expert in the field. An old amiga, Trudi.
http://www.tourbaja.com/
[Edited on 3-11-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Welcome to Nomads Luke, good luck on your venture. We live in Buena Vista BCS and would be happy to let you stash some stuff here.
I've always understood that boating south on the pacific side is much preferable to boating north, not sure about a kayak. Keep us posted on your
plan......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
Posts: 661
Registered: 2-24-2014
Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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As far as your surfboard goes, couldn't you just tow it? If you are starting your journey on the gulf side, how far up the coast will you be beginning
your trip? You also might want to plan your gulf side stretch avoiding the windy season.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20396
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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you should reach out to abraham levy. he is a mexican that kayaked solo along entire baja coast (i think he ended up kayaking the entire coast of
mexico, pacific, SOC and caribean). he camped with us one night on the central coast, and he seemed to be well-equipped, but basically winging it,
meeting people along the way, scrounging a meal here and there, etc.
with all the campers and fish camps, you are rarely more than a days paddle from running across someone.
i dont think you need to pack a surf board. as you pass by the line up and tell your story about kayaking the whole coast line, i am sure you will be
able to borrow a board here and there.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LukeJobbins
I am starting to plan a kayak trip around baja starting in the gulf and going down around and ending in SD |
The first part, going so. on the Cortez to the Cape sounds
good, most/all kayak trips of distance in the Cortez go that direction. Not sure about turning the corner and coming
back no. along the Pacific side of Baja, uphill, so to speak,
I would think you would be fighting a headwind,
watermovement, waves
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Camping at Conception Bay the gentleman next to me had a Hobbie outrigger with the sail set up...after a few margaritas with my wife I watched him one
afternoon tacking back and forth in the wind to eventually get to our shore and I helped pull him up.
Back here in San Diego I visited the Hobbie kayak center on Mission Bay, across from Sea World and decided I could never afford that set up. Stuck to
our dually for fishing with my wife.
Always fantasized about hooking up my own outrigger with a surfboard or SUP board for the outrigger pontoon?
Maybe a solution for you?
Cut me a check if you make millions off it.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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I am an expert kayaker in Baja, Luke.
IMHO, I would start in Mission Bay, San Diego, and end up in the gulf...your choice of where.
The currents and tides are treacherous in the Pacific and kayaking you would spend more energy than you will get in return.
It is easier to do the harder side first, and when you have some strength left, finish on the SOC. Time your kayaking time to go with the incoming
flood tide. The ebb tide is not worth battling. You would lose more than you will have gained.
I sailed a Hobie 16 down to Pescadero (on the Pacific side) many years ago when I was younger, and still would do it again.
I now own a Hobie Tandem Island, and as such, the trip is still doable, either way, in the TI, not a paddle kayak). I have also sailed the same 16
across to Puerto Peñasco from Fan Felipe, over a two day period. The currents and tides were nasty! They eventually took me 20 miles off course, and
that was dead reckoning, before the GPS era.
I am sure I don't have to lecture you about VHF and safety gear.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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Don't talk about it as Nike said "Just Do It"
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The late Carlos Fiesta traveled solo around the peninsula and more (Long Beach Harbor around the cape, up to the Colorado River, then back to San
Felipe) in a panga... Read and see his Baja Circumnavigation pics and story, starting here: http://www.bajaexpo.com/circumnavigation/adios.htm
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LukeJobbins
Nomad
Posts: 196
Registered: 3-11-2014
Location: Lemoore, Ca
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thanks for the help guys keep it coming if you know of more stories or resources or ideas
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freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
Posts: 625
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
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The prevailing currents and wind go south on the pacific side . Don't go "up hill" start south on the pac side
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AndyP
Nomad
Posts: 116
Registered: 12-8-2009
Location: Eugene, OR
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Definitely don't try to tow a surfboard or anything like that... maybe an inflatable board would be feasible but a normal surfboard won't fit on or in
any kind of seaworthy kayak.
Work hard on your roll and paddle skills if you're not a true expert already. Whitewater paddling would develop skills you're going to need for the
west coast.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 805gregg
Don't talk about it as Nike said "Just Do It"
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And Al Davis, who said "Just win, baby".
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by freediverbrian
The prevailing currents and wind go south on the pacific side . Don't go "up hill" start south on the pac side |
Exactly, do as Carlos Fiesta did!
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Desert Rat
Junior Nomad
Posts: 69
Registered: 8-29-2003
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Read Ed Darack's book, "WIND, WATER, SUN". He paddled 850 miles down the coast of Sea of Cortez starting just north of San Felipe. Has good maps.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Google has a huge amount of references. Hauling a surfboard? I don't think so and you can get by with one fishing rod or a hand line, You'll wand to
save all the weight and space for water and food. Desal pump probably for emergencies. You'll want something like Spot too so we know when and where
to give you an assist IF you need it. I've talked to a few people that have paddled the SOS none so far that have paddled the Pacific. All have had
horror moments fighting the wind and tides. You have the time to get everything tuned up. You might want to do a couple of 3 day trips in Mexico just
to get the feel for the provisions you can take.
Good luck
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Russ
..............You might want to do a couple of 3 day trips in Mexico just to get the feel for the provisions you can take.
Good luck |
...not t'mention some practice doing beach-landings in surf,,,,before you're in an isolated location,,,with all your eggs in the basket!
...don't get me wrong--it sounds like a lovely adventure,,,I'm actually considering a similar trip....mex-cuba,,,and up the chain!
[Edited on 3-12-2014 by micah202]
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degoma
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 7-21-2009
Location: Mojave, CA
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For a vivid description of kayaking the pacific coast check this out:
Keep It Moving - Baja By Canoe , Valerie Fons, 1986, ISBN 0-89886-101-2
Why they call their boats canoe’s I don’t understand…look like kayaks to me. The trip continues around the cape and up the gulf. Good, if not
harrowing, read.
They started in San Diego. I'm with Udo, start there.
[Edited on 3-12-2014 by degoma]
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 930
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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Sounds like a fun trip, I also agree with going south, starting from SD. Longshore currents will be traveling North to South! Timing it season wise
will be crucial as well. (Example would be N. Baja in Aug-Sept, pretty slow swell and storm wise).
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