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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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Baja wander anyone
I'm in the final stages of planning a trek through Baja. At this point I'm going solo, but it would be great to find someone else that wants to do the
trip. I'm on no particular schedule or itinerary, but will likely be gone a couple of months. Tentative addition is ferry to the mainland and explore
the Copper Canyon area (then maybe further south too?). I'm planning to leave San Luis Obispo CA on 11/3, cross at Tecate, and then see where the
trails take me. Most interested in boondocking or beach camping with others.
Anyone in? Anyone already down there that might want company?
Brennan Johnson
San Luis Obispo, CA
2014 T4R Trail
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2335
Registered: 10-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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Welcome aboard!
Just curious - have you wandered in Baja before?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65070
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Sounds great!
Maybe pick the brain of 'XRPhlang', who owns/ chef's at the restaurant by the south freeway entrance in your town... He's been all over Baja, by
motorcycle!
Keep in mind about the Baja 1000 on Nov. 13-14 from Ensenada to La Paz (maps posted in the Off Roading forum here). Prerunners now until the race will
be on the course.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Enjoy Baja.
"Boondocking" in Baja tends to be unproblematic south of El Rosario if you use some good judgement.
I would discourage you from doing so on mainland...especially any where near Copper Canyon....growers and distributors don't want folks off the beaten
path....and monitor your every minute in and out of the canyons.
Don't believe everything you think....
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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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Hi, All. Thanks for the initial responses and comments. I have not wandered or camped Baja before, but have visited a friend that lives on his boat
several times. Primarily the La Paz and Puerto Escondido area to date. I've consistently heard that El Rosario is the dividing line - north of there
be extra cautious.
Yeah, the Baja 1000 could complicate my trip. I've got their route map saved. :-)
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6113
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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What are you driving? A rugged two wheel drive, and skill, will get you most places I have been, but a 4x4 with good clearance and tires opens up a
lot more options.
With guidance from tips on this website, I crossed into Baja at Tecate, took highway two toward Mexicali avoiding the toll road, and turned south on
the west side of La Rumorosa and drove through the National park to highway three.
Loved it, and then continued down the east side on highway five to highway one. Start searching some of the forums on this website for more ideas and
info, it is here somewhere.
Have fun, and check your tires often.
G.L.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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AKgringo, I'm driving a 2014 Toyota 4 Runner Trial, with upgraded suspension (Total Chaos & Icon), new tires (Toyo AT IIs), custom rear bumper
(awesome swing away with bike rack), roof top tent, and paddle board mount. Front bumper with winch is on order, but unfortunately won't be ready by
the time i leave. Here's a photo - not the greatest detail photo of the truck, but a descent scenery shot! :-) (high above Big Sur, CA last week)
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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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Photo was too big - resized to 30kb and trying again...
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6113
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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With your rig, no worries, other than judgement calls that sometimes bite us all. I just got to La Paz, but would have loved the company of another
wanderer on the way down. I have driven about 450 miles of dirt this trip with a couple of excursions off road so far, and would be up for some more
if you get down this far. I know a few good roads down here, but I have not driven them since Odile hit.
Generally speaking, I prefer exploring the east side of the penninsula.
G.L.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
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"
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Hey there Brennen...welcome to the sandbox which is a great place to get ideas about your upcoming journey and maybe even find a like minded travel
ace! I personally would wait till after the El Rosario area to remote camp.
You might like Sta.Rosalillita area and camp on the beach there with that great rigf of yours and of course there is a hearty baja welcome waiting for
you here in Bahia Asuncion where the boondocking is classic and it is the perfect time of year. You can have a shower, check internet, do laundry and
swap stories with the folks in Campo Sirena on the beach in the village...will you be doing any shore fishing?
this area of central Pacific side Baja is a good choice for hanging out during the Baja 1000 as the race passes an hour away from us so it is very
quiet. Look us up and we can get you dialed in on places to camp..like San Roque, Pta Eugenia, La Bocana Campo Rene, San Ignacio to name a few or head
up into the Sierra mountains for some real exploring!
We look forward hearing about your trip with those fresh eyes of yours too. I have seen a few people make life long friendships and travel buddies on
this forum. It might get more interest if you tell us a bit about yourself and what turns your crank. You also just might meet folks along the way to
hook up with too which is common if you run into someone who has similar dreams as yours.
Buen Viaje!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6113
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Brennen, sorry to detour your thread, but this is for Shari.
I spent the night in Bahia Asuncion on the way south, with the intention of checking out your camp, but nagging dental problems told me to get to my
dentist in La Paz and check it out on the way back.
That should be in three or four weeks, and unless someone reports that the road south from Punta Prieta hs just been graded, I will be coming in from
Vizcaino. The stretch from Punta Prieta to Punta Abreojos was the most obnoxious wash board of my trip!
See you in November. G.L.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13211
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Your trip sounds amazing - to travel Baja with no set agenda is the stuff people dream of!
Now that you got the picture posting down - please remember to keep us posted on your whereabouts.
Somewhere there is a Baja LIST -check it out because there are some lifesaving ideas of what to bring with you. Shovel being one item. Always have
water another. an air pump would be handy for pumping up tires after you air down for sandy areas. and so on!
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A.&M.
Newbie
Posts: 13
Registered: 11-24-2007
Location: Hope B.C. CDN
Member Is Offline
Mood: Needing our Baja fix
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Brennan, I will be down about the same time. I will be at CoCos corner to watch the 1000 racers, will be their for a couple of days. I spent a
few days their during last years race and had a great time. Then down to GN for the night and then Sheri's for a couple of days. After that I have
no set plans except that I have to be home for Xmas. I am solo with a Dodge diesel 4x4 (red) with a Alaskan camper. I cross at Mexicali because I
have had less trouble.
As most other will tell you go and have fun, in the last 5-6 trip I have had no problems. That little voice in the back of your head will tell you
when you find you self someplace you should not be the trick of course is to listen.
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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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Thanks, Shari! I actually didn't have Sta Rosalillita or Bahia Asuncion marked on my map, but they're both marked there now! I'll definitely be
stopping to see you. There's so much in your local area that I want to do and see, so I'm very glad to have connected with you here! (I also marked
your Bufadora B&B as a possible camp spot too for early in my trip).
BajaBlanca: Yes, it seems that I came across that prep list somewhere on this site. It was very similar to one that I've created from various sources.
I'm checking items off one by one! :-)
A&M: AWESOME! Lets keep in touch. I've got CoCo's on my list, but will probably not visit while the 1000 is there. Maybe I'll run into you at
Shari's, or before. I'm planning to stay in Tecate area the night of 11/3, then head to Ensenada on 11/4 and start wandering aimlessly from there! :-)
Lets definitely keep in touch with trip updates and route plans.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Look me up in La Paz if you get down there. We are driving down Dec 2-6 in a 2014 4Runner also. We are in Marina de La Paz, s/v La Paloma. Dinner's
on me. We are in SLO county (Nipomo) until after Thanksgiving. This will be our 16th year on our boat in La Paz, but lots of Baja for years before.
Have a great trip.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
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"
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Soulpatch is right on about the insurance etc etc.
Brennan...check your private mail box called U2U up in the right corner under the log in. Look forward to your visit.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Kinda surprised no one has mentioned the Baja Almanac. If you don't have one, get it before you leave. It shows most dirt roads and other places you
will be traversing. A good supplement to a GPS or other device you may be using. David K must be asleep at the switch.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65070
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jack Swords
Kinda surprised no one has mentioned the Baja Almanac. If you don't have one, get it before you leave. It shows most dirt roads and other places you
will be traversing. A good supplement to a GPS or other device you may be using. David K must be asleep at the switch. |
huh... wha... oh, good morning!
Maps to have that are of good use/ support:
Baja California Almanac
AAA Baja Map
Available at http://bajabooksandmaps.com last word is they still have the Almanac is stock.
Another source is http://discoverbaja.com or stop in their San Diego office. You don't have to be a club member to buy there, but you get a discount if you are
one... and it is a great Baja club to join for other reasons. Not sure if they still have the Almanac there? Call and ask.
Of course, there's my latest book about the founding of all the California missions, and most of them are in Baja! I also have mission details on my
web site's Baja Missions section: http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: in search of more
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Brennan, I might be up for the adventure. I've been planning on just such a trip and very flexible. I have a Sequioa 4wd and have been getting my
enclosed trailer set up for camping and taking a small dirt bike.
Anyway, I will U2 you and we should take on the phone or email to see what's up. I live in Tijuana. Retired.
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Brennan
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 10-26-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: 40, single, and unemployed. Freakin' great!
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Thanks everyone!!! I did get my insurance already thru Vagabundos del Mar. I also got my FMM thru Vagabundos already. I planned on getting my vehicle
TIP in Ensenada, but will look online right now for that.
I DID find the Baja Almanac! I don't remember where I bought it from - it was pricey, but it looks like a fantastic resource. I also have the AAA map.
A good resource book has been Church & Church's Mexican Camping.
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