Back to Baja after 20 years.......

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After 20 years of starting families and moves we are finally going Back to Baja and could not be more excited…… 

Friday October 14 – Picked up Juan, Steve and Bob and headed to the boarder when one vehicle headed back for insurance and the other into Tijuana, eventually we hooked up at Estero Beach Hotel in Ensenada. We ate and enbibed and readied for an early departure.

Saturday October 15 – Breakfast and cocktails for one 😊Headed out for supplies at Gigante Mercado, auto parts, fuel then headed south. Went to San Tomas and headed SW to Colonet. Meandered leisurely our way south to a picturesque coastline in front of us. Uneventful drive with the exception of Bobs bid adventure into a trech. No problem, we got out a couple shovel and a few beers, overnighted in the middle of a ranchers pasture. Stew and ++ cocktails were had by all. Coyotes, and Bob’s misadventure with warming up the truck made for a complete evening.

Comments from Juan: The last night was hell, still lost, with lots of coyotes. And Bob getting cold and sleeping in his truck 😊

Sunday October 16 – 200 miles today – Left for San Quintine where we picked up a couple supplies and changed out a u-joint and Steve found bano, and was propositioned by a nice person trying to sell us some reefer 😉 we said no gracias. Did not make it by nightfall and overnighted under a gorgeous starlight sky. We crossed desert terrain, climbed mountains and crossed through torrential river beds….Cool. Dined on ham steak, seasoned chili and whole kernel corn. All is well, with he exception that we had no idea where we were. Daylight hoped to avail our whereabouts.

Monday October 17 – 188 miles – We headed south by the suns shadow on Bobs truck body. Spent the day cruising the most magnificent crescent bays. Also crossed a few marshes and cactus fields. We stopped at one bay for lunch and dined on fresh clams and Pescador. We ended this day in Guerro Negro rather and Santa Rosalalita. We overnighted at the Hotel El Moro and dined on fish at their restaurant. Had to get one of the trucks tires repaired, it had picked up a cactus spine.

Tuesday October 18 – 273 miles – Got the tire repaired in GN then hit the road, but the truck tire had a blow out on a very dangerous mountain pass, Steve was able to keep it on the road and avoiding sure death……Overnighted at the El Pablano campground on the beach. Dinner prepared by our resident chef, BBQ chicken and fried potatoes and green beans…we are not starving on this trip.

Wednesday October 19 -39 miles – Stayed the full day to rest up, with a beautiful beach and ‘showers’. Met a couple from Mammoth, and they showed us how to go out and pick up clams! We dug up about 100 of them and threw the larger ones back, what a feast. We also be a older couple from Australia who were headed to Tiera Del Fuego , Argentina in a new 4wd camper van. They had moved all their family to Aussy land from SoCal to ranch cattle without all the silly regulations.

Thursday October 20 – 282 miles – Road trip after cleaning and some more clamming. We headed back to Guerro Negro and stayed at the La Pinta just out side of town. Ate at there restaurant (and drank).

Friday October 21 – 108 Miles – Did shopping and laundry after a few translated discussions. Headed south for El Arco, a small little town. Then a great 2.5 hour ride out to San Fransisquito, with its spectacular beach, air strip, bar and 5 cabanas. It had just re-opened week ago by Javiar and Chari. Had Hot Links and chili. Had a few concerns with he scorpions under our bed.

Saturday October 21 – 111 miles – A leisurely beach morning. A little beach time, shell collecting, and our first fish brought in by Esteban. A rather large puffer fish caught by Juan. Talked with Javiers son Armando about the 7 Baja 1000 races he and his dad had raced in. Arrived at Bahia de Los Angeles and stayed the night there. We all went to the little telephone house in town. Developed a leaky radiator hose on the truck, but Steve and Bobb made a repair with a cap from the card cleaner. Bob got bad news about his mothers’ condition, so we are heading out tomorrow after our 1 pole fishing trip.

Sunday October 22 –  446 miles - Got up to go fishing, bob stayed back to prepare the vehicles and pack for the trip back to the boarder. We caught 13 fish, john got a triple and Steve got a double. We took a short nap and headed out about noon. Stopping only a few times for fuel and food. We left at 12:30 rolled into San Diego about 10:00pm. Had dinner and McDonalds in Ensenada. Overnight at the EZ8 hotel.

Monday October 23 – 245 miles – Took Bob to the airport, reorganized out supplies into Juand CJ and headed towards San Felipe. After a stop at Hussongs, and a could pack of hear. Checked into the El Cortez hotel and went to town to try and wash Bob out of our minds. We had 2 hot dogs and the Rockabilly’s. Adios Bob Cookson.

Tuesday October 24 – Day of more rest, hotel is 15% full so we had the run of the pool and services. Tried to visit the old Camp PeeWee but we were not sure where it was now. 

Wednesday – October 24 – Left San Felipe after an early breakfast. Took the old hiway across the dry lakes to highway 3. Good fast sand travel. Then up to Mikes Sky Ranch by noon. Decided to stay over and did a little mountain climbing on road past Mikes. Got high centered (big problem) headed out toward Mexicali and stopped by the salt lake dyke. Got stuck (Big problem). Checked in at the Holiday Inn Mexicali, never found the 1000 pre-runners.

Thursday – crossed the border and headed home. We will be back !!!