To Baja by L-Dory

[Doryman]

Lori and Ike the Wonder Labradoodle are with me in the Land Dory, which is parked in the Chula Vista KOA. We are here staging for our Monday departure for Baja with 16 other rigs and two wagonmasters. The trip is run by Tracks to Adventure.

I haven't yet met any of the other participants but tonight Gene, our wagonmaster, and Mark, his #2, came over and inspected our truck and the L-Dory. They found no problems except a few bolts on the trailer suspension that needed to be tightened. They slapped tour stickers on the RV, front and rear, in addition to our assigned number -- we're #9 alphabetically so we will be in the middle of the pack all the way down the peninsula and back. You can see our itinerary here.

This is starting to sound just like summer camp, 50 years later. Gene, our wagonmaster, told us tonight that this is his third caravan, and that you have to go on two caravans before becoming a leader. Just like camp counselors.

On the way down our propane system refused to work, so we had decided to contact a local RV service outfit but this morning everything is working. Wondering if it has anything to do with the temperature. We're hoping the problem won't recur while we are en route as the RV tech said there was no point in his looking at it if it was not malfunctioning. Just like the Wallas.

The A/C on the truck was on the fritz too, but not surprising since it has seen little use in Washington. The repair place we found said it had .2 # of freon (or whatever the current environmentally-safe replacement is called.) They recharged it along with a dye that will reveal any leaks when we go back tomorrow to have it checked. We also bought $250 of groceries and have had fun finding nooks and crannies to stuff the purchases in.

Tomorrow morning is the first of two orientation meetings, when we'll first get a gander at our traveling companions. Big difference between this and a CBGT!

Warren

[oldgrowth]

Warren – thanks for the post to start your adventure off. You did good and it kept my interest all the way through.

A few more post and you can give Jim (Wild Blue) a run for the money. Well maybe more than a few, but seriously found it interesting and well written out.
________
Dave

[Sea Wolf]

Warren-

Thanks for the report! We'll be looking forward to your adventures. The story will be infectious and generate a lot of interest in such trips.

This may seem premature, but I'm guessing that before this thread is over, several C-Brats will be suggesting a C-Brat Caravan/CBGT to Cabo San Lucas or the Sea of Cortez or somewhere similar down there. A C-Brats Mexicana Caravana?

Or we could all just go down and camp on Jim and Joan's (Wild Blue's) abode by the water down in the Tropical Tip of Texas!?"!

Joe.

[JamesTXSD]

[Pat Anderson]

Well, I'll be looking forward to each report! Patty has always said she wanted to cruise the Sea of Cortez - all the posts about corrupt government officials, unfriendly local charter operators, the language barrier, my lack of mechanical coping skills and so forth lead me to be skeptical of this idea...but I will enjoy it vicariously!

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Warren and Lori,

It's been 5 days; I've seen a reply or two from you on other threads, so we know you are getting a connection now and then... how about an update on your caravan trip!

At this point, you are probably getting near Mulege, and over the initial shock of the difference between Mexico's "frontier" and the good ol' USA.

So, are you enjoying the caravan lifestyle south of the border? Met some nice people? Thinking about hauling the TomCat that way next year?

Hope you're having fun!

Best wishes,
Jim

[starcrafttom]

Warren being I am boat less for a few weeks how about I do a Maintance Run for you on the tom cat??? got to turn over the motors once in a while

[C-Hawk]

Warren,
Have fun on your trip. Be safe- should be safety in numbers.
I was talking with a friend today at work- his Uncle was kidnapped two weeks ago in Mexico. They are holding him for ransom.
BE SAFE

[Doryman]

Finally I'm able to get a good Internet connection. I've uploaded some photos to a sub-album with the same name as this thread.

We left Chula Vista on Monday morning. 15 minutes later we crossed the border and were met by two members of the Green Angels, who escorted us through Tijuana, as far as the first toll booth on Highway 1. Supposedly there were also motorcycle escorts but I did not see them. We did not have to stop at all from the border crossing to the toll booth.

Our first night was spent in an RV park outside Esenada. It was no fun driving through Esenada, dealing with the lights and speed bumps and traffic. Fortunately it was the most traffic we have seen thus far (probably worse in Cabo.)

The roads here are in some ways better than I-5. Much smoother if not as even. But there is no shoulder at all and the lanes are narrow. Where the lane ends so does the pavement, often with a substantial dropoff that could spell disaster for a trailer that got its wheels off the pavement. There is a 12 mile stretch of road north of Guerrero Negro where they are testing a road with shoulders and wider lanes. It was very nice and my understanding is that they will eventually redo Hwy 1 this way. It will be a big job especially in the mountains.

Tracks has this gig down pat. Our wagonmaster usually leads this trip twice a year. They have led at least a dozen tours, to Alaska, the Maritime Provinces, and Baja. He and his wife are from Nebraska. The #2 wagonmasters are from Michigan, but have not been on this Tracks tour before. He's a retired EE, who can fix anything, from GE and she's retired from 3M.

I did not realize when we signed up for this tour that most dinners are provided as part of the tour, so we have had some good meals along the way at high-quality establishments. Most of them are more upscale than we are used to eating at when in Isla Mujeres, where we have gone for the past 4 years.

The RV sites are adequate at best, but that is OK.

Our third night was spent in a national park campground -- lots of beautiful cacti. Unfortunately that day I got my trailer electric cable tangled with the hitch and cut through several of the wires in it, including the one that recharges the battery, so not only were we dry camping we were truly camping without electricity. Gave me a chance to put my new Honda 2000 generator to use. Worked like a charm! I know I will enjoy using it when on the boat also.

Tonight is our second night in Guerrero Negro (Black Warrior), named after a ship that was wrecked here. There is a major salt production facility here as well as proximity to Scammon's Lagoon, where the grey whales migrage from Alaska to mate.

Thanks for the many comments in this thread. I am extremely conflicted about bringing the Tom Cat down here. I would not want to drive Highway 1 -- it is too far, too narrow and too dangerous. I have not seen any boats on the road. However, there is a road from the Yuma area to the top of the Gulf that has promise. One of the Brats mentioned it. I hope the crime problem is less there than in the San Diego / Tijuana area. Those reports of kidnapping are worrisome.

That's all for today.

Warren

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Warren,

Good to hear from you. Your photos look great - especially that beautifully composed whale tail!

The narrow roads get easier as you go, but you still have to stay vigilant. When there wasn't oncoming traffic, we straddled the middle.

The cacti there can be tough - going down one narrow dirt road to a campground on the beach near Todos Santos, the coach behind us "rubbed up" against one and really messed up a beautiful paint job. Consider them to be "immovable objects."

Be sure to check out the marinas in La Paz, the Hotel California in Todos Santos, and settle in for drinks and a meal at The Office (on the beach, with your feet in the sand) in Cabo. Watch out for the margaritas at the Giggling Marlin - split one! (Those will not be "group tours" )

Keep the reports coming.

Best wishes,
Jim

[Discovery]

Hi, Warren and Lori

Great pics of the trip so far. You are right about the lack of a shoulder to the roads. just take your time, slow down and like Jim said, take your half out of the middle whenever you can. It's good that you are getting your introduction to the Baja with a caravan.

We have traveled the Baja since 1973. I have pulled a boat to Cabo 4 times. 2003 with the CD22, and 2004 with the TomCat. Things have changed since then with the problems with crime. We always felt safe once we got south of Ensenada and into rural Baja. You will be fine with the group.

[hardee]

Hi Warren and Lori,
Beautiful photos, soundls like you are having a great time, enjoy, be safe and keep us posted once in a while. Looking forward to seeing you back at Friday Harbor.
Harvey
SleepyC

[Doryman]

We've covered a lot of miles since my last post, but because of very erratic WiFi connectivity, have not been able to post much. Now we are in Cabo San Lucas at Villa Serena RV Park -- very nice and new, with good WiFi on the patio.

Since leaving Guerrero Negro we stopped for two days in Loreto. So far that is my favorite town. Mulege didn't have much to offer, and it's up the river from the ocean. But Loreto has a nice marina (don't know about transient dockage) and decent stores without being too big.

While we were in Loreto we chartered a panga to go fishing for bottomfish. There are a few photos in my photo album that will give you an idea of what it was like.

I am getting much more comfortable with driving on the rural roads here and am not as intimidated by the idea of bringing the boat down here, particularly if I trailered to San Felipe. However, I still have issues with security, both in terms of on the road at the border and on the water -- not with crime, but just being in a remote area without as much infrastructure as am used to in the San Juans or Gulf Islands. So I am hoping that Brent will be interested in leading a group of Brats down here in a couple of years!

Cabo is much too big and crowded to interest me. Four of us went out today fishing for marlin and didn't catch anything, although another boat caught 23 yellowtail. Some of our group did make it to The Office but as far as I know no one went to the Giggling Marlin or The Trailer Park.

Tomorrow we leave to drive 200 miles back north. We go through Todos Santos but will not be able to stop. Most of these suggestions will have to wait for our return visit.

Only 9 days left. It's hard to believe, actually.

Warren

[RJD Wannabe]

Thanks for the update. Loreto is great, old style baja, glad to hear it hasn't lost it's flavor. Been there 50 times, but not in about 4 years. My dad, who passed away last year, set up 3 guys with their own Pangas, first class skippers. The best is named Placido, can get his info for anyone interested.

[starcrafttom]

Warren those yellow tail look like fun. Glad to see you are having fun.