Baja to Lands End, 2005/06

[Scott Brady]

Quick update from San Ignacio. Great time so far!!! We are on our way to Santa Rosalia and then to Bahia Conception.

No problems, beautiful weather, grand adventure!

[datrupr]

Scott, nice to hear from you. Happy to hear you are all having a good time. Enjoy your new years celebration and we can't wait for the trip report when you all get back. Raise a glass for all of us that could not make this trip.:beer:

[goodtimes]

You ain't kidding about that weather Scott! Chuck, myself, and a mutual friend just got back from a couple days down south. I think we were about a day behind you. We met up with Baja-xplorer and some of his buddies in Bahia De Los Angeles, but missed Chris and Sharon by a day. The weather was PERFECT until we got onto the toll road coming out of Ensanada, when we ran into fog/rain/mist/crap until we were east of Yuma. I'll start a different thread to as to leave yours unmolsted......enjoy the rest of your trip amigo!

[Scott Brady]

I am sitting in the Hotel Perla, La Paz, Baja Sur.

Weather remains perfect, and we have travelled some of the most spectacular roads. We just completed a 160 mile+ off-highway trek through the mountains, seeing several remote missions.

Here are a few pictures. :campfire:

[Scott Brady]

We also traveled with a very cool couple out of Canada, and their aluminum Land Cruiser.

Here is there site: http://www.newcruiser.ca/

[Ursidae69]

You feel any of the earthquake this morning amigo?

Glad you're having fun, say hi to the crew. Our shorter trip went really well. :victory:


A magnitude 6.7 earthquake IN GULF OF CALIFORNIA has occurred at:
28.10N 112.07W Depth 10km Wed Jan 4 08:32:31 2006 UTC


Time: Universal Time (UTC) Wed Jan 4 08:32:31 2006
Time Near Epicenter Wed Jan 4 01:32:31 2006
Eastern Standard Time (EST) Wed Jan 4 03:32:31 2006
Central Standard Time (CST) Wed Jan 4 02:32:31 2006
Mountain Standard Time (MST) Wed Jan 4 01:32:31 2006
Pacific Standard Time (PST) Wed Jan 4 00:32:31 2006
Alaska Standard Time (AST) Tue Jan 3 23:32:31 2006
Hawaii Standard Time (HST) Tue Jan 3 22:32:31 2006


Location with respect to nearby cities:
90 km (55 miles) NNE of Santa Rosalia, Baja Calif. Sur, Mexico (pop 10,000)
115 km (70 miles) W of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico (pop 97,000)
150 km (95 miles) SW of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico (pop 545,000)
1620 km (1010 miles) NW of MEXICO CITY, D.F., Mexico


For maps, additional information, and subsequent updates,
please consult: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

[Scott Brady]

No, I didnt notice the earthquake. It would probably be hard to while driving at 40 mph on those corrugated roads :)

Here are a few more pictures...

We leave for Cabo, and the east cape today

[BajaTaco]

:clapsmile Nice pics. Glad to hear you are still having great weather, and no troubles. Any luck finding a transfer pump for Robb? Did you make it out to Ballandra to camp? Have you slain any sizeable fishies yet?

:jumping:

[articulate]

Quick update from San Ignacio. Great time so far!!! We are on our way to Santa Rosalia and then to Bahia Conception.

No problems, beautiful weather, grand adventure!
You've left out a very important detail that I'm dying to know....Did this happen?:

1/1- In camp: Volunteer, LUNCH: Scott is going to try and kill fish for tacos

That would make a fine way to celebrate the New Year

Salud!
Mark :)

[Scott Brady]

We are at Cabo Wabo.to lands end next.

Then up the east cape to cabo pulmo

[Scott Brady]

We are on our way back north. We decided to drive the East Cape after Caba, and stayed east of San Jose del Cabo. Also stayed in a beautiful bay south of Loreto called ensenada blanca.

We are staying the night in San Ignacio, and then over to Gonzaga. Maybe see Alan if he is there.

Weather remains stellar.

[Ursidae69]

On your last day, as you pass through Ensenada, watch out for a cargo container ship stuck in a sandbar outside the port. It is really close to the beach and is one of those monster cargo ships. The captain messed up bigtime and they may not get it out of there for a few more weeks.

Have a safe trip north! :wavey:

[BajaTaco]

Hi Scott, glad to hear the trip is going well :ylsmoke:

Allen and Diana are getting ready to head over to Africa, so you won't find them at PB.

Good luck with the rest of the trip!

:sunny:

[CLynn85]

Sounds like ya'll are having a great time. Funny seein all them white taco's out there lol.

How are you communicating?

[blupaddler]

Well, I am home. :D

I got back in San Diego around 5pm or so. Surprised Cat with a VERY clean puppy dog, and sushi. For those of you, "in the know," I ended up not going to a friend's place. I also did not find a pump for my aux. tank. Everything was 5/16", I needed 3/8". Oh, well.




This was a trip that will forever change my outlook on life and how I experience it.


for now, I am going to bed.
oh, one last thing...what happened to the single-lane roads? These freeway things are HUGE!!!

[BajaTaco]

This was a trip that will forever change my outlook on life and how I experience it.


Boy, that makes me smile :D I'm really happy that you made the most of the trip!!

:luxhello:

[Scott Brady]

Stephanie and I made it back to Phoenix, and to our puppy dogs. We are leaving for Prescott in a few hours.

It was a thrill to dive so deeply into Baja, and travel so many of the back roads. I now have several areas that I want to return to for a more detailed review.

I will post more details this afternoon.

Hopefully we can start seeing some picture posts soon :exclaim:

[Ursidae69]

Glad all is well and everyone made it home. Hope Vince has a safe journey back the 20th. My trip was just 6 days and it wore me out, you guys must all be exhausted!!!!

[awalter]

I got back to San Diego on Sunday around 2 PM & have been working my butt off since.

Scott,
Another road you don't want to miss is the coast road from Las Barriles to San Juan de Los Planes, a 2 track shelf road along the cliffs, low range & air-down required.

Glad all are home safely.:arabia:

[BajaTaco]

Cool to see our buddies rolling back in. Can't wait to hear the stories and see the pics!





Scott,
Another road you don't want to miss is the coast road from Las Barriles to San Juan de Los Planes, a 2 track shelf road along the cliffs, low range & air-down required.

I second that. One of my absolute favorite camp spots is along that road.

[datrupr]

Welcome home everybody!!!! Glad to hear you are all well and had a good trip. I can't wait for the reports to start rolling in along with some pictures.

[goodtimes]

I'm sorry to see everyone coming back to "reality". Glad to hear you had a awesome trip (anxiously awaiting pics), but sad that it had to end. I know that Chuck, Brian (wolfsoul) and myself were not happy that we couldn't stay for a couple more years.....




{FWIW, we named our trip the "Life Sucks" trip......coming home really sucked. I'm sure all of you on the longer trip feel it even worse than we did}

[Nullifier]

Welcome back all. I know you had a great time and have made me envious. I can;t wait for the day I can sell my buisness property, pay off all my stuff and have more time to devote to travelling.

[BajaTaco]

I know that Chuck, Brian (wolfsoul) and myself were not happy that we couldn't stay for a couple more years.....

That feeling would likely be tempered a bit come July :p

[Ursidae69]

I'm sorry to see everyone coming back to "reality". Glad to hear you had a awesome trip (anxiously awaiting pics), but sad that it had to end. I know that Chuck, Brian (wolfsoul) and myself were not happy that we couldn't stay for a couple more years.....




{FWIW, we named our trip the "Life Sucks" trip......coming home really sucked. I'm sure all of you on the longer trip feel it even worse than we did}


I hear ya Brian. Every place we stayed, I could have stayed 2-3 days longer at each spot. Someday I'll have enough time off to go further south like these guys did. Farthest south I've been was Mulege and that was just for a day. I'm thinking that March 07 is going to be a big trip for me, I want to see my whales again and see the whole penninsula. That will be a 2-3 week trip. Want to start planning now? ;) I'd go this year, but the Brazil trip in June is a big time, vacation, and dollar drain for me.

How about we get this thread several pages long before the guys even start to post pictures? :p

[desertgirl66]

Hey all,

Just landing---

WOW!!! What a trip!!!!! So much to share and basically we are still stunned by returning to the states and highways with shoulders;)

Will post a full report when we decompress~~~~

A trip of a lifetime:sunflower

[articulate]

pictures pleeeeeeeze

;) :jumping:

[desertgirl66]

Can you say "car wash?" :shakin:

[DaktariEd]

Welcome back all!

Having never been down Baja even a short distance I am verrrry envious of your expedition.:D

Perhaps I can do Baja sometime in the not-too-distant future with another group from this forum.

Ed

[awalter]

Chuck,
I'll say hi for you, I'm heading back down around 1/20 to set up the Baja Discovery whale camp at Laguna San Ignacio. Work, work ,work it never stops.
:archaeolo

[Ursidae69]

Chuck,
I'll say hi for you, I'm heading back down around 1/20 to set up the Baja Discovery whale camp at Laguna San Ignacio. Work, work ,work it never stops.
:archaeolo

Life is rough! :victory: I love what I do for a living, but I could be swayed to change if you need a field assistant! :D

[Ursidae69]

pictures pleeeeeeeze

;) :jumping:

Bumpity bump bump bump.... :box: :box:

[Desertdude]

As requested - a sample of the many many photos taken on this trip

View the photos (http://homepage.mac.com/desertdude/PhotoAlbum119.html)


:suning:

[Desertdude]

Our big Baja thanks go out to:

Scott and Stephanie - for organizing a great expedition and making sure everyone was informed, having a great time, and safe in Mexico. Also and extra big thanks for the stellar New Years Eve dinner and desert :clapsmile

Al - For leading the way through the back roads of Baja - Showing us the magic of the remote missions - Transmitting on the 2-meter radio the various POI's - and for always having a backup for camping spots - also an extra thanks for the Tequila table & Tenderloin :clapsmile

Rob, Cat and Bela - For the smiles and laughs, great conversation, spanish translations, hair shapes and limited dog rights. As well as the excellent Merlot and Salmon Pasta :clapsmile

Randy and Linda - For the always humorous spanish spoken, photography info and amazing photos taken, the bird watching, and the fine BBQ'ed Carnitos :clapsmile

Vince - For the creative Baja bohemian music - the always comic relief on the 2 meter radio - keeping us all up on New Years eve, the use of your zodi burner to add to ours so we could actually cook piella, and the superb first night middle eastern dinner :clapsmile


:suning:

[BajaTaco]

:bowdown: :suning: :bowdown:


AWESOME!!!!!! Hehehe - I'm tickled, man!!


Wow - everyone looks soo depressed... .... NOT!

OK, some quwestions & comments;

what happened to Vince's wrist?!
I'm sooo bummed I missed the paella!
Are those chili lights I see at your camp?
Is the shot with the fallen rock on the Naranjas road?
Robb has great taste in hats. I can relate (http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/Baja%20Hot%20Spring.jpg)! We are just cool dudes, that's all. :cool:I can't wait to see more pics and hear some stories :elkgrin:

[Desertdude]

what happened to Vince's wrist?!

not sure it seemed to only last that day

I'm sooo bummed I missed the paella!

We are too! and you missed a good one
(we will do this again in Sedona soon - hint hint hint)

Are those chili lights I see at your camp?

yes they are - wanted to add the special ambience to the dinner- running on the 12v with a mini 75 watt inverter

Is the shot with the fallen rock on the Naranjas road?

Yes! Chris you never cease to amaze me with your eye to detail

Robb has great taste in hats. I can relate! We are just cool dudes, that's all.

he does! the coolest of the cool - yeah...Baja cool :wavey:

[Ursidae69]

Thanks for indulging us Pasquale, great photos! :wavey:

I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing where you guys actually stayed. Some of the beaches you found look really inviting! I assume you positioned the truck and roof-tent for the best sunrise viewing? :ylsmoke: :elkgrin:

[BajaTaco]

I'm sooo bummed I missed the paella!

We are too! and you missed a good one
(we will do this again in Sedona soon - hint hint hint)



Hint taken!

And wow - the chili lights... I am diggin' those! :luxhello:

[Desertdude]

And wow - the chili lights... I am diggin' those! :luxhello:

standard issue expedition chili lights (http://www.westernclassics.com/chilipepperlights.html) :D

[Desertdude]

Also we do not want to forget the magic bucket of hand made Sangria that rendered most folks in a state of laughter for the entire evening :victory:

Sorry: Los ingredientes de la sangría son un secreto muy guardado

http://idisk.mac.com/desertdude-Public/sangria.jpg

[blupaddler]

Thanks DD & DG!!!

You got some great pics in there!
mmmmmmmm...Sangria! Yummy...
The night of the "KILLER" MARGARITA in Santa Rosalia

:victory:



Chris,
I believe Viking injured his wrist before the trip.

:D
Believe it or not, I am working on pics.

Also so everyone knows...I think Scott had over 2000 pics, DD & DG over 1000, Randy & Linda lots too...Soooo patience dear grasshopper.

;)

[desertgirl66]

Ok, enough of the rigs and the dusty trails--here come some really great people pixs!! :suning:

People photos (http://homepage.mac.com/desertdude/PhotoAlbum120.html)

[BajaTaco]

OH MAN!!! Too much!! Ahhh, the sangria in a rubber bucket... in the dirt! Now that is some funky cool expedition-style party voodoo... :victory:

[Desertdude]

You are a true connoisseur of Baja beverages...


OH MAN!!! Too much!! Ahhh, the sangria in a rubber bucket... in the dirt! Now that is some funky cool expedition-style party voodoo... :victory:

[Scenic WonderRunner]

"Dude".............!!

Great pics!

I thought it would be fun to note that my son, actually goes to high school (Poway High) with the grandson of "Momma Espinosa".....!!!!

I'm trying to get my son to work out a visit down there......but it's not working yet. ....dangit!

Please everyone..........help me lose my Baja Virginity soon!.............hehe

[BajaTaco]

Geat pics!! :clapsmile I love 'em! Kristina is the best people-pic-organizer. I need to take some more lessons.

Hey, is that cafe Sante Fe you are sipping tequila at in Todos Santos?

[blupaddler]

o.k. here goes nawthin'

[BajaTaco]

Bitchin! :clapsmile Man, I wonder what Vince is up to this very moment... he's still down there, right?

[blupaddler]

Hey, I think I am finally getting the hang of this...

2 more


:clapsmile

[blupaddler]

Since I am on a roll....

:ylsmoke:


1. Oasis Mission San Gertrudis
2. Hula girl doing her "thing"
3. An "average" toilet
4. Mission San Javier
5. Gorgeous Canyon going towards San Evaristo

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Hey Blu!

You are getting good!

[blupaddler]

This is it, for now...I will post pics of the "damage" tomorrow :mad: :Wow1: :rolleyes:


:elkgrin:



1. Bella & owners (Robb & Cat)
2. Bella...doing what she loves
3. La Paz...Al, Cat, Stephanie, & Scott
4. Todos Santos...Hotel California...Kristina, Vince, Al, & Pasquale figuring out how much lunch costs when you order 12 shots of "smooth" tequila.
:hehe:

Oh, and for those of you who haven't figured out by now. I have lots of pictures with our dog. So, just warning you might see more in the future.

[Scott Brady]

Great pictures Robb! Keep them coming...

[Desertdude]

4. Todos Santos...Hotel California...Kristina, Vince, Al, & Pasquale figuring out how much lunch costs when you order 12 shots of "smooth" tequila.

OK Vince you subtract 2 and divide by 4... un más tequila por favor :chowtime:

Hey, is that cafe Sante Fe you are sipping tequila at in Todos Santos?

That is the Hotel California, el muy mejor tequila Centenario Anjeo :)

Great photos Robb :clapsmile - fije por favor más fotos

[desertgirl66]

Robb, you gotta' use that picture of Bella for her website!!!

Maybe not quite 12 shots of tequila----well, maybe so!

Linda would be real scared to look at that picture of the toilet~~
Good job! :jumping:

Chris, thanks for the input on people pixs, any you Senor do a mighty fine job yourself!! :xxrotflma

[Ursidae69]

All the pictures have been great. :clapsmile

Question, all the fancy meals is that because of the fridges? Does the meat, like the steaks on NYE for example, last 6 days in the fridges okay? The meat I brought on my trip was frozen, but by the 4th day I had to have eaten all of it or thrown it out.

I think I might need to bump the fridge up my priority list a little. :chowtime:

[Scott Brady]

During my reentry into the US (into Calexico), I was sent by the entry inspector for a secondary inspection.

Of course, this was prompted by the fact that I had a dead goat skull secured to my platform with the Quick Fist mount... So, I drove over to the inspection station, where a USDA inspector greeted me kindly, and proceeded to mosey on back to my now regrettable mascot.

To my surprise, he chuckled a bit, and then asked if it was a dog skull. "nope, its a goat". "no problem" was his reply, patting it as if alive, and he proceeded to check the rest of the vehicle.

He walked around to the passenger side and took a look inside. "is that seaweed?" he asked, pointing at a bag near Stephanie's feet. Holding back a smile, Steph responded "No, that is my knitting bling" "a scarf". Clearly embarrassed, the inspector said "sorry, no offense I hope". :)

Of course now I am trying not to fall on the floor laughing, as the exchange between Steph and the inspector became too much to bear.

But, the inspection did continue, and he found one prohibited item: Eggs.

He was very kind, and just informed me of the fact that eggs are not allowed to be brought back from Mexico. He also gave me a list of items, some of which were new to me.

I have put together a little page to help all of you out too (http://www.expeditionswest.com/resources/Travel_information/baja_USDA.html)

Oddly enough, seaweed was not on the list :o

[kcowyo]

Well worth the wait! :clapsmile: :bowdown:

Awesome pictures Kristina, Pasquale and Robb. Its not as good as being there in person I'm sure, but its nice to see several different perspectives on what Baja has to offer. And maybe more importantly, what it doesn't have to offer.

I mentioned to Chuck recently how I've always felt the pull to the north, towards Alaska. However all of these Baja adventures have me wondering if I have not paid close enough attention to what's available south of the border. Kind of ironic considering I used to own a Mexican restaurant....

Thanks to everyone for sharing/rubbing it in! :p

[Desertdude]

Chuck, We froze all the seafood for the Paella, then we loaded the sea food at the bottom of the Engel Fridge - We kept the fridge at about 30 degrees - the food on top stayed about 40 - The seafood was still partially frozen after 5 days. We were able to buy fresh shrimp on the beach at Concepcion Bay keeping us un shrimp quesadillas for the next few days.

When you get the fridge you will wonder how you have been able to live without it for so long.

Scott, Thanks for taking the US re-entry heat off the rest of us ;) Excellent resource page :coffee:

[Desertdude]

Thanks KC - next time we are not leaving for mexico without you :gunt:

[Ursidae69]

During my reentry into the US (into Calexico), I was sent by the entry inspector for a secondary inspection.

Of course, this was prompted by the fact that I had a dead goat skull secured to my platform with the Quick Fist mount... So, I drove over to the inspection station, where a USDA inspector greeted me kindly, and proceeded to mosey on back to my now regrettable mascot.

To my surprise, he chuckled a bit, and then asked if it was a dog skull. "nope, its a goat". "no problem" was his reply, patting it as if alive, and he proceeded to check the rest of the vehicle.

He walked around to the passenger side and took a look inside. "is that seaweed?" he asked, pointing at a bag near Stephanie's feet. Holding back a smile, Steph responded "No, that is my knitting bling" "a scarf". Clearly embarrassed, the inspector said "sorry, no offense I hope". :)

Of course now I am trying not to fall on the floor laughing, as the exchange between Steph and the inspector became too much to bear.

But, the inspection did continue, and he found one prohibited item: Eggs.

He was very kind, and just informed me of the fact that eggs are not allowed to be brought back from Mexico. He also gave me a list of items, some of which were new to me.

I have put together a little page to help all of you out too (http://www.expeditionswest.com/resources/Travel_information/baja_USDA.html)

Oddly enough, seaweed was not on the list :o


Great story Scott. I've never been pulled over for secondary inspection. I have a few suggestions for things to add to your list. Under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act it is illegal to bring in to the US any marine mammal specimens or parts, bones, etc. Also there is a whole list of plats,animals etc, banned form import into the US under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The US and most other countries are members of this convention, pretty hefty fines if caught. Something like the green sea turtle carapace I found would be covered under CITES, which is why I left it. The chance of getting caught is slim to none, but the consequences, especially for someone in my field are pretty bad. There are also various Mexican laws/regulations regarding the collection of species. The state herpetologist for NM G&F is a friend of mine and on a recent trip into Sonoroa looking for Chiricahuan leopard frogs, he had to get several permits from the Mexican government to collect any species, dead or alive. Something to think about.

[blupaddler]

Chuck...

Stop!!! Forget all your other mods. Go out and buy a fridge NOW!

Having done all these other mods, bumpers, tank, winch, etc. They are all non-essential. I have been wanting a fridge for a while, and finally got one just before this trip. Now, mind you I knew that it would be a great addition, but Cat said after the second day how much she liked the fridge! And, like eveyone has said, you wonder how you ever lived without one.

Soooooo...don't hesitate, go out and buy one now. ;)

:jump:

[Scott Brady]

This first gallery covers our trip from Tecate to the shores of Bahia de Los Angeles.

For the complete story, look for the three part series in 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine.

Tecate to Bahia de Los Angeles (http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/TecatetoBahiadeLosAngeles/)

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/TecatetoBahiadeLosAngeles/images/Baja_06_05.jpg

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/TecatetoBahiadeLosAngeles/images/Baja_06_El_Palmarito.jpg

[DaktariEd]

Awesome stuff!
Just beautiful!
:luxhello:
Ed

[Desertdude]

Scott, Your photos are Stellar!

Thanks for posting those :wavey:

[Desertdude]

Vince the Baja Bohemian... wondering if you are still in Baja - :sunny:

You looked so at home on the beach at Los Cerritos - :suning:

[Scott Brady]

I thought it would be fun, and to the benefit of those considering a similar trip I all in attendance shared a few pearls of wisdom gained from 18 days in Mexico.

So I will start off:

Main Thought:
Expeditions are not vacations, it is a concentrated immersion into a place and culture. There are challenges and hard work; times when you are lost, and times when you are in awe. Most of the time, you will be tired and even sore, and when you get home you will rest, but as you lay clean in your soft bed you will dream of the place you just came from and a smile will cross your face.

The Trip-
What I loved:
A. An absolutely wonderful group of travel partners: We did not have one tiff, or disagreement. Plans changed, and there were times when things didn't go as planned, but everyone stuck together and had a great attitude.
B. The people of Baja are fantastic: Don't just drive by and wave. Spend time talking with them, or offer assistance if you can. Share a soda, or spend a few minutes looking past what you first see. Look at the details of their lives, like their garden, or the wear in their saddle, or the thickness and design of their leather chaps. Slow down as you pass their homes and show them respect by ALWAYS trying to speak their language (even if it is as simple as apologizing for not knowing any "lo ciento, no habla espanol")
C: The group meals were KILLER. It made the trip so much easier and more relaxing. Everyone did a great job and had something unique. MMMM Good.


What I would do different:
A. Too fast of a pace: Life just gets in the way of exploration, and forces us to speed through such a beautiful place. But, I guess that was also a blessing, as we were able to see all of the places we want to come back to. I tried to slow the schedule down from past trips, but it was still rushed.
B. Pack less food: Food is ABUNDANT in Baja, with clean, well stocked stores and great quality. We ate at a fish taqueria north of Loreto that blew our minds. I must have had 6 tacos, and wanted more. It is fun to stop and eat at these little places, or go into the Mercado and interact with the locals.



The Vehicle-
What didn't work:
A. My prototype front skidplate fell victim to the Puertecitos road and the welds broke, sending the skid panel into the dirt. Quite a noise, but easily removed. But, that is what the manufacturer wanted: Testing
B. My battery terminal connector loosened, causing the fridge and radio to be unhappy. After tightening it up, no problem. I will need to redo the battery connections to ensure vibration resistance.
C. I am over my weight estimates, so the Deavers sat too low. I have just ordered a set of 1.5" shackles to bring the rear up. I will also be installing long travel airbags to allow load capacity and a lift/level on demand.

Overall, with how complex my truck is, with thousands of feet of wiring, water and electric systems, etc., it all just worked. A very fast, efficient and comfortable way to travel.


What worked great:
A. Shower System: It rocked, along with the Paha Que enclosure, we had near endless hot water, great pressure and didn't have to run the engine to make it work. I would turn the hot water heater on about an hour before making camp and would have enough water for 2-3 showers.
B. Tent: It is so rewarding to have something work better than advertised. The Eezi-Awn tent was flawless, and never had one issue, or even sign of wear after nearly three weeks. Set-up became a one minute affair, and we could leave our bedding inside the tent and store our pillows under the cover. The cover became a bit of a pain as the trip went on, as it got so dirty that handling required gloves.
C. Power systems: All of the accessories worked great, and we had 120v power when needed, 12v outlets everywhere; power to run laptops and the fridge for several days. The Iowa Thin Film solar panels stayed ahead of the fridge and ran all of the systems during the day. easy connection too, with the panels mounted to the roof. I will upgrade the main battery to one of the new Odyssey units, which have a 70ah capacity. That will allow me to use the hot water heater on the second day in camp, without having to run the motor.

Sooo, those are my thoughts on a great trip. It has only wet my appetite for more.

However, I do think the next time I travel the entire peninsula, it will be under the winds power

[datrupr]

Scott, great recap. I know what it is like to be asked to pull over for the secondary inspection, a story better told around a campfire, because it is actually quite funny, especially if you have a few adult libations in you. It looks like you all had a great time and you had a good group with you. Looking at all of the pictures I am really getting my Mexico jones going, and am going to have to get down there very soon or I am going to loose it and that would ne be pretty. Kristina, great pics, you are the people pic goddess of this forum, you have a great nack for posting up the pictures of people that really help to capture the moods of those in attendance. And, it looks like Scott is a bit hungover on that pic of he and Stephanie on New Years Day. He could also just be in an absolute Mexico beach time to veg out trance as well. Again, thanks to everyone for sharing for those of us that could not be there. Keep it up, and now that Robb knows how to post up pics we all expect to see more really soon Robb.

[kcowyo]

However, I do think the next time I travel the entire peninsula, it will be under the winds power

Hmmmm.... I don't think you mean that you'll be adding a windmill/generator to the Tacoma....matey!

More awesome pics to completely distract me on a Monday morning.... Thanks Scott!! :beer:

[awalter]

Thanks for indulging us Pasquale, great photos! :wavey:

I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing where you guys actually stayed. Some of the beaches you found look really inviting! I assume you positioned the truck and roof-tent for the best sunrise viewing? :ylsmoke: :elkgrin:

12/26 camped at Rancho Santa Ines near Catanina, fee $5 per vehicle per night.
12/27 & 28 camped on beach south of town (LA Bay), north of Camp Gecko on the north side of Red Mountain near old mill ruins, no fee.
12/29 camped 3 miles NE of Mission Santa Gertrudis in an area mined for sand/gravel (mountain campground), no fee.
12/30 "camped" at Hotel Frances in Santa Rosalia, $60 per room.
12/31 & 1/1 camped at Playa El Requeson in Bahia Concepcion, fee $5 per vehicle per night.
1/2 camped about 10 miles SE of Mission San Javier in mountain campground, no fee.
1/3 camped in wash about 1 mile south of San Evaristo, no fee.
1/4 "camped" at Hotel Perla in La Paz, $84 per room.
1/5 camped at Playa Los Cerritos south of Todos Santos, no fee.
1/6 (Al only) "camped" at the La Pinta Hotel in Loreto, on the beach, $79 per room less 20% discount, upgraded to Villa Suite($100) at no charge, lucky I guess.
1/7 (Al only) "camped" at the La Pinta Hotel in San Quintin, on the beach, $84 per room. This hotel is actually south of San Quintin at Santa Maria.

[Scott Brady]

To complete the trip after Al left:

1/5 camped at Playa Los Cerritos south of Todos Santos, no fee.
1/6 stayed in San Jose Del Cabo (actually La Playa) at the hotel La Playita. $65 per room
1/7 Camped at Ensenada Blanca south of Loreto
1/8 stayed in San Ignacio at the La Pinta. Negotiated $55 per room
1/9 Camped at Punta Bufeo
1/10 Crossed the border in Mexicali

[VikingVince]

Hola amigos!

I got back last night...just barely...I had a terrifying experience the last 60 miles to the border at Tecate. I was way too close to being one of the many little white crosses you see along Mex 1. (I assume those are put up by locals in memory of locals killed on the highway...I wonder how many gringos are killed on Mex 1)

Anyway, here's the story...maybe it will help to tell you all about it because I can't seem to get this close call out of my mind. I was about 5 miles out of Ensenada going UP a fairly long grade with no cars in front of me. A flatbed 18-wheeler with some type of load on it comes wildly careening downhill around a curve about 100-200 yards in front of me...and going unbelievably fast...must have been well over 70mph...this big rig had either lost it brakes or it was one crazy or drunk driver out of control. And I can see he's gaining speed...the trailer part of the rig starts fishtailing completely in and out of my lane...it was a terrifying site, a big rig trailer fishtailing out of control and on the verge of jackknifing/rolling and coming right at me...AND THEN (and this is like the most amazing thing I've seen on the road)....as it's fishtailing, the entire big rig goes up on the edge of all its wheels/tires on one side, flops back down, and then goes up on the edge of it's wheels on the other side and flops back down (like stunt car drivers do). I though I was a goner...that rig was inches from jackknifing and doing multiple rolls at high speed right in front of me and I woulda been crushed...keep in mind this all happend in about 5-10 seconds...I was about ready to hit the ditch but even that might not have gotten my out of the way in time. The rig straightened itself out momentarily and roared past me. I was rattled...it was such a close call...I didn't even stop to see if the truck made the next curve or what happened...I just kept going. I was spooked when I met a big rig for the next 60 miles to the border...like I said, I still can't get it out of my head.

What's "weird" is how many thoughts go through your head in those few seconds...I saw the crash, I saw my death, I saw the ditch and assessed it was doable (although rough, steep, and I woulda had to go through a fence), I can remember every move that big rig made. I was just lucky...I feel like I played a round of Russian Roulette and the gun clicked on an empty chamber. In retrospect I probably should've taken the ditch immediately and floored it ...it would have been my only chance to get out of the way if the truck had rolled...but luckily it worked out. If I had taken the ditch I'm sure I woulda had heavy damage...but better that than dead obviously.

Sooo...Mex 1...hmmmm...a hazardous highway...very little margin for error...no shoulders...many places where you wouldn't have an option of taking the ditch...ALOT of big rigs...alot of small crosses on that road...I'm counting my blessings today...in that way, this trip changed me somewhat as well.

[BajaTaco]

Again, fabulous photos and commentary everyone. Thanks for entertaining us! ;)

[Brian McVickers]

Vince, that's amazing. Way to keep your cool in the face of danger!:cool:
Glad your safe, Welcome back!:wavey:

[BajaTaco]

:smileeek: :eek: :smileeek: :eek: :smileeek: :eek:


Vince! Damn, I am really glad you made it through that. :victory: Yes, those narrow Baja highways are definitely a substantial risk. It is indeed "roulette" to some degree, which is why when Sharon and I go down there on our own trips, we avoid the pavement where the big trucks and buses can go, as much as we can. Obviously though, those roads cannot be avoided all the time so you just have to hope for the best.

Obviously, my last post was made about the same time as yours - I hadn't seen it yet.

So how was your solo time? Did you get into the "VikingVince" groove?

[VikingVince]

Yeah, my time alone was good...brief recap:
- spent 3 more days on Playa Los Cerritos just kickin back writing "Baha Bohemia Bound" :sunflower...drove into Cabo san Lucas...took your suggestion Chris and parked at one of the hotels and did a longass hike on the beach out to Land's End...then got the hell out of Cabo san Lucas...felt like I was in Beverly hills!!!
--San Jose del Cabo...stayed at Tropicana Inn/Hotel (can't recall) for one night ($93) ...very nice place downtown...I really like downtown San Jose far far more the Cabo san Lucas...shops with local flavor, some cool restaurants.
---started driving the East Cape Road...brutal washboard...I said to hell with it after 4 miles and turned around...call me wimpy offroader, I don't care:p ...I was tired of washboard...and I couldn't go over 30 on the part I was on...would have taken 4-6 hours to drive 45 miles I think. Campers at Los Cerritos had told me that East Cape road was really bad washboard...but had to check it out for myself.
---drove up to LaRibera on pavement and then down to Cabo Pulmo and checked out los Frailles...free place to camp on beach...decent but frequently windy according to folks I talked to. lunch at Nancys in Cabo Pulmo
---towards Lareto...camped two nights at Juncalito beach (free)...would go back there...liked Lareto...lunch at Cafe Ole...popular with gringos but very good native food.
---back to Bahia Conception...camped at El Coyote 3 nights ($6/nite)...great spot a vew miles above El Requeson where we camped on way down!...had my own palapa:D ...could easily go back there and crash for longer...however, it's for sale so it might not be available in the future
---headed on home...lunch at Mama Espinosas again...the best Huevos rancheros I had the entire trip!...camped at Santa Ines again for one more night and headed for the border

Here are the lyrics to "Baja Bohemia Bound" :victory:

Crossin' thru Tecate, 7 a.m.
Tequila and cardons, the land I'm in,
Drivin on dirt 'til my teeth are rattlin around,
Washboard roads and ocean sounds.

Baha Bohemia Bound
Left reality at that border town
Baha Bohemia Bound
Kickin on back, just layin around
Noche estrellados, dias en el sol,
Wakin up at dawn when the roosters crow
Baha Bohemia Bound
La buena vida, come on down.

Zona de Vados, didn't know what it meant
Hit those dips too fast, now my frame rails bent.
But any ol kinda car will work down here,
You can even trade 'em for ice cold beer.
And damn my GPS, gonna thow it away,
Technology and me aint the Baja way.
I'll roll my window down, Como esta, muy bien,
Hey, Senorita, hop on in.

(Repeat Chorus)

(Instrumental)
There ain't no time like now,
Don't say you can't get away,
Forget about why and how,
Live for the day!

Baja Bohemia Bound
Tryin to get lost and never found,
Baja Bohemia Bound
La buena vida, come on down
To Baja
Baja

[Ursidae69]

Vince,

Glad you paid attention and I am surprised you didn't take the ditch. In Mexico I am always white-knuckle driving. I am always looking for an escape route as I approach big rigs and RVs. The roads are just not big enough for today's larger vehicles.

I thought you were staying until the 20th?

[Scott Brady]

Vince,

We drove the East Cape Road, and it SUCKED. Intense commercial and residential development and lots of traffic reduced road conditions to unbearable. Road did improve about 15 miles in, but not by much.

We also stopped at Cabo Pulmo for a few minutes. The nicest spot in the route.

You made a wise choice turning around...

[Scott Brady]

Oh, and a quick note on your almost accident.

You did the correct thing, staying in your lane. Racing and evasive driving techniques always recommend staying straight and not stopping (some even advocate hitting the go pedal). The exception to this is if the semi had rolled and was sliding right towards you. Then you have to make the last minute decision to go off of the road.

When an accident occurs, the vehicles will nearly always slide off of the road with the direction of momentum they were traveling, with few exceptions. The same applies to animal strikes. Don't swerve to miss the animal (especially to the direction they are facing). Swerving can cause you to loose control and cause much more damage than the animal would have.

In summary: In an avoidance maneuver, you usually only have one chance, and in a tall SUV or truck, any high speed maneuver can start a roll. Stay in your lane and slow down (but don't hit the brakes unless vehicles are stopped in front of you, as it can unsettle the chassis). Check you mirrors to see what those behind you are doing too. If at the last moment you most turn, stay off the brakes and swerve once and hope the chips fall on your side of the table...

[awalter]

Vince,

Welcome home & congrats on your successful drive up Mex 3. Have you composed your top ten yet?:victory:

[datrupr]

Vince, welcome back. Sounds like a fun trip and quite a scare on the way home. Glad you made it back safely, and I like your song, you must play it for us sometime soon.

[Desertdude]

Welcome back to the USA Vince :victory:

Obviously not your time to go yet :)

Kristina shares your views on Mex 1 - life threatening drivers- tight pavement - like Chris know to be true, stay on the dirt roads as much as you can...

I can hear you singing the Baja song :sunflower

[Scott Brady]

Just incase a few of you missed this post, anyone else have some thoughts they want to share to the benefit of the readers here?

A long trek like this allows for intense testing and evaluation.

Here is the post for reference: (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9439&postcount=67)

[Desertdude]

A good reminder - I have been collecting my thoughts and observations and will have something to post later tonight ( maybe) :wavey:

[BajaTaco]

Vince, I'm diggin' the lyrics!! Can't wait to hear the song. Hopefully by campfire light out in the middle of nowhere.

BTW, I sure do hope the semi didn't get anyone else, and I if the brakes did indeed fail, I hope the driver was able to get the rig stopped with their life intact :smilies27

[blupaddler]

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

Welcome home Vince!!!

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:


I am glad you made it home safely. We all have been wondering about you lately. That scare will be something you never forget. I am glad you made it through.

[VikingVince]

Everyone - mucho gracias for the welcomes home. I too am glad to see that you all made it home safe and sound:wavey: Mex 1 is definitely a "stay on your toes" highway. I did a quick google on deaths on Mex 1, but the only thing I found was that the Mexican government says that 90 percent of deaths on Mex1 occur at night...hence the mantra, "don't drive at night!"...couldn't find any info on fatalities involving big rigs.

Chris...thanks re the lyrics...it was fun and challenging working in the Spanish phrases...got some help from some cool Mexican guys who were camping close to me...they got a kick out of it, because I wanted grammatically correct Spanish with distinctions (for rhythmic/rhyme purposes) between phrases like "sunny days" and "days in the sun" etc...then they started correcting each others' grammar (just like we do sometimes) which was kinda funny. I guess I won't see you again until Black Mountain at the end of March...I'll bring the "ax"...

Al...no, haven't started a Top Ten list yet...maybe in a few days or so...once the psychological voodoo of my close call gets out of my head

Will post other reflections on the trip soon as well...

[kcowyo]

Glad you made it back alive Vince!

I would have had to stop for a clean pair of shorts after a near miss like that. I'm sure your heart was racing for hours.

Love the song. I take you have not "hired a translator" yet? ;)

[VikingVince]

KC,

nice to hear from you...clean pair of shorts is right!!!...actually I did stop but, for some reason, not till about 10 miles later...I was having spooked reactions every time I met another big rig...just had to get out and walk around and try to shake it off...man, it was weird.

those guys were the best translators!!!...they got into the fact that I wanted correct grammar/proper endings...in order, the phrases mean "starry nights," "days in the sun," "the good life," and "dip zone"

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Vince...........!

I'm glad you made it through OK!

I drove Big Rigs (18 Wheelers) cross country (including Canada and Australia) for four years after my college days.........I've seen lots of terrible accidents! I can really appreciate what you went through!

Looking for you on da trail soon!

.......'cause I have to hear that song!:campfire:

Aloha! ............Mark ( " SWR " )

[blupaddler]

o.k. my thoughts...

BAJA ADVENTURE 2005-06



THOUGHTS:

Well, Scott has summed up a majority of how we all felt. The sights, sounds, and smells are something I will never forget. As I have said before, this trip has forever changed me. I think of the areas that we stumbled upon, the nice people we met, the great taco stands. All of these memories are engrained in my memory.

Coming back to San Diego and driving on the freeway and saying to Cat, “where did all these people come from?” The freeways were huge! Now, when I feel myself getting caught up in the “rat race” here in SoCal, I think back to Baja, and “baja time.”


TRIP:

Loved.
1. Like Scott said, the Group Meals were KILLER! It was great not having to cook for yourself for almost half of the trip. Not only that, but everyone came up with meals that were just incredible.
2. The scenery. I had a preconceived notion before heading to Baja of what it would look like. I pictured Sonoran type deserts with lots of rocks and dry soils. But some of the areas we came upon…the vistas leading to San Evaristo, Naranja Road, the list goes on and on.
3. One of the benefits of this trip was the overview. Although we weren’t able to stay in places for l-o-n-g periods of time, I know have ideas of where to go next time.
4. This trip also gave us more confidence to travel in Baja for the future, see above. With the Baja Almanac, full tank of gas (70 gallons), and a friendly attitude, you can go anywhere.
5. Traveling with our dog, Bella, even though she insisted on having the windows down on the dirt roads so I could fill my 80 with dust.
6. Campfires, and the discussion and laughter that ensued at them.
7. Everyone of our traveling partners! Getting to know everyone much, much better, and walking away with new friends.
8. The entire trip! Not a vacation, but an adventure I will never forget!!!

Do Different.
1. Less food. As said before, we found good markets with food and produce. I came home with lots of extra food. Food equals space, space is premium.
2. Stop and talk more with the local farmers. Even though my Spanish was limited, I could have tried and conversed a little.
3. Cat would like to have stayed at more hotels. Hotel equals shower.
4. More pre-trip “training.” Then I would have been able to finish the Killer margarita.
5. Next time each person and/or vehicle will get their own bag of doggie treats for Bella.



VEHICLE

Worked:
1. Old Man Emu suspension. This suspension works great. I was sooooo loaded. But, flying down those washboard roads going 40-50 mph and feeling great!
2. Fridge. I can’t believe how long it took me to get one. Mostly $$ reasons. But, I should have gotten one sooner.
3. New to me Lightforce 240’s!!! Much to my delight, we had to drive on a dirt track at dusk/night. Got to turn them on. WOW! Great lights.
4. Auxillary Tank. Not many people know, but I have a 44 gallon auxillary tank in my 80. I finished installing it about two weeks before we left. It worked great for two days (more on this later).
5. New stove. I purchased a Primus multi-fuel stove before this trip. I wanted to get away from the big Coleman that I have. I ran the Primus on canister fuel the entire trip. The little thing worked great, boiled water quickly, and was easy to use.
6. XM radio. While I had some trouble receiving a signal South of Todos Santos, the remainder of the time, XM is great. Constant radio, and such a variety of channels.

Didn’t Work:
1. Auxillary tank. See #4 above. This tank requires an external fuel pump to transfer fuel into the main tank. However, while I was “enjoying” the dirt track from San Borja, I bottomed out on this vado. Broke the pump. I knew the mounting location would be kinda questionable, and it was.
2. Storage. Don’t get me wrong, my storage containers worked great, however, this is more of a future thing. Storage in the 80 is great. However, I recognize my need to build a drawer system. This will help solve a great deal of my “issues.” This is because my wife and I sleep in the back of the 80. So, every night we take everything out, and then put it back the next morning.





MISC.

I had the oldest vehicle on the trip. My 80 is a 1994. All of the Tacos were at least six years newer than mine. Even though I only have 155k miles. This is a lot for an expedition vehicle. I had a power steering return line crack, from age, that I had to replace. I didn’t have the exact hose, but a 3/8” hose worked, that was double clamped on both ends.




I would also like to say “GRACIAS” to all of my travel compadres. You were all so kind, caring, and generous. We were all one big family, each selflessly giving to each other, and helping out when needed.



Special thanks to Scott for putting this whole thing together.
Also, to everyone who loved Bella


:coffee: :coffee: :coffee:

[blupaddler]

As promised...pics of carnage

1. Poor Carter fuel pump that got hit by control arm
2. Cross-member on body that got hit by fuel pump. Doh!!!
3. Fixing power steering hose
4. The brain trust ; )

[Scott Brady]

Robb, your Primus stove does ROCK! I was very impressed.

I was also very impressed with the 80 as a whole. Loads of storage space, and a more comfortable place to spend time (bigger seats, wider, etc.). The Baja folks LOVE the 80. I am always amazed at the recognizability of the Land Cruiser.

[kcowyo]

Robb, those Lightforce lights are HUGE!!

Man, between the long range auxillary tank (also HUGE!) and the fridge, I bet we'll see a lot more trip reports from Robb & Cat. With plenty of fuel and no need for ice, the possible range for your future trips probably just doubled! Now I really want to trade....;)

I like reading what worked, what didn't work, how the vehicles handled the miles, what could have been left at home, etc. I think honest assesments such as these are very beneficial and really make for a "complete" trip report. I like reading suggestions for places to see and eat, but knowing what worked and what didn't is helpful info too.

Thanks everyone for sharing!! :beer:

[Desertdude]

As promised - random thoughts and observations on the Baja 05 expedition


Part one


The Trip

This was a life changing trip. One that leaves lasting memories of the people and sites of Baja along with the camaraderie of the people in the group. There is no better way to get to know people then to travel almost three weeks into a foreign country. This group was one of the best I have traveled with. All team players and always wearing a smile.
One of the best parts about a group trip is you get to have the combined wisdom of the group to guide you through the places you want to see. All though the traveling pace was brisk, it enabled the group to see a wide cross section of Baja - the many remote beaches as well as the vast vistas, mission towns and ranchos in the outback of Baja. The local people of Baja were always friendly and seemed to welcome our presence. With the help of Al and Scott we had our tourist visas in hand and were on our way.

Random thoughts

Baja Mexico is on it own time - things happen on Baja time - One of the great early lessons "slow down" - food is made the way they can make it. If you order something from a restaurant you are never quite sure how it will come out to your table ( part of the magic of Baja) - if you know how to ask for things you can get almost anything you need even in the most remote locations. If you are meat challenged ( read vegetarian) or watching your sodium intake ( mexicans like their salt) - you may find it hard to eat the local food. Most local food is prepared with chicken broth or lard, but if you can speak the language or use hand signals you can generally ask for substitutions when in a restaurant. We found some really fun food out, but the group dinner meals were the best. Something fun and special when you put out the energy to prepare a fine meal for you com-padres on the trail...
Gas was always available ( when the power was on) either in a Pemex station or on a truck on the side of the road. Water filter plants were located in most villages, this was a welcome surprise. Nothing like seeing reverse osmosis water filtering in a remote foreign country.
Bringing along give away items was a nice way to give something back to the local people. Clothes, candy, sodas, water, batteries- it all seemed to make a difference in the experience and bring a smile. My trail partner Desertgirl is always fascinated with map reading and town history. I always new where we were and what to expect, while listening to my gunner read all about the villages history and flora and fauna in the area.

[Desertdude]

Part two


Vehicle and Gear

Worked -

The 04 Tacoma never disappoints - the motor drive-train and interior can withstand the brutal washboard dirt tracks - and then fly down the highway like a car. I have a combined load weight of approx. 1200lbs in the bed alone - with the custom made eleven leaf Deaver Springs in the rear, along with the Donahoe coil-overs in front the Tacoma handled the roads with ease. Even fully loaded I still had suspension travel along the back roads.

The Maggiolina Airland roof top tent - This tent rocks! Easy up with a hand crank - no real set up other than the supplied ladder which clips to the rail on the lower part of the shell. All the bedding is stored inside ready to go.
I find the supplied mattress and pillows super comfortable just like sleeping at home. We even travel with a 12v heat blanket, which heats up in less than two mins. for those extra cold evenings.

Downey Aux. Fuel tank - While this tank system kit is expensive (and not fully comprehensive as a kit) it did prove to be a real nice luxury to have extra fuel at the touch of a button. Being quite loaded and with the roof top tent somewhat less aerodynamic - the Tacoma's milage has suffered a bit - so time between fill-ups seem quicker - especially in remote areas. Knowing we had spare fuel out of the sun under the truck was a real stress relief.

The water system a twenty one gallon poly tank , and a Sure-flo 2.8 gal a min 12v pump, really made the trip deluxe. Filling drinking water jugs - rinsing and washing - very easy. All the fittings pump and tank held up on the brutal two track roads of Baja

The drawer system - custom built from plywood and waterproofed with Hurculiner.
This system made all the difference in secure, dry, and dust free storage.

P.E.T shower/bathroom tent system and wag bags - essential on any group trip. Easy to set-up with one person, and total privacy.

Helton hot water system heat exchanger - the unit get hot ( real hot) and was there for us at the end of everyday if we needed it Most days we did not have to run the motor to have hot water at the end of the day ( shower head and pump were a different story read below)

Dual battery system - Two optima yellow top batteries and the Hell roaring battery isolator/combiner. Allowed us to use all the power we wanted during our camps saving the aux battery for starting if needed.

Extremeaire compressor - 12volt power house of air - easy to use and essential for expedition travel

Engel fridge/freezer - always on always working. We froze food for our group dinner. We set the Engel at 30 degrees and 5 days later the frozen food on the bottom was still partially frozen and our food on top stayed a nice 40-45 degrees - The Engel a must in expedition traveling.

Brunton 25 compact Solar power ( 25watts 1.5 amps) I bought this just before the Baja trip to test out the viability of using solar energy to charge batteries and keep power flowing during extended camping days. The Brunton folds out like a book and hooked into the 12v system with a double male cig adapter. In seconds it was inputing 16.85 volts of energy back into our system. I could even run the Bose computer speakers and the iPod straight off the Brunton 25. Something so cool about using the sun to power gear.

Jet-Boil - this is a unique water boiling stove that uses a fine tuned carburetor and insulated tall water container to boil water fast - it uses screw on multi-fuel canisters - saves gas and time.

MSR Dragon fly - this was a new stove for us on this trip - it performed great. Easy to set up, burned unleaded gas from the vehicle - and boiled water very fast - the stove can also simmer and uses very little fuel to get the job done - Also came with a fold up aluminum wind break.

MSR Superfly - this stove is our staple stove - miniature in design yet a powerful cooker - burns screw on or clamp on multi-fuel canisters. The stove folds up tiny and takes almost no space to store. We use this one for the quick heating and cooking stops.

XM radio - amazing it works all the way down to Cabo

iPod - essential travel tunes - and now with "Video" for late night tent watching...

Did not work -

There were only a few things that did not work. I am always testing new items, and some modifications unfortunately, happen right before leaving on a trip So the testing happens in real time...

A 12 volt outlet installed in side of the aluminum storage box fell apart - it was a West Marine brand and while not inexpensive - came apart after plugging in a 75 watts inverter- in all fairness to West marine the inverter appears to be slightly larger than most 12 volt outlets and I had to push real hard to get it to fit and make contact.

The Tent Rack support - I had designed a custom rack to mount the roof top tent above the Tacoma's bed. My original design had the .120 dom tube bent to match the Tacoma's cab lines. The person doing the fab work decided to use pre made elbows and weld the part to make a ninety degree angle. ( once again built last minute before a trip, so no time to correct this before hand) - after many many washboard miles the weld weakened and cracked. Separating the tube from the elbow - I strapped it together and made it back fine.
I will either start from scratch and make a new rack with proper bends - or weld in gusset braces and secure the elbows.

Safari Snorkel - I love the look and the concept of a Snorkel - but on mega dusty roads it just slams the dust into the air filter - making the check engine light come on within a day or so. I think a solution would be to include a centrifugal pre-filter on top of the snorkel ( somewhat ugly but effective)

Do different -

All though we can speak broken spanglish - learn the language. This will make all the situations you find your self in comfortable when you can understand and speak the language. We plan on getting deeper into learning Spanish which will make future expeditions into Latin countries much easier and safer.

The shower system ( 12v pump and shower head) that came with the Helton hot water system is not quite working right. This unit is replacement for the original one that came with. The pump does not seem to have enough power to push the water through the shower-head - We removed the shower-head and used the hose. I will be rethinking this pump system and may hook it to the sure-flo pump on the main water system.

I brought along a computer and other electronics - next time I will leave these at home - less stuff to worry about, store and secure.

On bringing a video camera - I shot at least 10 hours of video. I did get some nice footage, I think you can capture the same vibe with a high end digital still camera - and have less gear to store and secure.

Last and not least - communication on the two meter radio is essential on a group trip like this. (Thanks Scott for the lend of the hand held) With this unit you can hear traffic updates from the trail leader miles ahead. Give you comfort when you break away from the group to shop in the towns or take a photo break. I will get a license and install two meter mobiles in all my vehicles as well as have a handheld for certain situations.


Thanks again to everyone in the group ( including Chris and Sharon) for a stellar trip deep into Baja - :victory:

[brittan]

Great reads...thanks for sharing...This is a trip I hope to make soon.
Desertdude...let me know if you need help bending up a new piece for the taco...I have a bender and you are local.

[VikingVince]

My thoughts/opinions/relfections on the trip...

The only reason I got interested in offroading, vehicle dependent expeditions, and building an appropriate rig is because I view the entire endeavor as a "means to an end" as opposed to a "means onto itself." A "means to an end" is seeing parts of the world I haven't been to or simply getting away from traditional campgrounds and getting to beautiful remote places that require a modified 4wd vehicle. A "means onto itself" would be building a rig for rock climbing or dune blasting. (that's fine, I'm just not that interested). Having said this, then:

Overall Biggest Highlight: adventure travel over parts of the entire peninsula I hadn't seen before with a really great/fun group of people and finding some great locations/beaches/bays that I will consider going back to in the future. I really enjoyed this expedition.

Overall Biggest Disappointment: not finding or getting to a beautiful, remote part of a beach or bay that is, for the most part, only 4wd accessible (or not accessible by motorhomes)

WHAT I LIKED:
---Contrary to my usual travel style preference, I didn't mind the high mileage, keep-on-the-move nature of this trip because it enabled me to get a smattering of parts of the entire peninsula.
---as mentioned by others, the group meals were a GREAT success...everyone had one big meal to make and then got to kick back the rest of the time...and all the meals were delicious...Pasquale and Kristina, I especially loved seeing the culinary event/process of paella. I'm gonna get into that for real. (in the meantime, I've already bastardized it into a "Bohemian Paella"...more on that later) :-)
---the desert landscapes, the HUGE cactus, the mountains, the sky, the ranches, the local people, the language...these impressions/sounds that stay with me....along with the images of lower standards of living...if one describes it that way...obviously most folk in the back country and Baja in general have alot less than most Americans
---I think it's cool that within an interdependent expedition group like ours, the differences in age and individual styles diminish and seem unimportant as we get to know each other and share a common interest and pursuit.

WHAT I LIKED LESS:
---a few too many missions...don't misunderstand me though...I LOVED seeing the churches/missions at San Ignacio and San Javier. They were old, beautiful...historically and architecturally interesting and significant...The others were less so (San Borja would have been okay if it had been open but no way to know that) and I could have passed on those. Instead of offroading to go to the missions, I would have offroaded to remote parts of bays and beaches.
---"different strokes for different folks," but I find washboarding TEDIOUS as HELL!!! LOL...plus it's hard on the truck. The drive thru the mountains to San Evaristo was absolutely gorgeous and any washboard parts of that trail were worth it hands down! There were other times though when I started to wonder...after the awe of the desert and cactus starts to wear off, I can pass on washboard roads unless it's taking me somewhere really special. (but then damn near getting killed on Mex 1 wasn't such a pleasant alternative either!)
---future expeditions should probably reassess the drinking and driving aspects of multiple beers at restaurant lunch stops!! (and I'm no teetotaller!)

OTHER REFLECTIONS:
---will definitely put effort into learning Spanish before going back.
---the only place anybody tried to rip me off was the expensive Tropicana Inn in San Jose del Cabo!!! I had to leave a 20 dollar (200 pesos) deposit on the TV remote and the clerk tried to only give me 100 pesos back in the morning, thinking the gringo wouldn't know the exchange rate. I challenged her and then she was only going to give me 150, telling me that was the exchange rate. I finally got it all back.
---when I return to kick back for an extended period, I will definitely take my inflatable canoe or get a kayak by then

TRUCK:
---make sure you're battery tiedowns are good and tight.(along with everything else) My starting battery slid over a few inches and pulled a battery cable to the isolator out of the connector. Fixed it back up okay (with Al's help)...tightened the tiedowns and didn't have another problem.
---will carry a spare air filter next time...my check engine light came on as well after lots of dust...knocked the dust out of the filter and the light stayed off...bought a filter in Todos Santos but check engine light came on again in Ensenada on the way home... but now it's gone off again.
---will tape up holes in truck bed to minimize dust getting in (thanks Al!)
---other than those minor things, everything held up fine...nothing is broken...at least not that I've noticed so far!...frig/freeze worked great

Adios amigos...Baja...la buena vida!!

[BajaTaco]

Wow, excellent posts! I really enjoyed reading all of this.

A side note to the Tacoma guys...


Air filter: I haven't noticed the excess dust in the filter since the addition of snorkel, that Pasquale describes. But then again, that may be a detail that is difficult to quantify. One thing that I will do is remove the air filter at each fuel fill up (or maybe between fill ups too if I am using the aux. tank) and bang it out on the back of my boot. As you guys know, the drop-in filter is super easy to remove (takes about 3 seconds). You will get rid of a ton of dust this way. I have never had my check-engine light come on (even with the snorkel).
Battery bracket FYI: The bolts that secure the front of your skidplate to the cross-member are the same size as the bolt at the front of the battery hold-down bracket. If it ever vibrates loose, and you lose it, just use one of your skid plate bolts to continue on. I'm not sure if this applies to the '05-'06 Tacomas though, but it would be worth checking into.

[Scott Brady]

Thanks Pasquale, Vince and Robb for the great posts.

It is cool to see the common threads between all of the posters.

As I mentioned on the trip, my personality is 80% explorer and 20% conqueror, which is often the reason for the heavy mileage and "getting" to Lands End or similar.

Now that we have a good flavor of the place and several locations we want to return to, it will be great to hone in on a specific area and really explore, getting remote and getting out of the trucks to explore on foot, etc.

So look for future trips to be fewer miles and more exploration.


XM: Pasqaule was super cool, and sent me his spare XM radio to use. Chris and I jammed all the way to Vegas for the Impact show and were very impressed. The comedy channels were great too. I favored the Squiz tempo, though we did have a stint on "the joint" :orngartis

[blupaddler]

Scott, XM is great! Combined with an Ipod, they are all you'll ever need. I rarely listen to "regular" music anymore. With the variety of channels on XM and whatever I want on my Ipod, I have limitless possibilites at hand. ;)

[Scott Brady]

Here are the images for days four and five, showing our travels from LA Bay to San rafael and on to Santa Gertrudis and then to Santa Rosalia.

Days four and five (http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/images/Days45/)

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/images/Days45/images/DSCF1399.jpg

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/images/Days45/images/IMG_3723.jpg

[BajaTaco]

Great pics Scott & Stephanie (I assume she took some of those too?) :clapsmile

I love the pic of the priest's robe and the cougar hanging on the wall :exclaim:

I also really like this one...

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/baja/images/Days45/images/DSCF1422.jpg

[Scott Brady]

Thanks Chris,

Steph took the framing picture you referenced. Her eye for the details is fantastic.

[LexusAllTerrain]

:clapsmile Congratulations on the great pictures!:
They are just fabulous:ylsmoke:

[cshontz]

Wow. I really mean that. :Wow1:

Its 2:17 AM - I wanted to go to bed almost an hour ago, but thanks to this thread, I'm losing sleep. Thanks alot! :mad:

[blupaddler]

o.k. Chris, here are some more to keep you up at night...

[blupaddler]

and...some more...

[blupaddler]

AND FOLKS...THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT...

:sunny:

[Desertdude]

Those are some sweet photos Robb - your subject matter is quite photogenic :)

[Desertdude]

Scott and Steph - your photos really capture the ancient milagro that is Baja

Thanks for sharing those great photos :clapsmile

[Ursidae69]

Scott and Pasquale,

Did you guys have any deep sand days? On the beach or what not? Just curious how the 255s handled deep sand with the heavy truck. Thx

[Scott Brady]

Yes, we played around on the beach quite a bit. I even did a little 2wd "action" to test the tires out. The lowest I was aired down to was 24lbs., and they did great.

The last picture is Stephanie showing her mad skills... Full drift in 2wd, thats my girl :victory:

[Ursidae69]

Dayyumm! Way to go Stephanie!!! :bowdown: :bowdown:

People often say when talking about this tire that sand is a problem, but I think you have put that issue to rest. No problems with that much weight in the truck speaks volumes. :clapsmile

[goodtimes]

That last pic is too cool Scott! But based on the grin on her face, I don't think Steph is enjoying herself at all! :elkgrin:

[Desertdude]

Playing around for days a SnT 05 - the tires had no problem in the sand - I was aired down to 20 at Snt - and 25 in Baja - just gun it and go :)

[BajaTaco]

Great pics Robb :victory: and very cool sandbox photos Scott! :D

[Ursidae69]

AND FOLKS...THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT...

:sunny:

Dang, this thread grows so fast, I miss stuff! I missed your pics until now Robb, very cool! The shot with the Sea of Cortez on your right, I've taken photos at that very same spot myself! Chris's favorite camp is down at the base of that volcano.

[Desertdude]

Looks like our traveling friends Robin & Raenelle from Vancouver have made it home from Baja.

See the front page photo :)

check out their photo page - newcruiser (http://www.newcruiser.ca/)

[Scott Brady]

This look familiar? http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/motor_sports/1268706.html

http://www.fourstrokesonly.com/Images/Bajabootside.jpg

http://www.fourstrokesonly.com/BajaBoot.html
:D :D

[blupaddler]

WOW!!!

How did you find that?

We saw that or one that looked like it at Punta Bufeo. That thing was really cool! I can only imagine how it would drive.

:jump:

[Desertdude]

something like this.. :ar15: VROOM :ar15: VROOM

that is one cool vehicle

[CAPTAIN COORS]

hi guys, here are a couple of pics from the trip, i have maybe 200, let me know if you would to have a cd

[Desertdude]

Really stellar photography Randy! Would love a CD fo any shots of us. Thanks I will PM you my address.

[blupaddler]

They're some great photos!

I want a CD too!!!

Let me know how much $$$ & I'll PM you with our address.


:clapsmile

[CAPTAIN COORS]

rob its free, i have many pics of you and cat, call if you like 5207449121

[Ursidae69]

I really like the snowy egret and great egret photos, very high quality. :victory: I just realized that the cowboy picture was Rob! I thought you saw some caballero napping and snapped a picture along the way someplace. :elkgrin:

[flywgn]

WOW!!!

How did you find that?

We saw that or one that looked like it at Punta Bufeo. That thing was really cool! I can only imagine how it would drive.

:jump:

There's only one...no look-alikes and it lives about half the year at Punta B.

[blupaddler]

Soooo...

Don't keep us waiting. I am sure you have gone for a ride. How is it?

[BajaTaco]

...lunch at Mama Espinosas again...the best Huevos rancheros I had the entire trip!


Expeditioners at Mama Espinoza's circa 1960 (http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/baja/gulick/m91-31-11.html). Too cool!! :victory:

[Desertdude]

Expeditioners at Mama Espinoza's circa 1960 (http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/baja/gulick/m91-31-11.html). Too cool!! :victory:

that is vintage! love that Chevy :shakin:

[VikingVince]

Chris...that is such a great pic:bowdown: What a sense of history that pic captures...both for the restaurant and those vehicles!...cool...gives you a sense of what Baja was like 45 years ago!!

[flywgn]

Soooo...

Don't keep us waiting. I am sure you have gone for a ride. How is it?

Yep, been for several rides. It's all restored to original and still goes VROOOOM! That's our granddaughter peering at the camera and her dad, Andy Grider, driving. But this is perhaps for another thread not here on Scott's wonderful "Land's End and Back" account.