baja june 2012

[theicecreampeople]

hey guys im taking my fatherinlaw down to vist his house ,between todas santos and cabo ,km86,in june ,will be his last visit there as his health is not good ...km86 he is not bad really ,not a sad trip just life a trip ...will fly into LA and drive down in his rig ...will either be going with treetopflyer ,jared , or alone with Nick ,but wife threw me for a loop today ?she wants to drive down also ?what do you guys think ?when i was younger baja was my surfing playground ,have made the drive many times with buddies but bring the wife ?worried bout her not me ..we will most likely b line there take our time back ...what do you think if wife and my boy 14 join us ?dont mean to be freeky but would love all us driving down ,what a trip it could be ...also would love to meet any of you guys ,we have 5miles of beach on the pacific you are welcome to stay at south of todas santos ....or meet any of you on the way down down there or back also ...look forward to your imput ,,,jason ...:sombrero: UPDATE WILL BE TRAVELING WITH XJINTEX WILL BE LEAVING LA AREA ON JUNE 18 TELL JULY 2ND OF 2012 ....DRIVING A SILVERY BLUEISH GMC UTILITY SUV.....WE WONT BE CAMPING SO ANY COOL STOPS OR TOWNS TO STAY WOULD BE COOL ...

[theicecreampeople]

thanks for all imput ....j:sombrero:

[theicecreampeople]

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[YukonRob]

I'd say to bring her along if she is game - I say this without knowing what kind of traveller she is of course - my wife is the 'I'll fly down and meet you there' type.

Love to take you up on the beach offer - someday - just back from Las Animas two weeks ago and heading down for the 500 a few from now. Next trip after that is September (Tortoguas) and then the 1000 in November.

[theicecreampeople]

ya thats what im thinking ,will bring them both ,amee and hunter (our boy )after talking to ben with equipt on our last trip i feel comfy ...he was just there in mainland mex where all the crazy stuff is ..baja seems more mellow ..hell cant be any worse than LA ..lol..there is plenty of room to camp etc ,so all expo peeps are welome to stay ..will have dates lined up this week ,,,jason ....

[YukonRob]

we-bee lined back from San Ignacio in a day - the biggest hassle was the Federale checkpoints, I think we counted 8. And waiting to cross at the border is never my idea of a swell time. But it's all worth it to me, wish I was heading south sooner rather than latter.

[theicecreampeople]

thanks bro ...in the day we used to throw a victoria secrets or playboy in the dash ..lol..that made the checkpoints go faster ...8 is a lot ?:costumed-smiley-007

[BajaRunner]

I am a frequent visitor to Baja, and have friends who drive to Cabo several times a year from San Diego. Its essentially the same Baja it always was. Its the wild west sort of speak. The media has done a good job on reporting all of the horrible things going on in Tijuana, but travel during the day and don't hang in TJ for too long and I'm sure the chances of getting into any trouble are slim to none.

You'll still have the chance of getting shaken down for mordida by the cops, but they're poor, and do whatever they can. I just drive the speed limit and never have issues. One area to watch for is Ciudad Constitution, its lately been really bad with the cops. There is a side street that runs parallel to the hwy-1 through town there and take that. Not to mention, you don't have a traffic light every block for 10 miles. : )

Id bring the wife and kid, but just know your surroundings and stay in safe places, don't bring all your expensive stuff or built up American-style rig and its oK. )

[waterweber]

We go down all the time from SD to just before Ensenada and have been a few times below there. In my opinion northern Baja is safer and better than it was before to narco violence. The people really want the tourists back and there is a severely limited tolerance for corruption. It used to be that the cops would shake us down from time to time for a bribe but I have not had a single problem in the last 3 years with that. Worst case is if you do get shaken down just be patient and follow them to the station to pay the ticket if you don't want to cave in to the bribe. Most of the time they will just let you go if you don't seem like an easy target. I have never had any issues with Federales at checkpoints. Just be respectful and let them do their thing. It doesn't hurt to offer them a cold Coke from your cooler though.
I follow these rules and have been fine:
1. Dont stop in Tijuana. No reason to really in my opinion.
2. Drive the speed limit and keep your eyes peeled for stop signs and stuff.
3. Dont drive at night.
4. Dont drive anything flashy, try to keep a low profile.
5. Its Mexico and you are now on Mexico time. Dont be in a rush and dont have too tight of an itinerary.
I would say do it but let the wife know that it may be a bit of an adventure and that you may need to roll with the punches. 99.9% chance that you will have no issues though.

[theicecreampeople]

thanks guys ,it been a while sence i have driven down and am looking forward to it ,rodger xjintex is joining me so jazzed to have another drive ...

[YukonRob]

Just back from a quick weekend trip in support of the race. No problema. The most interesting thing was when a local offered, nearly insisted, that he could show me the 'fast way' to the border crossing (I was driving solo). I told him I had my amigos a few cars behind, and he promptly gave up and vanished. I wonder where I would have ended up! So, like always, just use common sense and it will all be good. Had a great dinner at El Palomar as usual.

[theicecreampeople]

Just back from a quick weekend trip in support of the race. No problema. The most interesting thing was when a local offered, nearly insisted, that he could show me the 'fast way' to the border crossing (I was driving solo). I told him I had my amigos a few cars behind, and he promptly gave up and vanished. I wonder where I would have ended up! So, like always, just use common sense and it will all be good. Had a great dinner at El Palomar as usual.
thanks for the report ,it has always been get past TJ quick ...love the locals and ready for some real Mexican food ,tex mex is for the birds ....j El Palomar sounds so familiar ? and like i saud anyone traveling but we have lots of room on the beach in front of the house ....would love to have a cervesa with ya guys ...j

[theicecreampeople]

Just back from a quick weekend trip in support of the race. No problema. The most interesting thing was when a local offered, nearly insisted, that he could show me the 'fast way' to the border crossing (I was driving solo). I told him I had my amigos a few cars behind, and he promptly gave up and vanished. I wonder where I would have ended up! So, like always, just use common sense and it will all be good. Had a great dinner at El Palomar as usual.
thanks for the report ,it has always been get past TJ quick ...love the locals and ready for some real Mexican food ,tex mex is for the birds . El Palomar sounds so familiar ? and like i said anyone traveling , we have lots of room on the beach in front of the house ....would love to have a cervesa with ya guys ...j

[Wiley]

Just got to Cabo seems the checkpoints are less often and more relaxed than the last time i went through baja last March...probably the difference from spring break in March vs june, also did my travelling on weekdays so that may have something to do with it. Travel was a piece of cake, same as previous time. I too read about ciudad constitution before but have not had a prblem either time going through, and have had cops drive next to me, so I wonder how much of it is just more hype. Lots of stop signs, so yeah if you blast through youll get screwed...but like everything else Baja is great, just use your head and be safre, you guys will have a great trip.

[theicecreampeople]

Just got to Cabo seems the checkpoints are less often and more relaxed than the last time i went through baja last March...probably the difference from spring break in March vs june, also did my travelling on weekdays so that may have something to do with it. Travel was a piece of cake, same as previous time. I too read about ciudad constitution before but have not had a prblem either time going through, and have had cops drive next to me, so I wonder how much of it is just more hype. Lots of stop signs, so yeah if you blast through youll get screwed...but like everything else Baja is great, just use your head and be safre, you guys will have a great trip.
thanks so much wiley ,we leave sunday to LA then drive from there ..pretty jazzed ...will try to post up when we are there mabye roger and i will meet ya for a cerveza ? thanks angin ....if driving by we have big wooden gates at around km86 ..there is a mile long driveway ,if gates are open come on in ....jason

[Wiley]

No problem, I am far from a baja expert as I have booked it from one end to the other both times, but if you need any more info let me know. I was only "searched at one check point, and that consisted of looking inside, nothing was opened, they dont care too much if your headed south, being a early 30's male I just tell them i am looking for waves and chicas and they are done with me. Some checkpoints are deserted, others were just a quick where you going and coming from. I wanted to go to some places off the main route like scorpions bay, but found once I loaded my van I was rubbing the rear tire where some kid hit me, so the metal was cutting into it like a can opener. A hammer seems to have fixed it before it destroyed the tire, but for that reason I stuck to the main route again, figure I will do baja right next time and just focus all of a vacation to exploring it. I would not hesitate to bring your wife and kids, but then again I boon docked in Catavina when I have read both good and bad opinions on doing that, especially alone...so maybe I am just ignorant or brave haha.

Thank for the invite, I have stealth camped right near that area seceral days on my trip last year, great area you guys have there. I will probably already be over on the mainland, but if I fall behind I will definitely meet up for a drink....I was supposed to be somewhere in Argentina or Brasil by now, so my timing estimates are terrible after all :sombrero:. Wait so you are leaving sunday the 10th, not later as originally planned? Either way have a great time, while Baja does have its problems, I think a lot of it is more the mental factor of people getting used to being out of their element than anything else.

[Wiley]

One last update before I leave my internet connection. The G20 summit is being held in Cabo the 18-19th. I was told this is probably why the checkpoints are less, more security down in this immediate area. Depending on what days you go south it could be easier of harder, but either way its a cake walk. Leave the guns at home.

[XJINTX]

I'm traveling with Jason and can't wait... been in Mexico a lot but never Baja. I'm not a surfer by any means but I LOVE the coast(s). Can't wait for the surf, sand and cervesa(s) :)

Not an expedition but will be a trip memories are made from ;)

[Wiley]

You guys dont happen to have a floor jack down there or know someone down there who does do you....I had one of the spacers from my lift come out on the coastal road east of San jose del Cabo. I would like to redo them all with some locktite which I have, though the bushings(?) are in rough shape so I want to see if I can get new ones here before locktiting anything....just happened, so not sure what to do :( I may head home and enter mainland from Arizona/New Mexico. Talk about a depressing start. :(

[XJINTX]

Wiley, I'm not sure how often Jason checks in here... I will call him. It's his father in laws place so I'm not sure what they have there. We will be driving down late sunday or early Monday if you are still in area or want to wait.
I will post up as soon as I hear from him or ask him to post.

[Wiley]

Thanks again, you guys are awesome. I wish I hadnt gotten down here so early, but still may hang around to get this fixed and surf, as I have barely even done that.

I think I would be in better shape had it happened on the mainland, but also dont want to go there and see I am wrong. A quick google on chevy in baja has some guy complaining about the chevy places here and saying he needs to drive back to SD...which is why I dont have high expectations for the area, baja is certainly a different animal than mainland in both good and bad ways. Who knows, maybe his problem was different, or he was just complaining. I do not want to come across as complaining, this is all part of the adventure, just gotta take it for what it is.

[theicecreampeople]

hey brother ,not sure about a floor jack ?there may be one at the house ,will find out today ....j there are all kinds of tire places all over that i bet could help ya ,dont drive home for just that ....

[kdoffroad]

I wanted to let you know that the G 20 Summit will be in Cabo, and I am not sure if this will effect your travel but just in case be prepared for very tight security and traffic jams

[theicecreampeople]

thanks kdoffroad ,no backing out now ?we will be closer to todas santos ?wiley no floor jach at the house ?i would ask around and im sure you can get someone to help ya out ?hope to meet ya over a cerveza ....j

[Wiley]

Hey man greatly appreciated...but no longer necessary. I am going to run back, that way I can get a title signed over to my dad for a car just sitting around, get some tint with uv protection on my fronts (found a tint place in Cabo, but after 2 rounds of skin cancer dont know that I trust when they say "uv protection") and clean up a few other minor issues.

You and XJINTX rock though, we could have easily fixed my van down here. I havent even given myself much time to surf, so once I get back to Mex I am making sure to slow it down, the waves have looked great, you guys will have a blast. Don't worry about the security, while there are tons cops and military driving around everywhere, its more like a parade than anything. They are not even stopping people they just wave everyone through...more show than anything, at least at this point. I have had such a good time in Baja I may come back this way after I get it fixed instead of going straight to the mainland, so maybe we will still have a chance to meetup, depending on how long I take.

[theicecreampeople]

wiley ,well our house is by the surf camp,close to pescadero south of todas santos ....ya can get your waves there ...be safe brother best of luck .....jason

[Wiley]

Since I completely derailed your thread, my apologies, here's a short list for none camping on mx 1 after guerro negro since your prob already on the road. Stop outside catalina for some quick, great pics. Santa Rosalita has a great little centro if I recall, don't let the outskirts fool you looks run down with all the construction. Meluge is also a nice little town used to tourists. Loreto is a great place to hangout and feels a bit more clean and modern after some of the places you'll be going through, and of course the la Paz area by the maleacon is nice, but it doesn't liven up till the suns setting, when everyone goes running or walking on the malacon but your so close to home you may just want to skip that. Looking forward to the pics and stories

[wavellan]

Bring her. No problem. Drove to Cabo from Los Angeles in June of 2011. Zero issues. Drove to Loreto for New Years with the GF and kids. Zero issues.

[theicecreampeople]

just got back ...wow i think the computer and news are way off base ..in baja ,now all the mexicans are afraid of the main land ? will do a write up on the roads etc soon but we had no issues at all felt safe always ,will be bringing the family down next time for sure ....j108690