Dead-End Road

This road just ended in front of a huge dune, I climbed up and found the Pacific Coast right behind it.

No Respect!

...those Cactus.

Cat-Soup or Ketchup?

The making of the blue truck

For those of you that have a technical interest of how a 10 year old Toyota Land Cruiser was transformed into the blue truck, you can now look at 100s of pictures that I took during the work on the car that was about to become my house.

Los Barilles to Cabo or is it Bali?

Since I was so impressed with the beauty of that all those small roads along the coast and through the mountains have offered ever since I have left La Paz I have decided to remain faithful to my principle to take the smallest roads possible. Just after a couple of kilometers outside of Los Barilles their is a sandy dirt road that takes off in a 90° angle from Mex 1. There is a large sign that says "Ranch Lenero Resort", that road toke me again along the coast, first you will drive about 5 or 6 kilometers through the bushes and a small house (mostly for sale) in the area but than I got to the road along the coast again.

I followed that road along the coast. There were a couple of beautiful beaches at one of them I took a stop, went to cool off in the waves and put up may hammock for a little rest (still could feel those beers of a long night up with Brigitte & Peter and just hanging in there seemed to be perfect...) 

North of San Jose del Cabo I parked my car in an Arroyo as Donna described me to. I have met Donna and her friends and many dogs several times on my trip, first at Playa Coyote and following that more than once again when we just picked the same places to camp by chance. 

Donna invited me to camp just next to where she was living and I could use shower and restroom at here place. Donna has a fantastically beautiful, mystic, peaceful place. Her Bali-Hut's as she calls them because they were inspired by the trips she took to Bali for many years and what she saw there at the beach. And that is how she designed her houses here in Cabo. Very beautifully simple. Solar powered 12 Volts only, open on two sides, just perfect for the hot weather here. Her yard is full of plants, palm trees, birds, turtles, dogs, little things here and there. Just like one of those pictures you can look at again and again and discover something new each time you look at it. Just fantastic. I camped there for two nights, Donna let me use one of her Bali-Huts to spend the day. This was one of the most peaceful days of my entire trip. I was sitting up there overlooking the ocean, listening to the waves hitting the shore, reading, napping away, planning the next couple of days of my trip, taking a nap again, just some how magic how those simple Bali Huts just blend in with the nature of the beach and the shore and almost become one with it. Donna barbaqued a fantastic dinner, I supplied a bottle of wine that was hidden in the blue truck's wine cellar since California. It was interesting to just chat along with Donna about how she started building the Bali Huts, how she came to Cabo over 20 years ago, when none of the Gringo mansions where there. Her life of travelling in her perfectly set up motorhome and all along the dogs got the bones of the so tasty rips that came off the bbq. Soon it was late, it was just two nights since full moon and as soon as my eyes got used to the the limited light I could find my way along the beach back to where the blue truck was parked, popped the roof and in the moring headed off towards Cabo.

Los Barilles

I continued along the small road following the shore line fairly closely most of the time. The quality of the road got better the closer to Los Barilles I got. However when you reach a fork of the road shortly after the small village of La Tina. I have decided to stay on the smaller one that runs very close along the coast. Very beautiful views but relatively rough roads, the only trafic I saw were ATV's.

In Los Barilles I stayed at East Cap RV, a very nice park, it is not directly at the beach but a large area with a lot of plants and shade, nice pool area and really clean toilet and shower. I thought the price was rather expensive with USD 25 per night, however that is negotiable, internet is another USD 4 per day but also is an exceptionally stable connection compared to other places I have experienced on the Baja. Laundry is also doable if you need to.

On that campground I met Brigitte and Peter an extremly nice Swiss-British couple. Impressive, the two have travelled for the last 7 years, starting with their bicycles, going through a pop-up camper, a camperised school bus and are now, just about to get a semi permanent set-up at East Cap in their RV. It is actually for them and that I have enjoyed their company so much that I have decided to stay another night at East Cap RV park. We had a very interesting time discussing our trips, lifes and much more where time and beer where passing way too quick and all of a sudden it was early morning and long over bed time. - What a luxury too just have that time.

USA standing strong in Mexico

The USA are standing united - even in a supermarket in Mexico.

Don't suffer from Insanity...

...enjoy every minute of it! That's what the sign says. Don't tell me you did not see that sign I have taken a picture of in a shop-window in Key West, Florida? The risk of going insane is definitly there, because the new Florida Photo Gallery consists of almost 600 pictures for you to view. 

So before you go insane, pick a rainy weekend for it, take it in steps or klick on the "Slideshow" button on the upper right hand corner on the picture page. This will bring you a full screen slideshow, navigate your mouse on your screen and you will get a series of thumbnails on top of the page, scroll through it and just get those portions shown to you that you would like to see. Like shop windows for example. I hope you enjoy the pictures. - Don't go insane, enjoy every minute of it.

USA - Georgia

Atlanta, NBAA convention, where I met a lot of friends out of the industry, Savannah with Denise and through the cotton fields towards the East Coast of Florida. Follow me on the new picture gallery USA - Georgia

USA - North East to Atlanta

The new gallery USA - North-East to Atlanta is on-line. Enjoy it.

Before there was Jack Welch

A new gallery just went on-line: New Jersey - New York. It includes some pictures of the amazing Edison museum in West Orange, New Jersey.

Say Cheeeeeeeeeeees... - New Photo Gallery

Check out the new Photo Gallery "Take a Picture".

Photo by Vera

Recheck once in while, there might be some additions coming.

Live 240 Volts

It's about exactly a year ago since I visited the Edison museum in West Orange, New Jersey. Among many more interesting things I was facinated by those cables on the wall, acessible to any visitors of the museum. More exciting though, the label "Live 240V DC". 

Finally - A high resolution photo gallery

Finally you might go and look at more pictures of my trip. There is a new site icon on the left of my blog page: Photo-Gallery. It will take you to my picture homepage where the pictures are stored in original resolution.

As I depend on a highspeed internet connection to upload the photos there is not too much there yet, but for a start you might browse through some 400 pictures of Mexico - Baja California

More will follow. Enjoy!

More pictures of beautiful Camping on Baja

Check out my German blog for some more pictures of beautiful campsites on Baja:

Camping pictures on Baja

Along the Coast to Los Barriles - Free Camping again

From La Paz, after having gotten rid of that cop, I followed Highway 286, this goes up and up and up, all straight and then down and down and down all straight. After having passed San Juan de los Planes it continues just some 2 kilometers or so when the paved road takes a 90° turn left towards Punta de la Ventana, a gravel road continues straight. That is what I did. At first you might think that is cool and doable with a passenger car, but soon the road is going steep into the mountains and you will need a good motorbike or a high clearance car. 

I followed the road through the mountains and heading down to the coast. It is a very rough road but beautiful. Some of the steepest most notorious for washout areas are paved with concret.

I have passed a little house up on the cliff with "propriedad privado" signs all over the place when I headed steep down to the coast. I found a dry river bed at 

N23°53.913'

W109°48.776'

That is where I turn off down the river, it leads through some close by vegitation, keep going and you will reach

N23°54.171'

W109°48.606'

A beautiful spot to free camp. Directly at the beach. All peaceful and lonely. At high tide the beach is nice and sandy and I went swimming in the evening and in the morning. At low tide it is kind of stoney.

In the morning I continued down the coast, beautiful road, soon passing Boca de Almo that is where the road gets significantly better and after El Cardonal it is paved. After la Tina you have the option to stay on pavement and drive inland to Los Barriles or continue on gravel as I did along the coast. Some very nice beaches and good snorkeling opportunities along that way. Many big Gringo Mansions as well. Even an airstrip community. Reminded me of Texas.

In the morning I continued down the coast, beautiful road, soon passing Boca de Almo that is where the road gets significantly better and after El Cardonal it is paved. After la Tina you have the option to stay on pavement and drive inland to Los Barriles or continue on gravel as I did along the coast. Some very nice beaches and good snorkeling opportunities along that way. Many big Gringo Mansions as well. Even an airstrip community. Reminded me of Texas.

La Paz Cops - Sorry no money for you guys

La Paz has a reputation for corrupt cops. I had just entered the city, when I saw a cop on his motorbike on the opposite trafic flow, spotting me. He did a 180 and followed me closely. I was absolutely and exactly doing the 30 km/h speedlimit or even slower. I was the only one going that slow and had cars passing on my left at twice the speed. I was also the only one stopping at all those "Alto" signs that stand at almost every crossroad. Nevertheless the guy followed me. Tourist easy target alike, I guess. I almost stopped at green lights just not to give him a reason to pull me over. I did that for some 5 minutes or so, when at a red light he drove by real close in the middle of the two car lane and stopped at the side of my window. He looked at me and gave me that really annoyed look, "Holà, buenas diaz" I said through the open window. No answer, when the light turned green he was speeding it up and passed all the cars that were in line in front of me.

Along the Coast to La Paz

got a little lost, nothing on the map, neither on the GPS except "Driving North"

I took the road that leads North-East leaving Mex 1 opposite off the right hand turn off to the marked village of El Ciento Veintiocho (which is also the km marker I suppose). Actually to be honest I did not really take that one, I missed it as it looked on the map as it would be a little off and would come somewhat later, the Garmin GPS Mexico database does not know the road. So I took the next left hand exit and after have gotten a little lost on really rough roads I finally found the road that is leading North, meeting up with the other one at Las Tinajitas, took a right turn there and followed through the mountains all the way down to the coast, a little south of San Evvaristo. A high clearnce vehicle is needed to travel the road about 20 kilometers after having passed La Presa. Four wheel drive is an advantage and makes it easier. I followed down the road that was following the coast and then headed back West into the mountains, when the road comes down and follows about a kilometer inland from the beach I took a dry river bed and followed it down to the beach where I free camped at a beautiful spot directly at the beach at

N24°49.852'
W110°40.456'

Coordinates

This is about 20 kilometers North of Punta Coyote. Since I have crossed only two vehicles since leaving Mex 1 in the morning I felt pretty safe at that beach to stay there on my own. There was a strong current and some waves, I took a dip but did not really swim out.

a little rough at times, but straight.

the blue truck wearing sunglasses

Ciudad Constitución

At Ciudad Constitución I stayed at Misiones RV Park. N25°02.935' - W111°40.781'

Nice place, super friendly people, USD 16 for the night, sites have power and water, there is a nice common use area with shade, toilets etc. where a good strong WiFi can be enjoyed at no charge. Clean showers and bathrooms. I believe there is a restaurant running during the winter season, it was closed now. Spots with shade and nice palm trees. Despite the fact of being so close to Mex 1 it is realtively quiet, a good super market is just down the road, about 15 minutes walking distance. Restaurants along the street. Car and tire repair services as well, should you be in need.

You can't miss it if you enter the city on Mex 1, early on to your left is a big arch entrance. The entire campground is fenced and I felt pretty safe. The water is not salty, I filled my tank and running it through my Katadyn filters I drink the water.

Pemex Santa Rosalia

Don't fuel your car, truck or bike at the fuel station in Santa Rosalia, I have not met any one that has not been cheeted there. Wrong change, wrongly calibrated pump, the full program. Mulegé, I heard has pumps out of calibration, you pay for about 10% more than what you really have in your tank. All of a sudden your 20 liter canister will have 22 liter capacity.

Loreto, use the stations in town rather than the ones at Mex 1. I filled up there, agreed for a fix amount of liters and price and all worked smooth and painless.

Mision San Javier

A day trip from Loreto, worthwhile. The road is all new and excellent. The last few kilometers are gravel but in good condition. No problem with any car or motorbike. Their is also a spot with some cave paintings after about the first third up the road. Very well marked.

San Javier

San Javier

on the road just about a kilometer before the mision, does not really require that kind of  vehicle 

when joining pavement again on the way back

San Javier is an oasis and the mision is in good condition and still in use. There is a big fiesta in december when there are a lot of pilgrems driving up there.

When plastic surgery goes wrong...

...it could look like that. Be careful!

Loreto

In Loreto I have been staying at Rivera del Mar Campground and RV Park. Close to the beach and walking distance to the City, restaurants and shops. Safe, very clean and friendly place. At this time of the year very quiet. I guess it could be kind of crowded during the season. Everywhere in Loreto and going south from there are signs of a high speed development that came to an abrupt stop driven by the recession and the lack of US tourists. Nevertheless worthwhile a stop also a good stop to stock up, no huge US alike supermarkets but a couple of good shops and smaller super markets. Should you need tires repaired or alike you will find support in Loreto as well.

Playa Coyote

A fantastic place to stay. Drive south on Mex 1 after leaving Mulege, you will pass a couple of beaches, after a while the road is winding down and you'll see an old beaten up and closed gate of Playa Coyote Beach Resort & RV park, slow down, a little after that a gravel turn off to the left will take you to a sign, difficult to see in the bushes "Playa Coyote" take a right turn in the trees follow the path. If it is high tide there is a little bit of sea that covers the road but drivable even in an RV or with a motorbike.

Pick a place at the beach. There are pit toilets no other amenities though. ME$ 80 per nite, will be collected. Only if you get a receipt you are paying to the right person.

the last 500 meters road to the beach

dining room view

please close the door after you

:-)

my camp, beautiful place to kayak

sunrise kayak trip

very clear water, bring your mask and snorchel

totally alone, on a beach a couple of miles down south along the shore

breakfast