Solo Baja Adventure

[Riggerdan 147]

PART 1 0F 3

So there I was kicking back in my seat heading to Detroit, looking out the window at Mission Bay on a beautiful warm sunny San Diego morning

By the time I was flying over Chicago it was looking a lot colder

">

The scenically panoramic view I had in my hotel room made it all worth it….

Walking back to the hotel

It was one of those moments where your waiting to cross the street, and all the cars are passing through big slush puddles and caught up in the grind of life.

You just want to break away and ride your bike into the warm desert sun

When I landed in San Diego I loaded up the 990 and headed south…..

Started from Jamul headed through Tecate for a beautiful (windy) run up to Mikes Sky Ranch

Along the way stopped by the KC memorial and paid some respect and reflect on life for a moment...

Rolled up to Mikes just at sunset

There were only 2 other guys staying the night, they trucked from Indiana to the line and were heading south / ferry to main land / back up through Copper Canyon

They were slightly concerned about fuel for their days adventure, I had a full full 2gal roto and planned on heading back into VTD so I said merry christmas, topped off their tanks and away we went..

Cant hurt to generate a little good karma out of the gate

It was a balmy 39 so a quick swim was not high on the list

This ones for you Crawdaddy………….

Heading out in that beautiful morning sun

Rolled into San Felipe and met a buddy and his wife for breakfast

He was on a recon mission for some trails in his toyota

His neighbor had this house about 50 mies south of Percebu that we stayed at for the night

This was the welcoming committee

This was the view……….

Tried to capture a few stars but after a little tequila wasn't sure what I was even looking at.

That constellation below Orion is fishing boats on the horizon

He took the words right out my mouth….

It was a beautiful Christmas morning

Heading south to Bay of LA

First time CoCo visit for me

Lots of options going on here…..

So this was Christmas morning….Classic

Cut up through Horse Piss Canyon

I was actually enjoying myself until my buddy Steve said "Hey lets try this for a while" washed out 1000 course…..

Needless to say a beat up 1000 course on a loaded down big bike was nothing but fun…..

Spit us out on the Highway and we headed into the Bay of Los Angeles

Whale bones everywhere

A well needed beverage after a long day…..

Up early to catch the sunrise I found some new friends

">

Bfast and we were off and running and exploring, though ended up in a wash by some petroglyphs lots and lots and lots of sand

With a combination like this you feel unstoppable

Rolled into this San Francisco de Borja mission and took a little tour / breather

This was the sink carved out of stone

I just realized there is a limit to how many pictures you can post at once ------------

Stay tuned for part 2

[Riggerdan 147]

PART 2 OF 3

The ceiling of the kitchen

When we got out to the highway at El Rosarito I said my good byes and continued on south

Heading towards Abreojos the next morning

Selfy

Let the good time roll……….

Amazing how things can turn on you - O well this was the 2nd of 3

Not to mention fuel light on, roto's empty and I'm trying to make it to San Rosalia...

It all worked out but got a little thirsty during the process

">

Actually very thirsty

Leaving Loreto the next AM

More fun times to be had...

Sun rise at La Ventana, could have easily stayed around there for a month or 3... great kite surfing and chill vibe

The dirt road from La Ventana to Los Barriles was awesome

One of my favorites...

Rest stop…..

A cold beer and a snack in Cabo Plumo was well needed

That got me all the way to Todos Santos

[Riggerdan 147]

PART 3 OF 3

Leaving Todos Santos I tried to take the dirt and bypass La Paz

Thought I could make it to Punta Conejo it was soooooooooo beautiful

But I was wrong……..

It was a little sandier then I thought

This was fun

Before I went for the BIG DIG I relaxed down by the ocean for a few minutes and had some more reflection time... could have stayed there all day

Off and running again, feeling ambitious thought I would continue on north along the ocean

That was some sweet double track

about 40 or 50 miles into it, I come up to this………….

You might say it doesn't look that bad, I kinda thought the same thing but it was pretty soft

and I was still soaking wet and exhausted from the last episode

Headed back still trying to find another way around the soft stuff

Got lost in these salt fields actually not sure what they were

Felt like I was riding on Mars and dead ended every turn I took…..

So I bailed and headed up the highway

Another well deserved snack and beverage

Bienvenidos La Paz

Christmas lights in Loreto

Early morning sunrise

More local friends hanging out

Doesn't matter where you are in this world a good dog is a good dog…...

Hearty bfast and hitting the road

Decisions decisions………...

Sunset at Guerrero Negro

Another favorite

My New Years Eve cocktail

Heading north thought I would make an easy day and spend the night in San Quintin

It was a cold windy day in comparison it started off with a super thick marine layer then it was super windy

so I was warming up and snapping a few last pics

">

Still had a chill, so stopped off in San Quintin for a nice warm bowl of seafood soup

Looked up at the sun and decided to make a run for the border

Got through Ensenada no problem and put a few more layers on before heading up through guadalupe valley

It was dark when I rolled into Tecate but the front of the line service is such a nice thing to come home to

Rolled through the hills on route 94 back into Jamul and reflected on that cold day in Detroit……………. a lot has happened since then

Successfully accomplishing my first solo Baja expedition adventure

Feels good to be home but my eyes are wide open for the next one

Happy New Year SDAR

[Goofy Footer 539]

Thanks for sharing your report and pics Dan! I was looking forward to it and I appreciate you taking the time to upload everything. I really want to get down to Gonzaga Bay and/or Bahia de Los Angeles soon. Would you be up for another (shorter) trip down there soon?

Let the good time roll……….

One of my favorites...

[Goofy Footer 539]

Happy New Year SDAR

Happy New Year Dan!

[TrophyHunter 15]

Nicely done! You convey the atmosphere along with the physical ride in your reports, Dan. As GF said, thx for taking the time.

[kato 53]

That was awesome!

[Bagstr 288]

You call That livin'? Nice editing. Reads like the travels of a monk.

P.S. Not Baja

[Dan Diego 40]

I thoroughly enjoyed that RR. Just fantastic descriptions and photos. And it's nice to see a fellow dog lover.

[97xr400r 122]

Really happy it all worked out well! Thanks for posting.

[Crawdaddy 96]

This ones for you Crawdaddy………….

Thanks Buddy!

Looks like you and Stevo had a blast.......thanks for taking the time to share it with us.......you two bitches can tell me all about it at the BBTR ride in two weeks....

[kkug 147]

WOW Dan awesome report. I was following you on your Spot and had no clue you were having so much fun.

[bikeslut 1]

YAY rigga... nice ride report

[Tree 0]

Nice pictures and report. As much as I travel to baja and enjoy it I have trepidations about doing it solo. Some day I want to spend a month down there riding through every corner.

[tvscum 43]

Beautiful! Nice solo adventure!

[dirt dame 561]

Nice.

[dsfox 0]

The Sun, The Sea, the Peace, (and the dogs :rolleyes:/>)......all which you have captured so artistically....

I've always been fearful to venture to baja...but I think YOU have just single handedly made me feel like: "I HAVE to go there!"

Perhaps you should consider a career in travel advertising..Thanks so much....Great report and pics...

[Beezzz 6]

great job rigger. you did make it look easy. i'm ignoring the flats. those where most likely was an "expressive moment".

[Riggerdan 147]

Would you be up for another (shorter) trip down there soon?

I would be up for another run down south, I have some time in late Jan / early Feb

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures….I really enjoyed taking them

Needless to say I wanted to stop about every 1000' to take some more

My mental visual hard drive is at maximum capacity right now….and feels great

Some day I want to spend a month down there riding through every corner.

I learned very quickly a month is not nearly long enough, but I was very thankful for time that I had.

It was the only thing I asked santa for………a little time off the radar to ride my bike in Baja

[Riggerdan 147]

I've always been fearful to venture to baja...but I think YOU have just single handedly made me feel like: "I HAVE to go there!"

My family was concerned and thought I was crazy but as we all know "if you don't ride you don't get it"………...

[Dirtdiver 2]

Dan, That looked like a great trip. Glad you made it back without a major mishap. How many miles in total?

Steve

[Avocado 0]

Awesome Ride...Great photos...Looked like the perfect way to bring in the new year.

Thanks for sharing!

[Dress4Less 162]

Rigger - that was a terific post/report and teh pics are amazing:excl: Thanks for sharing

[Afry 1]

Great stuff!

La Bocana/Abreojos is one of my favorite Baja fishing areas - those reefs are LOADED with lobster. One of the only places you can catch Wahoo from a small boat launched off a beach.

Cabo Puma is the northern most coral reefs on the Pacific side - launched dive boats there many times, the little taco shack on the beach reminds me of the Corona commercial.

You probably rode across my beach front lot just north of La Ventana in Costa De Oro - I think you forgot to pay my toll fee for the road use....

[SocalCPA 0]

That looks like a great trip. I am planning to do some riding with a few 990 guys from OC , you should get in on it!