Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 6, 2014 Dress4Less and I just returned from 5 days/1,024 miles in Baja on Tuesday night ........I'll add pics/write-up later.... Teaser: Don't be a SOB! (Scared of Baja) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 195 Posted March 6, 2014 I can't wait for this one...bring it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danrider 5 Posted March 6, 2014 You do not know this, but you are my hope. How hard was the ride? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.JAJA 380 Posted March 6, 2014 I followed every step if I had time. Looks like a good time with the rain like we have in Europe all times. No dust, just slick and mud. Been down there many times with bike, and prerunner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Diego 40 Posted March 6, 2014 Heck, yeah! Let's see it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 6, 2014 You do not know this, but you are my hope. How hard was the ride? The Trail Boss on this ride was Russ Martin. Someone at one of our stops asked Russ his age. The reply was, "Seventy To F'n Old" (72). The terrain was relatively easy (normally) but the conditions (driving rain on days one and two) and occasional mud throughout the 5 days made the riding a tad more challenging in a few short sections.........overall it was pretty easy.........this ride was about experiencing the big country feel of Baja not riding knarly terrain.......Russ led us on his Buffalo (Honda 650L) Interesting side note about Russ which plays into your other "is this the end" thread. Russ told us he crashed his race buggy at the Dumont dunes in 1969. Broke one of his legs in 28 places. Doctors said he would never walk again let alone ride.......yet there he was leading us on his (3rd annual) last Baja Ride at 72 yrs of age..... Chris (Dress4Less) and Russ enjoying a cold Pacifico at Coco's Corner on Monday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoss314 0 Posted March 6, 2014 That "Seventy To F'n Old" guy can ride! He is one hell of a guy......i'm sure you guys had a blast. Wish I could have rode with him on the "last" baja run. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avocado 0 Posted March 6, 2014 Looking forward to some more pics! Really interested in seeing some Friday afternoon trail photos... that was some serious rain for SD. Fun adventure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DustyRock 0 Posted March 7, 2014 I know Russ, he is a character with lots of life experiences that are great to hear. Someday I will get a passport and some time for myself.........maybe..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted March 8, 2014 First time posting pics...hope it works...trying one pic to start, Barefoot Bar in San Felipe...we'll see how it goes...Crawdaddy and I had such a great time! If this works, more pics and write-up to come over the weekend... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikeslut 1 Posted March 8, 2014 I'm sure it will provide campfire stories for years... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 8, 2014 I've tried to make a trip up to Bass Lake every year since my first Bass Lake 250 in 2002. For the past 6(?) or so years I've usually stayed with my friend Russ Martin who's retired in the area. Russ has been trying to get me to head to Mexico with him for years and the schedules just haven't lined up. So this year he let me pick the date. He planned a 5 day/~1000 mile loop down the pacific and up the Sea of Cortez...........the 3rd annual "last Baja Ride" for Russ......at 72yrs of age he's thinking it *may* be time to move to 4 wheels (He has a Robbie Gordon RZR in the garage) So anyway, he let me pick the date......little did we know I'd wind up picking the date a Pacifc storm would sweep into town.......that made the riding a bit more challenging at times but all in all an easy jaunt down south. I was thankful to have picked up a new CORE sponsor prior to the ride. The Baja Designs Squadron XL light would come in handy in the days ahead. (Thanks again to Hobiee for helping me mount it) I loaded up my bike Thursday morning and headed off to work.....in the rain......so what......weather be damned After work on Thursday I met up with Russ and part of the crew in EL Cajon where we stayed the night in a motel.......we wanted to be ready to spring for the border at 6am. We had a crew of 8 including me......the 8th man dropped out so I recruited Dress4Less (Chris Ross) to fill the void. I didn't know any of the other folks from the Fresno/Oakhurst area prior to this trip......now they're all friends.......it was a good/diverse group of riders/bikes. Retired cop (650L), retired firemean (650L), retired crane operator (EXC 525), entrepreneur/business owner (DRZ 400) and his 17yr old son (DRZ 400), a neuro surgeon (DRZ 400), and two white collar aerospace stiffs (me (XCF-W 350) and Chris (WR450)) Really didn't snap too many photos on Friday.......as you may recall, it was pouring buckets.......who picked this date? Ed worked a deal with the Petrero Fire Dept for us to park/leave the trucks there. The price? A couple gallons of Rocky Road ice cream.......very reasonable. Some of the crew gathered at the border exchange: Then we were off towards Compadre/Ojos Negros/Santo Tomas/San Quintin Once Russ gets moving he doesn't stop....seriously.....few picture opportunities along the trail on Friday.......snapped this one at a brief rest top along Compadre at the river crossing (which was surprisingly low) Once we passed through Santo Tomas we saw the ocean for the first time and fists were pumping in the air.......by the time we reached Coyote Cals it was 4pm, the rain was coming down HARD.....and we still had ~100 miles to go to reach San Quintin......so we scrapped the plan to ride the beach down to Colonet and hit the pavement instead.......this ~100 mile stretch into San Quintin sucked........there's no way to sugar coat it.......low point of a great trip........vision was lacking (even worse once darkness set in) and we were all soaked........I don't care how good your rain gear is.......after ~12 hours in the saddle the water WILL find a way in...... Day 1 total miles : ~250 We lost one rider on the way in........somehow he got separated from us on the road.......he wound up sharing a room in a different motel that night with some guy he met at gas station.......he was so cold/shivering he couldn't speak........they locked up his bike at the gas station and he hoped in a car with a total stranger.......ate some cow cheek/brain tacos, etc., etc...... if you heard Dennis tell the story you'd laugh until your ribs split........from that point on he was dubbed, "The Lost Boy"......we picked him up he next morning...... We stayed at the Hotel Mision Santa Maria.......nice digs for ~$60/room: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g499404-d497880-Reviews-Hotel_Mision_Santa_Maria-San_Quintin_Baja_California.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 8, 2014 On day two we headed down towards Rosario, gassed up, popped into Mama Espinosa's, and then hit some fun dirt/twisties up through the cactus and into the hillsides.....by this time Russ's GPS had totally crapped out so he was leading the trip from memory.......he did a great job....... First and only flat: We were pretty fortunate on day two.......plenty of mud/mud puddles.......but not much rain.......sweet trail/rainbow shot with Dress4Less just before Catavina We topped off our tanks at this high tech Gas Station in Catavina Then checked in at the Mision Catavina: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g946502-d2558108-Reviews-Hotel_Mision_Catavina-Catavina_Baja_California.html We were lucky on this shorter day.......the skies opened up ~20 minutes after we arrived...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 8, 2014 Day 3 was awesome........relatively dry with a LOT of dirt (mud) and beach........we pushed down from Catavina to Santa Rosaliita There wasn't a heck of a lot of gas in Santa Rosaliita.......we drained this guy's stash of milk jugs.......luckily I had plenty with my 5.3 tank.......the mothership...... Now we had to jump up onto the slab to get some gas for the boys and hopefully arrive in Bay of LA before it got too dark/late.....we struck out on gas in Punta Prieta but some folks in town called ahead to gas truck at the turnoff for LA Bay. He back tracked and found us riding towards him on the road......from there we slabbed the ~43 miles into Bay of LA and arrived at Villa Vitta around 7pm(?) Villa Vitta: http://www.villavitta.com/ Total day 3 miles - 204 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 8, 2014 Day 4......Mexican Pub crawl Looking out towards the Bay of LA from the Villa Vitta as the sun rises..... Villa Vitta We headed out of town and pulled onto a nice bluff/oveview of the Bay of LA Then we hit a really sweet wash that would lead everyone up towards CoCo's corner.......well, not quite everyone.........the wash was a blast at first with some rises, tight turns, rocks but then we hit a fork where ran into a few miles of BIG SANDY WHOOPS........yuk.......no fun for this fat boy with his Coyote bag......So Russ, Chris and I bailed to pavement/gravel road for the final stretch into CoCo's while the rest of the gang toughed it out in Calmajue wash........we were waiting for them with cold B's in hand when they arrived at CoCo's........funky place........unfortunately, we were told CoCo was in the hospital in San Felipe......he's now lost both legs and continues to struggle with diabetes.... The gangs all here Back onto the gravel road as we pushed up to Gonzaga Bay/Alfonsinas for more beer/fish tacos Those shrimp/white fish tacos were yummy..... From here we took pavement all the way to San Felipe (the new paved road stretches down about a mile past Gonzaga now)......but first......another beer stop at the world famous Cowpatty......local watering hole for a lot of gringos living in nearby Peurticito We hit San Felipe around 5ish......explored a few motel options......then wound up at the El Cortez......fine with me Day 4 total miles - 210 Dinner is served Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 8, 2014 Walked out of my room on Day 5 to watch the sun rising over the Sea or Cortez from the beach at the El Cortez Nice breakfast on the patio Let's take a look around.......some of the other boys stayed in the the bungalos Good place for a panorama We saddled up/gassed up and pushed out towards Valley T.......Russ, Chris and I took pavement around the dry lake bed.......the lake bed itself is a blast to ride but we didn't feel like dealing with the deep race course whoops on either side.......the rest of the gang toughed it out..... We gassed up in Valley T then pushed up Hwy 3 towards Compadre/Laguna.......I had the waypoint for the Caselli monument in my GPS (thanks Afry) soo I took the lead once we got near independcia.......we meandered around a bit and eventually found it......it was interesting to walk the area and try to imagine what happened.....had a moment of silence and moved on...... As I posted on Facebook: The memorial is literally a few feet from the race course. I assume it's set up at the spot where Ken dragged his bike once he found him. Kurt, and his bike, must've been at least ~5+ yards into the trees for the Honda to blow by without seeing him.I meandered around on various side trails to find the memorial. The simplest way to get to it is to take the power line road east out of Independencia about ~5 miles to where it bends hard to the south and intersects the race course. Then backtrack down the racecourse ~3 miles. The memorial is @ N31 36.967 W115 49.712 The more I think about it the more I wonder if he took this side/spur trail as opposed to the wider/more open trail to the left......there's a fork ~100 yards short of the memorial. There may have been horses/cows/(?) in the open/main trail to the left which sent him down this narrower spur trail to the right in a split decision.....or he may have just been cutting the corner with this more direct spur.......then he may have encountered more livestock......in which case the memorial may accurately mark the spot where he actually crashed into livestock/tree. We spent a bit of time looking for the memorial/at the memorial so the group opted to simply push back up Compadre rather than looping through Laguna Hansen.......good decision since they had to drive ~8 hours once we reached the trucks.....we all stuck together just in case of any problems......sure enough, one rider snapped his chain shortly thereafter.......good thing we stayed together for chain breakers/presses/tubes....... One last shot on the way out..... We got back to the trucks around 4:30pm and then I discovered my truck security key flob was soaked and useless.......had to snag another one in Ramona........wound up getting home around 9:30 Tuesday evening...... Day 5 total miles - ~ 225 Trip totals Bike held up fine.......fork seals are either blown or just leaking from all the mud but other than that all good..... Can't wait to head back........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baja2015 0 Posted March 8, 2014 Viva Mexico!! looked like a nice trip. I would't rely on santarosallia for gas as it could be hit or miss. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 195 Posted March 8, 2014 Sounds like an amazing adventure. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crusty Posted March 8, 2014 Nice trip. Quote.(unfortunately, we were told CoCo was in the hospital in San Felipe.) That sucks, he was doing well Thu.-Sun.when we saw him in town. Our next door neighbor (in San Felipe) had lunch at CoCo's, Wednesday and gave him $40.00 for gas to get to San Felipe This is CoCo on Sunday at the awards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avocado 0 Posted March 9, 2014 Nice write up, thanks for taking the time to post the photos. Covered a lot of ground in 5 days! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted March 9, 2014 That sucks, he was doing well Thu.-Sun.when we saw him in town. Our next door neighbor (in San Felipe) had lunch at CoCo's, Wednesday and gave him $40.00 for gas to get to San Felipe Glad to hear he was in good spirits during the weekend......hopefully he'll rebound quickly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HotRod82 2 Posted March 10, 2014 Great report and pics.....motorcycles in Baja on wet dirt, what else is there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted March 11, 2014 Chris (Crawdaddy) and I had an EPIC, 5 day, 8 riders, ~1,024 mile loop in Baja. Other than getting SOAKED and losing a rider (yes, we lost a rider at night, in the rain) on Day 1, the group had minimal issues. 1 flat tire and 1 broken chain is all! We arrived back in the States with some great memories, having met some new friends and seeing friends we have not seen in a while. Basic route: Day 1 - Tecate to San Quitin ~ 250 mi Day 2 - San Quitin to Catavina ~ 135 mi Day 3 - Catavina to Bay of LA ~ 204 mi Day 4 - Bay of LA to San Felipe ~ 210 mi Day 5 - San Felipe to Tecate ~ 225 mi Cast of Characters: Russ - XL650 - Trail Boss - Oakhurst, CA Ed - XL650 - 2nd in Command - Oakhurst, CA Dennis - EXC525 - Fast & Furious - Oakhurst, CA Chris(Crawdaddy) - ECF350 - The Navigator - Ramona, CA Chris(Dress4Less) - WR450 - One Lucky Dude! - Rancho Bernardo, CA Matt - DRZ400 - The Sweeper - Fresno, CA Chris - DRZ400 - Sweeper Jr. - Fresno, CA Mark - DRZ400 - DOC - Fresno, CA Day 1: Tecate to San Quitin ~ 250 mi Exchanging Dollars for Pesos right before the border... A break in the action...bladders were overflowing by then! Once Russ and Ed get moving, they're not big on stoppng... Those were the only two pictures I got on Day 1...it poured rain ALL day! As I mentioned above, we lost Dennis at night going through San Quitin to get to the Hotel. He was aok...Ed reached him via cell phone that night and made arrangements to meet up the next morning. To hear Dennis tell the story of his adventure that night is absolutely hilarious! Almost too funny to be true...but, it was! Short story - Dennis ended up sharing a hotel room, with a complete stranger and his dog from Wyoming! Anyway, it all worked out. The accommodations, hot showers, food and beverage in San Quitin were terrific! It is right on the water and beautiful...when it's not pouring rain that is! Day 2: San Quitin to Catavina ~135 mi 6 of us ate breakfast at the hotel in San Quitin. Ed and Dennis went ahead and we met them at their breakfast spot in El Rasario… I have never seen Cactus this BIG before! A rainbow on the trial Gas "Station" in Catavina...a 55 gal drum, a 5 gal can, and some siphon hoses...you gotta love it! It was $5.00 US per gallon...they could have charged whatever the wanted there...so it was reasonable... Bikes outside of hotel rooms in Catavina. Shortly after checking in another down pour of rain hit…good timing! Day 3: Catavina to Bay of LA ~ 204 mi Sunrise on day 3 in Catavina This is where we had dinner and breakfast in Catavina...dirt floor, great food, friendly people, cowboy coffee and cold cervezas... Even bigger Cactus...I'm guessing 40' high? Crawdaddy and I pictured here ...there were even taller cactus that were a single shoot variety of plant that literally stood ~60" high... We hit the beach for awhile...power sliding and doing donuts...Crawdaddy on the beach... "The Navigation Man!"...Crawdaddy on the pacific coast... Day 4: Bay of LA to San Felipe ~210 mi Sunrise at the hotel in Bay of LA Bikes outside of hotel in Bay of LA - Note: The hotel manager had to call in the English speaking chef to help check us all in...It took forever...but, all good in the end! Dinner wasexcellent...Garlic Sea Bass (probably white fish) tortillas and shockingly...cold cervezas... Two legends of our sport...Crawdaddy on the left and Russ Martin on the right...enjoying a cold beer at Coco's Corner in the middle of BFE...interesting side note...for as long as Crawdaddy and Russ have known each other, they have never actually ridden together until this ride! Way cool... Different views of Coco's Corner... Different views of Coco's Corner... Heading up the Gulf Coast...Crawdaddy chillin' with the view...wait a minute…do I see something dripping from the front forks? L We stopped here for lunch...I don't know the name of the place but, great shrimp and fish! BTW - stopping for an actual lunch when riding with Russ and Ed is a rarity...usually it's jerky, peanuts, a power bar, some water and back at it! We felt spoiled here... Views from the restaurant deck... Next stop heading Norte' was at Cowpatty's Bar...Ice Cold Cervezas and Hot Dogs? NFW on the Hot Dogs...who knows what could have been in those puppies... The street sign was a three-sided revolving in the wind sign... Arrived at the El Cortez Hotel in San Felipe...nice place...put the bikes in the room that night based on the stories we had heard about bikes "disappearing" after the San Felipe 250 race the previous weekend... Barefoot Bar on beach next to the El Cortez... Day 5: San Felipe to Tecate ~ 225 mi Sunrise in San Felipe...beauty, eh? Yolanda the Yamaha ready to head for the border from San Felipe...still caked on mud every where after 4 days of hitting it... I have mentioned previously Crawdaddy's navigation skills...he found us the Kurt Caselli Memorial site from a way point that Arnie(Afry) had sent to him. We were about 5 miles from it at one point and Crawdaddy bobbed and weaved and zigged and zagged his way through the dez to get us there...awesome job Cdaddy! The area of the memorial is basically a cow pasture...still have not heard all of the details on the accident... Broken chain at 45 mi/hr = excitement! Luckily, between Russ, Ed, Mark, Matt and Cdaddy we had all of the needed parts and tools to allow Mark to get back across the border to the trucks aok. Note: After the chain "surgery" we discovered several hair line fractures throughout the chain links....but, 2.5 hours later we were home free... All in all it was a fantastic trip. Even the wet weather...just made it that much more of an adventure for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to ride with the group...Thanks Russ, Ed, Dennis, Crawdaddy, Matt, Chris & Mark…I will NEVER forget it. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
