Baja and Back

[Jammen]

Sometimes plans just don't work out, and sometimes, that's more then OK.

Plan A:
Get a passport,
Hop a plane,
Fly to San Felipe in Baja for my Birthday,
Drink a cerveza on the beach as the sunsets.

Couple issues with that plan...
My passport never arrived, the pilot wasn't able to get his passport, and we found this out 3 days before we were supposed to leave.

Shit... Plan B... OK, well, there is actually no plan B.  Wait, waaiiitt it's coming to me.  Of course! I'll be stupid! I'm good at that. Alright, how dumb can I be?  Let's see, broke my pelvis a couple months ago... really shouldn't be on a bike.  Bingo!  So I'm going to ride to Baja.  Shoot out an email to see if anyone else is crazy enough to do this with me. With only a 3 day notice, I figured this is mostly just a heads up to people where to look for me in case I don't come back.   

Much to my amazement, I got two takers, DTM and Vindingo.  Short notice means nothing to these two.   

Two days of planning and we were on our way
I'd be dusting off the 620 and leaving early on Thursday to ride down to just north of San Diego to grab a campsite on the water at South Carlsbad Beach and hold it for the other two to meet me.




After a restful night there, we headed down to a friends of Dan's in San Diego, had a great breakfast, then zipped off to the border in Calexico.




The change from one side of the border to the other was really pretty amazing.  You could immediately tell it was a different country. Finished up our paperwork, got a bit lost, then continued to haul ass down to San Felipe.  Dust storms, heavy winds, lane splitting cars, crazy jumps (aka wheel bending speed bumps), military checkpoints with 18 year olds toting rifles, and 15 kms of construction that ended up with us hauling ass off road in the desert.  In short, soo much fun.

 



San Felipe is really nice.  Parts of it are pretty run down, but everyone is super nice, the food is great, and the cerveza flows freely.   
Having a bar, pool, and beach all within a 20 foot walk, wasn't bad.






Some of us fared better then others.   


Also not a bad place to pick up a few cigars.


Beautiful place overall.


The ride back was pretty uneventful, more crazy wind, more dirt roads, more getting lost, etc.
Made it back Monday afternoon after a 1500 mile round trip.  Little sore, but no worse for wear.   
Overall, things worked out just perfectly.   

[Vindingo]

Good times... last minute trips are awesome.  I had all the fish tacos my heart could ever want, got a sweet tan and learned that a monster can also be a dirt bike.  We danced with some pretty ladies and drank lots of beer and tequilla.  Riding hung over sucked, but it was worth it. 

Time to get a dualsport... I foresee more adventures in the future.   

[b.]

Very cool.  Thx for sharing.

Did you ride all the way back on that front wheel or did you have to get it repaired?

[ducnymph]

Looks like good times! Thanks for sharing!   

I guess the pelvis needed less healing than you thought... did it feel ok riding all that way?

[Desmostro]

 That was very cool.  great pics 
You did us proud guys 

Um, don't tell me there aren't any more drunk photos or scandalous stories.

[DanTheMan]

Um, don't tell me there aren't any more drunk photos or scandalous stories.

Like all good drunk stories, we don't remember

It was a fun, no planned trip. Despite all of the travel warnings from the state department and such, we had no issues at all. Felt comfortable and safe the entire time. But I think that added to the adventure sort of felt like we were walking into the lions den with all the bad press. The locals were friendly and inviting. Every restaurant we passed,  would go out of their way to show us a menu and invite us to their restaurant. The street vendors took the time to present their goods no matter how far away we were when they spotted us. Beer flowed like water and you don't dare drink the water, seriously, the hotel said the tap water is not for consumption. Drinks were allowed on the beach, so was camping and quads. We should have rented a quad to ride up and down the beach during low tide. No body seemed to really care.   Only problem is we live so far from Mexico. It was a great adventure and I cant wait to plunge deeper into Baja. when I return it will be with a dualsport to experience the off-road paradise that is Baja.

[hcomp]

That looked like a blast!! You lucky B-tards! Thanks for sharing the pics and the good times.  I will just have to live life vicariously through you..

[gojira]

Thanks for sharing! Next time: Cabo! 

[sally101]

Like all good drunk stories, we don't remember

It was a fun, no planned trip. Despite all of the travel warnings from the state department and such, we had no issues at all. Felt comfortable and safe the entire time. But I think that added to the adventure sort of felt like we were walking into the lions den with all the bad press. The locals were friendly and inviting. Every restaurant we passed,  would go out of their way to show us a menu and invite us to their restaurant. The street vendors took the time to present their goods no matter how far away we were when they spotted us. Beer flowed like water and you don't dare drink the water, seriously, the hotel said the tap water is not for consumption. Drinks were allowed on the beach, so was camping and quads. We should have rented a quad to ride up and down the beach during low tide. No body seemed to really care.   Only problem is we live so far from Mexico. It was a great adventure and I cant wait to plunge deeper into Baja. when I return it will be with a dualsport to experience the off-road paradise that is Baja.

The deeper you go, the prettier and more friendly it gets... M1 is a fun trip. I have yet to do it on a bike.

[desmoquattro]

Awesome tale, guys. Truly a blast.

[Jaman]

Awesomeness!!!    

Very jealous!  I have many many good, and many many more vague memories of trips down the peninsula.  And you are so right, the further you get from the border, the better it gets. 

[Jammen]

Very cool.  Thx for sharing.

Did you ride all the way back on that front wheel or did you have to get it repaired?

The wheel was still holding air, so we just kept on rolling.   

Looks like good times! Thanks for sharing!  

I guess the pelvis needed less healing than you thought... did it feel ok riding all that way?

Nope, no more pain then the typical "Long trip on a Monster" deal.   
You can call me as good as new.   

Thanks for sharing! Next time: Cabo! 

Haha, don't joke. It might happen. 

[smducman]

Thanks for sharing story and pictures , I am very glad you three have a blast trip , it looks fun and  better than us stuck for ssdd " same sh!t different day "

[ducati_tim]

It looks like y'all had a great time Thanks for making me jealous [moto]

[jimboecv]

Sounds awesome.  O'thanks for the call, Dan.