Long Beach, CA to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

Good internet service tonight so getting the blog caught up.  We are still having fun and I think we will keep going!


Day 1
January 15, 2012 

Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Yesterday was Dylan’s 2^nd birthday party.  Oh my, does Araceli put on a party!  There were lots of people, balloons, an inflatable jumping castle, food for the entire neighborhood, 2 piñatas, and so many presents he almost fell asleep opening them.  Dylan’s great grandmother “the Queen” was there from Los Angeles.  The party started at 1pm and was all cleaned up about 10pm.  We were all ready for bed early.

Dylan whacking the pinata

Kenya had a soccer game in Huntington Beach at 9AM so our plan was to leave from the soccer game. We got to the game just as they were running off of the field.  We said our good byes there and hit the road.

Kenya and Dylan wishing us off on the journey



Traffic was light since it was Sunday morning. We stopped for gas at what turned out to be the last exit before the border. Next thing we knew we were in Mexico, I hear over the CB “are we in Mexico?” Yes, we are and how did we miss immigration and customs? So, we turn back towards the border, knowing that we need a tourist permit and vehicle permit. We stop and talk with a policeman just inside the border. He spoke no English, but the lady in the car behind us did. She translated for us and he said that we do not need to see immigration or customs. But we know that we will need paperwork before getting to La Paz and the ferry. We had just read a ride report where a guy did not have one and was fined over $100. We decide to go on to Ensenada.

We stop at a very fancy place about 10 miles before Ensenada for lunch. In the process of making a u-turn I managed to pull out in front of a car, applied the front brakes too much and down, hard I went. Someone was there right away to help me up. No damage to the motorcycle but my right arm is very sore. I am not able to lift my arm very high as it hurts so badly. They were just finishing up a Sunday Buffet. It turned out to be very expensive ($31 for two) and nothing to write about except for the view of the ocean was spectacular! 

We continue on to Ensenada where we see a building that is by the harbor that says it is “Migracion”. There is no activity around this building but there are a couple of young ladies in a guard house. They speak no English and tell us that this is not where we need to be and sends us down the road. We stop at another building with official looking men, no English spoken here either but we figure out this is not the right place either. We decide to get a room and figure it out in the morning. 
We are staying at Hotel Santo Thomas, very nice room with minor problems for $37.  Drapes do not close completely, light by the bed does not work, TV does not turn on, it is a little chilly in here but there are two beds so we just borrow blankets from the one, no drinking glasses.  I go across the street to a 7-11 and buy 5 liters of water and fill up our drink bags for tomorrow and then we both promptly take a couple hour nap!

I took some motrin and will hope for a better feeling arm in the morning.

Day 2
January 16, 2012 Ensenada to Guerrero Negro, Baja California

Gas:  $738 pesos
Food:  lunch was Birria and coffee for $100 pesos, dinner was at the hotel and was too much
Hotel: $650 pesos, Desert Sand Hotel, very nice, large rooms, comfortable

Up and out the door at 8:30 and head to Immigration.  After a couple trips down the street we find the building with a huge sign that says immigration, customs and other stuff.  We go to the immigration line and the immigration officer is very displeased with us because the immigration in Ensenada is for maritime use only.  After turning down his soap opera, he reluctantly did our paperwork and continued to chew us out again.   We were supposed to have stopped in Tijuana, just as we had suspected.  He told us several times, next time “stop at the border and go to immigration there, do not come here.”

On the road we went and what beautiful, diverse country we saw.  There were mountains, desert, sand dunes, cactus, huge vineyards, miles and miles of greenhouses and miles of big boulders with tall cactus growing.  The weather today was foggy, sunny, rainy, and cold.  So far, I have not been able to take my liner out of my coat but have not had to add the electrics.  A couple of times I wish I did have it on, tho.


Cool and cloudy

big boulder and cactus & blue skies

This is where we had our first Birria. Very good.

We miscalculated how much fuel the new 685 kit used and how desolate Baja California is.  We almost ran out of fuel, having to buy from a lady who was set up in front of her home with 5 gallon gas cans, 1 gallon plastic cans and a funnel.  We decided to buy 2 gallons at $60 pesos a gallon.

We also broke rule number one about traveling south of the border “do not ride after dark”.  After dark sometime we stopped at a military checkpoint and asked where a hotel was.  He said 20 minutes away.  He forgot to tell us that there was about 5 miles of construction, dirt road that went through the hills. And it is pitch dark!

At the first hotel we stopped and it was $650 pesos, I told Carl that is the price we pay for running late!   We ate at the hotel, met a very nice young couple (Katie and Allen) from New York that were driving from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas.  When they email the foto I will include it in the ride report.

Carl:  Lessons learned today:

1.      A klr with a 685 kit from Wyman Wynn and the 22cent mod will easily cruise at 75 and 80mph.

2.      Baja is much more rural than mainland Mexico with gas stations few and far between.

3.      Running 75 and 80 will cause you to go on reserve at 190 miles.

4.      You pay a premium price for gas from a 5 gallon can.

5.      Riding in the dark through construction in Mexico is an adventure.

6.      When your wife says “this will never happen again” do not reply “I can not guarantee

that”.

Day 3
January 17, 2012  Guerrero Negro to Villa Constitucion, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Miles ridden:  346
Gas: $748 pesos
Food: 2 Birria with coffee  $100 pesos, 4 huge oranges $6 pesos, 2 Super Burros with 2 sodas $96 pesos
Hotel: Hotel Arbolita $250 pesos (clean, plain, shower and secure parking)
Internet: 1/2 hour $5 peso
Today turned into a beautiful day.  We were finally able to shed one layer.  The liners got stuffed away for now.  Blue skies all day.

Santa Rosalia

Day 4
January 18,2012  Villa Constitucion to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Miles ridden:  about 150, I forgot to check before coming in and too tired to go out and look!
Gas:  $320 pesos
Food:  empanadas and coffee $46pesos,  nice enchilada dinner  for $250pesos at la cocina del Corazon
Hotel: $1311 pesos at Hotel Casa Tota, very nice, good internet service for a change

We went to La Paz and got pulled over by the police X2 in about 2 blocks.  First because Jonnie turned down the wrong way on a one way and the next time for parking where we should not be.  Both policemen were very nice and respectful.  The second one gave us good directions to find the ferry and customs.  We needed to find out when the ferry leaves for Mazatlan and we really want to get the customs work done for the motorcycles.  The young gal at the customs office was very helpful and nice.  She was surprised that we had trouble getting the paperwork done in Tijuana.  We managed to talk to her nice and offered her a place to stay if she ever comes to Wyoming and she did not assess a penalty.  Guess it does not hurt to be nice!  We are all set to get on the ferry tomorrow at 6pm. 
Our plan was to go to Cabo San Lucas and back to La Paz  today but no, we did not make it.  We will go to Cabo and see the end of the road there and head to La Paz by 4pm.  Guess we will need to move along a little faster.