Baja Adventure - PART UNO our journey there...

We recently ventured down the Baja peninsula for a short visit along with friends that spend the winter there...highly recommend a group caravan if one is at all hesitant.  Like everyone, we initially had concerns, especially given the negative energy the US media tends to produce, and were relieved to discover the opposite. Our friends first hand experience, plus the book:  Traveler's Guide to Camping Mexico's Baja by Mike Church were excellent resources.

We now know why one must have Mexican vehicle insurance...the roads are, for the most part, narrow with no shoulders, and much of it is under construction.  The fog line denotes the roads edge and the drop can be 8" to 18" .... so driving requires your full attention. New sections are being completed and work is performed 7 days a week.  The MEX Hwy 1 is 2 lanes, each 9 feet wide. The newer sections of highway now have wider shoulders, but these are generally around the larger communities like Encinada or Loreto.

This short video is just a sample of some of the hazards we survived....while there are "No Passing" signs where to do so would be akin to suicide - drivers pretty much ignore those and pass you on hills and blind corners. Oh, and left turn signals - we use them to indicate our desire to actually turn left - Mexican drivers use them to signal "all clear for you to pass" so a left turn typically is done from the left lane provided no on-coming vehicles occupy it.

Pemex - state owned gas

The good news: state owned gas stations = same price per liter at every station. And you do want to fill up when you find one...sometimes they run out. (Note: not all have diesel...but Churches book does provide that info)

We stayed in the recommended RV parks, on our way down and back which gave us an added level of security. First night in  Mexico was in San Quintin - El Pabellon's RV Park - access right on the beach - gorgeous!

Pacific Ocean

Second night, just across the border between Baja Norte and Baja Sur in Guerrero_Negro - Mario's RV Park. Had the best seafood chowder in their palapa restaurant!

We arrived at our destination of Playa El Coyote - Bahia Conception on the Sea of Cortez - selected our spot on the beach for the duration of our stay and settled in.

Playa El Coyote

 Just one in a series of beaches with available sites for tents/trailers/motor homes.

Playa Los Coco's

 Not once in the six weeks we spent in living and touring Baja did we feel threatened - we arrived with an open attitude (thanks to our friends pre-briefing) and left with a high regard to the hard-working individuals that we encountered....struggling to make ends meet who were kind, polite and happy.

Even the military posts....manned mostly by 18 y/o that looked 12....polite, inquisitive. eager to learn more English in some cases, and doing their jobs....some less enthusiastically then others but hey....it's a job.

Next PART DOS: Life on the beach.....

Ciao~