edgear
aventurero, Overland Certified OC0012
5 days of travelling & camping in Baja Norte California, Mexico -- all alone
So my new boss gave me the horrible task of driving to Baja. With only 2-3 days to plan before departure, I was unable to find a copilot. So alone I would go. No problem. I'm comfortable with Spanish, and my truck was really dirty from the previous adventure. So hopefully I would fly low under the radar. Here are some of the hardships I had to endure: wine tasting, high-elevation camping in the cool mountain air, relaxing on a hammock during some beach camping, and listening to the iPod whilst overlanding.
Day 1 consisted of crossing the border at Tecate and heading south on the MEX 3. My first stop was the vinícola of Adobe Guadalupe. Then it was on to Mike's Sky Rancho where I camped by the creek.
Barrels of wine at Adobe Guadalupe.
Wine tasting. And yes, it was tasty!
A view of Mike's Sky Rancho from atop the hill.
Day 2 was spent driving towards the Sea of Cortez, via the dry lake shortcut. I then camped on the beach between San Felipe and Puertecitos.
A view of the dry lake with Picacho del Diablo in the background.
Private beach camp -- I did not see another soul.
Day 3 I endured the rather bumpy road south to Bahía Gonzaga, where I enjoyed some tacos de camarón at Alfonsina's, and then rented a palapa at Campo Beluga.
Mexican crop circles.
Hammock time.
Sunrise at Gonzaga Bay.
Day 4 was spent driving south to MEX 1, then all the way back north to an overland shortcut from Valle Colorado to Valle Trinidad, then taking the MEX 3 back to the national park where Laguna Hanson is.
Near Laguna Hanson.
Final campsite. Overnight low: 35F.
Day 5 I drove north to the MEX 2 and headed east to cross the border in Mexicali. After driving those streets, I was very thankful for the extremely sparse traffic in central & eastern Baja Norte!
So my new boss gave me the horrible task of driving to Baja. With only 2-3 days to plan before departure, I was unable to find a copilot. So alone I would go. No problem. I'm comfortable with Spanish, and my truck was really dirty from the previous adventure. So hopefully I would fly low under the radar. Here are some of the hardships I had to endure: wine tasting, high-elevation camping in the cool mountain air, relaxing on a hammock during some beach camping, and listening to the iPod whilst overlanding.
Day 1 consisted of crossing the border at Tecate and heading south on the MEX 3. My first stop was the vinícola of Adobe Guadalupe. Then it was on to Mike's Sky Rancho where I camped by the creek.

Barrels of wine at Adobe Guadalupe.

Wine tasting. And yes, it was tasty!

A view of Mike's Sky Rancho from atop the hill.
Day 2 was spent driving towards the Sea of Cortez, via the dry lake shortcut. I then camped on the beach between San Felipe and Puertecitos.

A view of the dry lake with Picacho del Diablo in the background.

Private beach camp -- I did not see another soul.
Day 3 I endured the rather bumpy road south to Bahía Gonzaga, where I enjoyed some tacos de camarón at Alfonsina's, and then rented a palapa at Campo Beluga.

Mexican crop circles.

Hammock time.

Sunrise at Gonzaga Bay.
Day 4 was spent driving south to MEX 1, then all the way back north to an overland shortcut from Valle Colorado to Valle Trinidad, then taking the MEX 3 back to the national park where Laguna Hanson is.

Near Laguna Hanson.

Final campsite. Overnight low: 35F.
Day 5 I drove north to the MEX 2 and headed east to cross the border in Mexicali. After driving those streets, I was very thankful for the extremely sparse traffic in central & eastern Baja Norte!