Desk To Glory - Vancouver to Panama (or farther...)
- Thread starter DeskToGlory
- Start date
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
Yes, that's a great shot. Enjoyed the update too.
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
Day three (we didn’t move from the beach on day two) in Mexico had us on a hunt for fish tacos, baja style. So far Mexico is all about the food and we don’t really see that changing anytime soon.
Once again we were lucky to be travelling with Song of the Road. Erica had heard of a place called Tacos El Fenix that was THE place for fish tacos. We sketched out a route using a Lonely Planet and some wi-fi at Starbucks and started the journey. We stopped for photos at the pharmacy and then for tostadas and horchata at La Guerrerense. This street cart was made famous by Anthony Bourdain (and the delicious tostadas).
After a short walk through town we made it to Fenix, our hunger still intact. We loaded our freshly battered and fried fish with salsa, cabbage, and chipotle sauce and took our seats on the side of the road. This little roadside stand has the hands down best tacos de pescado we have ever eaten. (BTW, that’s fish taco in Spanish for those who aren’t fluent like us). They were so good that we came back the next day and each had three tacos instead of two… just because we could… and because they’re only $1 each.
After lunch we made it to Camp 7 on the La Bufadora peninsula. This was a rustic campsite with no amenities other than a barely functioning pit toilet. The redeeming factors were the incredible views (from the trucks and the doorless pit toilet) and the $5 per night price tag.
Once again we were lucky to be travelling with Song of the Road. Erica had heard of a place called Tacos El Fenix that was THE place for fish tacos. We sketched out a route using a Lonely Planet and some wi-fi at Starbucks and started the journey. We stopped for photos at the pharmacy and then for tostadas and horchata at La Guerrerense. This street cart was made famous by Anthony Bourdain (and the delicious tostadas).
After a short walk through town we made it to Fenix, our hunger still intact. We loaded our freshly battered and fried fish with salsa, cabbage, and chipotle sauce and took our seats on the side of the road. This little roadside stand has the hands down best tacos de pescado we have ever eaten. (BTW, that’s fish taco in Spanish for those who aren’t fluent like us). They were so good that we came back the next day and each had three tacos instead of two… just because we could… and because they’re only $1 each.
After lunch we made it to Camp 7 on the La Bufadora peninsula. This was a rustic campsite with no amenities other than a barely functioning pit toilet. The redeeming factors were the incredible views (from the trucks and the doorless pit toilet) and the $5 per night price tag.
gringorick
Adventurer
There is a small town a little further south called Erendira that has paid beach camping south of town and plenty of free camping along the cliffs overlooking the sea just north of town. Enjoy Baja!
tip
Adventurer
We've been averaging about 18mpg overall. Not bad for the weight, drag of the RTT, and all of the slow mountain passes...
Nice, can't complain there!
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
How we've changed after a month on the road...
Reflections of a month on the road...
http://desktoglory.com/how-our-lives-have-changed/
Reflections of a month on the road...
http://desktoglory.com/how-our-lives-have-changed/
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
Next time wave us down for a chat! That road would have been a lot more fun in one of the prerun or race trucks!
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
San Felipe - Four Course Meal For $12.50
We headed out early and took highway MX3 from Ensenada towards San Felipe. The windy and potholed road took a few hours, but the scenery was epic once again. We climbed the mountains through Oso Negro, paralleling part of the Baja 1000 racecourse, stopped at a couple of military border checkpoints, and pulled into San Felipe in the early afternoon.
We stayed at Kiki’s campground for a few nights. We had okay wifi, great beaches, and only a short walk to the malecon for $12 per night. Unfortunately our first experiences with fish tacos in San Felipe had us dreaming of the tacos at Taco Del Fenix in Ensenada… but then we hit the Malecon at night. All four of us (yes, we’re still hanging out with Erica and Sam!) left our cameras and iPhones at the campsite so our epic meal went undocumented, but let me express to you that it was indeed epic. Here’s a reminder: Never follow the tourists and always follow the locals.
Street cart 1: $2
1x Beef taco each.
We agreed after this street cart that we will only ever eat in a restaurant if entirely unavoidable. The fresh meat with freshly prepared salsas and pickled veggies had us forgetting about our less than ideal fish tacos at the gringo-frequented ahem…RiceandBeans…ahem.
Market: $2
1x Pacifico Beer
Street cart 2: $7
2x Chicken tacos
1x Tacos Al Pastor (pork and pineapple)
The chicken tacos were great, but the tacos al pastor were out of this world.
Street cart 3: $1
1x Corn on the cob
This is not your grandma’s corn on the cob. This bad boy is covered in butter, salt, cheese, and chilis.
Street cart 4: $0.50
½ x Bag of Churros
How can deepfried batter covered in sugar and cinnamon not be good?
Blog post and pics are here: http://desktoglory.com/san-felipe-epic-dinner-for-two-12-50/
We headed out early and took highway MX3 from Ensenada towards San Felipe. The windy and potholed road took a few hours, but the scenery was epic once again. We climbed the mountains through Oso Negro, paralleling part of the Baja 1000 racecourse, stopped at a couple of military border checkpoints, and pulled into San Felipe in the early afternoon.
We stayed at Kiki’s campground for a few nights. We had okay wifi, great beaches, and only a short walk to the malecon for $12 per night. Unfortunately our first experiences with fish tacos in San Felipe had us dreaming of the tacos at Taco Del Fenix in Ensenada… but then we hit the Malecon at night. All four of us (yes, we’re still hanging out with Erica and Sam!) left our cameras and iPhones at the campsite so our epic meal went undocumented, but let me express to you that it was indeed epic. Here’s a reminder: Never follow the tourists and always follow the locals.
Street cart 1: $2
1x Beef taco each.
We agreed after this street cart that we will only ever eat in a restaurant if entirely unavoidable. The fresh meat with freshly prepared salsas and pickled veggies had us forgetting about our less than ideal fish tacos at the gringo-frequented ahem…RiceandBeans…ahem.
Market: $2
1x Pacifico Beer
Street cart 2: $7
2x Chicken tacos
1x Tacos Al Pastor (pork and pineapple)
The chicken tacos were great, but the tacos al pastor were out of this world.
Street cart 3: $1
1x Corn on the cob
This is not your grandma’s corn on the cob. This bad boy is covered in butter, salt, cheese, and chilis.
Street cart 4: $0.50
½ x Bag of Churros
How can deepfried batter covered in sugar and cinnamon not be good?
Blog post and pics are here: http://desktoglory.com/san-felipe-epic-dinner-for-two-12-50/
NetDep
Adventurer
That, my friends, is living the dream!!!
Congrats on having the tenacity and fortitude to do it!!!!
DeskToGlory
Adventurer
Gonzaga Bay
We drove south from San Felipe assuming that we were going to stop in Puertecitos for a few days before continuing to Gonzaga. When we arrived at Puertocitos to find less than optimal campgrounds (more like campground-junkyard combos on the beach) for almost $30/night we decided to press on to Bahia San Luis Gonzaga.
Gonzaga welcomed us with white sandy beaches, warm water, and $5/night camping. There was also a 5ft high jump on a long straight stretch of road that would make a perfect spot to spectate the Baja 1000. The only problem was going to be sitting still for five days while we waited for the race. You may ask yourself, “What’s the problem with hanging out on the beach for five days?” The problem is that we haven’t stayed more than two nights in one place since we left on this little road trip. We felt a constant urge to press on, to see more, to experience more… more more more. This turned out to be a good exercise for us. Sitting still helps save you money, gives you time to actually relax, and the opportunity to meet just as many people as you would if you were constantly moving.
After a few days at Gonzaga we had routines again. Wake up, make our papaya/banana smoothies. Read. Swim/float to avoid the 9:30 a.m. sand flea storm. Exercise. Eat. Read. Swim. Look for whale sharks. Drink margaritas. Eat. Sleep. By the fourth day we were settled down and really enjoying the new day-to-day activities.
Yes, there were whale sharks. On the first day there was a small (16ft long) whale shark feeding in the bay. Ashley, Sam, Erica, and I swam out to take a closer look while being guided by another camper (Scott). Scott was on a stand up paddle board telling us where the little whale shark was, and we followed. After 20 minutes, Sam won the prize for getting the closest (he could have touched it if he put his hand out), and Scott wins the prize for scaring it away by trying to jump on its back. Apparently “the little ones don’t like it too much when you jump on them”. Our eyes were peeled for more over the following days, but after being jumped on by a human they kept their distance.
A few days later we shared a campfire with the guys from the 337x team, Relentless Road. They were pre-running for the Baja 1000 and happened to be camping just down the beach from us. They’re putting together a little documentary of their trip so make sure to check their site out. Hopefully the awesome campfire guitar jam session they recorded makes the cut.
After five days we didn’t want to leave. Only the high winds and Baja 1000 could make us pack up camp.
We drove south from San Felipe assuming that we were going to stop in Puertecitos for a few days before continuing to Gonzaga. When we arrived at Puertocitos to find less than optimal campgrounds (more like campground-junkyard combos on the beach) for almost $30/night we decided to press on to Bahia San Luis Gonzaga.
Gonzaga welcomed us with white sandy beaches, warm water, and $5/night camping. There was also a 5ft high jump on a long straight stretch of road that would make a perfect spot to spectate the Baja 1000. The only problem was going to be sitting still for five days while we waited for the race. You may ask yourself, “What’s the problem with hanging out on the beach for five days?” The problem is that we haven’t stayed more than two nights in one place since we left on this little road trip. We felt a constant urge to press on, to see more, to experience more… more more more. This turned out to be a good exercise for us. Sitting still helps save you money, gives you time to actually relax, and the opportunity to meet just as many people as you would if you were constantly moving.
After a few days at Gonzaga we had routines again. Wake up, make our papaya/banana smoothies. Read. Swim/float to avoid the 9:30 a.m. sand flea storm. Exercise. Eat. Read. Swim. Look for whale sharks. Drink margaritas. Eat. Sleep. By the fourth day we were settled down and really enjoying the new day-to-day activities.
Yes, there were whale sharks. On the first day there was a small (16ft long) whale shark feeding in the bay. Ashley, Sam, Erica, and I swam out to take a closer look while being guided by another camper (Scott). Scott was on a stand up paddle board telling us where the little whale shark was, and we followed. After 20 minutes, Sam won the prize for getting the closest (he could have touched it if he put his hand out), and Scott wins the prize for scaring it away by trying to jump on its back. Apparently “the little ones don’t like it too much when you jump on them”. Our eyes were peeled for more over the following days, but after being jumped on by a human they kept their distance.
A few days later we shared a campfire with the guys from the 337x team, Relentless Road. They were pre-running for the Baja 1000 and happened to be camping just down the beach from us. They’re putting together a little documentary of their trip so make sure to check their site out. Hopefully the awesome campfire guitar jam session they recorded makes the cut.
After five days we didn’t want to leave. Only the high winds and Baja 1000 could make us pack up camp.