Playa Norte is an RV park on the Sea of Cortez in Los Barriles. Pictures show laundry day and laundry helper, wind surfers and this morning's sunrise.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Playa Norte Los Barriles swim
Went for a swim this morning in Sea of Cortez here at Playa Norte. Wind and waves were just coming up so went for a swim before the sky and sea fills with surf riders. The water was warm. Took a bit to figure out how to get into the water with the surf, but I managed to go in backwards and backstroked out. Waited for the "perfect" wave and body surfed back onto the beach when I was ready to get out.
Washed a load of clothes and hung it out to dry. Doesn't take long to dry in the warm wind.
The Tamale/Empanada vendor came by and I bought a chicken tamale for lunch. It was delicious filled with chicken, potatoes and a pepper.
There is wi-fi here and I am able to get a signal from my camp site so am outside on the beach with Chet and checking my email, etc.
Tomorrow I will drive to Cd. Constitucion at stay at Palapa 206 RV park and Motel, then drive on to Loreto Monday where I will stay thru January. I'll be staying in Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park there.
Washed a load of clothes and hung it out to dry. Doesn't take long to dry in the warm wind.
The Tamale/Empanada vendor came by and I bought a chicken tamale for lunch. It was delicious filled with chicken, potatoes and a pepper.
There is wi-fi here and I am able to get a signal from my camp site so am outside on the beach with Chet and checking my email, etc.
Tomorrow I will drive to Cd. Constitucion at stay at Palapa 206 RV park and Motel, then drive on to Loreto Monday where I will stay thru January. I'll be staying in Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park there.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dec 7 - 11 Guerrero Negro to Los Barriles
Dec 7 & 8 Santispac Beach on Bay of Concepcion
Spent two nights dry camping on Santispac Beach on Bay of Concepcion. This bay is beautiful and on drivebys, I have seen campers on the shore and have wanted to do that. Went swimming here. The first dip was cool, but fine after that. Not just fine, but Wonderful! Chet had a few swims too while fetching sticks. That is our guide Dustin in the hammock and his dog LaLa in the water with Chet. LaLa is not a swimmer, but she likes to steal sticks and after stealing a stick out of Chet's mouth, he would just drop them for her to take.
Once we got over the mountain range from Guerrero Negro it was warmer and I put on my shorts.
The drive from Guerrero Negro is long and straight for the first 80 miles or so with just a couple gentle bends in the road. On the drive we passed thru the 3 Virgins volcano area with a lot of lava hills. Roads are being widened here and there and make for easier driving. Baja got Federal Highway money and have been building new higher bridges to withstand the Tropical Storms that occur in August and September. I asked about the airport in Guerrero Negro and it doesn't seem to be for regular flights, just private charters and such. The town of Guerrero Negro is named after a ship of same name that sank here years ago. The name means: Black Warrior. The hotel Malarrimo is named after one of the local bays. If I remember correctly, it means: Bad Entrance. The Malarrimo Bay has an estuary at one end and strong currents at the other. Thus; the name Bad Entrance.
We finally reached the mountains and it is a winding road up to the summit and a steep descent to the shores of the Sea of Cortez. Going down the Baja, Highway 1 moves back and forth from the west side to the east side. Each time you drive across Baja you have to drive a narrow winding road up the mountains to a summit and then descend on a narrow winding (curva peligroso! the signs say) road to the other side.
Dec 9 Santispac Beach to Ciudad Constitucion
We are in a Motel and RV park named Palapa 206. I will go along with the group to the end at Los Barriles, stay a few day and drive back north to Loreto where I will stay thru January.
Dec 11 Arrived in Los Barriles yesterday afternoon. This RV park sits right on the Sea of Cortez and I can watch the ocean and sunrises from my spot. Have spent a lot of time the past couple days getting my Mexico phone re-activated. Still a few more things to do once I get back to my calling area in Loreto. The computer for the service I want "was down" in LaPaz. Supposedly, I can complete the function by phone in Loreto. With this service I can call 5 preprogrammed International for a low fixed rate in 15 minute blocks of time. Can also do up to 25 Telcel customers in Mexico for same price.
Chet and I just had breakfast on the beach and now I will try and get online to post this message as you haven't heard from me for awhile.
Spent two nights dry camping on Santispac Beach on Bay of Concepcion. This bay is beautiful and on drivebys, I have seen campers on the shore and have wanted to do that. Went swimming here. The first dip was cool, but fine after that. Not just fine, but Wonderful! Chet had a few swims too while fetching sticks. That is our guide Dustin in the hammock and his dog LaLa in the water with Chet. LaLa is not a swimmer, but she likes to steal sticks and after stealing a stick out of Chet's mouth, he would just drop them for her to take.
Once we got over the mountain range from Guerrero Negro it was warmer and I put on my shorts.
The drive from Guerrero Negro is long and straight for the first 80 miles or so with just a couple gentle bends in the road. On the drive we passed thru the 3 Virgins volcano area with a lot of lava hills. Roads are being widened here and there and make for easier driving. Baja got Federal Highway money and have been building new higher bridges to withstand the Tropical Storms that occur in August and September. I asked about the airport in Guerrero Negro and it doesn't seem to be for regular flights, just private charters and such. The town of Guerrero Negro is named after a ship of same name that sank here years ago. The name means: Black Warrior. The hotel Malarrimo is named after one of the local bays. If I remember correctly, it means: Bad Entrance. The Malarrimo Bay has an estuary at one end and strong currents at the other. Thus; the name Bad Entrance.
We finally reached the mountains and it is a winding road up to the summit and a steep descent to the shores of the Sea of Cortez. Going down the Baja, Highway 1 moves back and forth from the west side to the east side. Each time you drive across Baja you have to drive a narrow winding road up the mountains to a summit and then descend on a narrow winding (curva peligroso! the signs say) road to the other side.
Dec 9 Santispac Beach to Ciudad Constitucion
We are in a Motel and RV park named Palapa 206. I will go along with the group to the end at Los Barriles, stay a few day and drive back north to Loreto where I will stay thru January.
Dec 11 Arrived in Los Barriles yesterday afternoon. This RV park sits right on the Sea of Cortez and I can watch the ocean and sunrises from my spot. Have spent a lot of time the past couple days getting my Mexico phone re-activated. Still a few more things to do once I get back to my calling area in Loreto. The computer for the service I want "was down" in LaPaz. Supposedly, I can complete the function by phone in Loreto. With this service I can call 5 preprogrammed International for a low fixed rate in 15 minute blocks of time. Can also do up to 25 Telcel customers in Mexico for same price.
Chet and I just had breakfast on the beach and now I will try and get online to post this message as you haven't heard from me for awhile.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dec 6 Boojum trees and Boulders
Expected a long drive today to Guerrero Negro (at least 7 hours) so left 7am instead of 8am. One of the rigs was leaking water from their heater so we stopped to repair that. It is nice to be with other people who can help if/when you do have mechanical problems. The road has been widened in some places and easier to drive, but most spots thru the mountains still have narrow lanes and no shoulder. This drive is unforgiving.............you need to pay attention at all times as the teeniest lapse in concentration may send a wheel over the edge.
Today's scenery was spectacular! We drove thru the Baja Badlands filled with Boojum Trees and huge huge boulders. I need to learn the geological reason for all these boulders. Again, as with the ones near Tecate, many were larger than my van and they are strewn across the countryside or piled into hills. Boojums look like an upside down green fuzzy carrot with flowers sprouting at the top. An appropriate description I heard: "They look like Dr. Seuss trees" and Yes!, they do.
We changed time here in Guerrero Negro to Mountain Time and also entered a different state. We have been in B.C (Baja California) ,the northern State, and are now in B.C.S (Baja California Sur), the southern State.
We are staying at the RV park behind the Malarrimo Hotel. It is a fine campground as is the hotel. Wi-fi is available here. The restaurant is known for delicious seafood dinners. We will be meeting together for dinner inside tonight. Also, the hotel is the place to stay if you want to take a whale watching tour. Tours are arranged here and leave by bus for whale watching and return you to the hotel. I took a tour when here before and had a baby whale come next to the boat. Exciting! I believe you can find the hotel and tours online to make reservations in advance. There is an airport here and you could probably even fly down, but I don't know about that.
We change guides here. Our leader will return North tomorrow and his son will take us the rest of the way to Los Barriles.
Expected a long drive today to Guerrero Negro (at least 7 hours) so left 7am instead of 8am. One of the rigs was leaking water from their heater so we stopped to repair that. It is nice to be with other people who can help if/when you do have mechanical problems. The road has been widened in some places and easier to drive, but most spots thru the mountains still have narrow lanes and no shoulder. This drive is unforgiving.............you need to pay attention at all times as the teeniest lapse in concentration may send a wheel over the edge.
Today's scenery was spectacular! We drove thru the Baja Badlands filled with Boojum Trees and huge huge boulders. I need to learn the geological reason for all these boulders. Again, as with the ones near Tecate, many were larger than my van and they are strewn across the countryside or piled into hills. Boojums look like an upside down green fuzzy carrot with flowers sprouting at the top. An appropriate description I heard: "They look like Dr. Seuss trees" and Yes!, they do.
We changed time here in Guerrero Negro to Mountain Time and also entered a different state. We have been in B.C (Baja California) ,the northern State, and are now in B.C.S (Baja California Sur), the southern State.
We are staying at the RV park behind the Malarrimo Hotel. It is a fine campground as is the hotel. Wi-fi is available here. The restaurant is known for delicious seafood dinners. We will be meeting together for dinner inside tonight. Also, the hotel is the place to stay if you want to take a whale watching tour. Tours are arranged here and leave by bus for whale watching and return you to the hotel. I took a tour when here before and had a baby whale come next to the boat. Exciting! I believe you can find the hotel and tours online to make reservations in advance. There is an airport here and you could probably even fly down, but I don't know about that.
We change guides here. Our leader will return North tomorrow and his son will take us the rest of the way to Los Barriles.
Dec 5. Beach at El Pabellon RV Park
Miles and miles and miles of sandy beach and less than a dozen people in sight. Six of us and a couple fishermen, some campers and a clam digger. Between the campground and the beach you had a short walk over some dunes and then onto the flat firm-packed sand at the Pacific Ocean. The beach slopes gently into the water and does not have the drop-off at water's edge I have seen elsewhere.
The RV Park has full hookups with 15 amp service. There are restrooms and showers and hot water. Other sites have a sink with running water (looks like a fish washing stand). Or you can just find a spot next to some trees and nestle in out of the wind. It is a safe place to stay. Beginning a few miles south and several miles down the coast, the Pacific beaches are unsafe (subject to burglery and/or maiming).
We spent time walking the beach. Chet had a fine time exploring. As an elder, he is slowing down and doesn't run full speed anymore, but still loves to see his world.
Brought our chairs and had a pot-luck and margarita's around the campfire. Then off to bed to sleep to the sound of surf.
Miles and miles and miles of sandy beach and less than a dozen people in sight. Six of us and a couple fishermen, some campers and a clam digger. Between the campground and the beach you had a short walk over some dunes and then onto the flat firm-packed sand at the Pacific Ocean. The beach slopes gently into the water and does not have the drop-off at water's edge I have seen elsewhere.
The RV Park has full hookups with 15 amp service. There are restrooms and showers and hot water. Other sites have a sink with running water (looks like a fish washing stand). Or you can just find a spot next to some trees and nestle in out of the wind. It is a safe place to stay. Beginning a few miles south and several miles down the coast, the Pacific beaches are unsafe (subject to burglery and/or maiming).
We spent time walking the beach. Chet had a fine time exploring. As an elder, he is slowing down and doesn't run full speed anymore, but still loves to see his world.
Brought our chairs and had a pot-luck and margarita's around the campfire. Then off to bed to sleep to the sound of surf.
Dec. 4 Tecate, Estero Beach and La Bufadora
December 4, 2009
Tecate. The town and border crossing....not the beer. Plans changed by our Wagonmaster early this morning. With tightening of security at the border, he was concerned if one of us were stopped and inspected we might get separated and lost in Tijuana. So, he opted to drive to a smaller simpler crossing and that was at Tecate. I have been thru security in Tijuana and know it can be difficult to navigate thru the city and was pleased with the decision.
Highway 3 south from Tecate took us thru wine country, road construction and big boulders erupting from the ground. The highway crew was moving boulders larger than my van out of the new roadway. The new highway will be wonderful when completed and looks like it might even be 4 lanes. The drive to Ensenada was about 100 miles and nearly 20 of that was under construction for the new road. Looks like the new road will remove most of the curves.
We drove thru Ensenada to Estero Beach RV park and hotel. It is a beautiful tree shaded park beside an estuary filled with birds. Across the bay, in the distance, we could see a peak and if you drive around the bay and beyond the peak, you come to La Bufadora. La Bufadora's attraction is a water spout that erupts with the incoming waves (like the Spouting Horn at Depot Bay). It also has many many shops along the one street leading to the spout. We seemed to be about the only tourists there and most of the shops were closed. Our guide said it is usually crowded with tourists. Sad, but the spraying water was beautiful. We could hear the water rumbling as it came into rock tunnels beneath us and then sprayed. Sounded like "talking".
The six of us had a good dinner and conversation at the hotel.
Tomorrow will be a short drive to another beach, then a long day to Guerro Negro the next day.
Tecate. The town and border crossing....not the beer. Plans changed by our Wagonmaster early this morning. With tightening of security at the border, he was concerned if one of us were stopped and inspected we might get separated and lost in Tijuana. So, he opted to drive to a smaller simpler crossing and that was at Tecate. I have been thru security in Tijuana and know it can be difficult to navigate thru the city and was pleased with the decision.
Highway 3 south from Tecate took us thru wine country, road construction and big boulders erupting from the ground. The highway crew was moving boulders larger than my van out of the new roadway. The new highway will be wonderful when completed and looks like it might even be 4 lanes. The drive to Ensenada was about 100 miles and nearly 20 of that was under construction for the new road. Looks like the new road will remove most of the curves.
We drove thru Ensenada to Estero Beach RV park and hotel. It is a beautiful tree shaded park beside an estuary filled with birds. Across the bay, in the distance, we could see a peak and if you drive around the bay and beyond the peak, you come to La Bufadora. La Bufadora's attraction is a water spout that erupts with the incoming waves (like the Spouting Horn at Depot Bay). It also has many many shops along the one street leading to the spout. We seemed to be about the only tourists there and most of the shops were closed. Our guide said it is usually crowded with tourists. Sad, but the spraying water was beautiful. We could hear the water rumbling as it came into rock tunnels beneath us and then sprayed. Sounded like "talking".
The six of us had a good dinner and conversation at the hotel.
Tomorrow will be a short drive to another beach, then a long day to Guerro Negro the next day.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Dec. 3 Meeting caravaners
Spent Wednesday with final odds and ends before leaving US. Converted dollars to Pesos at a Costco. Bought grub. Flushed and refilled my water tanks to get rid of the bleach I had added. Met the wagon master and the others who will be traveling with me. There are 3 RVs, 5 people, plus our leader. The leader, John of Baja Winters, will be driving a pickup to give him flexibility to respond to any problems. We will change leaders half-way and John's son Dustin will take us the rest of the way to Los Barilles. My plan is to spend a couple months in Loreto, but may travel with the group to Los Barilles and return to Loreto after I see what RV accomodations are available beyond Loreto.
First night out will be at an RV resort near Ensenada with side trip to La Bufadora.
The KOA RV park here in Chula Vista is full-service with spaces for RVs and tents. A lot of Kamping Kabins are here too. The dog walk area is special. It is an off-leash fenced area with teeters, benches, ramps, swinging toys, jumps and tunnels just for pets (people can't play with the toys. There are other playgrounds for them). This park has a lot of full-sized shade trees and is pretty. Downside is freeway noise, but doesn't bother me. Had a helicopter overhead last evening. Perhaps it was one of the traffic watchers.
Am anxious to be over and beyond the border. We leave the park at 8am tomorrow.
First night out will be at an RV resort near Ensenada with side trip to La Bufadora.
The KOA RV park here in Chula Vista is full-service with spaces for RVs and tents. A lot of Kamping Kabins are here too. The dog walk area is special. It is an off-leash fenced area with teeters, benches, ramps, swinging toys, jumps and tunnels just for pets (people can't play with the toys. There are other playgrounds for them). This park has a lot of full-sized shade trees and is pretty. Downside is freeway noise, but doesn't bother me. Had a helicopter overhead last evening. Perhaps it was one of the traffic watchers.
Am anxious to be over and beyond the border. We leave the park at 8am tomorrow.
Don't know when I will next have access to internet, but will post when I can.
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