Date:         Mon, 21 Jan 2002 08:05:21 -0800
Reply-To:     Leon Korkin <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Leon Korkin <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Subject:      Re: 2500 mile Baja trip report, long
In-Reply-To:  <3C4BB91D.4D10D670@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Mark,
Great story!
Have you tried Copper canyon yet?
We(me and my wife) crossed canyon(actualy several) on the way to
Guaymas from Creel and this was incredible experience. Would love to do it again
some day but definitely not alone and not without spanish speaking.
Would be nice to have few Vanagons going...
Leon
85 Subwagen Westy
Torrance

1/20/02 10:45:49 PM, mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:

>My wife and I just returned from a trip down Baja to the cape and back
>up the east side. Our 87 Syncro Camper ran great and we had a good time
>exploring. Normally we would tow a small boat but this time we wanted
>the freedom to explore some remote areas that we have been meaning to
>see for a while. We focused on finding beach camping areas where we
>could do our own thing without too many other people around. This turned
>out to be harder than we expected, at least in the areas within 100
>miles of Cabo San Lucas. This area is more populated and developed than
>we imagined and has changed quite a bit since our last cape visit 8
>years ago.
>
>The effects of the big hurricane in September are still evident as the
>roads are still being repaired in spots but the heavy rains have also
>brought the desert to life. Seeing the sometimes barren deserts looking
>more like green jungles was a real treat. The natural wonders seen
>included a spectacular afternoon of unplanned whale watching from a
>bluff above a Pacific beach just south of Todos Santos. While setting up
>camp I spotted a whale spouting off shore and then we sat down with our
>binos to get a better look. We located first 1, then 2, then 3, etc.
>Suddenly, right almost at the shore line a large whale breached head
>first out of the water and did a slow roll in the air before splashing
>back into the sea. We were stunned. Then it did it again and again. I
>rushed over to another couple camped nearby to make sure they didn't
>miss it. We all stood awestruck for a long time as this whale just kept
>leaping into the air time after time, resting after every half dozen or
>so efforts. This and other whale antics continued against a backdrop of
>a setting sun until it was too dark to watch. Awesome.
>
>On the other side of the cape we spent several days in the Los Barriles
>area, known as a mecca for windsurfers. Here we explored some new areas
>and put the Syncro to the test on some poor "roads" out to remote spots.
>Another marine display was taking place here as schools of manta rays
>were leaping in unison and slapping down against the water on their
>backs. We have seen this ray behavior many times from our boat but never
>in schools and close to shore. At night when there was no wind the sound
>of this carried quite a distance and sounded unreal for a natural
>phenomenon.
>
>We found that some dirt roads on the map no longer went through since
>the hurricane. One of these we learned the hard way after 1.5 hours of
>rough travel in 1st and 2nd gear only to have to retrace our steps all
>the way back. In spots this road crossed 100s of yards of deep sand and
>in other spots it was cut into the cliffs above the sea. We needed
>granny gear and the rear locker several times when the rough going
>forced me to stop or slow way down. Finally, in one very narrow cliff
>section rock slides blocked too much of the track for us to continue and
>we had to back up until we came to a wide spot. With another vehicle
>along I would have been tempted to try to clear a path as this was the
>most spectacular areas we had found. Another time perhaps.
>
>We had many new experiences and I had to replace my fuel filter in La
>Paz as the Camper started hesitating under load. Fortunately I had one
>with me as I had no luck locating another, even at the VW dealer there.
>It seems they only carry parts for models sold new in Mexico and
>Vanagons with 5 cylinder engines are out on both counts. An independent
>VW parts store had a Jetta one that would work but it was not quite the
>right outside diameter for my bracket so I passed on it and made it the
>rest of the way without further trouble. I will carry 2 from now on.
>
>Along the way we saw many other Vanagons of all years and quite a few
>Westys. There is a growing presence of Vanagons with Mexican plates and
>even a few Westys were owned by the locals. This was unheard of a few
>years ago but loafs were and are pretty common. Most of the Westys we
>saw were from colder places like BC, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and
>several even from Alaska. Man, that's gotta be a long drive.
>
>Mark Drillock
>
>