Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 15:45:08 -0700
Reply-To: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Baja Camping/Fishing Trip report
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My 87 Syncro Camper and I just returned from a 1400 mile trip down the
east side of the Baja peninsula. Everywhere we stopped to camp at least
one other Westy was there also. It was good to see that these things are
providing good times for so many owners. I talked with several of them
and none belonged to these lists. The oldest was a 70s loaf Westy and
newest was a Eurovan Westy, I think a 93. Some Canadians were traveling
with a small child in their mint 81 but the others were all from various
parts of Calif and Oregon. Another 87 Syncro Westy was a couple from
near San Francisco who I have run into several times in Baja in the last
few years.
I towed a trailer with a small motor boat and 2 kayaks loaded on it. The
Sea of Cortez is a splendid thing with wildlife everywhere. Having some
way to get out on the water is a must. We spotted a pod of dolphin a
ways away while out in the boat and decided to move closer to get a
better look. They decided the same and they swam right over and played
with the boat. We snorkeled at numerous reefs and islands and were
blessed with clear water in most places for viewing the large schools of
tropical fish and other sea creatures.
The weather was pretty warm by day but it cooled at night to perfect
temps for sitting around in shorts and watching the stars. The beaches
were uncrowded with water temps in the high 70s. The fishing was darn
good with some days fantastic. Another Vanagon list member traveled with
me and on some days barely a minute passed without one or the other or
both of us catching a fish. We ate some tuna, dorado (mahi mahi),
trigger, and sierra while releasing countless more including barracuda,
grouper, bass, etc.
The Syncro ran well but on the last morning of the return trip it would
not start. I could tell that the fuel pump was not making any noise and
I quickly put the volt meter test leads on it to see why. It was not
getting any power to it. I decided to just hot wire it to make the final
leg home so I would not have to unload the gear piled in the back over
the engine to make a more precise diagnosis. I ran a wire from the pump
to the aux bat and then the pump made it's familiar sounds again. The
engine fired right up. I routed the wire under the van and put an inline
fuse on it at the battery end to be safe.
The Baja roads are in the best shape ever and tourism is generally down.
Fall is the best time to go and spring is pretty good too. The southern
migration of Gringo snowbirds was just beginning as we returned. Many
retired people flee cold winters for a warm Baja and southbound vehicles
often bore license plates from Idaho, Canada, and other cold weather
locales. These folks can crowd some campgrounds in winter so less
accessible spots are more peaceful.
I am now dreaming of another trip in Nov or Jan to a more remote Baja
area that I have heard much about but never visited. It means about 200
miles of questionable dirt roads but that's what Syncros are for.
happy camping,
Mark
