Date:         Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:05:50 -0800
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Baja Trip
In-Reply-To:  <CAEOIPKOOCKNBBDDDMBPOEKGNHAA.jeff@vanagonparts.com>
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Well... we've got a few brave souls who are interested in this trip.

Anyone else???

I'm hoping to have 4+ confirmed Vanagons before the real planning starts.

Let me know, detail below.

Cheers,

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Schwaia [mailto:jeff@vanagonparts.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 1:07 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Baja Trip


All this talk of a trip into the wilds of Canada has me longing for a trip
into the wilds of Baja.  So... I thought I'd ping the list to see if there
is enough interest to put a group of Vanagons together for a 10 day (or so)
trip into Baja.

I've spent many years of my youth wandering the back roads of Baja and
they're definitely calling me back.  I was thinking about a loop of Northern
Baja, perhaps crossing at Tecate and shooting straight down to Ojos Negros
and then to Mike's Sky Ranch up in the mountains.  After that, we could
wander down to San Felipe, Puertocitos, and Gonzaga Bay (fresh seafood at
Alfonsina's... mmmmmm).  Next, out to Highway 1 for a bit and then comes LA
Bay and San Francisquito.

Okay, enough of the Mar de Cortez, time to turn inland.  A quick trip
through El Arco and we're on back Highway 1, only heading north this time.
Depending on time constraints, we could head over to Malarrimo Beach for
some scavenging, or straight up to Guerrero Negro (ugly town) for supplies.
The trip up Highway 1 gives us a bunch of options, a side trip to Santa
Rosaliita (where a huge government boondoggle is happening), or one of the
other villages on the Pacific, or perhaps straight up to Catavina (one of
the most beautiful spots in Baja).  Our adventure continues up Hwy. 1 to San
Quintin (fishing anyone?) and perhaps a side trip up into the mountains to
the observatory.  Finally, it's up through Ensenada and then to Tijuana, or
Tecate again to avoid the long lines crossing the border in Tijuana.

These roads are generally in good condition.  Typical Baja washboard with
the random half buried stone.  A Syncro would be great, but a 2WD should be
able to manage it.  This is back country driving, with at least half of this
trip on dirt, so one should be prepared for the adventure prior to signing
up.

I'd like to go in May to avoid the hotter temps and the winter washouts.
Early June is bad due to the running of the Baja 500, which coincidentally
uses some of these roads (I should know, I used to race it every year).

Anyone interested?

Cheers,

Jeff