Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2021 21:10:18 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Trip Report, Baja Aug 2021, about 1,500 miles
In-Reply-To: <e4a8e550-ecdd-50ce-993d-70511d5386fb@cox.net>
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Excellent Mark, just excellent. I have had the privilege of being on two trips to Baja with Mark, first in 2012, second in 2020 just at the beginning of Covid shutdown, we came back to a world we didn't know.
You are right about that border crossing coming home. Totally sucks, both for Vanagon and participant, that always hangs in the back of my mind concerning Baja. I think I've got another "crazy idea"! And I've got some new bi-lingual Facebook VanDiegan folks that might help pull this off: What if....several teens or whatever might want to make a few bucks? That is, you shut off your motor. Kids lean and push your car ahead? Car length by car length. They rotate from car to car as necessary. Suppose $10 for the entire endeavor? It would be totally worth it for me!! And the kids would be happy too I think. Might start a whole new win-win enterprise. Of course, not quite certain of the logistics on how to do this.....but my friends from Mexico might offer some good advice.
After 2 trips to Baja with Mark, and 1 trip down there (past Loreto) on my own, I am gradually building the confidence to lead a small group of Vanagons. Like 5. In March.
But a suburb Trip Report, much appreciated, and brings back many happy Baja memories.
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, 01:15:47 PM PDT, vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net> wrote:
After a year and a half of no Baja trips due to the current health
concerns, I finally was able to put a trip together.
Some local newish Westy owners have been nudging me for a while to take
a trip down to Baja Sur to a highly regarded surf spot over 600 miles
below the border. We had 2 families of 4 each in their late "Weekender
Westy" Vanagons, plus me in my tintop Syncro. The 4 kids were all in the
9-11 age range, each family with a boy and a girl. The kids got along
great and had a wonderful time, requesting to stay longer.
The trip went very well, no van issues other than 2 tire punctures from
sharp objects on different days. Each of these was repaired in about 20
minutes by the first tire repair shop we came to after it occurred.
Of the 8 nights 5 were spent "wild camped" in spots with nothing but a
beautiful shoreline and great views. We mostly played in the water and
also did a little fishing. We had kayaks, surfboards, paddle boards, and
snorkeling gear. The other 3 nights were spent in official campgrounds
with restrooms with showers.
Overall the weather wasn't as beastly hot as I feared and most of the
time we didn't really mind the heat much. We had nice shade set up for
when we weren't in the water. Lot's of time in the water with many hours
of great surfing and some kite boarding. We also kayak fished and ate
the tasty catch.
Baja is made up of 2 Mexican States and we camped in both. The southern
state was in a high level of Covid tension and we needed masks just
about everywhere. One market also required hand washing and a
temperature check to enter. In northern Baja things were much more
mellow with fewer masks worn.
The only real negative of the trip was the extended border wait time on
Sunday afternoon. I don't know why that takes so much longer than it
used to.
Mark
San Diego
