VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

The first store/restaurant/motel/rv park you come to in Guerrero Negro has free wifi. The store is on your right called LaEspinita. wifi is working great in the rv right now.
Miles and miles, okay kms of detours and road work on the Baja highway. Think the Nitinat road at its worst! 15 to 20kms for me but the Mexicans were still going 60+. Dust and more dust.
The main road work is South of Maneadero before Santo Tomas.
Before Catavina, after Catavina.
Before Villa Jesus Maria.
The worst pot hole is in the Vado about 1/5 km South of Catavina, the one that always seems to have water in it.
Other than that, great road trip so far.

Left Guerrero negro and drove to Constitution today.
Nice and easy compared to yesterday. The only real road work is coming into Santa Rosalia. From once you drop down to the sea of Cortez into town.
39.9 today coming down the bay of Conception. Now that is hot! 20k going up some of the hills watching the temp gauges.

5 military checkpoints, 3 inspections. strange as they usually just wave you through going South.

Lots of police action in Constitution. watch for all the Alto signs plus lights and your speed. No problems for me but they were watching me! It always seems to be the one hot spot for police.

I5 has lots of road work as well.
Still working around the Chehalis/Centralia area.
Around Redding.
There are 2 single lane sections south of the Button Willow rest stop (before the Grapevine). The signs say to use alternate routes but I hardly had to slow down from my 55. The single lanes only lasted for about 3 miles each.

Otherwise, a good trip so far. Just 3 hours to go and then I'm home (my other home)!

Left Constitution at daybreak for LaVentana.
No problems, no road construction to LaPaz.
The road from La Paz to Los Planes is in very good condition.
The last km into LV is under construction with a very soft sand dusty detour.
At one point you have to decide which side to go around a water valve box protector. I went right but should have gone left, made it with an inch to spare. The rv is only 8' wide, 8'6 wouldn't make it to the right.

There are already 12 rigs here for the winter and it is only Sept. 27. Hope I don't have to come in August to get waterfront! That is why a lot of kiters and windsurfers are building houses here but then that costs more than the $8 per day camp fee.

Pablo's is open and wifi is working on the beach. Temp is 34 right now=hot!

At least a few of us are reading with anticipation. So keep the updates coming so you can feed our stoke before we are able to get there. Thanks Martin!

Just back from LaPaz.
They are now re doing the road as far as Baja Joes (coming into LaVentana). Will see if they go further.
They are also working on a stretch out by the police station.
For anyone following down, don't forget to do your Tourist Visa at the border.
I tried but the customs/immigration officials wouldn't let me park the rv (okay I know it is kind of big but not that big) to go in and get it.
Went into town today and it cost an extra $100 (don't tell marion!)for not getting it at the border. bummer. Oh well, huevos rancheros at Adelita's (the Tower restaurant) made me feel a whole lot better.
Warren came in last night, warren with 3 racing surfski's that is.
yep, there is SUP and now surfskis = fast if you are very strong.
http://surfskibaja.blogspot.com/

Just paid our camp fees for one month.
It was 3240 pesos or $260cdn at 12.5 pesos to the Canadian dollar.
This was for 30 days and works out to about $10 per day.
Think the second row will be $8 but there is know one there yet

Diesel was 8.35 pesos/L at El Rosario.
9.57 at Villa Jesus Maria.
9.57 at Mulege. Interesting as the gas/diesel in Baja is usually fixed at a certain price.
So about $2.70 per gal compared to $4.00 in the US and $5.00 in Canada.
Propane at Constitution was 6.02L.

Pasta, no one in the arroyo yet!

About 15 kites out today but too hot for me, at least that is my story.

still sounds like a good price for gas!
Is my kitchen palapa still in the arroyo from 2 years ago?
go kiting!!! none of us can right now.

My motorcycle is in the shop today getting the valves checked and will be on the way to La V at the end of November...I can almost taste the tacos already...

Enjoy the open waters and hot weather Martin...

Wow! Vik that is going to be quite the ride.
Great though. The scenery is incredible.
12 winters for us here and it just keeps on getting better.
Enjoyed fish taco's at Adelita's (the tower) yesterday.
She does a great job. Best huevos rancheros on the planet!

no kiting today, light onshore breeze and hot.

Martin wrote:Wow! Vik that is going to be quite the ride.
Great though. The scenery is incredible.
12 winters for us here and it just keeps on getting better.
Enjoyed fish taco's at Adelita's (the tower) yesterday.
She does a great job. Best huevos rancheros on the planet!

no kiting today, light onshore breeze and hot.

I'm already jealous...

Great info and I will keep it handy for my trip down to LV. Planning on driving with SUV and travel trailer from Victoria, middle of January, for Kurt-n-Marina's campsite. Necessary to make reservations there for RV's? Also, looking for any others who want to convoy up at Tecate for the Baja drive, approx Jan 18th.

The Tecate crossing is great when driving north, since Tiajuana is like a lobster trap - in but not out. When driving south it's ok to go through Tiajuana, if you keep right after the crossing and don't miss the crucial turn onto the toll freeway. I'm driving down Dec and returning ????

Have to agree on trying to find your way out of Tijuana back to States. Got lost a couple of times which is not a great situation in Tijuana. The last time I had the gps so it was ok. So if you drive to Tecate it's simple, with good signage?

Hi,

The exit for the toll road to Ensenada is about 300 meters from the Mexican Customs stop.
I used to say it was the first exit but it is actually the second as the first is almost immediate right after the taxi stand.
Look for the sign for the toll road "cuota".
Nice new pavement along the barrier fence towards the coast!
Three toll booths on the toll road. 55 pesos each for me. 27 pesos for cars.
There is a military check point on there now as well but they just waved me through.

Yes, you will have to get in touch with Kurt-n-marina as he only has 7 or 8 spots for rvs. Arturo is the expert on that one.

thankgodiatepastafobreaky wrote:The Tecate crossing is great when driving north, since Tiajuana is like a lobster trap - in but not out. When driving south it's ok to go through Tiajuana, if you keep right after the crossing and don't miss the crucial turn onto the toll freeway. I'm driving down Dec and returning ????

I use Tecate both ways. It's so chilled out and stress free compared to TJ that it's well worth the extra time.