VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK • Driving to LaVentana
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Driving to LaVentana

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:26 pm
by Martin
Parked at Harris Ranch (I5 near Bakersfield, CA) with free wifi.
Easy trip so far. Lots of road work on I5 around Redding California but no delays.
Filled up the rv with diesel at the Skagit Casino (Bow Hill) just south of Bellingham. $4.09 a gallon.
Stopped at a T-Mobile at the cascade Mall in Mt. Vernon and picked up a sim card and 6 days of unlimited data and voice for $22. Pulled out the Telus sim card and inserted the T- Mobile and I was good to go. Nice to have the internet on the phone all the way down I5.

All going well, tomorrow Los Angeles and Oceanside for the night.
Monday morning Tijuana and away we go!

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 10:48 pm
by thankgodiatepastafobreaky
thanks Martin! Keep us informed. we'll be hot on your heels soon...

LaVentana

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:39 am
by TomS
Martin
Take care with that big RV rig! I will be leaving Victoria Oct 16th for LaVentana so I'll see you on the beach shortly. Martin, keep those road reports coming.
Anyone else looking to convoy down?

Tom

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:12 pm
by Martin
Sitting in the shade eating eating ice cream.
Now at oceanside CA.
Glad to be through Los Angeles.
Sunday so traffic was light.
border tomorrow and fresh fish taco! Sans the tortilla of
Course.

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:28 am
by thankgodiatepastafobreaky

Huuricane

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:08 pm
by Nimpkish-Bill

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 7:25 pm
by Martin
Thanks for the "Miriam"heads up but as you could probably guess, Martin is all over it! Appreciate the info though.
Looks like I should get to LV before it makes landfall. Could be some good rains from it though.
Made it to Guerrero Negro today.
Good trip hardly any construction detours.
And the border was a breeze, used the bus lane for the rv and stopped for my visa; away in 15 minutes.
Tomorrow, Ciudad Constitution and Wednesday LV if all goes according to plan.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:49 pm
by Martin
Okay, first lets get the earthquakes out of the way and then the hurricanes!
Now in Ciudad Constitution after another great day.
This has probably been the easiest trip in 13 years.
The road is in great shape.
The first day there was section of single lane (paved) for 2/3 kms on the toll road near Ensenada.
The area South of Santo Thomas(ongoing for a while now but nearly done?) the detours were very short.
They are still working on the road just North of Villa Jesus Maria (near the military inspection post), but again the gravel part was very short and I feel every stone.
They have done a lot of work on the famous steep hill out of Santa Rosalia.
There is still a few hundred meters of gravel but quite good.
Traffic has been abnormally light as far as trucks and buses go.

I stop for breakfast just North of San Quintin at "La Mission" restaurant and motel. It is at Km 173 and on your right which saves those left turns..
Very nice and new with a parking lot big enough for a 180 turn with the fluffy's bike on the stern!
Free wifi as well, the password is 12345, that's original!

Spent last night at the mini mart/restaurant/motel across from the Pemex station in Guerrero Negro.
It is called La Espinita. $5us to stay the night but free wifi.
The password is pitahaya (at least it was). Works in the rv.

Tonight I am at the rv park at the south End of Constitution, can't remember the name though and it is too dark to see!
Splurged for the upgrade and plugged in and the a/c is running, yes!

Tomorrow LaPaz and onto LaVentana.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:14 pm
by thankgodiatepastafobreaky
I love that part of the drive!! The desert from Loretto to Cuidad is fantastic.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:17 am
by Fluffy
Martin! It was great to chat to you last night! Thanks for taking good care of my bike! I hope she's behaving back there? Talk about shake rattle and roll. Reports say the earthquake was 6.2 and an after shock of 4 something. All very close to La Paz! :shock: Safe journey mi amigo and say hi to the gang when you get there! The fluffster signing of.
:wink:

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:03 am
by thankgodiatepastafobreaky
hey Martin did you go with that awesome orange colour for the new Rebel or the deep dark blue?

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:36 pm
by Martin
Safe and sound in laVentana.
Year 13 which means that I have driven the I5/Baja highway 25 times.
Marion still wonders why I keep buying a new GPS! Great to have along.
Your spot is still open, Greg! No kidding.
In the main campground, one rv South of the central trees and four of us North. Got my spot so all the driving was worthwhile, now we wait out the heat and hurricanes.
Went to the tower restaurant 20 minutes after arrival. A new record.
Adelita gave ma a big smile and hug, she knows business will be good until marion gets here!

Greg, I got a deep blue 7m and orange 9m. Both look awesome.
My Elevation Beachdog skim is ready for some serious time on the water as well.

Lightning and rain at the moment but only 26c.

Dave, the SUP scene is really coming on here. May have to give it a try, looks kinds hard on the back though.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:52 am
by thankgodiatepastafobreaky
you mean the palapa I built is still there?

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:32 am
by Martin
Heavy rain this morning.



http://la-ventana.forumotion.com/t226-for-today

In the last pic for "today" you can see my rv by the North fence.
Had to move as I had a "river runs through it" this morning.
All is okay where I am now but the campsite is going to take some work when the rain and water recedes.
Part of the trials of coming early!
m

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:09 pm
by more force 4
Martin wrote:... fresh fish taco! Sans the tortilla of
Course.
:?: :!: But tortillas are one of the glories of Mexican cuisine! Especially fresh-ground on a mano and metate, made from a heritage variety corn (I expect pretty hard to find both now; if they can be had in La Ventana you may see me this winter :lol: )