Nov 18.08

In LaPaz, Baja now since Sunday nite... left San Diego Wednesday and had a great drive to El Rosario and finally things getting cheaper...my motel was $250pesos ($22US)...unfortunately found out today that I left my drivers license there...wonder whats next...havent been doing so well on the documentation thing...first lost my bank card and spare credit card in the desert crash, now my license is a dilemma, and I havent been able to find my expired passport which has my still active Visa for Brazil which is good for 5 years (thinking ahead abit)...guess I gotta be more present!

From El Rosario went across the desert back to the Gulf of California, so very beautiful in the desert and so many varied landscapes, spent the nite in Santa Rosalia, quiet little place where I ran into a German couple on an 18 year old BMW Dakar totally loaded, they were heaed to cath the ferry to Guyamas...almost went with them...maybe shoulda...likin that its gettin cheaper...my motel was $150 pesos ($12)

"Volcan Tres Virgines"










A very common road sign in Mexico is "Curva Peligrosa" meaning dangerous curve ahead...pay attention cause they mean it










Next day feeling real lazy and didnt get going till noon....hour later stopped at Mulege, very beautiful oasis..had lunch and then headed to Loreto...was abit worried it was too late already 2:30pm... a bit south of Mulege hit a nice beach with camping...my home for the nite and first swim in the Gulf...Camping $50 pesos ($4)












From Mulege it was south thru Loreto and wonderful road and beautiful drive, till the road headed inland away from the water and the longest straightest boringest stretch of road I have ever been on...200Km and maybe one turn...closer to LaPaz was better

Some amigos








Have had three good riding days and hanging a bit in Lapaz...will get a ferry tomorrow off the Baja for the mainland..probably Mazatland...glad for the rest and break in "adversity" ..my hotel Pesion Hotel Califonia $200pesos ($16) and security for the bike in the lobby...very accomodating!

While at the hotel met a wonderfully adventerous lass, Laura Zick from Moab on a sailing adventure, crewing her way "The Long Way Down"...her current passion is to manifest her own 27' sailboat to go round the world and she'll do it!..we made a gallant attepmt to get my bike on the boat fo the crossing from LaPaz to Mazatlan..would have been a great adventure, but alas, I'll be on tonights ferry instead...bummer

Nov 20 is Le Revoltion Day in Mexico celebrating the anniversary of the "Revolucion"...military didnt seem to have a prolem with it!

Nov 12.08 Update

Looks like a false start...unfortunately I'm back in San Diego for repairs after some advice (bad) to take a route south thru San Felipe...the "road from hell" was brutal...ran into some "offroaders" that nite who after a 12 hour ride said that stretch was the worst they'd been on that day...all were worried about cut tires etc on the sharp rocks... for me was 5 horas for 50 miles each day...blown shock reservoir after 20 miles...then next day within ten miles of the pavement had another crash at speed in the sand...my tank bag flew off in the crash and wasnt closed fully, whatever was nailed down blew away in the big wind including my bank card and spare credit card...my shoulder hit hard but seems OK, glad it was sand tho the bike and me just missed or own big rocks...bit of front end damage...got lots of off-road experience and more experience than I wanted this early on dealing with adversity... was hard standing on the pegs all day long for the last few days and not much fun riding a pogo stick in desert wind/sand storms, shear winds, etc....he Baja has had its way with me so far...aiming to be back on the road by Tue/Wed and make some miles...not much fun crashing in the middle of the desert all alone ...

In Puertocitos as the pavimento ended I hit 500 metros of freshly dumped sand about 12¨deep...I decided against it and turned around...the guy operating a roller saw my dilemma and said ¨Cmón, follow me¨and he flattened the sand somewhat, without thinking much (good thing) I followed him and made it thru..my highlight of the day and was bouyed with confidence that I could do anything after that (what a fool)...That night had a nice camping spot, stars and bonito sunrise next morning as I prepared to head down the unkowingly ominous Road from Hell (No.1)....

The Road from Hell (No.1)... doesnt´look so bad but very rough, sharp rocks, and washboard...at 10 mph it is a very long road

Back uprite again after my second crash...hadn´t seen a car for over two hours

Coco´s Corner, now about 10 miles from pavement, supposed to be the coldest beer in Mexico, unfortuanetly Coco wasnt around

Oct 31.08 Spent 5 days in LA getting more gear, new chain, sprockets and tires and repairing the bike. The crash at Mono Lake cracked my gas tank and had a major leak. They wanted $425 for a new part but JB weld fixed it better than new, good stuff that JB weld.

Met Thad Wolff in Seattle while getting new seat. He offered to help me out with a place to stay in LA and lots of help gettingready. Many thanks to Thad, Jody and Kelly for their warm hospitality, help with the bike and moral support...


and a funky spot to sleep in the bike trailer.

Leaving LA (finally)..in the rain?

Mon Nov 3.08
I finally set sail into Mexico Monday after many delays leaving San Diego and arriving at the Tijuana border crossing about 4pm...it took a while to get permits etc and I forgot it was now getting dark around 5 pm...by the time I got done it was dark and there I was again, doing what is strongly advised against..."do not drive at night in Mexico" and also driving in Tijuana at night is probably not a good idea either, however after all the delays in getting going I was committed to getting to Ensanada that day come hell or high water...took a wrong turn in Tijuana and went miles on the wrong highway...a great sole helped me get back on track and even drove to show me the way...have met some really great folks so far

Finally in Mexico