Settling into Loreto

 Part of the commitment to exploring Baja is moving around and living for a longer time in a variety of places.

First a month in Todos Santos, now we are north in Loreto until the beginning of February. The second half has us returning to the chaos of Cabo - a month in San Jose, then finish up in Cabo San Lucas.

Loreto, BCS, was approximately a 7 hour drive north from the Cabo airport. We wound through the mountains towards LaPaz then flat flat flat to the west "Ciudad Constitution". Then north up through some more mountains and dropping into Loreto Bay.

First wash to get some of the dust off

Good Morning Loreto

Stripping some stuff off the truck

We are in a smaller city appartment on the second floor. I've learned to "acquire" NHL and NFL streams. As well, a little iHeart radio in the morning (Rock101) with my coffee and bagel. This location is great for walking about. Mom takes off to get steps in and I tend to head off on 2 wheels.

High up on the road to La Purisima

Endless arroyos - 30 minutes or more cruising up at 50kph

I often start with a plan, but a barbed wire fence and lock sets me in different directions. Sometimes I just head until I can't ride up the "wall" at the end of the arroyo. Sometimes there is an oasis with fresh water bubbling out of the ground.

Some days are a bit windy, and on one, we set off into the mountains to visit the Mission of San Javier. Beautiful! It was a twisty drive into the mountains to explore the mission and accompanying 300 year old olive tree. Chico, our walking guide, has lived there for 70 years!

The 300 year old olive tree

Pools were built to capture water and distribute through the fields.

Locked staircase. Drat.

Oranges surround the mission

After smashing the truck thousands of times over potholes and speedbumps, the squeaking has gotten worse and so I've dropped off the beast at a shop - thinking the front suspension needs some love. More later!

Dual sport around Cabo

 

I set off with the intent to cut through the mountains from Todos Santos over to the airport, SJD.

Tools, extra gas, a snack and some water. Good to go! I even pre scouted and setup a route on Gaia. 

True to history, I botched the map, got distracted when I should have turned and over tightened my chain causing a knocking sound…

By the time I realized my navigation error I was on the other side of a tricky arroyo and chose not to backtrack. Down towards Cabo I headed!

Beautiful narrow farm tracks wound through the mountains which eventually spit me out onto the big river down near Cabo. I cut across to San Jose for a snack and shot of espresso. I also sent word back to my trackers on the beach. Change of plans!

That knocking noise was getting louder but of course, I have all the tools EXCEPT the 12mm wrench needed. Sigh. 

Side note, my best moto investment was to put mousse into the new tires. No worry of flats or this would be a different story. 

Past the aeropuerta and both I went. I made the turn back west and headed into the mountains. Spectacular! I had a couple of shart moments descending in first gear but managed to pull back from the edge. At one point there were trail repair guys in a dirt loaded Tacoma paving for me. Mucho Gracias!

All in all, an adventurous 7 hour day on the bike!

Mountain Biking Baja

 I'm really enjoying mountain biking here in Baja. Previous visits didn't really leave me with time or the easy access location but since this year, I drove down and brought my bike, I've been seeking it out.

I've ridden SanFelipe, Loreto, LaVentana, Todos Santos - all following the TrailForks suggestions and intel from the local bike shops.

Reasons to bike Baja:

• You don't have to wash the mud off after every ride - it does get a bit dusty but how nice is it to just roll out, ride and get home and not have bike maintenance every ride!
• I only need to wear shorts and a jersey - maybe a bit of sunscreen? But certainly not layers to keep warm and dry
• The trails in Baja are not constantly trying to injure/maim me - why does BC revel in naming trails "Severed Dick", "The penetrator", "Hospital Visit"? :: Here I ride XC Blue trails called "Sunset", "The View", and "Mango Express". So civilized.

However, there are the dogs. God dammed MF barking chasing scare the sh!t out of me every ride. Are there other places where there are so many feral dogs who fight all night and feel the need to defend their streetfront every time I pass. Rant over.

If you ever get a chance to ride in Todos Santos, try out the Sierra Madre trail just north of town. It wanders up/down and through the deset for 3 hours. My favorite so far. Easy 273m elevation gain. Bring water! Start early...

Holiday Family Time

 Well, there has been a flurry of visitors over the last weeks that will extend into January. My brother Bill arrived, quickly followed with Katie, Shannon and Grace. That makes 6 of us so we moved AirBNB to a place with 3 bedrooms and a pool! Luxury!

Whale Shark Adventure

As a Christmas gift, we went on a "Swim with the whale shark" adventure. You know, you watch youtube videos but when you are in the water swimming beside a creature the size of a school bus, you feel pretty small. I was surprised at how hard we had to swim to keep up. This was not the typical jump in the water for snorkeling and the fish come to you....it was hard work! Definitely worth it!

Here is the 10min version I trimmed down from 3 hours. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GZOmUa0yMaiYlybGKBehS0qkt6FNdUuq/view?usp=sharing

Other times, we hang at the beach, I sneak away for mountain bike rides, and we fend off the dogs from sneaking into the kitchen.

Baby Turtles?

 

They are pretty darn cute. 

The whole experience of sunset, migrating whales breaching offshore and then the struggle of watching baby turtles attempt to enter the surf. Kind of like me learning to dirtbike, the exhausting floundering around!

Earlier, I rode the KLX over to the mountains. The sandy roads posed no challenges but the arroyo with deep sand and big rocks started to make me sweat!

And of course, some hiking exploring. This area used to be the hub of sugar cane production and export. The old port buildings are fun to climb around…

Should I go down? Of course!

Toosie the explorer. 

Beaches, ATV and more guava

 Hiking in the hills

Is that a camel?

Time for ripping up the sand with Mitchell

Walking into a secret beach through a burnt palm grove

The guava falls from the tree into the blender with tequila