I was really unsure if there was a community here in San Jose and whether there would be access to trails. I encountered a ton of construction equipment, and construction areas where they are digging rocks and sand to build new resorts. But there were trails! On all of my riding in Baja, I rarely see other riders.
Thunder Jump
Hit it!
Don't park here during the rain
Sometimes you are just riding along and see the strangest things...stuffed animals and dolls hanging from cactus. Not just one, there were hundreds all along the trail. WTF?
Someone didn't like their childhood?
And then a construction area, relocating (or more likely, selling) a tree...
Pretty good riding area, mix of terrain, but the trails were marked and easy to follow. I'm always amazed at how they are not too technical. Blue and Red (red= BC Black) are not so technical, but it indicates a vicious climb in the middle of the trail to climb out of the inferno down low. The loose switchbacks in the heat are a challenge.
Of course, a little exposure to be aware of...
I'll go again tomorrow and explore more. Get down here Roger!
Well, I have spent some quality days riding in the desert with some old and some new friends. JeffE and Mark hooked up a guided trip and moto rental starting out of Los Barriles, BCS so I thought what a great way to spend a week in the desert!
Safe camping with a pool and hot showers
Rolling out, hoping for rain to keep the dust down. No luck. It blew over...
Chris and Steph were awesome hosts! Get in touch if you are interested in a desert ride.
Each day we rode different directions. North along the beach, south along the ridge lines overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and west into the mountains. Such a variety of riding. Ripping the sandy arroyo at 80kph was certainly a wakeup call. Don't get off the gas or you'll bury the front wheel and eat sand.
El Triunfo
Breakfast in San Bartolo
We rode 5 days through desert arroyos, stopped to swim at an oasis and explored bat caves.
Don't hit the cows!
Lunch in Santiago
Cave break
Are you brave enough to explore the bat cave?
Jack!
This baby goat was only ONE DAY old!
Time to move south and have some Cabo time. Roger wants to mountain bike so I'll explore some trails. Also, I'd like to ride the East Cape - the undeveloped (for now) area at the tip of the Baja peninsula.
Tabor Canyon, just south of Loreto, BCS, is a rocky-bouldery mess. The trail is an occasional pile of rocks weaving up the canyon that looks like it was hit by a hurricane yesterday.
What made the hike interesting is the sheer size of the boulders and how to navigate them. There were 3 crux points with some bolted in ropes. The first was a simple traverse around a waterfall (that was dry but still to tall to just "hop" up).
The second and third were a bit more "spicy". I was crying to my mommy as I had to pull myself under the big boulder and up a 20 foot rope. I seriously thought about turning around - not good to be laying there broken with no one around.
Each spot had me questioning whether I should turn back but around the next corner I could hear another waterfall so I kept going and going...
This ended up being way more physically and mentally challenging than I set out to do. Going to need some Don Julio to calm my nightmares of climbing down those ropes.
Yes, I did have to come back down! I swear those ropes were the scariest part of my whole trip so far! I turned the camera off to limit the splashing sounds of body fluids running down the rock.
Here is a video link if you are looking to see me stumble and cry for 30 minutes.
Well, I try to throw in some adventure - on a daily basis - and so I keep my ears tuned into people saying things like: "That is too dangerous", "Someone broke their leg...", "Don't go there without a guide!"
Mesquite canyon is a spring fed canyon in the local mountains, "Sierra de la Giganta", that has been carved over the millennia. Hurricanes in the wet season must also contribute to the erosion that creates these smooth walls.
As usual, I get butterflys and self doubt. Will I be able to even find the exit to the dirt road through the excavation, past the barbed wire gates, and navigate the multitude of off shoot jeep tracks? What if I get hurt? What if someone steals the dirtbike? OMG, the thoughts I have to push down.
Typical cattle barriers. Unhook, go through, Rehook.
...in the distance...
Prime shade parking!
This is the entrance to Mesquite Canyon.
After the 30 min highway and the 30 minute desert wandering, I arrive, change into my bathing suit and running shoes and mentally prepare for the unknown.
The beginning had me scramble up and around an unclimable smooth waterfall. It was a bit confusing and frankly, sketchy, as the fall from the top would have been 20m! Once past, the walking and navigation was straight forward. My only fear was the temperature of the water. I actually had thoughts that since the rain had not been here for a while, I'd stay dry. Boy, was I wrong. This canyon is spring fed and the pools ranged from very cold to frigid!
At the top of the canyon, you have the option to climb up to the rim and desert walk home. I opted to retrace my steps and keep this as a wet hike. Going back took the unknown out of the hike, I was already wet and I had an idea about how deep the pools were.
But...
While at the upper end, I bumped into a group from SanFrancisco and they convinced me to continue a bit with them. It involved swimming through 2 pools, about 50m each. Shitballs that was cold. I needed to lay on the warm rocks to stop my violent shaking. I could really use a layer of fat...?
Anyways, here is a 9 minute video, some slow, some sped up.
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!
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!
