Baja 2017, Maybe

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by hermenator01

Hey Ron ,Herman here I see you're on your way south again
Good for you ! We ran in to you and your wife last winter at Roque river park.We are not going south this winter as we need to wait to see what Audi is going to do about our Q5 TDI diesel issue. We need to keep the km down for now. We do fly south in the middle of Feb. for a couple of weeks. Where will you be around the end of Feb. Maybe we'll stop by for a coffee.
Take care and travel safe.
Herman and Carla. Summerland. BC.

And to think today I was wishing that I had the torque of your diesel coming over the hills before LA.

Unfortunately we'll be back home just before the end of Feb.

Ron

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Carla Jean

Back to Quartzite, after River Island SP and Havasu City SP, we will be at Quartzite for the rally. Looking forward to meeting more Escape owners and just hanging out for a couple days with our Aussie, Max.

It'll be great to meet up with you and some of the other forum regulars. Just hanging out sounds pretty good right now with the pace we've been keeping.

Ron

[StarvingHyena]

Hi Ron,
Thank you for your reply. Yesterday I was visiting a web site regarding fees for entering Mexico. Seems fees were different for entering mainland Mexico and Baja...
Looked like it was a $400.00 fee for your trailer and (I think) a $350.00 for your vehicle .... both refundable if you cross the US border before your 180 day visa time limit. As long as it was refundable, it wouldn't bother me too much ... just have to budget for it. I was also confused as to if these fees were for mainland or Baja or both ? ... or what.

Years ago I rented a car in San Diego and drove south beach camping. According to my Mexico and car rental insurance, I had to stay in Northern Baja ... couldn't go to Scammonds Lagoon which was in Baja South. I did any way because it was before GPS was installed in rental cars but I kinda held my breath when I returned my rental car. Turned out ... No problem.

Mexican laws can change by the day almost .... and is why I ask.

Hope you don't find out what "Elphatines" are and Good Luck!

Tom

[Ron in BC]

Tom, those fees are news to me. I don't think they apply to Baja. At least we weren't charged any fees aside from the tourist card.

Ron

[Ron in BC]

Tom, to clarify the last answer now that I've had time to read the big sign at the border.

Those deposits are for folks that want to temporarily import vehicles. If you're just going in with a tourist permit you don't have to put up deposits.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Ron,

Looking at the satellite radar picture yesterday, it appears that you loaded up your trailer with rain clouds and dragged them down there with you.

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Tom, to clarify the last answer now that I've had time to read the big sign at the border.

Those deposits are for folks that want to temporarily import vehicles. If you're just going in with a tourist permit you don't have to put up deposits.

Ron

Thanks Ron! Hope your shark buddy remembers you!

Tom

[Ron in BC]

Wow, how quickly things can change!

We were all set to get up in the morning and cross into Baja. Then the storm hit. We knew Mex-1 was already damaged from previous storms so we made the decision to cross at Mexicali. The theory being that it'd likely be drier there. Wrong. We went to the 4x4 training area above Salton City. The ranger was in the process on notifying everyone that for the first time in 20 years they might have to close the park because of the danger of flash floods. Spent a restless night and got out at first light.

Border crossing was uneventful as was the drive down the Sea of Cortez past San Felipe. Spent a night at a campo on the beach. Not 2 minutes after we parked the storm hit. The wind was so vicious that I thought the wind was going to rip the roof vents off. I seriously considered trying to strap them down. The morn dawned clear and calm.

Down Mex-5 we went knowing that the last 20 miles were an unpaved mess. That was an understatement. 2 1/2 hours! But we made. We'll probably go back that way as it's the most direct way to Quartzsite. Or not, that decisions not made yet.

We're in a decent place near the whale watching capital of Baja. About $12 and looking forward to a nice seafood dinner.

Tomorrow it's up early and head for Coyote Beach.

Are we having fun yet?

Ron

[MyronL]

Ron I'm watching your progress south from Mexicali on Google maps with great interest.
Can't find Coyote Beach on the map but did find Cow Patty off Rt.5. Don't eat there.

[Ron in BC]

Ah, life on the beach in Baja Same price as last year 100P which gives you beach front parking, water lapping at the door, garbage pickup and outhouses for those staying a long time. 45 gal. drum of fresh water is also 100P.

The weather isn't as warm as last year but it's still sun screen time. Whale shark made one brief appearance so far. Hope to be able to swim with it one of these days.

Aside from a issue with the fridge everything is going according to plan. We've decided to return to Quartzsite via Hwy 5. It's brutal but worth it. We've learned of a way to avoid 2 miles of the 20 miles of bad road so it won't be quite as long going back.

Laundy day in Mulege today and then I have to shave. Some days there's just so much to do.

Myron, Coyote Beach is on some maps. It's about 10 miles South of Mulege.

Ron

[cpaharley2008]

Fresh water in Mexico sounds like a oxymoron to me.....

[Jim Bennett]

Sounds like something I would love to be doing, Ron. Have fun!

[Ron in BC]

As the tee shirts say, "no bad days in mulege"

Fresh water is readily available. 5 bucks for 45 gal. of untreated but good water or, new this year, 8 bucks for 45 gal. of filtered and treated water. We get the plain water for the tank and get our 4 liter jugs filled with filtered water; 25 cents a jug. We use it for drinking and making my Nescafe instant coffee

Not looking forward to going back on Mex 5 but boy, when the new road is finished that's going to really cut down on the time to get down here.

A few more days of Paradise and then on Sunday we head to Guerrero Negro and then Mon. up the dreaded Mex 5 heading for Quartzsite.

Ron

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

As the tee shirts say, "no bad days in mulege"

Fresh water is readily available. 5 bucks for 45 gal. of untreated but good water or, new this year, 8 bucks for 45 gal. of filtered and treated water. We get the plain water for the tank and get our 4 liter jugs filled with filtered water; 25 cents a jug. We use it for drinking and making my Nescafe instant coffee

Not looking forward to going back on Mex 5 but boy, when the new road is finished that's going to really cut down on the time to get down here.

A few more days of Paradise and then on Sunday we head to Guerrero Negro and then Mon. up the dreaded Mex 5 heading for Quartzsite.

Ron

Morning Ron ! Very glad you checked in ! Safe journey's ! Pat

[Allan Bornestig]

Hello Ron.
Yesterday I said to my wife:Have not seen any postings from Ron.Wondering if they are OK.And there you are.Safe travels.
Allan and Raili in North Van.

[cpaharley2008]

Ron,
Please post some pictures, this trip is on my bucket list.....

[Greg A]

Glad to hear all is going well. Be safe heading to Q

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Glad to hear all is going well. Be safe heading to Q

Wish we could Gregg ! Pat

[Ron in BC]

Made it to GN today. Great roads in the South. Same speed as I-5.

Over the dreaded unfinished section of Mex-5 tomorrow.

Won't be posting any photos until we're back home because of slow wi-fi. The photos will be much the same as the ones in my Baja 2016 thread.

We laugh now at all the concerns we had about some aspects of traveling in Baja. It's starting to seem pretty familiar.

Ron

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Made it to GN today. Great roads in the South. Same speed as I-5.

Over the dreaded unfinished section of Mex-5 tomorrow.

Won't be posting any photos until we're back home because of slow wi-fi. The photos will be much the same as the ones in my Baja 2016 thread.

We laugh now at all the concerns we had about some aspects of traveling in Baja. It's starting to seem pretty familiar.

Ron

Good to hear all went well in Baja Ron ! Also great to hear from you ! On to Arizona ! Pat