Baja, Feb. 2020

[Ron in BC]

Well, as the saying goes, "seeing is believing".

We entered Baja yesterday and very quickly found that the Northern sections of Hwy. 5 were is excellent condition.

Today we left the Sea of Cortez side and started across the what was 20 miles of brutal unfinished road that connects with Mex. 1 South. It was scheduled to be finished years ago but each year all we saw was a lot of machinery not doing much.

As recently as yesterday we were told that there's still a quarter of a mile waiting for blacktop. Wrong, our wheels never touched gravel except for a handfull of bridge bypasses not quite finished.

We enjoyed taking photos to compare with last years. We were amazed, we were in Guerreo Negro before lunch instead of at sunset.

We're at Marios, a place we stayed at previously. Great seafood platter tonight.

Doing some sightseeing tomorrow, cave paintings etc. and then maybe another nght on the road before Coyote Beach.

Ron

[MyronL]

Oh, de pain!! While you were having great seafood we ran head on into a very big snowstorm on the road to Hatch, NM, and then, conditions worsened going north on I-25 and at around 2PM they closed the interstate down, at Truth or Consequences. We spent the night at WalMart there.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Well, as the saying goes, "seeing is believing".

We entered Baja yesterday and very quickly found that the Northern sections of Hwy. 5 were is excellent condition.

Today we left the Sea of Cortez side and started across the what was 20 miles of brutal unfinished road that connects with Mex. 1 South. It was scheduled to be finished years ago but each year all we saw was a lot of machinery not doing much.

As recently as yesterday we were told that there's still a quarter of a mile waiting for blacktop. Wrong, our wheels never touched gravel except for a handfull of bridge bypasses not quite finished.

We enjoyed taking photos to compare with last years. We were amazed, we were in Guerreo Negro before lunch instead of at sunset.

We're at Marios, a place we stayed at previously. Great seafood platter tonight.

Doing some sightseeing tomorrow, cave paintings etc. and then maybe another nght on the road before Coyote Beach.

Ron

Thinking of you guys ! Pat and Linda

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Oh, de pain!! While you were having great seafood we ran head on into a very big snowstorm on the road to Hatch, NM, and then, conditions worsened going north on I-25 and at around 2PM they closed the interstate down, at Truth or Consequences. We spent the night at WalMart there.

Oh no Myron ! Hope you guys are home safe and sound ! Pat

[Doug2000]

Oh, I just saw an Instagram post with 4 Escapes down the Baja peninsula on a beach. So Jealous.

My second Escape is still waiting for pickup... Roadtrip

[Jim Bennett]

Well then, sure glad I went last year in order to get in on the great Mexico 5 experience.







Roadside camping was not too bad though.

[EscapeBoulder]

Thank you again Ron, for the great presentation at Quartzsite last week. Do keep us informed how things are going on your Baja trip this year. 'looking forward to some pictures too.

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Well, as the saying goes, "seeing is believing".

We entered Baja yesterday and very quickly found that the Northern sections of Hwy. 5 were is excellent condition.

Today we left the Sea of Cortez side and started across the what was 20 miles of brutal unfinished road that connects with Mex. 1 South. It was scheduled to be finished years ago but each year all we saw was a lot of machinery not doing much.

As recently as yesterday we were told that there's still a quarter of a mile waiting for blacktop. Wrong, our wheels never touched gravel except for a handfull of bridge bypasses not quite finished.

We enjoyed taking photos to compare with last years. We were amazed, we were in Guerreo Negro before lunch instead of at sunset.

We're at Marios, a place we stayed at previously. Great seafood platter tonight.

Doing some sightseeing tomorrow, cave paintings etc. and then maybe another nght on the road before Coyote Beach.

Ron

Wow Ron after last year (see Jim's photos, how could we forget?!) its amazing to hear about the change. I think that its also a little warmer this year. Anyway hope that you and Michelle enjoy your trip, how's the new 21?

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

Oh, I just saw an Instagram post with 4 Escapes down the Baja peninsula on a beach. So Jealous.

My second Escape is still waiting for pickup... Roadtrip

That might have been last year. There's a photo in the 2020 Calendar of five Escapes on Coyote Beach.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Chris & Patricia

There's a photo in the 2020 Calendar of five Escapes on Coyote Beach.

Love this shot.

[Ron in BC]

All is going well at Coyote Beach. Spent a lot of time restoring the damage to another 21 caused by a short circtuit but all is well now except that I have to get his Samlex? controller working. Been a good lesson in how Escape wires the trailers. You may hear me using the word "schematic" when I return.

Weather is warm, some cloud, which is good because we don't like it too hot.

Best of all the whale shark showed up yesterday so a fleet of kayaks and paddle boards all launched to paddle along side him.

I'll do a full write-up when we're back home in a couple of weeks.

Ron

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

All is going well at Coyote Beach. Spent a lot of time restoring the damage to another 21 caused by a short circtuit but all is well now except that I have to get his Samlex? controller working. Been a good lesson in how Escape wires the trailers. You may hear me using the word "schematic" when I return.

Weather is warm, some cloud, which is good because we don't like it too hot.

Best of all the whale shark showed up yesterday so a fleet of kayaks and paddle boards all launched to paddle along side him.

I'll do a full write-up when we're back home in a couple of weeks.

Ron

Ron do you ever get a vacation ! Anyway glad to hear from you ! Pat

[cpaharley2008]

I think Ron is on vacation when he is working on someone else's Escape and not his, it relaxes him....

[Ron in BC]

If working on other folks trailers relaxed me I should be comatose by now.

We've left Coyote Beach, heading North, all good things must come to an end.

The highlight is always swimming with the whale shark. We were lucky this year.

Hard to imagine that it's still Winter at home.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Hard to imagine that it's still Winter at home.

Ron

You can't ignore that rhubarb forever.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

If working on other folks trailers relaxed me I should be comatose by now.

We've left Coyote Beach, heading North, all good things must come to an end.

The highlight is always swimming with the whale shark. We were lucky this year.

Hard to imagine that it's still Winter at home.

Ron

Thanks for checking in ! Pat

[Ron in BC]

By the look of your previous photos you've got me beat already.

I'll just have to console myself with a nice dinner here at Mario's, now that the heat of the day has diminished.

Ron

[Greg A]

Ron,
Glad you’re having a good time in the Baja. The reports you sent back on the improved road conditions will help everyone planning a trip in that area.
Be safe on the journey North.

[EscapeBoulder]

Hey Ron... Is it appropriate (safe) to carry kayaks on a roof top rack down to Coyote?

Having attended your talk at Quartzsite and following you all on this thread, my wife and I are seriously considering heading down next Feb with our 19'er Escape and are wondering about kayaks.

Thank you, in advance, for your thoughts.

[Ron in BC]

I don't know about that Greg, after all it's still Mexico.

Kayaks on the roof are a common sight. I used to carry mine on a rack but I switched to an inflatable one because it's more convenient for me.

Epic day yesterday. Spent the night at Marios in G.N. Planned on heading to Gonzaga but 20 minutes on the new Hwy. 5 instead of a gruelling a couple of hours and before we knew it we were there at lunch time. What the heck, go for it. Crossed at Mexicali and we were in the Walmart in El Centro by sundown. Great place to overnight.

Going to have an easy day today, heading for the hot springs oasis.

Ron