Southbound and down...
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Well, we're taking my '96 (Wheezy, it's just like me, after a little work it wheezes for quite a while afterwards - charcoal canister...) on a little adventure. Gonna be putting some miles on it in short order, some of them probably pretty hard too. We're doing the Baja XL Rally Baja XL – Bamako Adventures , starts Friday 1/29 in Tecate, MX , travels down the entire length of the peninsula, mainly on the Sea of Cortez side, then back up the Pacific side, ending just south of Tijuana, with as much of it on dirt as can be done. Planned route is almost 3000 miles, plus of course getting there and back from the Seattle area. It's mainly a navigation rally, with various checkpoints, geo-caches, and/or easter eggs to be found each day. There's been some rain down there so some of the areas could be real interesting. Will get to see how all my recovery gear works out.
Probably bringing too much stuff, and of course not enough of the right stuff, but that's the fun of it all. My biggest concern will be fuel range, I'll be carrying 10 gallons which hopefully will get me squeaking into the great Pemex stations scattered around. Lately under my "normal" driving, I'm just under 15mpg, hope it stays at least that "good". At 361k on the motor and trans, she's just getting broke in. I had put a SS 1.2 lift on it and SPC UCAs and changed out all the bushings at that time. I did just go to 861 rear springs, handles the overpacking much better. Bringing a spare CV axle, fuel pump, and starter contacts. Most anything else should be easily sourced down there. Should be fun... |
Sounds like a blast. If you'are able it would be great to do'a trip report with pics if possible.
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Oh yeah, gonna be lots of pictures...and hopefully more than action shots of digging out of the mud
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Oh man - this looks awesome and it starts in a week! Would also love to see some pictures from the event. An unsupported out-and-back the entire length of Baja sounds F'n wild. However, I would want guns and I don't even own one. I spent my entire childhood camping throughout Mexico in the 70's and 80's - nowadays I would not take my own kids there. Sorry I'm getting off message, but I'm sure you will have an awesome time!! Jealous, indeed.
Haha - noticed this on the bajaxl site: Potential dangers include: highway accidents in the US getting shot at a Walmart in the US mass shooting in the US drive by shooting in Tijuana and La Paz gang warfare in Tijuana and La Paz imprisonment in Mexico dehydrating in the desert technical problems on the open road accident and injury on the open road accidents and injury away from inhabited areas getting lost running out of food or water bandits or thieves in the desert food-poisoning sunstroke corrupt Mexican police long wait at the US/Mexican border traffickers attaching drugs to your car with a magnet dangerously driving Mexicans speed bumps in Mexico dangerously driving Baja 400 participants sandstorms nerves stretched to the breaking point rattle snakes scorpions sharks |
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Yep, the entry fees, etc are processed through "The Institute for Unsafe Living". Half way through the first day on the 2019 one, the Roadbook states "by now pieces should be falling off your vehicle...". While it is set up so everyone camps, there are some "hotels" nearby most of the locations. The revue for the one in Bahia de Los Angeles said "it's the worst hotel in the world, but it's the best hotel in town."
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Classic stuff! You'll earn those stickers and livery -Godspeed, Wheezy! |
Looks like a great trip. If I were only younger...
In spite of the long list of potential risks listed on the bajaxl site, the only one I would be really concerned about is our Constitution does not protect you there. Best of luck and keep us updated. Eddie |
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I wish you a safe trip with hopefully a lot of trip photos/vids, etc.
Unfortunately, MX is very different than it was say 20 years ago so the allure of going down there (esp. with the current health and subsequent socioeconomic climate) is no longer there for me personally. I feel like there's so much more to explore in the US and even Canada before I'd head down to MX at this point. |
Bump!
Getting ready for some Baja action! :llama: :toilet: :ak472: :car: :cheers: |
from the safety of my cubicle
(this was a duplicate post....) |
You'll have fun! A couple years ago, five friends and I did an 8-day road trip driving from San Diego all the way to Cabo San Lucas and back, surfing and camping all along the way. My 4Runner put on ~3000 miles (I have the exact mileage of the trip written down somewhere, but I can't find it).
Baja is the modern day wild west -- never let your guard down, don't be in places you shouldn't be in, travel in numbers, and be respectful. Remember that and you'll be fine. Interestingly, the only issues we had were with other Americans (ex-pats), every Mexican we met showed nothing but kindness and respect. Some photos from the trip: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XxhDWCP-X3.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...b23pmZS-X3.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...bHhhHR2-X3.jpg And a little video one of the guys put together: <iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="960" height="720" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/8846231328_wv2zLh3?width=960&height=720&albumId=19 9228763&albumKey=ggMF8R"></iframe> |
And....THEY'RE OFF.....?
:party: |
Goodspeed Hopeless Diamond et al.
Eddie |
Awesome time so far, don't have many photos on my phone, using my camera more so that'll take awhile to get set up
Incredible time so far, really hoping the dash cam is getting it all. Have seen every kind of terrain, and that was just the first day. Ended the day with getting stuck out on a (not so) dry lake bed. A little maxtrax and shovel work and we got our selves out. I know a couple of teams spent the night out there. Good times The bad ...Baja Sur changed their Covid level and has shut down all organized off-road activities. They set up checkpoints and collected everyone they could and escorted then north out of the BCS state just north of Guerrero Negro. We weren't in any of the checkpoint groups but did turn back to Guerrero Negro for the night. Grabbed a hotel and there's going to be more info this am. May end up chilling on the beach somewhere for a few days. Good times either wayhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e094b1bdf4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a605981e83.jpg |
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