Northern Baja - December 2013
Day 4 - Monday, December 30
Five of our group of nine would leave for the border today; leaving Big Todd, Ben, Isaac, and myself to complete the long day's ride. We would travel from the sunrise of San Felipe to the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Todd Lite joined us for the first section which would basically reverse the previous day's route from Hwy 3 through Laguna Diablo. We took a slightly different route (all dirt) straight from the El Cortez Hotel to the dump road, and then a different set of SCORE race whoops to the road leading west to Laguna Diablo. Instead of riding the dry lake, we stayed on what is known as the High Road all the way to Hwy 3, and then rode the slab west towards Valle de Trinidad.
We caught up to Arnie, Rich, Ersin, and Rob right at the cutoff to Mike's Sky Ranch as they were slabbing to the Compadre Trail. Todd Lite joined them on the pavement to head back across the border, while Big Todd, Ben, Isaac, and myself decided to take the dirt towards Mike's and make a dirt loop to get to Valle T. Big Todd was hauling a$$ on his 525, and ran out of fuel on the way back down the mountain towards Valle T; but he borrowed some from Ben and we made it to the Pemex. Unfortunately, our favorite taco stand was closed so we hith another one up towards the highway.
After lunch, we rode back through Valle T and onto what is known as the Wine Road. It's a beautiful route, perfect for big bikes, that cuts through the hills and drops on to Hwy 1 just south of San Vicente. We gassed up again in San Vicente, and then took the dirt all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
After Big Todd, Ben, and Isaac finished playing in the sand, we headed north to Horsepower Ranch (with a small detour to the hospital in Ensenada).
Pics for the day...
I love the sunrise over the Sea of Cortez, and made sure I set my alarm to be up in time.
The moon - almost directly over where the sun would come up in about 1/2 hour
The sunrise
Breakfast at the hotel
Ersin
After breakfast we got the bikes ready, and 5 of us (Big Todd, Ben, Isaac, Todd Lite and myself) headed onto the dirt towards Laguna Diablo. The rest would be taking pavement.
In between San Felipe and Laguna Diablo
Big Todd on the Laguna Diablo High Road
Todd Lite
Ben
Waiting for Isaac
We hit the highway for a short jaunt towards Valle de Trinidad, and happened to meet up with Arnie, Ersin, Rich, and Rod at the junction towards Mike's Sky Ranch.
A chance for a group pic...
Five of the group continued on the pavement to take the Compadre Trail north to cross the border, while Big Todd, Ben, Isaac and myself were going to ride to the Pacific Coast. We decided to take a dirt loop towards Valle T, heading on the road to Mike's Sky Ranch before cutting back west and north to Valle T. On the way, Big Todd ran out of gas.
When Big Todd ran out of gas, I had some time for a couple of Berg pics on the road heading north to Valle T
Big Todd is moving again
Ben
Isaac
Ben
Isaac
We finally got to Valle T, and filled up with gas at one of the two Pemex stations. And since our favorite taco stand had not yet opened, we headed to another one close to Hwy 3 for lunch. After lunch, we headed south and west and of Valle T to take what is known as the Wine Road west towards the coast.
On the Wine Road
We finally reached the beach at the Pacific Ocean...
The boys are heading onto the beach for some fun!
Now I've ridden on the beach many times in Baja, and intentionally didn't go out and play that day because I didn't want to do something stupid out there and hurt myself (since I had taken a good fall at the end of the Mexican 500 just for a photo op). The rest of the day would be a pretty easy ride along the coast and then inland to Santo Tomas. The past few days I was mostly riding a pretty quick pace, and then waiting for the group to catch up. With just an easy route to go, I decided to take a nice, leisurely pace for the rest of the day and smell the flowers (or look at the ocean, as the case may be). Anyways, I wasn't 100% focused on the trail, and came over just a small little rise, and didn't notice the big rock in the trail. Next thing I know, I'm in the bushes lying on my back with my left arm pinned down by something. The group helps me up and I notice right away that there's something not quite right with my 4th and 5th fingers on the left hand - they seem to be pointing in the wrong direction. So I get dusted off, and decide I better get to the hospital in Ensenada.
Ben helping to get by bike ready to ride again, and I'm a bit discouraged about such a stupid fall
My fingers just don't look right
So we had a few more miles of the coast route up to Erindira, and then cut inland to the highway and north to Ensenada. While riding there, it became dark and so we were navigating through the lousy traffic between Santo Tomas and Ensenada in the dark. Finally made it into Ensenada, stop for gas, and I pay what turns out to be a very quick visit to Hospital Velmar.
It was dark by the time we were riding into Ensenada
Hospital Velmar in Ensenada
Now in the US, it would take hours to get taken care of. Here, I waited just a few minutes, got taken in for x-rays, and diagnosed that nothing was broken - just two dislocated fingers. A pull on one finger, and then the other and I was all set. The longest part of the whole affair was waiting for the paperwork at the end, and paying the bill (less than $100 USD). I'm thinking the whole visit took maybe 45 minutes. After that, we hopped back on the bikes for the short ride to Horsepower Ranch where I was really looking forward to the margaritas - and a fantastic yellow fin dinner!
Dinner at Horsepower Ranch
Even with my fall, it was another frickin' outstanding day!!