Baja Mexico Trip 2015-2016. Part 8

Leaving Coyote Beach, Drive to Ciudad Constitucion

Sunrise over Coyote Beach, Baja California, Mexico

It is time to move on, with some sadness we are leaving our good friends Dave and Lynne behind on Coyote Beach.

We have enjoyed so many friends here and really loved the warm water, swimming, and hiking.

We will both also miss the Spanish lessons we just started a few weeks back.

We will miss the waterfront dining right by the sea, we will miss the laid-back lifestyle and will really miss boondocking.

It is so nice to be able to create your own electricity and be self sufficient.

First things first, it's the 9th of December 2015 and today is the day we break camp. Wow, it's amazing how much stuff you take out of the RV when you boondock in a warm and beautiful climate like this.

At the end of the day we have the fifth wheel trailer and the truck all packed and  hooked up and ready to go.

Dave and Lynne invite us out for supper at Burro's, and we enjoy a nice meal together.

Liz and Anders Make a pit-stop on our way to Ciudad Insurgentes and Ciudad Constitución,
here with the Sea of Cortez in the background

Wonderful Vistas

It's now early morning on the 10th of December. The sun is coming up, and we are ready to go. We say goodbye to Dave and Lynne and our other good friends Dodi and Joel.

We are on the road heading south. We have traveled this road a few times before, and it all looks familiar. We make a few stops along the way and soon pass the town of Loreto. We drive over the Sierra la Giganta and the truck is getting a good workout.

Sierra la Giganta provides a Rugged Backdrop

Drive up the Sierra la Giganta

After climbing up the Sierra de Gigante we arrive up on a high plateau with incredible vistas.

From here on it is a pretty straight road down to Ciudad Insurgentes and Ciudad Constitución.

The area of Ciudad Insurgentes and Ciudad Constitución is a large agriculture area. Here you can buy all kinds of vegetables and lots of citrus fruits.

We have planned to stay in Ciudad Constitución at the RV Misiones where Pat is the owner.

We check in for three nights.

More pictures from this part of our trip in our web album.

Cheers,

Anders and Liz

Camped at RV Misiones

Boondocking

Boondocking or Camping Without Services.

Enjoying dinner with friends while boondocking on Coyote Beach, Baja Mexico.

Boondocking or camping without services is a lot of fun but you should be prepared. If you plan to boondock there are certain things that will be very nice to have.

On our fifth wheel we had a solar system installed. The system we have is by GoPower and is called Solar Elite. We had it professionally installed.

The system includes:

• Two 160 watt panels for a total of 320 watt.
• 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter for AC power
• 30 amp pulse width modulate digital regulator
• 45 amp smart battery charger
• 30 am pre-wired automatic shore power/inverter AC switching kit
• DC inverter install kit
• Inverter remote on/off
• 50 ft of MC4 output cable and all mounting hardware.

Inverter installed on the wall in the pass-through compartment.

Remote in the trailer to turn the inverter on.

Two solar panels on the roof of our trailer. Nice to have when boondocking.

Another view of the inverter in the pass-through, part of our solar system

We now have four of these 6 volt batteries. Lots of storage for boondocking

Our trailer from above showing the location of the solar panels on the roof.

We also installed two new 6 volt deep cycle flooded batteries. This year we have added another set of batteries and now have four 6 volt batteries. This will be sufficient for most campers.


If you have an RV that is older then 2015/2016 (like we do) you should definitely change all the lights to LED lights, this will make a hugh difference.


Go through your RV and see how many you need and order them on Amazon or where every you prefer to shop. You will be surprised at how many lights there are in your unit.


Having some kind of solar system is pretty well a must if you plan to do a lot of boondocking. If you don't, you pretty well have to run your generator every day and it might not be appreciated that much by others if it goes on for longer periods.


With our system we run our Nespresso coffee maker, hair dryer, TV, computers and just about anything.


It is really nice to just turn one switch and there is power in every outlet.


We often camp on Coyote Beach ( Baja Mexico). At the beach there are two local fellows that will sell you water, but otherwise there are no services.


The "water man" provide you with a 45 gal plastic barrel and comes and fills water when you need it. The cost is about US $10.00 per fill. You then have to have some way of pumping the water into your RV if you use a RV.


A 12 volt pump will do that just nicely. We added a 1/4 of a cup of bleach to each tank we filled up. We do not drink this water, but use it for all cooking.


If you don't have water readily available you have to have some other way of getting water to your RV. This can be as simple as a bucket and carry water from a creek.


What else do you need? You will need a blue boy or grey boy. This is a little wagon to transport your waste water away. We have a SmartTote LX 4-Wheel waste tank. Ours is the 27 gallon one.

Our trailer, boondocking on Coyote Beach

Gray water disposal setup.

If you are considering the 35 gallon one, remember even the 27 gallon is very heavy (225 lbs) when it is full and can be tough slugging in sand and soft ground. Better to make two trips or empty more often.


On Coyote Beach you dump the black water into the outhouses and rinse with the grey water.


Many people will dig a pit by/under the RV for the grey water and keep it covered with palm leaves.


Before you discard wastewater of any kind, make sure to know what the rules are in that area and do it responsibly.


When you boondock you learn quickly to conserve water and power. There are many ways of doing this. Use a small plastic container for doing dishes. Use a solar shower bag for rinsing off when you come out of the water or otherwise having a shower. Take sponge baths instead of showers and I'm sure you can think of a few.

Life is good....

Boondocking at it's best.

Baja Mexico Trip 2015-2016. Part 7

Coyote Beach on the Bay of Conception or Bahia de Concepcion, BCS Mexico

Panorama of Coyote Beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Boondocking (dry camping) on Coyote Beach is an incredible experience. Coyote Beach is located about 20 km south of the town of Mulege right on the Bay of Conception in the Sea of Cortez.

The Bay of Conception or Bahia de Concepcion is the largest bay in the Sea of Cortez also called the Gulf of California. It is located half way down the Baja Peninsula on the east side.

The Bay of Conception is about 32 km long and hosts a variety of fish and other marine animals. The water is wonderful for swimming, but you have to be careful, there are some Stingrays in the sand.

Keeping my food in hot water

I know from experience. I got stung while playing around with a Frisbee in the shallow waters. This does not mean you should not go in the water, just shuffle your feet as you walk in the sand and they will take off. The stingray does not seek you out, it's just if you step on them.

If you do step on one and get stung it is very handy to have a snake kit with you so you can suck out some of the venom.


Since I'm pretty allergic to bee stings and all kinds of stuff we keep two kits with us. One in my back pack and one in the trailer.

The following is what I was told to do after my wrestling match with the Stingray (my sting was on the top my left foot, and cut right through my boot): As soon as possible, we used a suction extractor to suck out some of the venom. We did this twice for a bout 2-3 minutes. We were told to never try to suck the venom out with your mouth for any type of sting or bite.

Bite and Sting Kit

Suction Device from the Bite and Sting Kit

The sting on my foot.

I was told to put the food in as hot water as possible and this really eased the pain tremendously.



I had to have the foot in the hot water (keep adding hot water) for two to three hours. You will know, if you take your foot out of the water too early, the pain is pretty awful.



Further I took an antihistamine and two Advil.


The next day I was fine. If you do get stung, make sure the stinger did not break and there is not a piece left in your foot or leg.

Boondocking on Coyote Beach

Boondocking or camping without services is a lot of fun but you should be prepared. If you plan to boondock there are certain things that will be very nice to have.

Our trailer boondocking on Coyote Beach, BCS.

On Coyote Beach there are two local fellows that will sell you water. They provide you with a 45 gal plastic barrel and come and fill water when you need it. The cost is about US $10.00 per fill. You then have to have some way of pumping the water in to your RV if you use a RV. A 12 pump will do that just nicely.

On our fifth wheel we have a solar system installed. The system we have is by GoPower and is called Solar Elite. I had it professionally installed. More info in our blog on Boondocking.

Liz and I hiking above Coyote Beach, Baja Mexico.

We love Coyote Beach and the surrounding area. The little town of Mulege is very friendly and you can get all the basics here. Good meat you still have to go to a bigger city to get. We stock up in Ensenada once we have crossed the border. Ensenada has a Walmart and Costco.

Going out fishing early morning.

We got a bunch of trigger fish

Filleting trigger fish.

Most of the time down here we go for our morning hike before it gets too warm.  We take the truck and go into the back country and explore little wonderful towns.

If you like fishing, it is plentiful. If you like swimming the water is fantastic. Paddle boarding is becoming very popular. If you have a kayak of some kind, bring it along. A small sail boat is a blast down here. Snorkeling is high on the list for fun things to do.

Wildlife watching is pretty good, with Whale Sharks coming into the bay and all kids of birds.

The day on Coyote Beach starts early. Most of the time we are up before the sun rises with coffee in hand. This is around 6 am. The sun sets around 6 pm and it is pitch black by 8 pm. This is also referred to as "Baja Midnight"

There is a local "Cantina" or restaurant that has a dance every Thursday night with dinner.... it is just wonderful. There are a lot of artists down here and you can also attend many different art shows.

There are many local people that come and sell souvenirs, produce, fish, shrimps and ready made food. Please be friendly to these people, most are absolutely wonderful. Many of them and their families will not eat unless they sell you something. They work really hard. We usually buy what we need. If we don't need anything we say "No necesito, gracias", with a smile. This means, I don't need anything thank you. Much better then just saying NO.

When buying from the locals or vendors on the beach you will need small bills, so keep this in mind when you head south. You can take out local currency at bank machines in Mulege and most other towns of size.

We have made many friends here and created many memories.

Dinner on Coyote Beach with the moon coming up.

A Cool Gadget For My Truck - Zus

Zus..... You Need One My Friend!

Zus USB phone charger and car / truck finder

Every so often I seem to stumble over some of the coolest gadgets. Zus is just one of those gadgets that is a must have in my books.


So what's Zus? Zus is made by Nonda and is a turbo charged USB car charger. Not only that together with your smart phone you can download an app and use Zus to help you locate your car.

Zus phone charger and app for smart phone.

Once I got mine I put it to the test right away and. It works like a charm.



Since we live on a remote Island I don't use the "car finder" feature here, however when we went to Victoria and Vancouver is sure came in handy.






The car finder feature works via blue-tooth and when you turn off your truck it registers the point where you left it. And if you are like me and  can't always remember where you left the darn truck  this gadget will point you in the right direction.

You can order one on Amazon or from the Nonda site..... Don't leave home without it :)

Safe travels,

Cheers,

Anders

Baja Mexico Trip 2015-2016. Part 6. Is Mexico Safe?

Is it safe to RV in Mexico?

Liz and Anders hiking at Coyote Beach, BCS.

Living in Canada, we hear all kinds of horror stories about RV'ing in Mexico and holidaying in Mexico.


We have now been three times in Mexico, and we have yet to experience any such thing.

We feel totally safe when traveling down here. No difference then traveling in Canada or the USA.


I was tickled, when I came across the article in the Los Cabos Magazine, written by Sandra A Berry about Mexican safety concerns.


Here it is, re-written with permission from Los Cabos Magazine.

Why Los Cabos? – Longtime resident Sandra A. Berry responds to concerns about travel in México

Why would anyone miss a chance to visit Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula? Unfortunately, some people have been scared off because of misleading, sensationalistic reports in the media.

The entire country has been shown in a negative light due to isolated instances that have, in some cases, been taken out of context. Los Cabos—as well as many other parts of México—is actually safer than other popular tourist destinations around the world and safer than many U.S. areas. Does bad publicity in New York City preclude vacationers from going to Cape Cod? What if México published warnings not to visit the United States? Would this help the relationship between the adjoining countries?

Despite the bad hype, thousands of visitors still visit Los Cabos, but there are those who are missing what Los Cabos has to offer. They are reading and listening to negative reports about the entire country. Not only is Los Cabos safebut there have been no safety advisories posted by the U.S. State Department for travel to Los Cabos. In fact, much of México remains unaffected by violence, and statistics prove there is less violence in México overall than in the United States.

Let’s think about the positives. Why would celebrities not only continue to have Los Cabos on their annual getaway list but also invest in real estate in what they consider a paradise? Some possible reasons:It has beautiful beaches; it is a haven for relaxation with a plethora of beachfront villas, condos, and hotels; it offers an abundance of year-round activities like golfing and fishing 360 days out of the year; the people are friendly and most speak English; and last, but not least, it is safe. The who’s who list of international celebrities who continue to visit includes such names as George Clooney, Jennifer Anniston, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, and more.

 Here are more questions to ponder. Why would filmmakers spend millions filming in Los Cabos? Why would anglers come annually for the biggest fishing tournaments in the world? Why would an international television series like Destination Baja Sur be filmed for the entire world to see the positive side of Los Cabos by viewing the people and places and getting to know the culture of Baja California Sur? Why would many of the famous golfers such as Jack Nicholas, Robert Trent Jones, and Tom Fazioput their signatures on the world-class golf courses in Los Cabos? Why would countless brides select Los Cabos for their destination wedding? Why would film stars such as Reese Witherspoon attend the annual Film Festival in Los Cabos? There are several answers, but the primary one: Because Los Cabos is safe.

Some visitors think they can throw caution to the wind when visiting México. They think there is no drinking age limit—that’s not true—and they overindulge in alcohol, many times in public places.That can lead to getting involved in incidents they would never dream of doing on their home turf. And, yes, they will get into trouble. As a rule, if someone is looking for trouble, he will find it. The best way to enjoy any vacation away from home is to take the usual precautions you would if you were going into an unknown neighborhood in your hometown. Lower your profile. Avoid displaying evidence of wealth. Stay within the well-traveled areas.

Los Cabos welcomes its visitors to come and enjoy the beaches, the sunsets, and myriad activities for the entire family. Don’t miss out on what can be the vacation of a lifetime. Who knows, you may want to consider Los Cabos as not only an annual vacation paradise but as a place to retire in a safe and secure environment.

End of article.

So there you go. Take it from someone who lives and works down here. When traveling here, use common sense and precautions just like in any unknown area.

Here is a link to some more information on safety in Mexico.

We love to vacation in Mexico, and we are sure you will as well,

Baja Mexico Trip 2015-2016. Part 5. Day Trip to Santa Ines, San José de Magdalena and Santa Rosalia

Day Trip to Santa Ines, San José de Magdalena and Santa Rosalia

The Road Less traveled. Wonderful country side and the Baja desert is so green.

Road down to Playa Santa Ines

Playa Santa Ines, BCS. MX

It is the 25th of November, and we decided to take a drive, and check out some of the little towns and the country side.


Liz was not 100%, she was battling an upset stomach and headaches.


However as the good sport as she is, some Tylenol and Pepto Bismal will fix things up. I promised to drive extra slow!


We head north from Coyote Beach. After Mulege, we drive another 15 km north then turn right to Playa Santa Ines.


The road is very rough, but the landscape is very beautiful with the cacti and desert.


The beach at Playa Santa Ines is miles and miles of white sand. It is so beautiful and not a person in sight.

Anders on Playa Santa Ines. He could barely stand the crowds.

Road up to San José de Magdalena

Road up to San José de Magdalena with a few wash outs here and there.

We walked the beach for about an hour and collected a bunch of really nice sea shells.


We were thinking of driving out to Punta Chivato but the washboard road was so bad, we decided to turn around and drive up to San José de Magdalena instead.



This is where the farmers grow a lot of garlic.



San José de Magdalena is a quaint little village high in the mountains and it was founded in 1774.



Originally it was supposed to be a mission to serve the Cocimi Indians. It did not last that long, it was closed in 1828 when the mission in Mulegé closed.

Garlic fields in San Jose de Magdalena, BCS. MX

Had to drive through a river to get to San José de Magdalena.

Coming back, there are beautiful vistas of the Bay of Conception.

This is a pretty good drive with paved roads just about all the way, except through the river and into the village.


Nothing was open when we got there.... Siesta I think!


So we just had a quick look around and headed back down to sea level again.



From there we drove into the city of Santa Rosalia.


Santa Rosalia was named after the Saint Rosalia. The reason for the name is not quite clear.


The Misión de Santa Rosalía is not located by or in the city, but rather in the town of Mulegé, about 100 km south, and the local parish is devoted to Santa Bárbara.... I give up, just too confusing.

During a pit stop I noticed a self threading screw in one of the back tires.

Luckily, it did not go through the whole tire, so no plug was needed.

The metallic Iglesia de Santa Barbara in Santa Rosalia

Walking around Santa Rosalia.

Santa Rosalía is a port city, and a regular ferry connects this town with Guaymas in the state of Sonora, on the other side of the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez.


In my books Santa Rosalia has the roughest through road on the Baja. Just go slow, and I mean slow.


Now the town is pretty funky with some French influence. When you walk around in town you see all the houses made out of wood, like a small French village.


The town was founded in 1884 by a French mining company which ran a copper mine here until 1954.


The mining company built houses and installed the metallic Iglesia de Santa Bárbara. This is a very nice little church.


The legend has it that the church was designed by Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower. He was also involved in the design of the Statue of Liberty and many more structures.

We drove around and walked around town for about an hour. We picked up some fresh bread from a local bakery, and I even got myself an ice cream.

Moon rising over Coyote Beach.

Back at the camp, a swim is in order, then it's time to fire up the BBQ.

For more pictures check out our web album.

Baja Mexico Trip 2015-2016. Part 4. Kids Visiting us on Coyote Beach

Coyote Beach With Family

Sunrise on Coyote Beach, BCS. Mexico.

Mark having a rest while Ryan, Lisa and Sarah are out on the water.

It is the middle of November 2015, We have been on Coyote Beach for about a week.


Some of our kids and grand-kids came for a visit.


There are several connecting flights to the town of Loreto about two hours drive south of Coyote Beach.

It is time to go fishing on the Sea of Cortez in the Bay of Conception.

The ice cream truck arrives on Coyote Beach. This is not to be missed.

Loreto is a nice little town with about 15,000 people and was founded in 1697.


It is always so nice when family can come and visit us where ever we travelled to.


This time our son Mark with his wife Lisa and children Sarah and Ryan came for a week's visit.

Mama Liz getting a hug from her son Mark. Coyote Beach in the back drop.

Rush hour on Coyote Beach.

Coyote Beach in November is beautiful and the swimming is great.


The kids and grand-kids really enjoyed their time.


One of our neighbours came over with his small catamaran sail boat and paddle board.


Well, the kids loved it.

Lynne, Dave, Mark and Lisa just chilling. Lynne and Dave are Lisa's parents.

Mark, Lisa and Liz on a morning walk.

Unfortunately they all got a bit of a flue, and it did put a bid of a dampener on things.



We did manage to go for some really good hikes, and have some wonderful dinners on the beach.



A week goes way too fast, two weeks is a must. But anytime together with the family is great.

Panorama of Coyote Beach, BCS. MX