Guerrero Negro, Baja California

Day 60, Aug 31, 2013, 406km

This morning we have left Paul and Asli to go on there own ride. Since they are not going to Tierra del Fuego they don't have as much of a must get here by a certain time agenda as us. During the last few days we have become good friends with them and we wish them a safe journey ahead, we also hope to maybe see them down the road some time again.

 
Here is a link to there blog:
http://theroadtoca.tumblr.com/

Wei, Paul, Me, Asli.

 

 

 

Today we went through an area known as the rock garden and this is really cool to see with all those rocks just piled up on top of each other.

This is not a great picture of it but you get the idea.

 

 

San Quintin, Baja California

Day 59, Aug 30, 2013, 461km

 

Made the ride back to Ensenada and then down Mex1 to San Quintin. After looking around for a while and at some really bad places we headed just outside of town  to the beautiful Mission Santa Maria Hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

The price for a double bedroom is only 600 pesos or about $48.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Felipe, Baja California

Day 58, Aug 29, 2013,  165km

 

This morning we decided that it would be best to head back to San Felipe considering the road condition. To bad that we did not get to see Coco’s corners but were not out to get ourselves killed to do so. On our way back we hit a massive rain storm and got thoroughly soaked of course, but it was a warm kind of soak.

 

Some of the towns roads are impassable due to the high water and the Motel's courtyard has turned into a swimming pool. For now they let us keep our bikes stored under the entrance canopy, and how nice is that.

According to locals it has not been this bad since 20 years in San Felipe.

 

Tomorrow we head back to Mex1 via Ensenada and then eventually down to La Paz and the ferry to Mazatlan.

 

Alphonsinas, Baja California

Day 57, Aug 28, 2013, 179km

 

Luckily they had added another 50 km's of more asphalt before we hit the crap, and made it about 10km past Alphonsinas where the road was completely washed out. We stood there a while considering if we should make the 5 meter drop down the side of the road but after walking down the 45% grade and scoping the rest of the crossing things did not look good. And if we did take it there would be no going back. The sloop  would be good for a light motocross bike to take back up, but us with our heavy loaded bikes no way and would not be a good idea. At that point we were also exhausted from that days events plus being in the hot sun, and a long day in the saddle, plus the crappy road, so we turned back and stayed at the Hotel on the beach in Alphonsinas that night.

 

Had a great swim in the warm Gulf sea with the rest of the gang and then diner with looking at the incredible night sky with shooting stars. All that with a well deserved cold one of course, life is good.

 

Google map link:

http://goo.gl/maps/P20Tm

 

Tijuana, Baja California

Day 56,  Aug  27,2013, 460km

 

First I would like to thank Tim, and Kari for being so kind as to have my tires shipped to them and for hosting me during this time. It was great to see you guys again and I’m forever grateful for the generous hospitality that you offered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack, Lindsey, Kim, and Me.

Got together with Wei, Paul and Asli just before Mexico and headed to the Tijuana border that took about 2 hrs to complete. We then headed down Hwy1 and Hwy 3 across to San Felipe.

 

San Diego, California

Day 55, Aug 26, 2013, 73km

 

Did drive down to San Diego to get the tires installed, and will be staying with my in-laws, the family Page for tonight.

 

Here are the pictures of my old tires after 21837 km's or 13648 miles. The rear is almost finished but the front has some cupping going on but would be good for a couple thousand more if needed, not bad considering the roads I have taken with them, lets hope the next set will last as long or better.

 

Top picture is rear tire and below is the front.

Palomar Observatory

Day 54, Aug 25, 2013, 87km

 

Did ride some more twisty roads today.

Setup camp at Fry Creek Campground for tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way up to the observatory I had lunch at a favorite bikers hangout.

 

 

Palomar Mountain's, California

Day53, Aug 24, 2013, 150km

Last couple of days just hanging out and camping around in the mountain's of San Diego.

Have been riding the crazy twisties around here, and man what a job this is but someone has to do it. Hwy 76 to the S6 in the Palomar Mountains to the observatory is awesome and there are a ton of others but that one stuck out.

Here is a update on the expenses so far. After having tallied the amount of money that I have spent for the last 50 days (or 25% of the trip) I have come just a few dollars short of $3000 (or 30% of the trip). Not bad considering that it also includes a oil change and several Park entrance fee's, this should be easier and the numbers should get better when we hit south of the border.

 

Escondido, California

Day 52, Aug 23, 2013, 109km

 

Had a good night at the  Lilac Oaks Campground in Valley Center, Ca. Checking the stats on my tires twice a day, and then will need to put them on, so today I will look for places that can do this for not to much money.

Also had a great get together with Wei (NomadicOne on ADV) and Paul with Asli that are also going to Mexico and beyond. We will be going as a group crossing the boarder and that should be better when it comes to getting hassled by the authorities and other unwanted things.

 Another Hwy 1 shot.

Valley Center, California

Day 51, Aug 22, 2013,  160km

While trying to find some other quiet place to stay for tonight, I  also fond out that my tires will be arriving on Monday and so I will have to hang around here at a camping in Valley Center for a few days.

Picture of Hwy 1. 

San Clemente, California

Day 50, Aug 21, 2013, 112km

Spent some time around the LA beaches and then headed towards San Diego were I camped at the San Mateo Campground near San Clemente. Did not get much rest because some kind of war games going on in the hills, with lots of bombing and gun shots going all night long.

 

Did see one beauty and this kid that also had an eye out, lol.

Los Angeles, California

Day 49, Aug 20, 2013, 272km

 

Today I did drive along Hwy 1 and stopped at some of the beaches to find some real beauty’s, but with the temperature at only 23c and a stiff breeze not much luck, maybe tomorrow.

 

Have been dallying around a bit and beating the shit out of the Mitas E07 Dakar tires so that I can order some new ones before heading South. I have over 21000 km or 13125 mi on them now and there is still plenty of tread left. Will take a  picture of them when I put the new ones on and give you the final numbers.

 

Los Padres National Forest

Day 48, Aug 19, 2013, 453km

 

Last night I camped in the Sequoia park at Dorst Creek, and the 6720' elevation made this a nice and cool spot to stay, plus you could hear the tree's whispering in the wind, very tranquil and  relaxing. During the night a thunderstorm passed by and made for a great sleep while swinging in the hammock.

 

 

 

Made it to Ojai, Ca. today where it was thank god cooler, with the temp going up to 44c in the valley was not fun at all. No pictures of that just blasted through as fast as I could.

 

From Taft to Ojai is Hwy 33 that runs through the Los Padres National Forest and that is a blast to ride, with temperatures dropping the further in and up you go, made for some welcome relief.

 

Sequoia National Park

Day 47,  Aug 18, 2013, 240km

 

Stayed at the South Yosemite KOA camping Saturday night and as you would have it they played Avatar as there feature film, that's nice I thought but this morning a lady walks past me and says your riding that beast, of all the things she could have said but that, so I guess this hasn't completely played it self out yet.

 

The road into Sequoia is great and has absolutely the most twists and switchbacks back to back I have ridden so far in one stretch .

Sequoia tree's are enormous, and I did take the tour and looked at the largest tree on earth by volume The General Sherman. Standing at 275' tall with a circumference of 103' and only 2200 years old, with a army of Rangers taking care of them was very impressive but did not have the same impact as that lonesome Cedar standing in absolute isolation back in Washington.

 

Yosemite National Park

Day 46, Aug 17, 2013, 262km

 

Yosemite National Park is best known for it's Waterfalls and the Granite mountains that attract rock climbers from all around the world. The roads going through are twisty and in great condition, plus the scenery is absolutely beautiful.

Spent some time walking the short trails only to find that the waterfalls are all dried up or just barely a trickle coming down because of the drought they are having here. So I decided to go up to Glacier Point and see that instead. This is a great ride up and down the mountain and Glacier Point is very impressive. There is a telescope at the lookout and you could see the rock climbers standing on the very top tip of it.

 

Tomorrow Sequoia National Park.

 

 

 

 



Area 51, Extraterrestrial Hwy 375

Day 45, Aug 16, 2013, 603km

 

Yesterday after lunch I looked at the weather map and the heat is just insane to the south, so west to California here I come for some cooler temps. Will be heading towards the Sequoia National Park.

Was able to make it to a Camping in Caliente, NV last night and have decided for today that area 51 would need to be unravelled by yours truly.

Hwy 375 or better know as the Extraterrestrial Highway goes through area 51 and I figure if there are any Aliens out there I for sure will find one. And guess what I fond one, luckily he was occupied with something else so he left me alone as I took a picture, but I swear he looked upset after, so I took off like the wind. Now don't be shocked because this guy is huge and all I can say is that we are royally screwed if more come.

 

Hwy 375 is 160 Miles long with nothing ells than desert except for halfway down is the Little AleInn that was made famous for being in some alien movie. Don't know which one but if you recognize it let me know.

 

Fond this on Wikipedia:

 

It is featured in The X-Files season six episode "Dreamland II", in Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends season one episode 2 - "UFO's" and in the film Paul.[3]

 

While having breakfast at the Little AleInn two hippies come in Tom and Caroline from Nevada riding an 1978 HD FXS Low Rider 93CID with over 1 million miles on it according to Tom, he has had it from new and he has rebuilt it more times than he can remember. These guys have been everywhere on that thing. No picture allowed of them but the bike was OK, a bit later down the road I was going 75MPH and they passed me going at least 100, hippies ya gotta love em.

 

Ended up today at State Campground Lower Lee Vining just before the Yosemite National Park, tomorrow morning will check that out before continuing to the Sequoia N.P.

 

 

 

 

Zion National Park 2

Day 44, Aug 15, 2013, 253km

Zion National Park is amazing and just full of wonders to see.

The pictures do not do it justice.

 

Started early this morning before the heat and the mad crowds that swarm this place. According to the info some 3 million per year and that just kind of ruins it for me because the natural sounds gets trampled out by the noisy crowds. Being early made it worth while though.

Your not allowed to ride into the canyon yourself and need to take the shuttle bus that will take you through the canyon that stop about 6 times to let you out so that you can walk the paths from that point. I did the smallest ones like, the Weeping Rock and the Court of Patriarchs, because they were easy to do and I just wanted to take it easy with my knee until it doesn’t hurt any more.

Here are some pictures from Zion NP.