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![\"[\u200bIMG]\"](\"http:\/\/west38moto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Route.png\")
<\/p>\nThis will be my second time there, but my first time riding in Baja. I\u2019m heading down with a tour that West38Moto is doing. It\u2019s going to be a ride for big bikes, like my Tiger. I\u2019ll be riding over to La Mesa, CA from Santa Fe, NM. I\u2019m planning on two days to get there. In total I will be in Baja\/Mexico for just over two weeks. I’m pretty excited about it. I just finished buying a new GPS so I can use this trip to figure out how to navigate off it. I’ll be needing it when I take a few friends out on the BDRs this summer.<\/p>\n
It’ll be the first trip for me where I won’t be camping along the way. So I’ll have to figure out the packing for it. Should be easier, since I won’t need the cooking or camping gear. At least not for the Baja part. In Sonora I’ll have to camp, but they’ll be bringing that gear down for me.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t write up the sections in italics, I took Dusty\u2019s (W38M) description of the trip. On the last day of the trip instead of heading up to Tecate with the group, I\u2019ll be splitting off from them and riding over to San Luis Rio Colorado to begin the second half of the trip. Were I\u2019ll working as pit crew for a couple of Sonora Rally racers.<\/p>\n
The Route for the Baja Part: (Roughly)
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Description:<\/p>\n
Day 1 = Spring Valley California to Mike\u2019s Sky Ranch<\/i><\/p>\n
174 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
After a night of getting to know each other and preparing for the tour, we will set off as a group and head for the Tecate border. At the border crossing we will take turns as a group getting our tourist visas and exchanging money. A passport is highly suggested for traveling in to Mexico and getting back into the US. Once we finish with this process, we will make our way through Tecate and link up with the Old Compadre Trail. Wide open vistas and mountain dirt roads will lead us back to Hwy 3. We will stay on pavement and top off with gas on our way to the dirt road entering Mike\u2019s Sky Ranch. Today will be a mix of pavement and dirt at about 50\/50.<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 2 = Mike\u2019s to Alfonsina\u2019s<\/i><\/p>\n
188 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
We will depart Mike\u2019s the same way we came in and head out on the pavement for Gonzaga Bay and Alfonsina\u2019s. We will stop for lunch in San Felipe and find a restaurant on the Malecon (boardwalk by the water). After lunch we will head out on pavement to Alfonsina\u2019s. This section will be a mix of improved and unimproved pavement. Watch out for the Vados! Along this section we get exposed to some of the most beautiful scenery on the gulf side! Alfonsina\u2019s is located on the beach in Gonzaga Bay!<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 3 = Alfonsina\u2019s to Bay of LA<\/i><\/p>\n
110 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
This day will not be as long for us as some of the others. Today we will make our way out of Alfonsina\u2019s where our first stop will be the famous Coco\u2019s Corner. Coco is a legend in Baja and his place is visited by thousands of traveler\u2019s every year. After a coke or water at his place, we will make our way to the highway and head to the Bay of LA. When we arrive at the Bay of LA we will have a choice of stopping and relaxing for the day, or riding up to the Mission San Francisco de Borja. For those that would like to keep riding we can drop our luggage at the hotel and head out to the Mission. The mission is roughly 35 miles one way from the Bay of LA. Once we turn on our dirt road it\u2019s through the mountains again arriving at the gorgeous and historical Mission. You won\u2019t want to miss this!<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 4 = Bay of LA to San Ignacio<\/i><\/p>\n
207 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
This day will be mostly dirt as we wind our way out of the Bay of LA through the coastal gulf mountains and along the gulf coast. We will stop along the way in San Rafael to see old whale skeletons and have a cold drink. From there it is back on the dirt where we leave the coastal mountains and head into the desert. This ride is fantastic and the desert terrain has a harsh beauty that is better experienced than described. Once we hit the pavement we will make our way to the gorgeous and quaint town of San Ignacio.<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 5 = Tourist day in San Ignacio<\/i><\/p>\n
221 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
Today we will go on a bit of a different tour and add some Baja wildlife to the mix\u2026how about Humpback Whales! If you have never been whale watching get ready for this! We will leave as a group from San Ignacio to the Pacific Ocean side of Baja and enjoy a day of whale watching, food\/drinks and a life altering experience!<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 6 = San Ignacio to Mission Santa Maria<\/i><\/p>\n
342 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
Today will be our longest day but we will get to take it easy on the pavement. However, don\u2019t let that fool you. This time of year the desert flowers are bursting and we will get to travel through some of the most beautiful inland mountain, desert and farm towns in all of Northern Baja! Get your cameras ready for some fantastic inland photos! The fun does not stop there\u2026when we get to our hotel, Mission Santa Maria, we will have an opportunity to ride our motorcycles on the beach! If you have never done this it is fantastic! We will eat a gourmet meal at the hotel restaurant and enjoy cocktails in the bar after this long awesome day!<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 7 = Mission Santa Maria to Coyote Cal\u2019s<\/i><\/p>\n
98 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
Today we will be rewarded with a shorter ride as we make our way to Coyote Cal\u2019s. When we arrive we will have a choice again of relaxing or taking a ride along the coast. This area of Baja has some of the most beautiful scenery along the Pacific Coast! The terrain can be compared to the Pacific Coast Highway along the California coast between LA and San Francisco. This ride and scenery will not disappoint!<\/i><\/p>\n
Day 8 = Coyote Cals to San Luis Rio Colorado<\/i><\/p>\n
270 Miles<\/i><\/p>\n
On the last day I will make my way out of Coyote Cal\u2019s and say goodbye to everyone.\u00a0 I will make my way over to San Luis Rio Colorado to start my second part of the trip.\u00a0 I’m going to be using what some call the crossover road.\u00a0 It’ll be about 40 miles of dirt to get over to MEX3.\u00a0 From there I’ll make my way back north to San Luis Rio Colorado.<\/i><\/p>\n
![\"[\u200bIMG]\"](\"http:\/\/sonorarally.com\/onewebmedia\/OverviewBivouacsMapSonoraRally2018.png\")
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