Trip Report San Diego to Cabo.

[Dannowar]

I finally got more than 4 days off!! With two days notice, I quickly threw together a crew and a couple bags and we were off to explore baja the RIGHT way. Excitement loomed as we embarked. Not even 20 minutes in I was presented with a speeding ticket on the I-8!! F**k it. Nothing can bring us down! Continuing on! Quick stop to get our FMM and we embarked again! 5 minutes into Mexicali and we were pulled over again! Oh boy....speeding? Supposedly....I guess speeding warrants a full car and body search. Our Baja newbie buddy had a folding knife in his pocket....GUYS, I can not stress this enough, do not CARRY a knife into Mexico. After some useless pleading and careful negotiating I did what I told myself I would never do again. I paid off a cop. A doozy of a price tag too. Beats jail. Carrying a knife on you is a felony. Nothing can go wrong now!

We arrived to campo encantadas on morning one. Welcomed by Rob, and crew. Sorry for forgetting names. Unpacked and threw some gear into the truck for a quick dinner run at the point. Big tides, lotta current but surprisingly DEAD on the reef. WTF! So I'm diving in about twenty feet off the birdshit rock and what appears out of the murk?! Yellowtail baby. In the 5 foot murk I got his attention and threw a Hail Mary of a shot on him. Glad I brought my big gun. In about ten seconds my reel line was gone. I was being dragged at a fair speed, luckily into shallow water. As he stopped pulling, I started to climb my shooting line, closer and close until I laid my eyes on the biggest yellowtail I had ever laid eyes on, and my shaft. Hanging by a piece of skin. As my heart rate started playing techno, I grabbed the base of the tail, which my hand barely fit around and I bear hugged it with all my strength. As I reached for my knife and in one swift movement, the fish of ten lifetimes shook my shaft and casually swam away. Many expletives were shared and I kicked my sad ass in and had a good internal sob.

Back at camp, we ate like royalty as is tradition in Baja. Shrimp and ribs tonight. We stuffed our bellies and watched the moon rise.



430 am and we were up and packed. Left the sleepy villiage and made the newly routed detour to the 1 no problem. Just a few more hours and we would be in one of my favorite towns MULEGE. We planned on staying with a friend who has his own home/hotel, who graciously hosted us last trip.


My favorite road in Baja. Lush cactus country and a breathtaking mountain drive. From San Ignacio to Mulege one enters many geographic areas. Mountain. Desert. Coastline and oasis. Do yourself a favor. And if you need lodging talk to my boy at playa Buenaventura if you need a beer/meal/lodging. Well our friend had gone into town to get supplies and we had just missed him. Over a beer we decided to keep on trekking to la Paz.


I mean cmon. Look at that view!!

Onward to la paz! A quick stop for gas and eats in loreto and we arrived in La Paz by sundown. Unloaded at the hotel and we hit the Malecon (boardwalk) for some ice cream, beer and scenery. A few too many beers and tequila shots and a piss stop on the way home had us pinned down by the police again. Luckily my negotiating skills got me out of this one! Woke up about 5 hours later than I had planned. Slammed two Electrolits ( Mexican hangover godsend) and we were off to the holy land.



Day one in Cabo we planned on skimboarding our favorite shorebreak in the whole world. Flat. Fark! Hiked down to the beach with my dive gear and smacked some pargos for dinner.




For seven bucks each, Mariscos Mazatlan HOOKED IT UP. Pargo ceviche. Pargo frito. And pargo zarandeado. Can't beat ocean to table.


Also. Whence in Cabo. Or Mexico in general, do yourself a favor and get the pastor con pina any chance you get...



Day two we went offshore with good friends of mine in search of pelagics. Long story short, I saw more wahoo than I'm comfortable admitting, I took four shots. I missed four shots. Can't win em all. We returned at dusk and I had myself another internal sob. God I suck.

Good times for a few days in Baja sur. Wish I took more photos. After checking out early, we headed back north to climb the Baja ladder. Another stop in mulege and we were able to catch up with our old friend who made us shrimp burgers and some fine mezcal.



Playa Buenaventura.


No bad days in mulege.


27 year old parrot had lived his whole life here.

7 hours more and we were in gonzaga again. Jumped in to grab some scallops for dinner and enjoy the sunset. Stayed with Miguel at bufeo ( someone has bobs llaves) let's figure that situation out eh? Dinner at the restaurant was scallops al moco ajo.





Unreal sunset.





MVP of the trip goes to my Tacoma. Never did she flinch at the sight of a Vado. Never did she tremble in knee deep soft sand. And no sweat on the washboard road past cocos corner.

Also. Most of the Vados have been pretty smoothed out. But just in case you're blind.....there's a new road marker.



As My toe-less friend Bob would say. Hard to beat.



Too long, didn't read: get off your ass and go to Baja. Follow the laws. Eat what you catch. Tip heavy. Enjoy your time on this planet.





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