Friday, November 14, 2014

Another season in Baja





Another winter season and here we are in Baja, Mexico.  We have missed 2 years down here and some things have changed.

The drive down through the States was good, three days to Yuma (where we stayed with Chris for three days, shopping for a few things we realized we were missing for the trip) then three days to Loreto.  We took the Calexico crossing and went straight down the Mex 5 to San Felipe then through to Coco's Corner and Chapala.  After 365 km the pavement stopped 5 km south of Ganzaga Bay, they are working hard to finish but the remaining 65 km was a little rough for our size rig.  We had just a few casualties on board (one broken plate and a cook stove that fell from its' perch in the trailer) but the worst was the camper trying to slide off the back of the truck as we bumped and ground our way up a few hills where the roads were washed out a bit by the hurricane this spring.  Thanks God for good tie-downs!  Roads that were sand and washboard the last time were now stone and ruts made from dried mud.  It took us 3 1/2 hours to travel the 65 km.  Funny thing was, we saw six semis creeping along the same road undoubtedly trying to cut off kms but surely taking more time in the process.  Maybe we will take the Mex 1 home in April...or maybe the road will be better by then after 5 months of work???

Glad to be in Loreto, we stayed at the Riviera RV Park for two days to do laundry and clean up our act before hitting the beach.  As luck would have it, the Baja 1000 was running through Loreto on the second day and we dragged our butts out of bed early to check out some of the lead drivers.  This year over 1200 km of nasty off-road track and by 6 am, when they reached Loreto, they had been on the road for 18 hours and still had about 5 hours to finish line in La Paz.  Dirt bikes, trophy trucks, buggies and cars of all sizes and even quads, what fun and not to mention the crazy and talented drivers/riders!

Now we are settling into life on the beach.  El Juncalito, where we have stayed many times is deserted and overgrown, so sad, so we have set up camp at Rattlesnake Beach or as the Mexicans call it El Quemado Beach (the burnt beach).  It may take a little getting used to the change but the spots are little more private and the wind is not as bad as it blocked in the north by Port Escondito.  Ken has already been out fishing and caught lots Sierra, a cabrilla and his pride and joy a 25 lb dorado, so we have been eating and giving away fish and making ceviche for happy hours.  The kayak and the paddle board have both made a couple of showings when the winds were down, oh and we made the trip up to San Javier Mission with Carl on the bikes.  The water is still quite warm, around 26 degrees C, so we have been swimming every day.

Come on!  Who can say "What do you do on the beach for that long?"



We had some great scenery on the trip down, high in Nevada snow-capped mountians frame the horizon.


I just never get bored with the sunset fromour camp at Pete's Camp north of San Felipe.


Everything is green in the desert after the rains of Odie.


It was a bit of a lonely road south from San Felipe to Coco's Corner.


The welcoming sign to Baja South, our GPS agreed we were half way down the Baja.


People camped out along the aroyo waiting for the Baja 1000 racers.  The first bikes started to arrive at 1:00 am...too early for us.  We arrived at 6:00 am in time for the Trophy Trucks.


We did manage to catch a few of the stagglers on motorbikes, picking their way through the water in the aroyo.


Crap, that truck is catching up to the quad way too fast, and the rider on the quad takes the time for only a quick look!


No safety ropes here to stand behind.  Ken gives the driver the thumbs up.


Here comes a buggy.


Carl and I on our bike ride to San Javier.  Loreto in the background, this day a Princess Cruiseliner was in port.


Ken's Dorado, he is one happy fisherman!




Friday, October 24, 2014

A busy summer at Home



How can you complain about at summer in Canada?  We can't!

We spent the summer visiting friends, looking for new wheels and accomodation...a camper and spending time with family.  Ausgust was spent at Ken's mom and dad's place and Sept. and Oct. at my folks place, during this time we took several bike trips on our bikes, what fun.  The time we spent in B.C. this summer really made us apreciate the country and area where we live.  

But, never mind the good time this summer, the weather is turning cooler (slowly) and it is time to try out our new digs on the road...we are off to Baja for the winter!





A beautiful ride on the 'Ice fields Parkway' with turquoise lakes and hanging glaciers in themountains. 


With two bikes it is much easier camping with more room for "stuff", even if we insist on traveling light it is always nice to be able to carry and extra thing or two.


Visiting Shaun and Iris in their new digs in Edmonton was a perfect, good company, food and a little retail therapy.
 

Good friends George and Christine where in Canada from Austria and it was great to catch up and do a little camping with them around the Chilcotin.


The CPR railway running along side Gates Lake on the Pemberton-Portage road on the way to Birkenstock PP.


What a great view from the top of Mt Gardner on Bowen Island.  We have been to Bowen many times and at last we had the time (and the weather) to make to 4 hour trek to top and what a reward...a very nice view of Vancouver and the surroundings islands and inlets.


One of the main reasons we love coming home is getting together with family and luckily most of Kens' family was around for a reunion at his brothers place in Sarrento.


We are so lucky!  Willie, a longtime friend from school, owns a helicopter and took Ken and me on a ride for the day as he checked on a few of his jobs around the Okanagan.  My first time in a helicopter...I was thrilled, what a treat!


On the flight by Summerland a big old billy goat smiled for the camera is we circled a couple of times to get a good photo.


Also from the helicopter we had a fantastic view of our place, nestled between the Okanagan Lake and an apple orchard and Bylands Nursery.


Roxanne and I got away for a girls weekend to New Denver, did a few walks , ate some good food and totally enjoyed the peace and quite at the Dome Quiote Inn (what a great place to stay if you are passing through).


When we come home it means so much to us, getting together with friends, good food and drink with great company.  A fun night with Carey and Connie, and our hosts Phil and Tracey in their new home.


On the road again with our new rig...and loving it!







Thursday, May 29, 2014

Travelling in comfort with a motorbike



Tent trailers made for motorbikes.  

Down-Under lots of the bikes pull trailers.  With prices of accomodation in Australia and the vast distances you have to travel between them it is good to carry your bed with you and they do it in style down here.


Complete with kitchens and lots of storage.


Made for any type of bike.

Monday, January 13, 2014

The worlds fastest Indian

One of our all time favourite movies, being bike nuts, is 'The Worlds Fastest Indian' starring Anthony Hopkins.  The story which the movie tells is about a bike racer is NZ and his dream to make it big so it only makes sense that we would seek out and find the real thing while we where in the country.


The cast of the 'Worlds Fasted Indian' at the tourist center in Invercargill, NZ.



The body from the real bike Burt Munro raced in the 1960's.


The bike that was originally used in the racer.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Hanmer Springs in South Island, New Zealand

Ken is having 'bike envy"!  Our first real trip without a motorcycle and even though we are having a great time we can't help but think this trip would be fantastic on a motorbike.  New Zealand has loads of twisty roads and fantastic scenery but also a lot of wet weather and traveling in Deep Purple is very comfortable and dry.



Ken stops to admire a couple of KTM 990's and a Husky 650(with a 32 L tank)that just came off some dirt...he misses it!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A New Trip

Today we are off to New Zealand for three months and then on to Australia for around 7 months.  A trip without a motorcycle so we decided to start a new blog with a new theme...gassmansgoneunder.blogspot.ca.  We can't wait to get started and we hope to hear from you
along the way!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Pincushion Mountian


Check out the view from Pincushion Mt. on the Youtube link below;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwyF9wKLNOk 








The map at the trailhead on Beach Ave, makes it look so easy.  


Once at the top the sun was shining and we our brow was glistening!


A Canadian flag marks the top of the climb and a great view.  A picnic table has been brought to the top thanks to the chefs at Okanagan paragliders and the chefs at The Gaushus restaurant.


Yes, if you look really hard you can see the flag!