Page-3 Tom's little crazy ultimate dirt bike adventure - Baja
Day-9 Baja adventure ride is turning north to complete this loop, a victory lap for completing this year’s NORRA 1000. It’s a mission, a goal, something to pursue with gusto, complete and have fun with (Am I OK?) Todays off-road section is 136 miles from gas pump to gas pump all on unknown tracks that I made up using Baja maps and GPS software. Over half way on the trail I will hit some tall steep climbs that should be fun, I just hope none will turn me back, which could cause a range issue.
“It is confidence in our bodies, minds and spirits that allows us to keep looking for new adventures, new directions to grow in, and new lessons to learn - which is what life is all about.” Winfrey

Last gas station heading north out of La Paz has always been a standard stop for gas and homemade empanadas (in plastic containers at the checkout). This place has really stepped it up since last time, now a full restaurant with expanded separate counter just for empanadas, just super. The chef makes sure my food is just how I want it, excellent!

My route hugs the Sea of Cortez for 70 miles with fantastic views of the sea and copper colored cliffs. The main road stops at a gate to a mineral mine. The guard at the gate explains to me in Spanish to go back to the last town, turn left then follow the beach. I ask "this is the road to the mountains? He confirms. I just love when I’m forced to speak and understand Spanish (especially when I succeed). A real adventure adder, all brain cells must fire!


Heading inland into the hills. I hot long stretches of steep rocky climbs that are testing endurance, just great stuff. Only one ‘Oh S!’ moment when I'am impatient and didn’t wait for a grader to lower a tall pile he just made to fill a deep rut. Wow, almost ended in the rut. I just did what all us Baja dirt bikers do, perform magic on two wheels and fly ‘literally’ over the obstacle and sail on. Stupid move Tom…

Just fantastic again. The trail goes through several big ranches that are super cool. I give ultimate respect when riding threw these areas keeping low low engine speed. These people are working hard and I’m sure don’t appreciate groups of dirt bikers BRAAAPing through their home. I make it to Ciudad Constitucion close to dusk, I am fried. The motels are nice here and the street food is tops, all good, this ride continues…

These are the tracks I made up with basecamp software, took a screenshot then added the filenames of the tracks using paint.exe Today the file name (09_LaPaz-SanEvaisto=136) means ‘09’ maybe the 9th track I run, ‘LaPaz-SanEvaisto’ fuel to fuel stops and ‘136’ is miles of the track. The filenames make it easy to activate / deactivate the tracks on the GPS. The names of the fuel spots and points of interest also make it easy to activate GPS navigation to those spots. I rarely use the GPS navigation feature but it’s fun to have it running to see miles to go and alternate route suggestions. And if my tracks fails the GPS has suggested alternate routes that have worked. Fun stuff.
This map is correct Except the gas pump (Gas0-7b) is in the wrong spot, it’s in the other direction on hwy-1! The spot I have marked is a pump that’s been defuncted for decades. This could have been a problem if I didn’t note it on my way south. It's handy to carry hardcopys of the tracks and digital pics for the tablet.
Day-10 Baja Adventure Ride: Bahía Concepción. Skipping the dirt section to Loreto today. I’ve done that a few times in the past, today the calmer route to Loreto where the plan is oil change. Hit Auto-Zone for two bottles 10W/40 synthetic moto oil. I see Auto-Zones all over Baja now beautiful. I continue north to explore the dirt tracks I made around Bahía Concepción. One track ends at a ten foot drop off, no sign or even a crude marker trail just gone. I bet this is from the recent hurricane.
”What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. ” Zig Ziglar

I find a big section of free rustic camp spots on the bay. A couple RV’ers are hunkered here. At the end of the path it is nice and secluded but the wind is blowing in and it is all rock. I know of a camp with a beach protected from the wind at the north end of the bay where Heidi and our dog Sam camped at a couple times.

Same exact spot Heidi and I camped last. All the RVs are lined next to each other on the main beach. This is the rustic beach with no hookups, I like it here best.

This restaurant near camp has upped its game, killer margaritas and fish tacos now with excellent toppings. No noodles on the camp fire tonight :) I love Baja!

Day-11 Baja Adventure Ride continues: We have a problem.
The rain sprinkled steady all night which is a nice sound on the tent. Out of the blue I hear a loud SNAP. My hi tech aluminum tent pole broke. I am able to use my boots to keep the tent off my feet so nothing serious but if it were raining hard I would be getting wet. What-the-heck caused that? Later in the middle of the night I hear lapping water. I pitched the tent close to the high tide mark but thought I was OK. Moved it back a couple feet just to be sure.
”The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare.” Bobby Knight



It is more difficult today to get the fire going, I’m sure the rain didn’t help. But the drive for hot coffee and warm beans keeps the effort alive. The best camping morning hangout, reading drinking coffee and bike prep. I can handle this…

No trace.

Melege is a good stop. I have eaten here before, a little fancy for me but always perfect Baja adventure fuel.

The tracks I have laid today are mostly short loops to the Sea of Cortez, Super cool and varied terrain.

I take pause at this wet area and walk out to make sure I am good to cross.


More suspicious wetness! Totally cool trail.

No Tom do not try… My track goes here. The only hope to complete this section is to look for another track around it. Fun stuff!

I found the track that was created to get around the water. People live out here I knew there must be a way.

At a gas station in Santa Rosalia the attendant is pointing at my rear tire motioning flat. I explained to him it’s just my mousse inner tube, and it's all OK. Fifty miles later down the highway in Cuidad Vizcaino the bike is bouncing like I have a flat tire…Yup, fried Mousse tube and blown tire :| The Adventure Begins…
I bounce the bike up the road to an Auto-Zone store and ask the workers where I can find a motorcycle shop or just a tire. No moto shop here is the word. I check into an inexpensive but nice motel to proceed to figure this out. Next door is a tire shop. I ask the guys working there. One dude says there is a bicycle shop down the side street and he mentions motorcycle also. I take a long walk and find nothing. It’s getting late, tacos, a couple beers and back to the motel to figure this out. I reach out on Facebook (can’t believe I did that) In no time Tim Morton (The ultimate Baja everything authority) is telling me I can get this fixed in Vizcaino. He suggests to just ask around town. Tim knows me and if he says I can do it I can do it, PERFECT! Last thing I want is to take a bus to get my truck and haul it home with my tail between my legs. Tomorrow is another day, I will find something…
Day-12 Baja Adventure Ride.
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage.” Channing

At the motel I google (bicycle shop Vizcaino). I can’t believe it, a shop just up a side street almost where the guys at the tire shop told me, beautiful! The bike gets stripped down ready to go to the shop. 8:00 AM I bounce to the bicicletas (bicycle) shop.

No one here but across the street I talk to the shop owner. He says his son has a motorcycle shop at another casa (home) across town. I follow the shops other son across town on his motorcycle alongside Baja dirt roads to a house and moto shop of his son, el Sammy. Sammy is on the phone for at least 20 minutes trying to find an 18 inch tire. BINGO! Sammy and I race across town on more Baja dirt roads in his truck to a friend who is also a moto mechanic with backyard shop. This mechanic removes an 18 inch tire off a rim of another bike. I pay for the tire (all of this in Spanish) they both laugh when I understand Spanish numbers so well and not much else, fun! Sammy has a new tube at his shop. Back to Sammy’s I'm given a chair to sit in the shade while the work begins. What a super pleasant experience. In no time I'm rolling. A section of the mousse was turned to powder and shredded in two. This ride CONTINUES!


Checkout is at 11:00 AM and I am back in time to leave today, Unreal! Yesterday I paid for two nights to sort this out properly so now all I have to do is find tacos, explore the town and enjoy the day, perfect!

I find a part to fix the tent pole that broke the other day. I cannot believe this. I love Mexico!

These are new and killer good tacos. Every place in town I try is better than the last, just great!

A little tent pole fine tuning at the motel. This is totally going to work.
The Ride Continues!
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