Back to Vallejo to drop Knikki off and say goodbye for awhile. One last hug, one last kiss, I'm on my way with a tear in my eye
Met up with Jim and Max in Oakland the trip has begun. Heading on to the freeway I laugh as I watch Max pull a wheelie onto the on ramp.
Yeah, not much freeway traffic. Met Rick, a friend of Jim's and our host for the evening at Alice's Restaurant, a gathering place for motorcycle riders of all descriptions. Nice two lane twisty road going to and coming. I'm figuring something's out riding wise. I laugh as we get close to Rick's house, we drive by the beach where Knikki, Clover and I played the day before.
Steak dinner with Rick an Uncle Bob, a retired ski bum from the Sierras. Great food and conversations
Oct 22
Quick ride from Rick's to San Luis Obispo down 101. Loving the California coast. Rick rides part way with us. He lead us on a short detour on the dirt and through some red woods. Pretty darn neat.
Oct 23
Another quick freeway ride San Luis Obispo to Shasheen Shah's in Encinitas, CA. I met Shasheen year's ago at a tele clinic in Santa Fe. NM, an amazing person and a true friend
An evening beach walk and as usual, Shasheen's over the top hospitality.
Jim Max and Shasheen
Oct 24
Tires changed over to knobbies for off road. Sent a package of warm weather clothes home to Skagway.
After dinner Isabella and Erica come over to Shasheen's, Isabella's birthday celebration. Beer wine and vodka flowed. Erica gave Max and Jim massages, no happy ending. I chatted with Isabella about dancing then exited to the porch to catch a phone call from Knikki. Party went on for awhile I think, I crashed early.
Oct 25
Off and over the boarder last call to Knikki for awhile.
At boarder female boarder inspectors check out our bikes and Max.
Night in Ensenada, going for dinner a young cute "working girl"of some sort seems to like Max. Max got hit on literally. Emails to Knikki
Reply's from my lover in the am
Oct 26
Got our tourist visa's, still no definitive answer on the necessary paper work for the bikes.
Out of town with some minor confusion then down Mexico Highway 3.
Beautiful road with little traffic, scenery much like New Mexico.
Turned off 3 heading up to "Mike's Sky Ranch". 22 miles of killer beach sand mixed with not so killer beach sand pushed my skill level up a notch or two. At this time it's only my mountain biking skills that's keeping me and my bike up right.
At Mike's; a great oasis with an interesting history. Rooms are reminiscent of old ski lodge rooms, bikes get parked by the pool, room rate includes dinner and breakfast.
Tired from the off road ride in bed by 8:30, will be asleep soon.
Oct 27
Rest day: morning hike, studying my spanish, bike maintenance, yoga and some chill time at Mike's
Oct 28
Back to the killer beach sand. Interestingly enough the road was much shorter going out than coming in. Fewer lay downs also.
Rode pavement most of the way to Gonzagas Bay. Euro snacks for lunch, smoked oysters appeared from my panniers. Beers at a beach side bar and restaurant.
Going to look for a beach camp.
Oct 29
Camped out on the beach, because we managed to get all three bikes stuck in the even deeper killer beach sand, however, stars out all night, early morning swim.
Baja sunrise
Everyone unstuck and on the road to Coco's corner. Coco and his corner are worth a google. I immediately impressed him by missing my kickstand and as he said I kissed the Mexican soil.
Jimi and Coco at the corner
20 some miles of rough dirt, I finally manage to get out of 2nd gear, yeah.
San Ignacio, Rice and Beans restaurant and hotel our host Riccardo, a great host, very cool beliefs about honesty and fairness.
Met a couple from Port Townsend on their way down the Baja to kite board for the winter, she used to work for Bart Henderson over in Haines doing river trips, about 20 years ago she said.
Oct30
Rode though old San Ignacio to the old square and mission church, pretty cool. Many palm trees, oasis like.
Max's bike stops in Mulege for no apparent reason. Perfect place. Bunch of adventure riders from all over including two German bicyclist riding to Argentina. All the bikes parked in the hotel court yard complete with a tile floor. Beer is flowing, like a bunch yachtsmen.
Made a date for next Halloween with my lover, very cool, very cool.
Met a girl from Whitehorse working for NOLS down here. Will check out there base of opes tomorrow.
Max's bike.....clogged air filter we believe as of now?
12 bikes in the Hotel Hacienda court yard for the evening, beer store 1/2 a block away.
Oct. 31
Out of Mulege around 11:00, not bad for an 8:30 start. Riders making coffee in the court yard. Ed from Pueblo CO, Jeff from Madison WI, John from Chicago may move to Durango, Danny a KLR rider, Anthony from ...
And a host of other riders.
Stopped in at the NOLS base, the 2nd one ever established. Kate and George from Whitehorse work there, all though not there, Marin, Kate's daughter and Meridith from Whitehorse and the Brew Co gave us a tour. Pretty impressive base.
Beautiful coast, Bahia Conception was incredible. A number of sailboats anchored up in various bays, looked pretty perfect to me.
Long fast hot ride to La Paz. Here for the night, bike's parted in the lobby as is the Mexican tradition it appears.
Found out from the man at the front desk that tonight is the night in Mexico they honor all the children that have died, only the children he said, tomorrow we honor all dead people, tonight only children. I could see and feel those many small souls roaming about with no home, no family, waiting...
Lot's of kids on the streets in costumes getting candy and such at restaurants and stores, Halloween night in La Paz.
Tomorrow import visa's, and perhaps the ferry to the mainland.
Finally got to real time chat with my beautiful lover Knikki, it's been too long.
And got the blog problem fixed, yeah!
Nov 1st
Walked to the ferry office to find out we take care of tickets and import visa's for the bikes at the ferry terminal as well as clear customs. One stop shopping we hope.
Breakfast at La Fonda, the Huevos Ranchero's were great.
Packed up and off to the terminal. The process was painless. Jimi got us there early, we breezed through everything. By the time we finished the lines were out the door.
Now waiting to load the bikes on the ferry to the Matazalan. Overnight boat trip with no beer.... Hmmmmm. Tomorrow off the boat at 8:00am then ride to Durango.
Interesting how after one email chat I miss staying connected to Knikki.
Ran into a brunch of motorcycle riders from LA heading to Argentina also. A couple were from Argentina originally. Also Mike from Durango, CO. Steve from Toronto and Christian from Seattle all getting on the boat for various adventures. Good news they have beer on board.
Getting to the seating salon we noticed smoke coming out one of the air vents, so much for the air conditioning.
Long night so so sleeping. Beautiful sunrise smooth crossing
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