Camalu to Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja, Mexico

Chris wrote: Missy and Dawn outside Starbucks in Long Beach California.


Roy and Joji in L.A.

Missy's bathroom buddy, kept her company while tinkling in the desert.

The real hot spot mentioned in the previous post, Missy felt she needed to be included in this scene of hellish heat.

DESERT,DESERT, DESERT!!!!!!!!!!!

OASIS, OASIS, OASIS!!!

Los Gringos en La Gringa

Gilbert, the master chef masterfully constructing his signiture dish internationally known as Gilbert ceviche. This is some good S$%T

Me and Tito, the guy who has mastered 3 different classes at all 3 Baja races, a very modest fellow with a lot of good stories.

This is the charity that we came across and these guys are handing out boxes and boxes of toys and clothes to the local kids, they also built a library for the town, pretty cool.

Tito and Chino at dinner lasat night.

The back of my helmet, Missy looks at this all day every day.

Melissa wrote: What a difference a few days makes. We left Camalu and headed South. Central Baja is pure desert, hot, hot, hot. The temperature was 104 degrees which made riding interesting. Passing through the beautiful desert landscapes, nothing around us but cactus, we rode for about an hour and a half. Just when we were beginning to feel really dehydrated, a litle building rose up in the distance with a sign that said Ábierto 24 horas. Turns out it was someone's house that was also a little restuarant. We bought the last bottles of water and soldiered on in the heat. We came to the town of Cataviña, and stopped for gas at the local hotel/gas station (appropriately named The Desert Inn). While Chris got gas I walked around and saw that the little hotel had....A POOL! We immediately abandoned our plan to ride further and checked in. The hotel was a little pricey but at that point I would have cashed in what's left of my 401K to dive in. Early start and headed to the town of Bahia de los Angeles on the Sea of Cortez. A sleepy little town, and the guy at the local gas station directed us to a hotel on the beach called Guillermo''s. For 45 dollars a night we got 2 beds and a shower with a tiny little air conditioner that is doing it´s best to cool us down. We dropped our riding clothes and jumped in the ocean, sat there all day with some cold Tecate chatting with all of the cool people we met there. Turns out Bahia de los Angeles is a hidden gem of a sportfising destination famous for yellowtail. There were 50 American guys in town from Southern California for a tournament they do every year. They have a foundation, and the proceeds from the tournament go for education and clothing for the local children here. They were staying at other hotels but came to Guillermo´s for the margaritas. Also turns out Guillermo is a local celebrity who consistently wins the Baja 1000 race in his jacked up, monster Land Cruiser truck. We also met 3 Mexican guys from Ensenada, Tito, Gilbert and Armando. These guys are all champions of the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 race, driving Baja Bug cars. They explained the mechanics of the race, which actually passes right through this town into the desert. Chris was riveted. Looks like next year I will be cheering him on in the Baja 500...dios mio! These guys had caught a lot of yellowtail and invited us to a BBQ at their friend Eduardo's house nearby. There they made the most incredible ceviche we have EVER had. They took this freshly caught yellowtail and cut it up with chiles, onion, tomato, lots of lime and oyster sauce, and we had it right there on their patio with some cold beers while discussing rally racing and Mexican politics. An amazing day. This is what I love about Mexico...the warmth and hospitality of the people and the unexpected experiences that can enrich your trip if you just keep yourself open to them. We are now in a little market with 2 computers, the local "Internet Cafe" and the only place with signal. Tomorrow on south, our destination a town called San Ignacio. Vaya con dios, friends!