We left Friday morning towards La Quinta to meet with Doug, Vickie and Yair.
At 7:45AM the day was perfect. I little cold but with good gear make the ride very pleasant.
The freeway had more cars than I was expecting, but still good traffic.
After patching a small electrical issue on Doug's LT we went off the Starbucks in La Quinta and met Jim at the Mac Donalds in Calexico around 11:15AM. We had some small lunch there. I got some pesos at the one of the exchange boots that are there and we were ready to our Mexico trip.
The border was very easy. We didn't stop since we had our Mexican insurance already bought over the internet. less then 1 minute to pass it.
The car traffic in Mexicali/Calexico is a bit chaotic but with caution we manage to went thru without any incidents. Find the Mexico 5 South wasn't difficult. it's very well indicate on sighs and if you have any idea were you want to go, you will not get lost.
The highway 5 going down to San Felipe is very plain and nothing to see but the dry lake left when Colorado river stop flooding that area
We arrived in San Felipe at 14:30. We cover a little less then 300 miles in about 7 hours trip with stops.
The temperature in San Felipe was good on the 60's and we quickly decided on a hotel
Don Jesus was on the average prices for the area. (U$62) with the rooms were very cold. The manager had ordered some heaters that were coming from Calexico and by night it was already placed on the room, but that help just a little. Was a cold night.
The hotel seams very secure, we could park our bikes on the paved entrance and went for a walk, some drinks and a nice restaurant, El Nito, that Jim point out for us.
we got the covers from the other bad and used it on ours.
The room is not big but spacious enough and we can be there again in the future.
On the afternoon the tide is high and you can see it right next to the 'malecon'
and on next morning, the water is all back many hundred feet.
The water here is suppose to be warmer and pleasant.
Next morning we depart 9:55AM, after a breakfast at the hotel and after filling gas on all bikes. The GS used a lot of gas and I'm not sure why. was one of my worst averages ever: 30mpg. Could be some gas that I lost when I empty the tank last week, but still... very bad.
Right after the town of San Felipe we saw many dune bugs having fun on the sand there.
On the way back we were stopped at the Military Inspection that is on the junction of Highways 5 and 3. They are looking for arms and drugs. Checked all the bikes and opens some bags but noting major. Vickie took a picture of all of then grouped around our bikes.
Doug and his wife Vickie were the organizer for this trip. They choose the places to go and the time of the year was perfect: every body else has frozen roads and we were in a sunny Baja California.
Thank you Doug and Vickie.
Our fearless leder Jim.
He got us to a good food and lead the path in a very pleasant and safe manner.
Thank you !!
Yair was a great company on the trip. The had some amazing stories at every meal and was good to ear him about his worldwide experiences.
The Highway 3 over the mountains from East to West is a great road. Some very nice views and twisters in a good pavement.
The crossing took us about 4:30 hours for 160 miles. We stopped a couple of times and enjoy the ride.
Entering Ensenada from highway 3 is quite a view. The least word would be 'interesting'.
Ensenada traffic was a little crazier then Calexico, but still no incidents besides a dog and his conductor jumping in front of Doug and Vickie.
We stay at the Best Western in Ensenada. The view was great and the room was good, but at night it was too noise. We had tourist noise until 2:00AM. If you book there, do not get the front rooms at 850 pesos.
The huge Mexican flag is a must see on the town. Looks like it's the size of a football field.
Again Jim took us to a nice place to eat fish tacos. Note the small cart with candies on top. They are everywhere.
There is a Brazilian restaurant there, but I would not recommend. I went to check and they are far from the real deal in Brazil.
Don't you wonder where to put those nice decorations at your home?
Another way to came to Ensenada is by cruise. There are week ships here from Los Angeles and San Diego.
Next morning we left around 10:00AM from Highway 3 to Tecate. We stop at the L.A. Cetto Winery but not sure if it worth. It's suppose to have on of the best wines in Mexico, but you can't compare with Central Cal. wineries.
The only road I could really use the GS: couple miles from the winery to the highway. It's a compact dirty and the GS performed explendid there. On the LT I would never ride it faster then 20/25 mph and I did 60mph on the GS. On the picture you can see the 3 LT's back there.
The border has a long line, but on the motorcycle you can ride on the right and go all the way to the front.
Another great road in California: Highway 94 and S1. Perfect for motorcycling.
How about this helmet hanger that Jim uses?
The GS is almost ready for our great trip. As soon as we fix the seat I would say it's ready. We had no problems and all the settings and upgrades I did worked perfect on this 'test' trip.
Click on each day for a map view
Who is Elton
I was born in Brazil and my wife and I moved to USA, California in 1996, for a change in our lives. Took us some time to learn the language and get into this country, but I think we are doing very well expect the learning a new language after 35 is not easy. We became citizens in 2007.
My wife and I we love to travel and by the time I was writing this page, we have logged more them 100.000 miles on few motorcycles we had and now we are riding this BMW K1200LT 2002 or the BMW R1150GS 2003, many more miles on our car and much more on the airplane.
Winter we do Snowmobile, Summer we go to the lakes for water sports (PWC) and we motorcycle year around (one of the goods things of living in sunny California).
San Felipe and Ensenada, Mexico
