Baja California with the Z's - Days 26 & 27: More Beach Time

 Sunday, March 19

Sunday's Sunrise

While Chris and Lori Z. would spend the day relaxing on the beach near their overlander; I would get in a couple of rides checking out the area some more 

First I explored for and found the sandy road leading to Federal Highway 5 for the settlement of Punta Bufeo.  The town used to host airstrip, but now it's just a bunch of houses to seemingly owned by ex-pats with sand rails.  They picked a good spot, it seems, to have a retirement or vacation home.  There's even a "hotel" here but it looked a bit run down to me.

Once at the highway, I crossed over and explored the trails for a little bit.  I spotted and headed over to what appeared to be an abandoned boat:

The boat was stripped of equipment but I didn't spot any hull damage.

Returning to and crossing back over the highway, I headed north less than a mile I think to the entry that had the sign for the La Poma campground next to which we are boondocking.

The second ride, was to explore the trail that runs parallel (sort of) to the shoreline and heads north.  It takes you past several private homes, and eventually peters out north up Baja Playa del Sol campground.

The map says it goes for the north, the trail, but I lost it soon after I passed that campground so I turned around.

Got turned around while seeking the trail so headed over to the beach.  The stretch I got on had a large amount of sea shells:

I found the survey markers I'd seen on a previous ride and turned off the shore onto the trail which took me near the Baja Playa del Sol campground.  Enroute, I came across a large spread pile of objects.

I stopped for a closer look:

I guess the fishermen who caught the above Trigger Fish kept only the bodies, the heads being unsellable?

Soon enough I retraced my way back to the Punta Bufeo area and our campsite on the beach.

Not much else got done once I got back but to sit by the beach and watch the waves.  There were weekenders walking by and enjoying the weather.

Monday, March 20

Monday's Sunrise, not bad...shot from my RV window

We hung about the campsite, sitting in the sun sometimes, almost always trying to be in the wind to keep the little flies away.

Close to Noon, we were approached by a lady and what turned out to be her nephew.  She, Clara Orozco, and her sister-in-law are the owners of the beach section listed on iOverlander as free camping!

She told Chris and I, that it had been reported to her that some fishermen were using the shell of a building near us as a base and making a mess.  

They run a campground in Puertecitos and had come down to check out things.

They had ascertained that the fishermen in question were not making a mess and confirmed it with us.

They did however ask us for a fee for camping on their property; and to quote them: whatever we thought was reasonable.

We ended up negotiating 800 pesos or $40 dollars for the amount of time we had already been here and until we left, whenever that might be. That's open-ended so I think we're all good.  The fee was for both rigs, so not too bad at all.

Later after lunch, I did a short ride to the area west of La Poma campground and found the local dump!  Yep, they just bulldoze a pit about 1/4 mile from the highway, and you dump trash onto it.  

As per the sign in the picture, there were piles of metal junk and wood bits in the surrounding area.

I rode about another 1/2 mile and came upon a big stinking bunch of piles of clams or some kind of shellfish.  Just sitting there, piled up and rotting.  Ugh.

I quickly left the area and crossed back over the highway.  Wandering around, I came upon what looks like an enclosure to a water tank storage area.

Further wandering found me near the entrance to Punta Bufeo's campground (not sure it exists anymore).  I found the depiction of Orcas to be a bit of misleading advertising.  Of course, perhaps we're here in the off season for Orca, who knows?

The rest of the afternoon was spent near the rigs, sitting in the shade and sometimes wandering about the shoreline looking for interesting rocks.

Monday's sunset was pretty good.  I was being chatted up by some tourists from the SF Bay Area during the photo shoot but managed to get shots in spite of that.

It was pretty windy today but not too bad.  Supposed to be windy tomorrow as well so we'll see.  Still a pretty nice day at the beach.

Baja California with the Z's - Day 25: A Sunrise and More Beach Riding

 Another gloriously sunny and warm day today.  The winds were from the North and quite strong at times but still, warmish on the leeward side of the rigs at their worst.

I woke in time for a nice sunrise:

Around mid-morning, the only large travel trailer with a somewhat unique UTV carrier system loaded up to go.  They had a very helpful little girl, see video to see what I mean:

I relaxed in the sun the whole morning away, quite nice.  Then it was time to ride over to some interesting rock formations/erosions that I'd seen yesterday.

Punta Bufeo, B.C.

Drying out wings

try to spot the rigs

A bit rocky at times...

A little bit of "wave action" for you

I got back to the rigs short of 2PM and the rest of the afternoon was spent laying out in the sun, though I did take care to remain mostly covered as I've tanned up a bit!  It was warm enough that Chris Z. even went in for a short swim!

Dinner was Tamales made by Lori Z.  Yum!  Yep, another great day.

Baja California with the Z's - Day 24: Beach Riding on St. Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

T'was a bit cooler here today but still nice and sunny for the most part.  It would get cooler in the late afternoon and evening, but still, not bad at all.

We're boondocking at Punta Bufeo, near the La Poma Campground but on the "free" portion of the beach.  This morning after breakfast and a leisurely morning of relaxing; I decided to take Yagi, my TW200, and ride the beach to the northern end of the small "bay" we're at.

The going was not bad, I rode slowly and carefully, trying to stay away from the really loose sand.  I found myself looking for and staying on gravel covered sand, which gave better traction!

Soon, enough, I was past a couple of campgrounds, some private homes, and saw what looked like a border marker.  

Looking back towards Punta Bufeo:

I retraced my way, feeling a bit surer about how to negotiate the beach sand and gravel.  I think I may have to do some more exploring along this section of the shoreline tomorrow, perhaps.

I rode past the rigs, and then decided to go to the southern end of the shallow bay we're situated at.  Rocks and such prevented me riding close to the end of the big rocky hillside that ends at the water's edge:

Some careful balancing and clambering later, I rounded the curve and saw this:

Zoomed in shot of the beach where we're boondocking

All the rocks you see in the first two pics of the southern end?  I could see, as I carefully moved on top from rock to rock, dozens of what I call Sea Cockroaches.

You could see them scurrying under the rocks as I approached, dozens and dozens of them.  A bit disturbing but since they fled, it was all good.  I did managed to stop at one spot to capture some of them with the camera:

They kind of look like prehistoric Trilobites don't they?  Here's a short video of them moving about:

An artsy pic before I got back onto Yagi and returned to my campsite:

At 4:30 PM, Chris, Lori and I got on both TW200s and rode the short distance to the La Poma Campground's Restaurant:

My fajitas were a bit "chewy", nothing like the Arrachero (Skirt Steak) we'd been buying from the grocery store in BLA!  Chris and Lori seemed to enjoy their plates however, so it was all good.

It was a bit chilly as we ate at the restaurant, as the outside tables were in the shade.  We warmed up a bit sitting in the light of the setting sun back at camp but all too soon it was time to go into our respective RVs.

Another good day at the beach!

Baja California with the Z's - Day 23: Beach Day!

 It's taken us a while here in Baja California but we finally found a nice accessible spot on a nice beach AND the weather was warm and sunny!

Though the day started overcast and a bit gray, it did brighten up in the late morning after I'd gone riding around with Yagi, my TW200. 

I checked out the nearby "airport", now quite defunct:

Runway Number

Looking towards the campsite from the air strip

Later, while walking about the nearby dunes:

Well, definitely a turtle shell but I think some joker

put a large fish head where it is....

When I returned to the campsite from the above walk, I found Lori and Chris Z. on the water:

Isla San Luis

While I was taking the above shot of Isla San Luis, Chris Z. had walked into the water and gotten a nice dip....of course, I had to do the same!

Afterwards, we all gathered together at the shoreline's waves for a beer:

Yep, it did not suck.

A view of the rigs from our spots on the water

Later in the afternoon, the Z's decided to "go fly a kite":

Here's a video compilation of the Z's beach activities today....it was a very good day!

Dinner was at the Z's, Arrachero!  Skirt Steak bought at BLA, with rice and french fries.