Baja California
Husaberg 570 - December 2013
Husaberg 570 - December 2013
Several of my friends and I organized a ride in Northern Baja California between Christmas and New Years. On Friday morning, we met up for breakfast at a Denny's in Mesa, and then headed to Tecate to cross the border. We rode east from Tecate on Hwy 2 Libre, and then south on the Compadre Trail. Shortly after passing Santa Veronica, we took a fun trail east to Laguna Hanson (which was unusually dry for this time of year). We had tacos at Ramona's for lunch, and finally headed west on various trails to arrive at Horsepower Ranch for the night. We enjoyed a great meal and a few margarita's before heading for bed.
Day 2 we didn't plan on a long day of riding, and so didn't leave Horsepower Ranch until around 9:30am. We headed east towards Ojos Negros, and south to Tres Hermanos. Then we headed west again and rode some of the Baja 1000 course, crossed Hwy 3 and continued on the Baja 1000 course to pay respects at the Kurt Caselli Memorial. We ate tacos for lunch at our favorite spot in Valle de Trinidad, and then headed straight south towards Mike Sky Ranch. At about 3:30pm we came to an intersection with the Simpson Trail. We could have continued on the easy way to Mike's, and probably arrived at Mike's by about 4:00pm. Instead, the adventure bug hit us and we decided to take the Simpson Trail - known to be rocky and difficult, but how bad could it be?
Before long I took a fall on some gnarly steps, and that started the carnage. Before just about everybody experienced a fall or two as the trail got more difficult, more rocky, and pretty steep in sections. Everyone helped to lift, push, pull, do whatever was required to all of the bikes through the next 10 miles or so. We finally arrived at Mike's at about 7:30pm, taking something like 4 hours to go maybe 20 miles - the last two hours in the dark. How bad can it be? Luckily we arrived in time for a great steak dinner, and some beers before bed.
Day 3 was another planned short ride to San Felipe. We left about 10am, and headed east on some Baja course towards Laguna Diablo, and some time to play on the dry lake. We made sure to stop at Jose's, a little shack at the edge of Laguna Diablo for some cold beverages and expensive gas. Finally it was on the the Hotel Cortez in San Felipe. Some cervezas and margaritas with dinner, and we watched a bit of football in the bar. Another good day!
Day 4 - Some of our group had to leave for the border today, but Big Todd, Isaac and Ben joined me for a ride from the sunrise of the Sea of Cortez in the east towards the sunset at the Pacific Ocean in the west. We headed back toward Valle de Trinidad, taking a different dirt route then we had ridden the day before. We ate tacos for lunch at a different taco stand,, and then took what is known as the Wine Road south east of Valle T. It's a fun road, cutting through the hills and dropping onto Hwy 1 just south of San Vicente. We continued west on some Baja course to the Pacific Ocean. We played around in some of the beach areas, and then headed north to Ensenada and another night at Horsepower Ranch.
Heading north on dirt roads alongside the Pacific Ocean, I must have been watching the ocean instead of the trail and I took another fall, ending up with two dislocated fingers. So we had to make a quick detour to a hospital in Ensenada to get me fingers reset, and finally on to Horsepower Ranch, and one more fantastic dinner!
Day 5, we headed back north. A fairly routine ride along the Compadre Trail back to cross the border at Tecate. All in all, it was a great ride with good friends!
Day 2 we didn't plan on a long day of riding, and so didn't leave Horsepower Ranch until around 9:30am. We headed east towards Ojos Negros, and south to Tres Hermanos. Then we headed west again and rode some of the Baja 1000 course, crossed Hwy 3 and continued on the Baja 1000 course to pay respects at the Kurt Caselli Memorial. We ate tacos for lunch at our favorite spot in Valle de Trinidad, and then headed straight south towards Mike Sky Ranch. At about 3:30pm we came to an intersection with the Simpson Trail. We could have continued on the easy way to Mike's, and probably arrived at Mike's by about 4:00pm. Instead, the adventure bug hit us and we decided to take the Simpson Trail - known to be rocky and difficult, but how bad could it be?
Before long I took a fall on some gnarly steps, and that started the carnage. Before just about everybody experienced a fall or two as the trail got more difficult, more rocky, and pretty steep in sections. Everyone helped to lift, push, pull, do whatever was required to all of the bikes through the next 10 miles or so. We finally arrived at Mike's at about 7:30pm, taking something like 4 hours to go maybe 20 miles - the last two hours in the dark. How bad can it be? Luckily we arrived in time for a great steak dinner, and some beers before bed.
Day 3 was another planned short ride to San Felipe. We left about 10am, and headed east on some Baja course towards Laguna Diablo, and some time to play on the dry lake. We made sure to stop at Jose's, a little shack at the edge of Laguna Diablo for some cold beverages and expensive gas. Finally it was on the the Hotel Cortez in San Felipe. Some cervezas and margaritas with dinner, and we watched a bit of football in the bar. Another good day!
Day 4 - Some of our group had to leave for the border today, but Big Todd, Isaac and Ben joined me for a ride from the sunrise of the Sea of Cortez in the east towards the sunset at the Pacific Ocean in the west. We headed back toward Valle de Trinidad, taking a different dirt route then we had ridden the day before. We ate tacos for lunch at a different taco stand,, and then took what is known as the Wine Road south east of Valle T. It's a fun road, cutting through the hills and dropping onto Hwy 1 just south of San Vicente. We continued west on some Baja course to the Pacific Ocean. We played around in some of the beach areas, and then headed north to Ensenada and another night at Horsepower Ranch.
Heading north on dirt roads alongside the Pacific Ocean, I must have been watching the ocean instead of the trail and I took another fall, ending up with two dislocated fingers. So we had to make a quick detour to a hospital in Ensenada to get me fingers reset, and finally on to Horsepower Ranch, and one more fantastic dinner!
Day 5, we headed back north. A fairly routine ride along the Compadre Trail back to cross the border at Tecate. All in all, it was a great ride with good friends!
|
|
