Saturday, January 16, 2010

Baja Bound

GS Adventure a Baja bike?


    Is the BMW GS Adventure a Baja bike? Sure why not. My buddy Soto has been trying to get me to go down to baja with him for some time and finally I was able to make it for a quick over nighter to Mike's Sky Ranch. Mike's Sky Ranch has been a long time stop for all off roaders traveling through baja. I didn't know how old it was but before it became the mecca it is, it used to be a hunting lodge. I was beyond stoked to do this trip. 

    I've been on plenty of dirt before but sand is another thing. Baja has plenty of one thing...    sand.  Having eight gallons of gas over the front wheel isn't the best thing either. 


   The day started early with a hitch. My buddy Gary's bike didn't start. That sucked. Already minutes into the day and we were one rider down. Good thing it happened here and not 100 miles out in the middle of no where. 


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   Hit the road and met up with Soto and then it was off to hook up with Jon further South on our way to Tecate 


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 We finally crossed the boarder and the adventure started. Only a few miles down the road and took a right into the dirt, aired down the tires


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About half way down the trail Jon needed to modify his boxes. The standard GS boxes aren't he best for off roading but that still didn't stop us from going to Mike's Sky Ranch


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Soto helped with some great GPS coordinates. 


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We pushed on to Ojos Negros and through to Valle de Trinidad 


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Just outside Trinidad we turned off the paved road and on to the 30 mile stretch to Mike's Sky Ranch. 


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It was dusk and I wasn't too stoked on riding in unfamiliar territory off road and in the dark. I do have some great Piaa lights on the bike but with all of the jarring, one of the lamps had an older bulb that went out. I was still very happy to have some extra light thrown out on the dirt ahead. 


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Just as I was getting tired I found myself at the water crossing to Mike's. Woo Hoo! 

Starved, the best thing to get in your system is some local margaritas! Right on, the party has started!


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Then to really put something in the belly they fed us with steak and beans. It was very very tasty! Looking forward to my next trip there


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Up early the next day, had some coffee, solid breakfast made by the wonderful staff at Mikes and we were off again. 


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Not having a lot of time in the dirt with the big tank of a bike I was a little worn out on the BMW GSA. 


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Instead of heading for another 100 miles in the dirt we opted for getting a snack back in Trinidad and press on to Ensenada. 


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Saw the goat trial from the Baja 1000


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Jon needed to get some things done in town so we jammed around with him and then left to check out a wonderful resort just 30 minutes North of Ensenada. 


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Having the mini trip turned into a day of fun relaxation on the bike we ended it at Dona Lupe's Vineyard. 


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It was short but wonderful and amazing. Can't wait to do it again...    maybe a few days longer. 



Thanks to Jon for his amazing photo's. jonbeckphotography.com


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