Baja California, Mex., 3/22~30/2003

[JackSilb]

[b]quote:Originally posted by BajaTaco

Bob, you are going to have a GREAT time! I wish I could go with you. Mulege is my favorite Baja town. Loreto is Sharon's favorite (my wife). What a great intinerary. Best of luck on seeing the whales. Thanks to you and your wife for sharing your whale stories with me at Anza Boreggo.

Uwe - you are a lucky d00d! [;)]

Bob, if you haven't seen my Baja pics (that I have on-line) check them out at:

http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/bajamap.html

http://www.bajataco.com/baja2002.html



Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

http://www.bajataco.com
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Baja, your site on the Baja 2000, is very cool!
I liked the idea of the map and pictures of it.
Hopefully we can copy the idea and start doing it for each trip we do and report on the website and Forum.
Way to go!
-JACK


__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[YukonBob]

Jack

Thanks for the kind words. Two of the vehicles will be people who have been to the whales with us before. It gets in your blood. I haven't posted who will be going but I'll work on doing more. I starting looking at some of the satellite photos of Baja and got sidetracked georeferencing past trips (like Uwe did with Anza-Borrego) on the photos. I need to get some focus. This is way too much fun. We are still at four vehicles and have some room.

Bob

[YukonBob]

Thanks for pics Baja. It looks like good stuff. I'm sure we'll be able to get together sometime. We're doing a couple of spontanious things right now. It's much easier to get together when everybody has time to plan and set priorities.

[JackSilb]

Hi Bob,

You did a fine job posting your trip here and getting it going.
I am glad the Forum is working already.
Did you list the people that are going with you here?
I hope that you can use the Forum so we can follow the trip details and then I can start a page on the website with the trip report and PICTURES.

Thanks and have fun on your trip.
I will try to make it next year. And also try do something with Harry too.

Here is a duplicate of my posting on the insurance Topic.

[b]quote:It is getting more difficult for me to go.
School for the kids is not giving a break. Georgia and the kids already said no because it will create extra work for them in terms of homework and catch-ups. I would have to add two days to the total number of days. (One to get down and one to get up again, ~ 10 hours p/ day on the commute)

Therefore, the probability of me making this year is very low.
-JACK</blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[BajaTaco]

Bob, you are going to have a GREAT time! I wish I could go with you. Mulege is my favorite Baja town. Loreto is Sharon's favorite (my wife). What a great intinerary. Best of luck on seeing the whales. Thanks to you and your wife for sharing your whale stories with me at Anza Boreggo.

Uwe - you are a lucky d00d! [;)]

Bob, if you haven't seen my Baja pics (that I have on-line) check them out at:

http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/bajamap.html

http://www.bajataco.com/baja2002.html



Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

http://www.bajataco.com

[YukonBob]

We now have four vehicles going. One last space.

Jack- I know you won't be able to make a decision until the last minute.[:(] You'll still be welcome. There are some logistics involved in adding somebody late. We can talk about what you are considering off the forum and I'll try to accomodate you or at least let you know what you'll be facing. The more notice that I have the more I can do.-Bob

[YukonBob]

[:D] We've got three vehicles signed up. There is room for two more.

Harry, Nice to see you on the board. Do you want to go whale watching after your whale watching trip? You can relax and be a tourist. Well, probably not, but close.[8D]

[YukonBob]

[b]quote:Bob,

Can we try to get this trip in a holiday?
That can save us some vacation time from work.

thanks,
-JACK
</blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Sorry Jack. Although we're going to be seeing and doing a lot of things, the only reason Peggy and I are going is the whales. They don't keep our holiday schedule.

For many years, we always went over the February holiday. As with anything that becomes popular, the holiday became a very bad time to go. I'm really looking forward to this trip because we will be at the end of the tour operator season.

[WhiteThaiGer]

quote:Originally posted by JackSilb
Aha, if you continue to build these maps on CD/DVDs I will end having to use the same PC software you are using.
Just can't take a PC on my good looking 4Runner[:D]. It does not fit. One more reason to get a Land Cruiser, right?[:p]
If I can find a 10" LCD PC monitor for (<$200), I will get a PC on-board. SteveS is jsut waiting for me so he can get one too.

I friend of mine, Jim Wasson got the MapTech TOPO CDs for California and the CE software. Lets see what Jim tell us about them.
-JACK
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I still like the idea of a used notebook, mine was only $200. [[b]Waring: used notebook is only cheap if you don't upgrade car for it![:D]] It's versatile, you can use it for other stuff, I just don't go out often enough to have a dedicated sytem in the car. 10" is also quite small for a screen. I might consider it though as an add-on to the notebook, add a small external keyboard and you got something similar to what you are planning. Will your PC setup have network access? I am thinking wireless network, so that you can sit in the car in the garage and download maps and stuff from your main system or the net right on the machine in the car.[:)] I am curious to see/hear about your setup when you get it.
OziExplorer (software Bob and I are using) has a CE version.

Uwe

[WhiteThaiGer]

[quote
Uwe, I have a fair amount of UT topos. Mainly the Moab area. I can burn them to CD for you if you'd like.

---
WolfSoul - WF7SOL
[/quote]

Thanks for the offer, but we won't go anytime soon. So let's hold off on that for now. One of these days I really want to go to Escalante. We saw pics when we visited this confluence: www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=37&lon=-112 (http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=37&lon=-112). It's right next to the legendary 'Wave' (need permit for that).

If anyone would like any of the NM, AZ, CA topos let me know, I'm also willing to burn CD's. I have the 7.5 set's complete for these states, but don't have all the 100k & 250k. Most of my maps have the collar, because I also use them for hiking.

Uwe

[JackSilb]

Bob,

Can we try to get this trip in a holiday?
That can save us some vacation time from work.

thanks,
-JACK


__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[YukonBob]

WolfSoul

I haven't been able to find digital topos for Mexico yet. I think they are getting close and I look forward to the day when it happens. I've been buying the paper maps from INEGI (Mexican mapping agency) in Hermosillo.

I've found the links for the Arizona and Utah maps. Thanks for the tip. One of my favorite pictures of Baja is one from space on the home page of the Arizona Regional Image Archive at aria.arizona.edu (http://aria.arizona.edu). It makes we want to go south every time that I see it.

Bob

[JackSilb]

Bob,

I can see that going to Baja with you will be fun. I just wish life will be good close to the trip.
As for now, things are complicated. I am sure there will another chance if I can not make this time.

I believe I have this Almanac that you mentioned. Just need to find it. We moved 2 times since I've been to Baja [|)]...

-JACK

__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[WhiteThaiGer]

I'll be going!![:)] Should be a great trip! If we get to find an unvisited confluence on the trip it would be a perfect trip! Confluence[?] ->www.confluence.org (http://www.confluence.org)
Would be nice if another White 4Runner would make it, Jack[8D]

Topo quads: New Mexico is available online too in case any of you Arizonians go east: sar.lanl.gov/index.html (http://sar.lanl.gov/index.html).
Occasionally I feel I have to use some bandwidth with my cable modem, downloading maps is a good way. I got CA, AZ, NM complete on CD or DVD. Got to work on Utah..., but there are still satellite pics to download too[|)]

Uwe

[JackSilb]

[b]quote:Originally posted by White ThaiGer

I'll be going!![:)] Should be a great trip! If we get to find an unvisited confluence on the trip it would be a perfect trip! Confluence[?] ->www.confluence.org (http://www.confluence.org)
Would be nice if another White 4Runner would make it, Jack[8D]

Topo quads: New Mexico is available online too in case any of you Arizonians go east: sar.lanl.gov/index.html (http://sar.lanl.gov/index.html).
Occasionally I feel I have to use some bandwidth with my cable modem, downloading maps is a good way. I got CA, AZ, NM complete on CD or DVD. Got to work on Utah..., but there are still satellite pics to download too[|)]
Uwe
</blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Aha, if you continue to build these maps on CD/DVDs I will end having to use the same PC software you are using.
Just can't take a PC on my good looking 4Runner[:D]. It does not fit. One more reason to get a Land Cruiser, right?[:p]
If I can find a 10" LCD PC monitor for (<$200), I will get a PC on-board. SteveS is jsut waiting for me so he can get one too.

I friend of mine, Jim Wasson got the MapTech TOPO CDs for California and the CE software. Lets see what Jim tell us about them.
-JACK


__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[JackSilb]

Boy,

I would like to make it.
Life is a kind of crazy these days.
Georgia just came back from Brazil. She is looking for a job.
At work, as in most start-ups, work is difficult to share.
We will see. I will put it on my tentative schedule. You know me, I may show-up the night before ...[:D][:D]

Good job on the trip description. You got the idea.
-JACK

__________________________________________________ ______________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

[JackSilb]

Bob,

Where do we get good maps for Baja?
Is there anything better than the AAA maps?

Also, are you able to use your GPS and the PC software with Baja maps? That is, can you find electronic maps from Baja?

thanks,
-JACK


__________________________________________________ ________
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[YukonBob]

Jack

My favorite map of Baja is the Baja Almanac at www.baja-almanac.com (http://www.baja-almanac.com). It used to come in a north and a south edition. The newest one covers the entire pennisula.

I haven't found any electronic maps of Baja but I have made some. That's one of the reasons why moving map software like OziExplorer is so good. I have scaned the the AAA map and georeferenced it so I can use it for highway driving. I've had all of my Mexican topo maps scanned on a large format scanner so I have them in digital format also. Unfortunately, they are all in black and white because large format color scanning was real expensive.

Moving map software is always running on my computer anytime I'm in Mexico.

Bob

[WolfSoul]

Sounds like you've got quite the set up, Bob! Very cool.

I don't know if there are equivalents for Mexico, but I know that it is possible to get digital USGS quads for the entire state of AZ and UT free on-line. Might be able to find them for Mexico as well . . .

---
WolfSoul - WF7SOL

Use your 4wd to enjoy the environment, not the environment to enjoy your 4wd. - Zippy

[Rockcrawler]

And it is a week too late for my spring break.... hmmm.... think my prof's would mind if I extended my vacation a bit??? :D


"Paved Roads: Another example of wasteful government spending."

KD7UEH

[YukonBob]

Depending on the subject they may approve. They may want to come along. Let's see, we'll be studing some of the unique plants of Baja, the people and culture of Baja, the history of Baja, and a first hand meeting with the whale they used to call the devil fish. This won't be an adventure, it will be an education.[;)] See if that works!

[WolfSoul]

Darn it! This is the second Baja trip in three months that I won't be able to do!! :-( I am still can't take time off from my new job . . .

---
WolfSoul - WF7SOL

Use your 4wd to enjoy the environment, not the environment to enjoy your 4wd. - Zippy

[YukonBob]

Hi Fellow Adventurers,

We're going to Baja and we’d like to invite you along. If you haven't been to Baja, this will be an excellent introduction to the magnificent peninsula. The trip will be from Saturday March 22 until Sunday March 30th. We’ll cover about 2/3 of the Baja peninsula and spend time on both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. There are two nights of primitive camping, two nights of semi-camping with showers, cots and food available, and four nights of hotels. Bob promises some of the best camping spots next to salt water you’ll ever find. Hotels will cost between 50 and 80 dollars a night. Camping with facilities runs from 5 to 30 per night. Gas will cost about $2.30 a gallon at Pemex stations and another buck a gallon in remote locations. We won’t have to do that remote gas often but Toyota trucks might need a shot every once in a while. I always carry an extra ten gallons on this trip. On our last trip, the whaleboats were $30 per person for two hours. We expect to be out twice so the cost would be about $120 per couple. These are rough guidelines for planning purposes.

We will be going to San Ignacio Lagoon in an attempt to make contact with California Gray Whales. We’ve never been there this late in the season and don’t know exactly what to expect. We may touch a whale, we may not. Most of the whales may be gone. I think that the whales that are still in the lagoon will be mothers with newborns. Spending hours with a mother teaching her calf how to approach the boat for it’s first human contact has been one of my favorite experiences with whales. I have to warn people that San Ignacio is not Disneyland- it is Mother Nature's land. The wind can blow so hard that we can’t go out in boats. It can last for days. I hope that you’ll get to look a whale in the eye and be changed forever but we are not in control. We’ll put ourselves in position for good things to happen.

Other places we’ll visit are San Juanico (the surfers call it Scorpion Bay), Mulege, San Francisquito, Bahia De Los Angeles, San Quintin and maybe a side trip to El Marmol. The drive from San Ignacio Lagoon to San Juanico through the mud flats is a classic. We’ll also travel the route that Padre Kino traveled when he was the first European to cross Baja and see the Pacific Ocean. If time permits, we may even visit the failed site of the first Spanish attempt to establish a mission in Baja in the late 1600’s. It’s not on any maps. Mulege is one of my favorite towns and I’m sure you will appreciate the charm of this tropical paradise. On the way north we’ll take off on some great dirt roads to spend the night at San Francisquito. This is a fly-in resort that doesn’t get many driving visitors except for Baja 1000 participants. At Bahia Los Angeles, we’ll see if we can find a boat to take us out in the bay. We’ll probably encounter a large group of dolphins that will swim with our boat. It’s a beautiful spot. Take a look at your AAA maps of Baja and see if you can follow the routes.

I hope you choose to make the trip with us. It really is spectacular. We’ve got a lot of work to do to make this trip happen for even a small group. We are thinking of limiting the trip to five vehicles with two people in each vehicle for logistical reasons so let us know what you think.


Moderator Edit : 4/5/2003 7:58:51 AM GMT

[WolfSoul]

[b]quote:Originally posted by White ThaiGer

Got to work on Utah..., but there are still satellite pics to download too[|)]
</blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Uwe, I have a fair amount of UT topos. Mainly the Moab area. I can burn them to CD for you if you'd like.

---
WolfSoul - WF7SOL

Use your 4wd to enjoy the environment, not the environment to enjoy your 4wd. - Zippy

[YukonBob]

We'll be leaving on Saturday morning and I'm sorry that more of you won't be able to join us. http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/cry.gif It's tough to take off for a week on short notice. The next time we make the trip, I'll give you more warning. There are lot's of whales down there that would like to meet you, up close and personal. I'll be sure to give a full report when we return. I think you can count on Uwe doing the same.


Jack, your spot is still open

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[WhiteThaiGer]

[quote]
YukonBob said...

..... I'll be sure to give a full report when we return. I think you can count on Uwe doing the same.But be warned, we take slides and regular film pictures, none of this instant gratification and laptop slide show stuff at the camp fires ..... yethttp://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/wink.gif . So there will be a week or 2 delay before I can put pictures up. But then, that may still be too fast for Jack to put up newgallery softwarehttp://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/lol.gif


Uwe

[JackSilb]

[quote]
YukonBob said...

We'll be leaving on Saturday morning and I'm sorry that more of you won't be able to join us. http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/cry.gif It's tough to take off for a week on short notice. The next time we make the trip, I'll give you more warning. There are lot's of whales down there that would like to meet you, up close and personal. I'll be sure to give a full report when we return. I think you can count on Uwe doing the same.

Jack, your spot is still open

[quote]Hi Bob,
[quote]Thank you. I have 2 kids sick this week and more is coming I am afraid..
[quote]Next time we will plan better.
[quote]Also, remember that this is the first trip that we have the 4wdtrips.net site and Forum. Make sure you guys set the standard for reporting the trip. Remember the discussion on how to document your trip? http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/idea.gif
[quote]We should not worry, Bob and Uwe together will have all kind of maps, GPS, and pictures one can take.
[quote]Take care, enjoy it, play safe.
[quote]-JACK
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So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...