Updated:   Monday, 16 April 2012   Mexicali to Rosarito
Baja California, Mexico
San Diego
15 - 16 March 2011

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Oral surgery for a cyst? Nope. Got lucky. "Just" another root canal. Off to Rosarito Beach. BUT ... by way of Mexicali, up the steep grade to La Rumorosa and the windmills, through Tecate and on down the free road to Popotla and northward to Playas de Rosarito.

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Tuesday, 15 March

Wednesday, 16 March

Thursday, 17 March

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Trip Map
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Missions of Baja History
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Baja Military Checkpoints
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Baja Pemex Stations
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aaa_baja.jpg (6222791 bytes)Ever wonder why Loreto, San Felipé, Los Cabos and other select Mexican destinations come into being and grow like crazy? It's not luck or coincidence. It's all very well-planned. Thanks to Fonatur, the "institution responsible for the planning and development of sustainable tourism projects." And with respect to the Baja Peninsula specifically, there is the vision of the Escalera Nautica, the Nautical Ladder --- a mega project. As of August 2009, this project was HALTED by the Mexican federal government. Yippie! The new Baja Almanac is out!  After being out of print for 4 years and losing both my copies, I ordered 4 to make sure I have a backup and give two away as gifts.
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Photographs

Tuesday, March 15

Desert Hot Springs past the Salton Sea (where there is an internal CPB checkpoint on Highway 86) to Calexico, then Mexicali to La Rumorosa (engineering marvel up a steep grade), Tecate and Rosarito. 

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And a short meeting with Nathen in Salton City for Chryss Protective Services.

Driving through Mexicali, I stopped in at an ATM to withdraw a few spending pesos. Only after the dental appointment did realize that I'd left my bank card inside the machine. Luckily no one attempted use the card. Ugh! Good thing I know people in Rosarito that helped me out, like Dr. Avila.

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Looking south towards San Felipe across the vast Laguna Hanson salt flats. mar15_116.jpg (132886 bytes) mar15_117.jpg (251774 bytes) mar15_118.jpg (95466 bytes)
Heading west on Highway 2, the La Rumorosa grade (engineering marvel) goes up a steep grade towards Tecate.

 

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Several new windmills in this new wind-park region being developed by Sempra Energy.

 

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In Tecate, I had to get off the toll road, drive through town (and a construction detour) to transition onto the "2000 Road", avoiding Tijuana, and taking you directly into Popotla, south of Rosarito. mar15_137.jpg (692720 bytes) mar15_138.jpg (645274 bytes) mar15_139.jpg (640789 bytes) mar15_140.jpg (678450 bytes) mar15_141.jpg (691947 bytes)
Baja California is spectacularly green in Winter & Spring due to plentiful rainfall; just like her sister Alta California looked 150 years ago. mar15_142.jpg (678527 bytes) mar15_143.jpg (682716 bytes) mar15_144.jpg (618609 bytes) mar15_145.jpg (536927 bytes) mar15_146.jpg (637885 bytes)
Drove all the way down to Splash Bar & Restaurant to see friends & network. A few Margaritas and lots of thoughts & reflections that I wrote down, lost in my own head inside my own little world for a few hours. mar15_147.jpg (722740 bytes) mar15_148.jpg (728635 bytes) mar15_149.jpg (739990 bytes) red_journal_entry_2011mar15a.jpg (709847 bytes) red_journal_entry_2011mar15b.jpg (705993 bytes)
Dr. Avila trusted me to send a check due to the lack of cash and ATM card. Additionally, I learned he has three FREE suites upstairs for patients travel a long distance and needing to stay overnight. mar15_150.jpg (546321 bytes) mar15_151.jpg (625590 bytes) mar15_152.jpg (679087 bytes) mar15_153.jpg (665183 bytes) mar15_154.jpg (627840 bytes)
WOW! So no lodging charges tonight. I may as well get my teeth cleaned in the morning. mar15_155.jpg (623309 bytes) mar15_156.jpg (737273 bytes) mar15_157.jpg (579021 bytes)
Wednesday, March 16
An easy day after teeth cleaning. Hung out at Km-38 with Mario, Jacinto & Juan. No hurries. No worries. And a $4 car wash. The new bridge is finally done! red_journal_entry_2011mar16.jpg (583626 bytes)
Stopped in at El Pescador (Jamie, John, Leon not home) and visited a bit with Gus & Bobbie. mar16_114.jpg (301328 bytes)
Having fun in the mid-afternoon border lineup on the way to spend the night at Judy & Lionel's place in San Diego. See journal entry above for details. mar16_116.jpg (170317 bytes) mar16_116a.jpg (23841 bytes) mar16_115.jpg (613156 bytes) mar16_117.jpg (278746 bytes)
Now THESE are high-tech cameras and security systems! mar16_118.jpg (295955 bytes) mar16_119.jpg (198233 bytes) mar16_120.jpg (264976 bytes) mar16_121.jpg (156340 bytes)
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Judy & Lionel's place in San Diego. mar16_124.jpg (619478 bytes) mar16_125.jpg (325968 bytes) mar16_125a.jpg (33545 bytes) mar16_126.jpg (624744 bytes) mar16_126a.jpg (54621 bytes)
Thursday, March 17
After a wonderful Irish meal of corned beef the previous night, we all slept well, got up, didn't do much of anything while having a lazy morning before I headed back to Desert Hot Springs at 10:45 am.