After 5000 miles and 4 months of driving from Alaska to the tip of Baja we realize we have driven as far south as we will go this winter… it’s now time to just coast for awhile.

Don’t miss our latest video, watch it on the big screen in 1080p, slip in the ear buds or slide on your head phones and enjoy!

After crossing the Mexican border we took 6 days and 1000 miles to arrive at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula just in time for the Christmas holidays.

We join my brother and his family and friends in Zacatitos located on the East Cape. They have rented a comfortable bungalow for a couple of months.

Daytime temps here were in the low 80’s and were a little hot for us, finding shade under the veranda by mid day was a must. Beautiful colors of the Sea of Cortez.

We spend the next 10 days hanging out, celebrating, relaxing and enjoying life. Each morning we get up early and walk a couple of miles or bike along the trails before it gets too hot. Ruby loved meeting the local dogs and donkeys on our morning rounds.

During this visit we realize how much the Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo areas have changed and how they have become very very crowded. When we first visited here in 1975 the area was no more then a fishing villages.

 Today traffic in these cities is now similar to driving around Southern California.  Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and Starbucks are now part of everyday life on the tip of Baja.

Many of the beaches around the tip of Baja have become gentrified by wind/kite surfers and folks that just want to own a winter getaway.

Changes like these makes us appreciate our early Baja adventures in the late 60’s and early 70’s. 

Now that I am an older guy and someone that actually knows first hand “how it used to be” these changes will sometimes negatively affect my current appreciation of Baja’s cape.

I realize no place ever stays the same but my memories of old Baja remain strong and sometimes I struggle to appreciate the now americanized way of life south of La Paz.

But…it is much easier when we are able go further afield and even more fun when you’re traveling with Denise, Ruby and Otis.

Unfortunately due to this overwhelming growth our future plans will probably no longer include travel south of La Paz.

Baja still has many remote beaches and wild camping opportunities but you must willing to put the time and effort into finding these special places and are driving a vehicle capable of reaching them.  

Eventually we depart the cape in search of more remote beach camps where we can just post up for awhile and chill.

We end up finding several beaches that meet our requirements with miles of sand, not too much wind, lots of whales just off shore and not many people around.

We find coastlines northeast of La Paz that also have beautiful white sandy beaches, shallow warm waters and with very easy access.

Unfortunately because of the easy access some of these places have become very crowded with motorhomes, van lifers and trinket vendors. It becomes especially busy on the weekends when locals from La Paz come for the weekend.

We only stay for few days and head north up along the west coast to Magdalena Bay in search of gray whales.

In the 80’s we put our folding Klepper kayak in this bay and followed the whales up and down the coast, it was great fun.

We were a little early for the main gray whale migration but are still able to see several mothers with their calves.

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Our daily Baja beach routine:

-Up at dawn, make coffee and eat some of Denise’s famous low carb homemade cupcakes. 

-Next we walk a couple of miles with Ruby before it gets too hot and return for more coffee and Denise’s famous homemade yogurt, fruit and nut mix.  

-Next we relax, catch up on our reading while sitting in the sun or shade until lunch. If it is warm enough we will go for a swim.

-Ruby relaxes in the shade.

-Lunch means we devour some of Denise’s fantastic fish taco’s then all of a sudden it’s time for toes up.

-A couple of hours later we are up to spend the evening wandering the coastline with Ruby and Otis always searching  for interesting and unusual artifacts.

-The end of our day includes watching the sun disappear below the horizon while we toast our friends and life in general while sipping some select tequila. 

-When conditions allow we sit around a fire pit and enjoy the millions of stars that slowly appear, always in competition with as to which one of us will see the first star. 

-Eventually we move inside and play a game of Scrabble and possibly more tequila tasting. 

-Then its off to bed around 9:00pm 

-Next day- Repeat.

With all the stress inducing issues happening in our world nowadays, everyone should take a little time to just “Coast”.

It may be as simple as breaking away from your normal routine and getting outside for a little while or walking along a beach or in a park somewhere.

It is good for the mind and the soul, and there’s nothing like a good social media detox, shut if off for awhile.

Stay tuned for more of our Baja adventures!  Thanks for following the Big Dogs!

Opening page artwork by my brother Sam Taylor Thanks!

Remember, the most difficult paths usually lead to the best views.

Interesting Early Overlander Photos Below

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