After a hectic season of work for Brad, it was time to head back to one of our favorite places—Baja California! The combination of desert and ocean makes it a great vacation choice for us, the sailor and the desert rat. And it doesn’t hurt that it is warm even in the middle of winter! Ahhhh! We had three weeks of playing and lazing around to look forward to—just what the doctor ordered!
Towards the end of October, we loaded the truck up with our sea kayaks and camping gear and headed south. Our final destination was two solid days of driving away to Loreto, but on this trip we decided to break the trip into two distinct parts. However, that night we just wanted to get to the border so we could cross it first thing in the morning. It’s much easier to get the red tape done at the border during business hours.
The following morning we crossed the border at Tecate. This is one of the most charming towns in Baja, and unlike most border towns, it actually has a provincial Mexican ambience. Even though there are over 85,000 people in the town, it feels much smaller. Tecate is also where the beer of the same name is made. What a lot of people don’t realize is that wine grapes are grown in the lovely rolling hills of the countryside. We’ve always felt that Tecate was a gentle introduction to Baja; a wonderful way to ease into a culture so different from ours in the States.
Baja Resources
- Discover Baja Travel Club – The BEST resource as far as I’m concerned when planning your trip. They have excellent information, insurance plans that don’t cost a fortune, and a even a Facebook page for sharing stories, photos and information.