Where did she go?

[Ban Hammer 13,146]

Where did he go?

he's probably back in colombia making all the women swoon.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I'm back from Mexico, and sadly, the country is changing so fast for the worst. So many people talked to me about places to avoid due to the big cartel's moving in. It's probably a matter of time before an event like mine will be too unsafe to host. Here are some photographs from BAJA GRANDE 2008...

This is me (far right) posing in front of my Jeep along with a couple of guys I know from the BajaNomad.com forum.

Helping an American couple whose vehicle was disabled due to the extreme conditions while tugging a small trailer in one of the more inhospitable parts of Baja California:

Does anyone like to fish during their lunch break?

[Ken y Leidys 20]

El Huerfanito (the orphan) of the 5 Sisters Island chain:

We drove from Bahia San Luis Gonzaga to Puerto San Francisquito all in one day. That's my Jeep on the right with lights blazing. Everyone wanted to take a photograph next to this cool sign indicating the turnoff to another beach (Playa San Rafael). That's part of the group and myself. We had a great time camping in the outdoors for 1 week:

A medical team had to crash land this $6 Million dollar airplane a few months ago. Losing 1,000 ft. altitude every 2 minutes necessitated this landing. They overshot the runway upon descent, and this is what remains... F.Y.I. - we did not vandalize the plane, we took only photographs and went exploring to nearby El Barril.

That's my Jeep in the background. $40,000 of American Iron...

The contrasts were staggering. This little boy does not even get to attend a formal school. He wanders the campground property all day and plays with the animals that provide food for the poor families in the tiny Puerto San Francisquito. Tourism is way off from years past, but with no money to leave, the families just get by the best they can.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Is that Sammy Hagar to your right? He's certainly let himself go.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

A winter storm that descended upon Southern California also made its way to Southern Baja California as well as seen by these omnious storm clouds that drenched our group exactly 6 hours later.

$55,000 worth of Jeeps next to two homes in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur. Look at how people live in this city. It sure makes poverty look more palitable here in the United States.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Iris getting claustophobia. Jeeps aren't supposed to have roofs!!

The Iron Eagle located at the entrance to Guerrero Negro on Highway 1:

That night, everyone had to stay in a motel with cold showers by night, and NO RUNNING WATER THE NEXT MORNING. No toilets, no showers, no handwashing, NADA! We shook it off, and continued on our adventure, although we cut the trip short by 1 day. The cold showers, cold weather, and poor accomodations were getting to everyone by the 6th day. But, here we are in the desert overlooking the ocean from 3,500 ft. elevation. That blue in the background is the ocean!!

[Ban Hammer 13,146]

yay ken is back! :dance: :dance:

[Ken y Leidys 20]

We are actually traveling a road that was meant to be Highway 1!

Good thing we had Jeeps go get there and back!!

Here I am behind the wheel of my Tomb Raider-edition Rubicon. With the right equipment, getting there and back is no problem. Yes, you guess it. This is still considered a road.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Tom found a rock in the road.

Tom found the end of the road, but wanted to keep going!

Tom and Iris had a wonderful time in Baja, Mexico and want to return next November!

The trip out was the hard part. This Bronco had a tough time, but I actually got stuck in a muddy swamp and almost destroyed my drivetrain in the process.

Standing in front of Mision Santa Maria a.k.a. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

[Ken y Leidys 20]

You can never have too many new friends.

This mission used to supply the missions throughout Baja California. Native Americans were captured, converted to Christianity, and were made to work for the Jesuits. Slavery did not suit the Native American people very well, so they simply all walked away from their jobs!

Me posing in front of the mission:

My Jeep was nearly swallowed by the swamp. The rear turn indicator was just above water level, the engine choked, and early croaked. No water was injested, but the Jeep nearly rolled on its side in the water. This would have ended my chances of driving the remaining 14 hours to the International border unaided.

[MrsCat 6]

Ken you look like you had an amazing time! make me want a Jeep now.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

OJ's Bronco had a tough time exiting the Mission Impossible trail just outside of Cataviña, Baja California Norte.

After the craziness had ended, we dusted ourselves off, and walked into the Desert Inn, Cataviña for some fine dining. That's me ready for my Thanksgiving dinner. Mexican-style Seafood was on the menu for the night! Yummy!

The next afternoon, we neared Ensenada in a small town named Santo Tomas. There, we had one last feast. As you can tell, 4 of us guys are divorced, so we had plenty of conversation about our lives between all of the 4WD action, good food and fishing.

Mud slides reduced traction in the hill country after dark, and sprayed our vehicles enough to make us look like we'd really traveled OFF ROAD.

Roni gassing up his Jeep.

That's all folks!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

After crossing the International border in Tecate, California. We had time to have one last visit before heading our seperate ways.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

A few extra photos to share.

Modelo Light on the sand...Gotta love it!

Camping in San Felipe is a blast. One of the reasons I love living in Southern California.

Shore (night) fishing in San Felipe.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

San Felipe by day...

...just 4 short hours from San Diego, CA.

Anyone ever tasted fresh Mexican Ceviche???