MARCH-JUNE-2024-CHUBASCO2
3rd Place Scenery – Sunrise in Mulege
Photo by Tom Howard
2nd Place Scenery – Desert Bloom in Sonoran Desert Photo by Steve Ticehurst
2nd Place Wildlife – Dorado caught
by Austin and Debbie Ficken
Photo by Rod Ficken
1st Place Wildlife –Mako
Shark
Photo by Rod Ficken
3rd Place Wildlife – Sunning Vultures
Photo by Leslie Reams
OFFICERS
President – Carrie Wilson
Vice President – Scott McEwen
Secretary/Treasurer – Amy Halverson
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Larry Lammon
Mark Martinez
Tony Schuck
Mike Trible
Freddie Washington
STAFF
Executive Manager – Karen Connolly
General Manager/Insurance Specialist – Maria
Hernandez
Manager/Insurance Specialist – Michelle Ralston
Office Assistant – Michael Gilpin
Office Assistant/Bilingual – Gladis Ortiz
Chubasco Editor – Michelle Ralston
AMBASSADORS-AT-LARGE
Robert Amma
Mike Bales
Bill Gesswein
Roland Heuschele
Sidney “Skip” Huwaldt
Larry Young
PRESIDENT EMERITUS – Chet Sherman
COMMODORE ETERNAL – Ray Cannon
FOREVER GRATEFUL – Fred & Gloria Jones
Club Managers for over 30 years
STAY UP TO DATE WITH
THE VAGABUNDOS
Website and Hotbox – www.vagabundos.com.
Facebook – Facebook.com/vagabundosdelmar
Twitter – twitter.com/ vagabundosdmar
Instagram – instagram.com/vagabundos_del_mar/
Email Bulletins from [email protected].
VAGABUNDOS DEL MAR
190 Main Street
Rio Vista, CA 94571
(800) 47-4-BAJA (2252)
Fax (707) 374-6843 [email protected]
JOIN THE VAGABUNDOS DEL MAR BOAT AND TRAVEL CLUB
BAJA’S OLDEST, LARGEST AND ONLY NON-PROFIT CLUB
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ONLY
$40 A YEAR
JOIN OUR MEMBER FAMILY, ALL OF WHOM SAVE MONEY, TRAVEL SAFELY AND HAVE FUN THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA—BUT ESPECIALLY IN BAJA CALIFORNIA. OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS TO SERVE YOU
WE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING BAJA SINCE 1966 AND KNOW IT LIKE NONE OTHER.
SAVE A TON OF MONEY ON OUR
MEXICAN INSURANCE.
JOIN ONLINE : WWW.VAGABUNDOS.COM
CALL THE OFFICE TO JOIN
(800) 47-4-BAJA(2252) OR (707) 374-5511
ALL CHUBASCO CONTENTS ©2024 VAGABUNDOS DEL MAR
2024 IMPORTANT DATES
May 16 – 18, 2024 – Annual Crab Feed and Mexican Fiesta
June 20 – 22, 2024 – Padre Lucas Yellowtail Tournament
July 11 – 13, 2024 – Fishin’ for the Mission
August 4 – 10, 2024 – Tony Reyes Fishing Trip
The Helping Hand
By Michael Gilpin
Tips for Baja
When dialing a Mexican Toll-free number, (800-***- ****), a US phone plan roaming in Mexico cannot call these numbers, it must be a Mexican landline or a Mexican Mobile phone.
We strongly recommend keeping an extra copy of your insurance policy in your vehicle so it’s available for you to give to either the police officer or the adjuster as needed.
Take some time to read through your policy to be familiar with each page to better understand the way your policy functions and how to properly file a claim. The number for our claim’s office and for the towing service are on the last two pages.
Unlike the US using three separate light colors to indicate the right of way, much of Mexico just uses two, Red & Green. Their version of our yellow light is for the green light to flash for a moment to indicate an upcoming red light and tell drivers to prepare to stop.
Isolated Instances
A member recently had an encounter with a police
EDITORS NOTES
officer in Baja, during which the officer asked about their TIP. The member was then told by the officer that TIPs are required for every vehicle throughout all of Mexico, apart from the 20 km free zone (basically just border towns.) We have been unable to confirm that Baja isn’t a free zone in its entirety.
While one of our members was entering Baja, they had their dogs in the back seat unrestrained. The border patrol fined them 4000 Pesos PER ANIMAL due to them being unrestrained. Correct conduct for crossing with animals, without the use of a crate, is to have them secured in the back seat using their leash to connect their collar to the seatbelt.
Vagabundos board member and Wagon Master, Mark Martinez, was crossing at Tijuana with his caravan when each person in their group was fined 800 Pesos for having full propane tanks.
FAQ
Q: What is the advantage of being a member of Vagabundos del mar?
A: With a membership purchase/renewal you gain access to all our services such as fishing licenses, auto insurance, boat insurance, and TIPs. You also gain access to our Vagabundos events such as our caravans, lead by our fantastic wagon masters who have had
Helping Hand (continued) years of experience traveling in Mexico, or our annual Crab Feed, a joyous gathering of the members of Vagabundos where crab and more are served within a hall for you to share your stories and adventures through Mexico.
Q: What’s the difference between standard coverage and diamond coverage, and what is the bare minimum I need to be legal in Mexico?
A: Standard coverage has a liability limit of $300,000 and covers you for property damage, total theft, and medical payments. Diamond coverage has a liability limit of $500,000 and covers you for all of standard as well as coverage for vandalism, uninsured motorist, partial theft, and gap coverage. Both options include medical assistance, roadside assistance, bond, and legal assistance. Standard and diamond coverage allow for compensation for damages to your vehicle whereas the bare minimum for Mexico is liability only which covers damages for third parties.
Q: Do I need an FMM, what is an FMM, and how do I get an FMM?
A: An FMM is a tourist card, which stands for Forma Migratoria Multiple and is required for all of Mexico. An FMM is separate from your passport or visa, but both are required to be legally in Mexico. FMMs are obtainable at all border crossings and if you plan a trip into Mexico for shorter than 7 days your FMM is free.
Q: Do I need a TIP, what is a TIP, and how do I get a TIP?
A: TIP stands for Temporary Import Permit: you may also hear it called a TVIP which stands for Temporary Vehicle Import Permit, they are the same thing. TIPs are required for all of Mexico apart from Baja and Sonora which are free zones. Boats require TIPs regardless of free zones. TIPs can be acquired at any Banjercito office, or for boat TIPs specifically you can call into the Vagabundos office, and we can assist you, to apply in person or over the phone you will need your passport, and the title of the vehicle available.
ROAD REPORT
I just returned from the Vagabundos Beaches and Whales Caravan and we found the Baja Highway in relatively good shape. We crossed into Baja at the Mexicali East Port of Entry, traveled south on Mex 5 and Mex 1 to Loreto and returned on the same route.
Mex 5 is in good shape, but don’t get lulled into being non-attentive. South of Puertecitos, the road has dips in the pavement that can surprise you, especially if driving a RV or towing. Also, there are a few deep potholes that can damage your vehicle. Keep an eye out for rocks in the roadway, especially in the deep cuts on the sides of the roadway. Just pay attention.
South of the Santa Rosalillita turn off the roadway takes a turn for the worst. The top layer of asphalt has deteriorated and as a result, it is riddled with potholes. This continues for some distance, almost to Jesus Maria. We were driving RVs or towing trailers, so it was slow going, 30-40 MPH. It is doable, just slow down.
The vast majority of the roadways is in good shape. We did not find any large construction projects or significant detours. Our caravan traveled close to 1500 miles of Baja roadways without any problems or incidents. Go out and have an adventure.
Scott McEwen
Vice President
2024 PHOTO CONTEST
We are accepting entries for our 2024 Photo Contest. We have had many outstanding submissions in the past and are hoping to receive more outstanding photos for our 2024 contest. Our categories are Scenery, Action, Wildlife, Fishing and Pets. Final submission date November 15, 2024.
We’re looking for high resolution, large size digital photos of Baja, Alaska, and other places on Vagabundos excursions or trips, showing people having fun, scenery, wildlife, or whatever you think will make our publication covers stand out.
Photo Contes (continued) UNEDITED Digital color photos saved in JPEG or TIFF format at 200 ppi or higher are best (this does not apply to Camera RAW pics which must be converted to a usable image file format). For those hoping to nail a cover shot, here’s a little advice. Pictures submitted must be large enough (Printed Dimensions, NOT Digital/Pixel Dimensions) to either fit in or able to be cropped into an 8”x11” size scene consideration.
Each entry must include a Word document, along with your picture file, stating the category the photo is to be submitted under (Scenery, Action, Wildlife, Fishing and Pets), location, and photographer’s information for photo credit.
Email photos and Word Document to [email protected] or mail them on a flash drive (preferred method) to:
Vagabundos del Mar
Photo Contest 2023
190 Main Street
Rio Vista, CA 94571
RECIPES
ROBBIN’S MEXICAN SPOON BREAD
This recipe is easy to make a super side dish. Not only that but, if there is a leftover, it can help with a hangover the morning, with a generous dollop of salted butter and warmed up.
1 can creamed corn
4 oz can of dice green chilis
¾ cup milk
2 eggs
⅓ cup butter
1 cup cornmeal
1½ cup of shredded cheese
Mix it all up… maybe stir up eggs a bit first and soften butter before blending all together. Bake at 400° for 45 minutes or so in a greased baking dish until it looks like it is done.
We have made this countless times, and it is always a hit. This is a forgiving recipe and I bet Vags could really tweak this.
By: Judy Husted
GRILLED MAHI MAHI
Served with the most creamy and delicious
Mango butter-wine sauce
For the Mango Lime Butter ½ cup chopped fresh mango ½ cup white wine 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon ginger, peeled and minced Juice of 2 limes, freshly squeezed ¼ cup heavy whipping cream ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces Salt and pepper to taste 6 (6-ounces) Mahi Mahi fillets (about 2¼ pounds – see Chef’s tips) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper to taste ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional) Make the Mango Lime Sauce To prepare the mango-lime butter, in a small saucepan, combine the chopped mango, wine, sugar, ginger and lime juice. Simmer over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until it becomes syrupy.
Add the cream and mix well. Remove from the heat and pour into a blender. Blend until smooth. Return to the saucepan and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes. You want the sauce to thicken a little. Add the butter, one piece at a time stirring after each additional until well incorporated. Do NOT boil or sauce will separate.
Add the cream and mix well. Remove from the heat and pour into a blender. Blend until smooth. Return to the saucepan and simmer over low heat for about
Grilled Mahi Mahi (continued) 10 minutes. You want the sauce to thicken a little. Add the butter, one piece at a time stirring after each additional until well incorporated. Do NOT boil or sauce will separate.
Grilling the fish Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat (about 400 to 450 degrees F). Pat dry the fish and brush with olive oil on both sides. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Place fish on the hot grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes on the first side then, flip it and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until opaque. Remove from the grill. Serve the fish with the mango butter-wine sauce.
By Faith Martinez
2024 ACTIVITES
ANNUAL CRAB FEED
MEXICAN FIESTA
May 16-18, 2024
Dust off your Salsa recipe and kick off the weekend with our Salsa contest and Mexican Fiesta.
For those participating in our Mexican Fiesta Dinner on Friday evening, the festivities begin with a salsa contest and a People’s Choice tasting/judging of scintillating salsas. Join in the fun!
Salsa rules here: https://www.vagabundos.com/lets-
salsa/
Salsa Contest Rules
Entry Rules: Open to anyone purchasing the Mexican Dinner.
Registration: Friday May 17th from 11:30am – 1:30pm at that time you will receive a numbered container to be turned in. There is a limit of (2) entries per household. All entries must be turned in no later than 2:30pm Friday.
Ingredients: All salsa must be homemade, not store or restaurant bought. Salsa must be made from scratch (using fresh ingredients or canned items) All ingredients must be edible. Chips will be provided.
Judging: Contestants must supply a minimum of one (1) quart of salsa for judging. Salsa will be judged on appearance, taste and texture. There will be ladles and a small plastic serving cups for you to use that you must present to the judges. No chip dipping into the quart sized container. Peoples Choice Tasting will be from 3:00pm – 4:30pm. Salsa will be judged solely by ‘Peoples Choice’’ method of voting; salsa will be judged salsa receiving the most votes wins. Each dinner participant will receive (2) votes, 1 for their top mild choice, 1 for their top caliente choice. Votes must be dropped into ballot box provided next to appropriate salsa. Winners will be announced at the Crab Feed on Saturday evening. So, get creative and let’s have fun!
Followed by a delicious dinner of beef tacos, cheese enchiladas, pork burritos, rice and beans, catered by the New Mecca Café at 5:30pm.
On Saturday, get your competitiveness sharpened and join in our cornhole tournament. Get your team (of 2) together and start practicing now.
We will then slide into our infamous crab feed. This year’s dinner will consist of all-you-can-eat salad, pasta and bread. Then comes the delectable Dungeness crab.
For those who survive the fun, Vagabundos del Mar will host a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Come enjoy the culinary delights our Board members cook up!
We have cabins and RV spots available beginning
Thursday, May 16. RV spots – $80 per night, 4 person
cabins – $150 per night (+$50 cleaning deposit), 6-
person cabin – $170 per night (+50 cleaning deposit).
Extra Charge for pets. Mexican Fiesta – $25 per
person, includes the salsa competition (tickets will not
be sold at the door).
Crab Feed and meeting of the Members – $75 per person (tickets will not be sold at the door). You are welcome to bring your own beverages to any of the planned activities. Due to rising costs, red tape
Crab Feed & Mexican Fiesta (continued) and liability, Vagabundos del Mar will not be providing alcohol this year. We encourage everyone to drink responsibly.
Crab Feed on Saturday. If you are willing to help, let the office know when you make your reservations. Call the Vagabundos office at 800-47-4-BAJA(2252) or 707-374-5511 and reserve your spots now!
PADRE LUCAS YELLOWTAIL TOURNAMENT
June 22-24, 2023
Director Larry Lammon continues to grow the tournament with more anglers, awards and prizes. The tournament becomes bigger and better every year. Tournament headquarters is Villa Vita, which has accommodations, guides, etc. You may dry camp at Casa Diaz.
Sign up at the Vagabundos office 800-47-4-BAJA (2252).
Director Larry and Janet Lammon
2023 1st Place Jamie Garcia 27.64-pound Yellowtail
FISHIN’ FOR THE MISSION DORADO TOURNAMENT July11 -13, 2024
Fishin’ for the Mission charity event is for the Mission of Loreto and the community of Loreto. Vag Director Freddie “BoomBoom” Washington has been representing Vagabundos at this charity event for years.
July 11 : Sign-up for the tournament, in the evening Vagabundos Raffle.
July 12: Fishing tournament
July 13: continue fishing followed by awards banquet.
Hope to see you there!
Director Mike Trible
TONY REYES FISHING TOUR
August 4-10, 2024
Vagabundos is working with Longfin Adventures on getting our members signed up for the trip on the 107ft boat “Tony Reyes”. The trip will be August 4- 10, 2024. We have a limited number of spots.
Passports required for re-entry to the United States and FMM’s required for trip. All inclusive includes Mexican fishing license, meals, beer, sodas, bottled water, ice, fish fileting, etc.
The trip is $1,600 per person. Kids 16 years and younger $200 discount. A $500 deposit is required when you reserve your spot, which go towards your final payment.
Call the Vagabundos office to reserve your spot 800- 47-4-BAJA(2252)
MEMBERS SPEAK
YEAR PINS ISSUED
Daniel and Joanne Barnett – 20 Years
Jason Engelschirchen – 20 Years
James Hardy – 10 Years
James Horner – 30 Years
David and Judi Sutton – 30 Years
LORETO VAGABUNDO CONCIERGE
I would like to introduce myself, Howard Winderbaum, Vags Member for over 20 years and I have a residence in Loreto. I have been visiting Loreto for the past 25 years. I would like to offer to the club members, if you are staying, passing through, or interested in Loreto. I would offer my knowledge and hopefully answer any questions you might have prior to your visit or in Loreto regarding restaurants/bars, shopping, banking, car mechanic, RV sites, fishing, etc. Or any other questions you might have. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the hotels/resorts south of Loreto such as Loreto Bay and Villa del Palmar. It is the joy of sharing my knowledge of Loreto to those interested. You may contact me at 310- 940-8882 or [email protected].
VAGABUNDOS RV CARAVANS
Are you or someone you know a member of a RV travel club or group? Popularity of RV travel has certainly grown in recent years and the number of these fun-loving groups has also grown. The Vagabundos Del Mar travel club can assist your group with planning a trip to Baja and can even provide an experienced caravan leader to ensure a smooth, safe adventure. What better way to enjoy the wonders of Baja than with your group of friends. Contact the office at 800-47-4-BAJA(2252) for more information or if you have any questions, This can be fun!!!
2024 ADVENTURE TOURS
BEACHES AND WHALES CARAVAN
We just returned from our Beaches and Whales Caravan that was enjoyed by all. 16 days exploring Baja, enjoying wonderful food and making new friends. Our group consisted of eight rigs, from a large class A , tent trailers to a small class C. A great diverse group, hailing from Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas. Caravans offer the opportunity to meet and get to know people with varied backgrounds and life experiences. The diversity makes great conversation around the campfire in the evening.
We all got together in El Centro on February 17th to introduce ourselves and prepare to cross into Baja early the following morning. We crossed into Baja at the Mexicali East Port of Entry, obtained our FMMs and processed thru customs with no problems. On the road in Mexicali, we came across a road closure which caused a small delay and thank goodness for GPS. We got our bearings and on the road towards San Felipe. In San Felipe, we met the director of Sonshine Hacienda Orphanage and presented him with some small items to assist with their mission, a very worthy cause. We shopped and filled our refrigerators and got back on the road, headed to Octavios campground in Puertecitos. We enjoyed the evening, camping on the shore of the Sea of Cortez.
The next morning, back on the road headed to Guerrero Negro and some of the toughest roads in Baja. We had been traveling on Highway 5, which intersects with Highway 1 in the Laguna Chapala area. South of the turnoff for Bahia de Los Angeles, the road conditions deteriorate, littered with potholes. Slowing down, we traveled 30-40 miles per hour for some distance. Being in no hurry, we made it Guerrero Negro around 4:00 PM. We settled in at Malarrimos, a nice hotel and RV
Beaches and Whales Caravan (continued) campground and enjoyed a wonderful group dinner at the on-site restaurant. The following morning, we loaded into Malarrimos bus and were transported out to the pier to load into our pangas. On the ride out to the pier, we were informed about the history of the area, the salt works and the dos and don’ts while whale watching. The weather was perfect for whale watching, cool and no wind. We were met by a group of friendly whales, who seemed to enjoy our company. The whales stayed with us coming up to the panga for attention and rub downs. They would go under the panga and rub their backs on the bottom of the panga, likely to dislodge some barnacles or parasites. Our interaction with these incredible mammals was unforgettable, seems to get better every year. We returned to our rigs in the early afternoon and spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing and checking out Guerrero Negro.
Scott McEwen and Beaches & Whales caravanner’s going out to see the grey whales.
The next morning, we continued south, stopping in San Ignacio for lunch. San Ignacio is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert with thousands of date trees and a beautiful town square, centered by the mission. After lunch we continued arriving at our next night’s stop, Santispac Beach, a few miles south of Mulege. Santispac was crowded but we were able to find spots on the beach. We enjoyed some time on the beach, sharing stories and laughs.
We arrived in Loreto the following afternoon after a leisurely ride from Santispac. Setting up at Rivera Del Mar RV, a friendly in town RV campground, we enjoyed the free time to explore Loreto. While in Loreto we all enjoyed a wonderful group dinner at La Palapa Restaurant. The highlight of our Loreto visit is the day trip to San Javier Mission and lunch up at the local San Javier working rancho. We were picked up at the campground by our long-time friend Oscar in his taxi van. Up to San Javier with docent guide Judy Leighton sharing the local history and floral and fauna. We toured the mission, active 1699-1817, and in use even today. After touring the mission and grounds we drove a short distance to the rancho and enjoyed an authentic Mexican lunch of machaca burritos, queso (cheese) quesadilla and beans. We also had a tortilla making lesson and tried our hand at making our own tortillas…there is definitely a skill there that most of us hadn’t perfected. After lunch, back to the campground to relax and recharge, a lovely day.
Fun over in Loreto, we began our journey north, with our next stop at Santispac for two nights. We found the campground less crowded and set up. The weather continued to be warm with little or no wind, enjoyable. We grouped up on the beach and shared some laughs. The following day our gang loaded into panga boats to explore and do a little fishing. The panga skipper knew just where to hop into the water and come up with fresh clams, that was enjoyed right on the panga! Everyone really enjoyed the day. I had purchased some sea bass while in Loreto and had the local, beach front restaurant “Armandos” cook it up for a group meal. What a treat! Perfect weather, million-dollar view and great food and service. One of my favorite meals.
Beaches and Whales Caravan (continued) Continuing north, we made a stop in Bahia Asuncion, where our luck with the weather ran out and we got rained on. Our campground was muddy, and we really didn’t do much exploring. The following day we arrived back in Guerrero Negro for one relaxing night. On to Bahia de Los Angeles, beach camping at Daggetts campground. Good weather had returned, and we set up camp on the shore of the Sea of Cortez. The next day we met our eco-tour guides, White Bay Tours, at the launch ramp and climbed into two pangas to explore the off-shore islands and observe the birds and sea life. Lots of fun. That evening we walked a short distance over to Ruth’s Concina for dinner. Wonderful, plentiful food was served along with a margarita or two. Lots of laughs and good times. Ruth is a friend of the Vagabundos and manages Raquel and Larry’s resort. It’s a small hotel with the restaurant on the second floor affording a beautiful view of the ocean and islands.
After our two nights in Bahia de Los Angeles, we continued north to San Felipe, Victors RV. Victors is on the beach and has a really nice beach front restaurant and is close enough to the Malecon and town to walk. It has hotel rooms and a couple of beach front campsites. The other camp sites are not beachfront. We explored San Felipe and on our last evening together we enjoyed a group meal, all very nice.
Up early and headed towards the Mexico/US border at Mexicali East. Upon arrival we found that it was closed due to some road construction. We had to turn around and go over to the main Mexicali entry. Easy to find, but some of the group had gotten separated from the group due to traffic. After getting in line, the wait took about an hour, but no problems entering the US. A few of us were able to gather and say our goodbyes, always bittersweet.
We traveled 1500 miles in Baja without incident. All military checkpoints were professional and friendly, we had no serious mechanical malfunctions. We all made new friends and saw new sights.
Caravans are a great, fun way to explore and experience new things. I really enjoy caravanning and I’m looking forward to our Baja Explorer Caravan in October, 2024. The Baja Explorer will take us the full length of the peninsula, all the way to Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape. Keep an eye out for the dates and times. Hope to see you at the Crab Feed on May 17th. Call the Vagabundo office for information and sign up. 800-47-4-BAJA(2252)
Vice President Scott McEwen
Baja Whale Watching Tour RV and Cars Caravan 2024
We had seven RV’s and three automobiles. We met at Sweetwater County Campground in Chula Vista and the cars stayed two miles away at the La Quinta Hotel. All hotels on our trip were dog friendly as most of us traveled with dogs. We all met Sunday for orientation for a Monday 7:30 am border crossing through Tijuana. We pulled in for our FMM’s and RV/Car inspection which was more inspections then usual. The Mexican Guardia National is now in charge of the border crossing (at least in Tijuana).
About one hour after we all got our paperwork done, we proceeded south to Ensenada to stop at the Walmart and Costco for our food and supplies. The first stop for the night was El Rosario. The Club arranged for the car travelers to stay at the Hotel Baja Cactus and the RV’s to stay at the Sinahi Motel and RV Campground. We all met for dinner at the famous “Mama Espinosa” restaurant for a wonderful lobster dinner and/or Mexican meal along with margaritas, beer or soft drink. Everyone enjoyed an excellent meal and went back to the hotel and RV’s for an 8:00 am departure to Guerrero Negro. While in El Rosario we met up with fellow Vagabundos George and Ginny Conlon and had dinner with them as well. Turned out one of our participants knew Ginny’s brother, grew up down the street from them and had dirt-bike ridden with him in the 80’s. Small world.
Baja Whale Watching (continued) At Guerrero Negro, we led the three cars into town and checked them into Malarimo’s hotel and then led the RV’s four miles south and 12 miles into the Ojo de Libre Lagoon through the working salt mine to camp. That is where we caught the boats to go into the lagoon to whale watch. The three cars met us out there for food, drinks and whale watch.
There is a restaurant out there as well. It is a very organized set-up to catch a boat to go out whale watching. We stayed three nights at the lagoon and some people enjoyed the whales so much they went out twice. We were pleased to have so many friendly pet able whales and were able to watch mama bring her baby right up to the boats to see us. There were a lot of spy-hopping and breaching going on to give us a great show. We can never get enough of this!
Then, we were off to Bahia de Los Angeles for three nights of hotel/camping right on the beach at Raquel and Larry. Ruth, who is the proprietor there, arranged for a fishing trip for four of our group members which had a wonderful day of fishing and came back with plenty of fish of which they donated enough for a group fish fry for of our group of 21, while the rest of the group made side dishes to go along with. Our group was very creative with their cooking skills, carved pineapple and fresh pizza from a pizza oven. One night we had a margarita night, and everyone brought appetizers. Bill Schardt (one of our group members), was our fantastic bartender! Was so much fun. Ruth also arranged for us to have our group dinner at her restaurant and provided a great menu for us to choose from. An excellent meal was had by all.
After our three nights we were off to San Felipe for our final three nights in Baja at Kiki’s RV and Hotel. The group went out for meals in town and did some shopping, got their cars washed and relaxed. We had one more group dinner in San Felipe at La Vaquita for our final night. Great fresh shrimp, fish and Mexican food. We said our good-byes as the border is a busy place. The next morning, we were off to Mexicali to cross back into the U.S. Was not too easy navigating ten vehicles through Mexicali to the border but, being true Vagabundos we made it and through the border without any problems in less than twenty minutes.
Overall, the trip was very fun and exciting without too many mishaps. Many said they would like to experience Baja again and it was a trip of a lifetime interacting with the whales. They had no idea that we could get that close and that they were so friendly. We had three professional photographers in our group.
You can go on the Vagabundos website to see more pictures of this expedition. Can’t wait until next whale season. The Club is hoping to do three or four whale watching trips next year with a couple of them being car only trips to make it convenient for more people.
Contact the Club and put your name on an interested contact list as we really start arranging these trips around October. Maybe we will see you there. And in closing, we would like to quote one of our participants, “We all met as strangers and left as friends.”
Director Mark and Faith Martinez
Caravan Participants: Everett and Rossana Riggs; Luis and Sue Zepeda; Peggy Zorn; Lori Moirao and Diane Schouse; Sandy Menichelli and Dennis LaBrie; Karen Coffee and Lynda Burman; Pierre Nichols and Kristine Picton; Jim and Diane Fidelibus; Bill and Emily Schardt; Robert and Jessamyn Picton; and Mark and Faith Martinez. Not all pets are shown; Gracie, Rocky, Roxy, Evie, Max and Cali.
Casa 7 Dining Room and Kitchen
Casa 7 Living Room and Bedroom in Loft
EL PALMAR CASA
Vag Rental in Loreto
Find the casa on Pino Suarez between Agua Dulce and Benito Juarez
Three blocks from Sea of Cortez Walking Distance to all facilities
Loreto International Airport
CASA 7 $80 per night for four
$90 per night for five
$100 per night for six
Two full baths with shower
Two bedrooms (one loft)
Maximum of six people Living room, kitchen, TV, patio, pool, secure parking for small vehicles, internet available
Fishing in the Loreto Bay National Marine Park can be exceptional for migratory dorado, yellowtail, sailfish, marlin and many other resident species.
Diving around the nearby islands is very popular, as well as kayaking and whale watching with several different species. Pangas can be chartered for a delightful day of picnicking and snorkeling. The area has lovely white-sand beaches with several adjoining reefs and numerous tropical fish. Several businesses cater to these activities.
Fascinating side trips can be made to Puerto Escondido to the south and the village of San Javier high in the Sierra de La Giganta to the west. Nopolo a few miles south of Loreto has a fine golf course and a tennis complex.
The first edition Baja
California Road &
Recreation Atlas
showcases the diverse
recreation
opportunities
found along the full
length of the Baja
California Peninsula.
State maps illustrate and
describe both states, Baja
California
&
Baja
California Sur. Regional maps provide a wider view of
the region and Recreation Guides list an array of
attractions for trip planning.
A new atlas was released early May 2023. If you would like to order a copy, please contact the office at 800-47-4-BAJA (2252) or email us at [email protected] or visit our store www.vagabundos.com/shop/. Find under Maps and Charts.
MEXICAN VEHICLE INSURANCE License 0A06282 As a non-profit social club, we have gone to great lengths to provide low-cost Mexican vehicle insurance for our members, with competitive rates based on the size of our club. We have also insisted on solid claims service, which is really the only reason to have insurance. Our standard annual tourist full coverage rates start at $186, with a $300,000 liability. We also have $500k options. If you want to add special services for uninsured motorist, increased cost of repair, increased medical expenses, the lowest rate annual tourist is $225. Travel Aid is included in all vehicle policies, Standard or Premier. We also offer liability only starting at $117 for our annual tourist. The Annual Driver’s License Liability Only Policy starts at $116.51 and Boat Liability in the water at $150.28 annually. You can find all the details and purchase a policy on the insurance pages on our website www.vagabundos.com. Please make sure your membership is current. If you need assistance, call Vag Headquarters at (800) 47-4-BAJA (2252).
FOR A TRAVEL MEDEVAC QUOTE Visit www.vagabundos.com and Click on
Travel Med Evac Insurance
As we further develop plans for a wider range of coverage options, we recently enhanced the Travel Medical plan (Hospital of Choice Medical Evacuation and Emergency Medical Expense coverage) to now include Trip Delay coverage which includes a unique quarantine provision. Even more important is the fact there are no infectious disease exclusions in any of our plans – which means COVID-19 is covered as any other illness. The addition of the Trip Delay with the quarantine provision provides a great complement for both domestic and international travelers seeking that added peace of mind when planning a trip.
Check Out Our Ship Store www.vagabundos.com/shop/index.html
Books and Maps
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Guy Harvey Men’s & Women’s T-shirts
1st Place Pets – ARF Rescue Mattie
Photo by Leslie Reams
2nd Place Pets – Dog Day Afternoon In Santa Rosalia
Photo by Steve Ticehurst
3rd Place Pets – ARF Rescue Mattie in the
Holiday Spirit
Photo by Leslie Reams
1st Place Action – Fishing Mag Bay
Photo by Rick Dyer
2nd Place Action – 300lb Mako Shark
Photo by Rod Ficken
TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL
PLEASE EXPEDITE
3rd Place Action – 4th of July
Photo by Steve Ticehurst