My OperaBaja Finally
Monday, November 30, 2009 2:28:51 AM
After 2 and a half long years, I am finally back in Baja. We arrived in town this afternoon and got out for a short warmup ride. We are post-running the 1000 mile course, as the race was 2 weekends ago. Brent and I met Dan in San Diego on Saturday, exactly 24 hours of driving after we left home. Managed to stop for a good In and Out burger on the way. Dan was well prepared as always, bring two extra bikes, in case we have an equipment failure. I guess that would be the Victorian we, as it is usually my stuff that breaks.
Brent and I managed to negotiate 2400 kms without incident, but we starting following Dan this morning and immediately go lost. Only problem was we were in a border town, on the wrong side of the border to be driving around like a bunch of foolish gringos loaded with equipment. Eventually we got it sorted and on the highway to Ensenada.
We are back at our usual haunt.
The compound is strangely empty this time, no big rigs and race teams.
All the hype and fanfare that surrounds the race is gone, and the city seems strangely quiet. Well not quiet, but all the banners and vendors are gone, there are no 1000 hp trucks tearing through traffic and we are the only bikes, and Dan is the only guy jumping curbs and riding down sidewalks to get through traffic.
Even the hotel is quiet. We got the KTM team room without lying for a change.
Tomorrow we head out on a bike ride, so we will see how that goes. We had planned on being able to follow the course, as it would be well worn in, however there was a big rain storm last night, which washed away many of the tracks. One the good side, the silt beds were nice and rideable today, and very little dust. In the place of dust were puddles, which Dan took full advantage of, giving me a full on shower shortly into the ride.
Cheers
Mono Volador de Desierto
Brent and I managed to negotiate 2400 kms without incident, but we starting following Dan this morning and immediately go lost. Only problem was we were in a border town, on the wrong side of the border to be driving around like a bunch of foolish gringos loaded with equipment. Eventually we got it sorted and on the highway to Ensenada.
We are back at our usual haunt.
The compound is strangely empty this time, no big rigs and race teams.
All the hype and fanfare that surrounds the race is gone, and the city seems strangely quiet. Well not quiet, but all the banners and vendors are gone, there are no 1000 hp trucks tearing through traffic and we are the only bikes, and Dan is the only guy jumping curbs and riding down sidewalks to get through traffic.
Even the hotel is quiet. We got the KTM team room without lying for a change.
Tomorrow we head out on a bike ride, so we will see how that goes. We had planned on being able to follow the course, as it would be well worn in, however there was a big rain storm last night, which washed away many of the tracks. One the good side, the silt beds were nice and rideable today, and very little dust. In the place of dust were puddles, which Dan took full advantage of, giving me a full on shower shortly into the ride.
Cheers
Mono Volador de Desierto
