2014 trip to Mexico-2

A big improvement on this trip that we have communication for a good price. We bought a Verizon cellphone at Walmart for 19.99, the price includes 10 $ worth of airtime. The clerk activated it in 10 minutes and we were ready. It's a "pay as you go", you can recharge it in every Walmart or Verizon store. For Internet we still had to find WiFi, I did not want to invest in anything when we are on the road for a month only.  January 24th we crossed the border around 11 am, quick inspection but everything OK and we were on the road in 5 minutes. We choose Hwy Mex 3 to Ensenada to stay away from the Tijuana area. We drove trough wine country and it shows. This part of the Baja is rich, lot of big wineries, I heard that even from the southern part of the Baja they haul the grapes up here because the wine industry is very strong here. In a bit over 2 hrs we made it to Ensenada, big busy city but no problem with the traffic, the GPS is a big help to find our first Mexican Walmart. Stocking up the fridge, also needed some good bread, beer and we checked out the whole store. We also figured out how to buy rolls, pastries, everything bulk in the bakery. You grab a big tray from the clerk, put everything on it and he will bag it for you. Walmart is cheaper than in the US but not much, we are still too close to the border. After shopping we are headed to our camping for the first night: Villarino's RV Park. 20 bucks/night with full hook up, nice and quiet and right on the beach. The park has a glass wall like a fence on the beach with lights on the top, looks good at night. Still good reception of US TV channels via air.

 

Made it to Ensenada early in the afternoon.

 

 

Our first experience with a Mexican Walmart.

 

Nice sandy beach at Villarino's RV Park.

 

The entrance to the park. It's a bit SW of Ensenada in La Bufadora.

 

The new Pemex station a few miles before Villarino's is like a botanical garden, it was nice and warm and full of flowers. Also a good place to get some purified water.

2014 trip to Mexico

We have been to Mexico before but only on a short trip. I have been planning it for a long time to go further south on the Baja and now I could take enough time off to go for a month. Left on the 18th of January on an unusually warm day. Did not hurry at all, made it down south to California, even more sun, taking more pictures. Since I also work for a trucking magazine we stopped at many Truck Stops just for taking pictures. Spent a few nights at Truck Stops, Walmarts, also one night at Dana Pt. State Park in California because it cost us over 3 hours to drive trough LA and it was late & dark when we got to the coast.

 

Left home on a nice and sunny day on the 18th of January.

 

That's going to be home for a month.

 

The first shock after we entered California: I have seen Shasta Lake many times before but never so low. Hundreds of houseboats in drydock.

 

Spent a few nights at Truck Stops just for taking pictures and use the RV facilities.

 

 

Have you seen a church with truck parking?  Probably not that's why a Truck Stop provides a Chapel for the Big Rig drivers. (Flying J Bakersfield,  California)

 

 

In Castaic just north of LA we always stop for a very good taco.

 

Dana Pt. State Park California. At 33 $/night we wont be regulars there but it's a night place.

 

Not bad for January 23.

 

Last campsite ( Potrero Park) in California before we cross the Mexican border. It's only 6 miles from the border so you can go the day before you cross, get your paperwork done, ( tourist card, insurance,) and the next morning it's a smooth sailing into Mexico.