beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
This Mexico Motorcycle Ride Report was masterminded by AZ Beemers President Brian Boles; with text additions provided by mi Hijo Bastardo SkooterG, GSJane, Mi Sobrino Enrique Garza and Papa Chuy Viejo:
At 5ish in the morning, there’s not many brain cells in operation yet, so my memory of the morning ride out is sketchy. I think I met up with Henry and Bob at Starbucks in Mesa, then we rode out I-10 to Gila Bend. Fortunately, the autopilot didn’t take me to work.
In Gila Bend, Don, Greg Jane, and Barry were there. Then it was the long boring stretch on I-8 to Yuma where we met David. Some more boring I-8, then at least the Mountain Springs Grade is somewhat interesting. At the top of the hill, we hopped onto CA-94. This is a fun little road that twists through the boulders through some little farming towns on its way to Tecate and our border cross.
Got through the border with a quick inspection. The bad news was that the Banjercito office had closed down. Don needed to cancel his. We were told that the one at Algondones was also closed and in fact the nearest were Tijuana and Sonoita (on the road to Rocky Pt.). Hmmm..
From Tecate, we headed southwest for Ensenada. This is very scenic country, very reminicent of central California. There are lots of wineries in the area, interspersed in the valleys between the mountains. Most of the road was fun, except for some construction zones. There’s a reason that GS are so popular in Mexico.
By mid afternoon, we were decending into Ensenada’s downtown tourist area and our hotel. After a long ride, the pool was, err, let’s just say "refreshing" (cold!).
Ensenada claims the 2nd biggest Mexican flag, It flies over their harbor where the cruise liners come to port.
Because of the cruise boats, the downtown area is kept very nice, clean and bustling with shops, resturants and bars. It has somewhat of a European feel, with sidewalk dining.
Don wanted to start the evening at Hussong’s tavern, allegedly the oldest continuously operating bar in the Baja and favorite of Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.
In front, there’s a guy sharpening knives, in case anybody wants to get into some Chingaso.
Melanie made a new friend.
For dinner, we ate at the resturant across from the hotel. The food was good, with very fresh seafood as you might expect. The drinks were flowing also. Here’s some shots of us before dinner.
Here’s Greg commenting on a Margerita. Yes, this is an after dinner and many drinks shot.
The bill ended up being some rather large number and there were rumors of $100 tips being passed around. Eventually, enough money was rounded up and we left to wander the streets with major buzzes, full bellies and empty wallets.
Greg is hamming it up with the art.
Next morning, we rode over to La Bufadora (The Blowhole). It is a formation in the ocean cliffs that shoots water like a gieser when a wave crashes into shore. Being a tourist spot, the entrance is lined with shops and resturant/bars. The cruise ships send their folks over on busses.
A look up the shopping street.
We got the bikes parked and headed over to see the spray.
Seagulls hanging out at the parking area.
A view of the bay.
The other side. The blowhole is next to that red tiled building.
The Bufadora itself.
Another look across the bay.
For lunch, we picked a taco shop, mostly based on the smell as we rode by. It was excellent.
Some of the other resturants are more rustic.
Some more wandering around the stores.
Melanie and Viagra man. Lots of pharmacies to provide cheap drugs, without a prescription, to the tourists.
On the way back, we shot some photos from the vistas on the hills.
Those circles in the water are shrimp farms. The nets trap the shrimp and protect them from other fish.
This is the bay of Ensenada, on the other side of the peninsula from Bufadora. The town of Ensenada is way in the background.
Along the road are some stands which sell picked veggies and tamales. The veggies are locally grown including olives and olive oil.
I’m always ready for a tamale, so we tried the traditional beef and also a pineapple (pina) tamale.
The non-tamale junkies in the group had a drink across the street.
At 5ish in the morning, there’s not many brain cells in operation yet, so my memory of the morning ride out is sketchy. I think I met up with Henry and Bob at Starbucks in Mesa, then we rode out I-10 to Gila Bend. Fortunately, the autopilot didn’t take me to work.
In Gila Bend, Don, Greg Jane, and Barry were there. Then it was the long boring stretch on I-8 to Yuma where we met David. Some more boring I-8, then at least the Mountain Springs Grade is somewhat interesting. At the top of the hill, we hopped onto CA-94. This is a fun little road that twists through the boulders through some little farming towns on its way to Tecate and our border cross.
Got through the border with a quick inspection. The bad news was that the Banjercito office had closed down. Don needed to cancel his. We were told that the one at Algondones was also closed and in fact the nearest were Tijuana and Sonoita (on the road to Rocky Pt.). Hmmm..
From Tecate, we headed southwest for Ensenada. This is very scenic country, very reminicent of central California. There are lots of wineries in the area, interspersed in the valleys between the mountains. Most of the road was fun, except for some construction zones. There’s a reason that GS are so popular in Mexico.
By mid afternoon, we were decending into Ensenada’s downtown tourist area and our hotel. After a long ride, the pool was, err, let’s just say "refreshing" (cold!).
Ensenada claims the 2nd biggest Mexican flag, It flies over their harbor where the cruise liners come to port.
Because of the cruise boats, the downtown area is kept very nice, clean and bustling with shops, resturants and bars. It has somewhat of a European feel, with sidewalk dining.
Don wanted to start the evening at Hussong’s tavern, allegedly the oldest continuously operating bar in the Baja and favorite of Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.
In front, there’s a guy sharpening knives, in case anybody wants to get into some Chingaso.
Melanie made a new friend.
For dinner, we ate at the resturant across from the hotel. The food was good, with very fresh seafood as you might expect. The drinks were flowing also. Here’s some shots of us before dinner.
Here’s Greg commenting on a Margerita. Yes, this is an after dinner and many drinks shot.
The bill ended up being some rather large number and there were rumors of $100 tips being passed around. Eventually, enough money was rounded up and we left to wander the streets with major buzzes, full bellies and empty wallets.
Greg is hamming it up with the art.
Next morning, we rode over to La Bufadora (The Blowhole). It is a formation in the ocean cliffs that shoots water like a gieser when a wave crashes into shore. Being a tourist spot, the entrance is lined with shops and resturant/bars. The cruise ships send their folks over on busses.
A look up the shopping street.
We got the bikes parked and headed over to see the spray.
Seagulls hanging out at the parking area.
A view of the bay.
The other side. The blowhole is next to that red tiled building.
The Bufadora itself.
Another look across the bay.
For lunch, we picked a taco shop, mostly based on the smell as we rode by. It was excellent.
Some of the other resturants are more rustic.
Some more wandering around the stores.
Melanie and Viagra man. Lots of pharmacies to provide cheap drugs, without a prescription, to the tourists.
On the way back, we shot some photos from the vistas on the hills.
Those circles in the water are shrimp farms. The nets trap the shrimp and protect them from other fish.
This is the bay of Ensenada, on the other side of the peninsula from Bufadora. The town of Ensenada is way in the background.
Along the road are some stands which sell picked veggies and tamales. The veggies are locally grown including olives and olive oil.
I’m always ready for a tamale, so we tried the traditional beef and also a pineapple (pina) tamale.
The non-tamale junkies in the group had a drink across the street.
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