Good TR Mike. That brings back great memories. Maybe someday I'll go back after Donald builds the wall. hahaha

I want to visit you Cal. Your place looks great! I'll be driving through your area Monday March 21st. If your around a stop will be in order.

Cheers...Rob

blackrock wrote:Thanks to all for the great comments and feedback. I've been reflecting on the trip and how easy it would be to spend a winter or two down there to just slowdown for a while. It would be all too easy a lifestyle to get used to.

Careful, some of us moved to Mexico with that plan and instead ended up busier than ever (started three businesses and a music festival). Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mexico is an imperfect country, but it is also a land of opportunity - right next door.

Nice TR Mike! Looks like a good time and a great flying adventure.

Another neat photo from the Baja trip. This one was taken by Jim Hoddenbach of SLC.

That's a great pic!

Heck yes blackrock...thanks for all the info...i mite consider it some time, but seems a bunch of hassle at the same time...maybe after i wear out on good old idaho, and it hasnt happened yet, and AK...ill think about it...one weird thing about me tho. is the fact that as i get older i need MORE SNOW...not less...just sayin"...
again, thanks for all the info. and ill pass it on to my other pals that like that area.....JO

Fantastic trip report. What did you do the route making with?

jomac wrote:Heck yes blackrock...thanks for all the info...i mite consider it some time, but seems a bunch of hassle at the same time...maybe after i wear out on good old idaho, and it hasnt happened yet, and AK...ill think about it...one weird thing about me tho. is the fact that as i get older i need MORE SNOW...not less...just sayin"...
again, thanks for all the info. and ill pass it on to my other pals that like that area.....JO

Thanks JO. Yes the all the stuff can be a pain, but like RW2 says just be prepared to spend time in advance getting it all figured out and then realize when you're there that things take time. If you go into it with low expectations, you won't be disappointed. It helped to keep my blood pressure levels low.

The things that were the biggest pain for me were registering for US eAPIS and getting the customs sticker. The websites are cumbersome to use and even when you're finished it takes time to receive confirmation for first registration. Then it took like a month after ordering the custom sticker to receive it, so do all that stuff very early on. For the rest the Baja Bush Pilots site is the way to go.

It reminds me of the old cartoon "patience my ass, i want to kill something", but that is what it takes. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine.

Tailwinds: I used Foreflight. Ron had me download the WAC charts to use on FF and it worked great. I also had QEI Publishing's Air Baja along on the trip. It is outdated now, but still has lots of great information.

Finally got around to making a short video of a flight around Gonzaga Bay. The passenger was a fellow from Oregon who had started lessons years ago but never finished. We were staying at the same place and got to talking. His enthusiasm and the smile he left with made it worth the flight.

The camera angle is a bit skewed, but oh well.

Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I wondered if you were going to do 'Hydroplaning the wheels' in that calm sea

Alfonsinas seems like pilot paradise and you got to experience it… good for you and the family

It was perfect for hydroplaning. I would have but didn't want to in salt water as would have been a least a week before it got rinsed off. Lots of onlookers wanted to see that!