Steven, That looks like fine Spring riding and that road swinging up the hill looks like a lot of fun (up or down). Years ago I lived in Morocco and visited Portugal. I remember it being wild and hilly. Must be a wonderful place to ride.
Cheers, John On Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 12:04:09 AM UTC-8 Steven Sweedler wrote: > John, I saw that massive development last time I was there, its been > building for years. Glad to hear your tires were big enough for those sand > roads. We should enjoy any undeveloped waterfront, its being built up in so > many places. Currently in the southwest corner of Portugal, where there is > less than the rest of theAlgarve coast to the east. Steve > > On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 9:37 PM John Rinker <jwri...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Thanks, friends! Glad you enjoyed the read. Even more fun to ride it, so >> make a plan if you can. >> >> Steven, La Ribera seems to be undergoing a massive construction project >> involving a marina and a golf course. Very dusty when we rode through. Fat >> tires would be helpful, but not necessary. My 2.15 Schwalbe All Motions did >> the trick just fine. >> >> Eric, Yes, there are a lot of photos on the Gaia tracks. I really enjoy >> this app on such trips for navigation, but also as a record keeper. The >> photos do pile up though. >> >> Kim, Your Clem Jr. would handle this ride with no problem. We encountered >> a couple for Colorado on 90s-era mountain bikes, fully loaded on 1.95s, and >> they were having a blast! >> >> In all the reading leading up to the trip about optimal tires and best >> set-ups, the best advice was: 'Just go ride it!' >> >> Cheers, >> John >> On Monday, February 20, 2023 at 11:58:46 AM UTC-8 krhe...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> Hi John, >>> >>> Thank-you for letting me know. >>> >>> As I read and saw your pictures, I visualized myself riding my Clem >>> Smith Jr. "L" bike with my wide tires navigating through all the varied >>> terrain and having a great adventure in a world with very few people >>> around. I would be happy eating authentic Mexican food. >>> >>> In my dreamtime, >>> Kim Hetzel >>> Yelm, WA. >>> >>> On Sun, Feb 19, 2023 at 10:00 PM John Rinker <jwri...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Hey Kim, >>>> >>>> Daytime temps were around 25-27C (77-80F) A couple of days we had very >>>> nice cloud cover which kept things cooler while climbing in the mountains; >>>> very nice, indeed. >>>> >>>> Cheers, John >>>> >>>> On Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 8:05:32 PM UTC-8 krhe...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Wonderful getaway ride report ! Thank-you for sharing. >>>>> What was the day time high temperatures like ? >>>>> >>>>> Kim Hetzel >>>>> Yelm, WA. >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 7:41:09 PM UTC-8 Sky Coulter wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Awesome! Thanks for the write up. That looks like a great get away. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Feb 19, 2023, at 4:42 PM, John Rinker <jwri...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> A friend and I recently hung up our skis here in BC for a few weeks >>>>>> and headed south to Baja Sur to ride the Cape (Cabo) Loop that completes >>>>>> the popular Baja Divide route. The loop is roughly 450km and takes in >>>>>> the >>>>>> Pacific Ocean, the* Sierra La Lagunas*, and beautiful beaches along >>>>>> the Sea of Cortez. The landscape in both the mountains and along the >>>>>> coasts >>>>>> is a rich and diverse desert ecosystem. In addition to a variety of >>>>>> birds, >>>>>> we saw tons (literally) of humpback whales and mobula rays along the >>>>>> eastern coastline. The route is somewhat challenging with some stiff >>>>>> climbing, tire-sucking sand, and a few technical rock-dancing sections. >>>>>> Mostly, it’s a stunner ride that offers warm weather mid-Winter and wild >>>>>> camping in beautiful spots both in the mountains and on relatively empty >>>>>> beaches. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0243.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> Shortly after landing in San Jose del Cabo, we put our bikes together >>>>>> and headed toward the Baja brewery in the Old Town to carbo load with >>>>>> Peyote IPAs and* tacos de pescado* for our departure the following >>>>>> morning. We chose to complete the loop in a clockwise manner as, after >>>>>> the >>>>>> busy-ness of San Jose, we were itching for the solitude of the >>>>>> mountains. >>>>>> Climbing into the *Sierra La Lagunas*, we were pleasantly surprised >>>>>> by the prevalence of running water in many of the arroyos (Feb 2023). At >>>>>> the height of land, we camped in a clearing under a mature Mexican white >>>>>> oak surrounded by organ pipe cactus and Torchwood trees. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0250.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> Our ride down the other side the next morning was a fast descent >>>>>> through sandy curves as we headed towards *Todos Santos* and the >>>>>> Pacific Coast. Again, there was plenty of water flowing through this >>>>>> verdant, desert landscape. *Todos Santos* is a historical Mexican >>>>>> town fast on its way to becoming a gentrified destination for North >>>>>> Americans seeking…well, something other than America north of the >>>>>> Mexican >>>>>> border. North of town on the Playa Los Mangos, we camped in the deserted >>>>>> dunes as the Pacific Ocean was anything but. Thunderous waves battered >>>>>> the >>>>>> shoreline throughout the night. The morning light gave us our first >>>>>> glimpse >>>>>> of the migrating whales and the squadrons of pelicans gliding >>>>>> centimeters >>>>>> about the rolling, blue sea. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0217.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> After a brief stop in a bustling *Todos Santos* we were headed back >>>>>> into the quiet of the mountains for some very challenging riding in and >>>>>> out >>>>>> of arroyos. Sections of deep sand had me pushing my Hunq with her >>>>>> ill-advised, less-than-3-inch tires (highly discouraged by the bike >>>>>> packing >>>>>> community, but just fine by me). The climbs out of the arroyos were as >>>>>> steep and rocky as the descents into them, and the surrounding desert >>>>>> pulsed with the life of such a variety of plants and cacti. The >>>>>> landscape >>>>>> here seemed as full as the thick forests back home in BC, albeit with >>>>>> more >>>>>> pokey things. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> After camping at an abandoned rancho that night, we set our sights on >>>>>> arriving at the mountain hamlet of *El Triunfo*, an old >>>>>> silver-mining town, for a well-earned meal. Ochre ribbons of flow-y hard >>>>>> pack eventually dropped us onto the highway and a gentle climb to town. >>>>>> Carlota’s, a family restaurant just out the other side of town, >>>>>> delivered a >>>>>> delightful meal. After fresh orange juice and even fresher tortillas, we >>>>>> were ready and fuelled for a cruise along the highway before our turn >>>>>> back >>>>>> into the mountains at *San Blas*. That evening we pushed our bikes >>>>>> off the road, through the forest of cacti, mesquite, and torchwood, and >>>>>> camped among piles of granite boulders- wild camping at its finest. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0354.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> Another morning of climbing in and out of arroyos on fine hard pack >>>>>> brought us to the mountain’s crest where we caught our first glimpse of >>>>>> the >>>>>> Sea of Cortez. A quick descent, a right turn and we were flying down the >>>>>> highway towards La Ventana. We rode through the town unable to see the >>>>>> sea >>>>>> past the dust, cars, and development until we reached the more remote >>>>>> beach >>>>>> of *Agua Caliente* where we soaked in natural hot pools on the rocky >>>>>> beach. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0250 2.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> The next morning, we rode a beautiful and extensive single-track >>>>>> trail system through a forest of *Cardon* (Elephant) cacti on our >>>>>> way to the wide expanse of undeveloped beaches southeast of La Ventana. >>>>>> After a fine swim in the clear, jade waters in Bahia La Ventana, we >>>>>> found >>>>>> ourselves off track and wandering through a vast arroyo in search of the >>>>>> ‘shortcut’ to Los Planes. Eventually finding our way, Los Planes was >>>>>> perhaps the most authentic Mexican town we visited along the coast- not >>>>>> a >>>>>> gift shop nor a ‘#van life’ sticker to be found. Our ride that day ended >>>>>> with a planned detour off the route to *Ensenada de Los Muertos*, a >>>>>> deep-water port used by H. Cortez to quarantine (and bury at sea) >>>>>> sailors >>>>>> while his ships resupplied with fresh water in *Los Barriles*, >>>>>> another deep-water port to the south. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0383.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> A fiery-red sunrise (sailor’s warning?) ushered in a day of cool >>>>>> rain. We rode away from the coast and back into the mountains. Some >>>>>> thigh-busting climbing and a serpentine descent through a truly >>>>>> magnificent >>>>>> canyon led us back to the coast just a few kilometers from our camp the >>>>>> night before. Soaked and chilled, we set up camp at an abandoned rancho >>>>>> by >>>>>> the sea. The next morning we were greeted by the promise of sunshine and >>>>>> a >>>>>> rainbow slicing through the dark grey rain clouds in the distance. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0420.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> For the next few days, we slogged through the sand, jolted over >>>>>> washboard road, and cruised the undulating ribbons of hard pack as we >>>>>> toured the more remote beaches of the eastern cape, and all along the >>>>>> way >>>>>> were treated to breathtaking views of humpback mothers and their calves >>>>>> breaching the crystal waters of the Gulf of California. Each night a >>>>>> waxing >>>>>> moon tried its best to hide the stars but there were too many of them in >>>>>> the dark skies above isolated beaches. We passed through *Los >>>>>> Barriles* which harbored a curious coalescence of South Dakotans >>>>>> with a penchant for pickleball and *Cabo Pulmo *which is the >>>>>> jumping-off point for snorkeling and diving in the spectacular C.P. >>>>>> National Marine Park. We pointed our bikes back into the mountains after >>>>>> a >>>>>> night on the beach in *Los Frailes *where each evening local >>>>>> fishermen push their heavy boats through the sand and into the surf with >>>>>> pickup trucks and prepare for a long night of casting their lines. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0266.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> Our final night in the mountains brought us within about 20km of San >>>>>> Jose and to one of our finest camping spots of the trip. Tucked at the >>>>>> confluence of two wide and sandy arroyos far from the road, we pitched >>>>>> our >>>>>> tents in the white sand among the burro bush and mesquite trees. Here we >>>>>> watched the full moon both rise and set over the steep canyon walls with >>>>>> sacred fig trees clinging to them. Another kilometer up the secondary >>>>>> canyon led to a narrow boulder ravine that flowed with fresh water. It >>>>>> was >>>>>> here we caught a glimpse of a Mexican grey fox, presumably there for the >>>>>> same reason as us- in need of a long, cool drink in these dry mountains. >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0473.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> As we had an extra night out, we decided to head back to the beach at >>>>>> *La >>>>>> Fortuna *before our final push to San Jose. Here we splashed out on >>>>>> a fine dinner in a restaurant overlooking the beach, and after dinner, >>>>>> we >>>>>> sipped delicious tequila in front of their campfire as we watched a >>>>>> blood-red moon rise over the rolling waves. It was at this beach as well >>>>>> where we saw the greatest concentration of whales enjoying the warm >>>>>> waters >>>>>> of the Baja. Simply spectacular! >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0496.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> Pedaling the Cabo Loop offers much as a brief recess during winter. >>>>>> The Baja is a warm, friendly place that promises excellent riding >>>>>> through >>>>>> rich and varied landscapes. It offers gorgeous camping in wild and >>>>>> remote >>>>>> places and delicious seafood all along the way. There are opportunities >>>>>> to >>>>>> view incredible wildlife and to swim in calm, clear seas. And if this >>>>>> isn’t >>>>>> enough for you, there’s always pickleball in *Los Barriles*. >>>>>> >>>>>> GaiaGPS tracks and photos along the way can be found here >>>>>> <https://www.gaiagps.com/public/qhp7fxL8NSMLZqFNB6BUFKOl> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e5502c40-214d-4d0a-857c-3fff300ed1d3n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e5502c40-214d-4d0a-857c-3fff300ed1d3n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> <IMG_0217.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0496.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0473.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0383.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0250.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0266.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0250 2.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0354.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0420.jpeg> >>>>>> <IMG_0243.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Rz_tdGzRAOo/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bc75de59-8eea-4751-b99d-9e03a38642d1n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bc75de59-8eea-4751-b99d-9e03a38642d1n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9480d261-4a60-40ab-a133-1f9d010d5c47n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9480d261-4a60-40ab-a133-1f9d010d5c47n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > Steven Sweedler > Plymouth, New Hampshire > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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