Baja and Back - 1977 FC31

[Brent Swartzentruber]

Sorry for the password goof. The password is: FC31

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> Nice gesture, too bad I don't have the pass word to your gallery.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brent Swartzentruber
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 8:59 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Baja and Back - 1977 FC31
>
>
> I finally found time after returning from Baja to post a few
pictures
> from the trip. This was the first big trip for our new FC31
(bought
> in November).
>
> Here is the link if you would like to view a few select pics
> http://www.pbase.com/bajaroad/fc31_in_baja&page=all
>
> The FC31 was great. I'm very satisfied with how it handled the
> narrow roads and occasion offroad excursion.
>
> It took practice making room for the trucks traveling
> the opposite direction on the narrow road, but after a few days I
> felt pretty good about it, although I recommend getting your
estate
> in order before traveling the Baja 1 - there were plenty of Near
> Death Moments (NDM).
>
> Got caught one evening driving after dark. I definitely don't
> recommend that, especially on the narrow sections. Wanderlodge,
> tired eyes, narrow road, and big trucks with bright headlights
don't
> mix.
>
> Before the trip I was worried about going down the steep grades
(no
> aux braking on the bird), but it was no problem - just had to
keep it
> in a low gear.
>
> I've been down to southern Baja five times and never hand a
single
> problem with the authorities, but while parked near a park in
Santa
> Rosalia the cops came by and said some stuff I didn't understand
and
> asked for my license - d'oh. Apparently they didn't get enough
for
> Christmas (it was Christmas day). My wife, her sister, and
sister's
> boyfriend were heading to the famous French Bakery up the street
> while I watched the Bird and the dog. I had given my wife a 2-way
> radio, so I was able to talk to her and have her return quickly
to
> the Bird - she speaks fluent Spanish. After a few minutes of
arguing
> back and forth, the cops finally gave up and let us go. They were
> trying to give us a ticket for parking on the wrong side of the
road -
> they were clearly lying and my wife wouldn't accept it. I never
> gave them my license, which I've been told not to do. Never pull
you
> Wanderlodge into Santa Rosalia or Muleje because the road are
narrow,
> lacking clearance and one-way. Where we parked was barely off the
> main highway, which seemed reasonable but there was better
parking
> right off the road just a bit further south.
> I had just the opposite experience in San Ignacio. I was parked
near
> the mission in apparently the wrong place (see pic), but in this
case
> the cop asked me to move and pointed out a more suitable
location. Ya
> never know. Otherwise, the military personnel at the check points
> were generally friendly and didn't hassle the gringos.
>
> Parking at the edge of the Sea of Cortez, tires only a few feet
away,
> was pretty awesome. Doesn't get much better. The road into El
> Coyote Beach is very tight with a jagged rock bank on one side
and
> the sea on the other, but she squeezed in fine.
>
> We took a chance going out to a remote surf location (Punta
Conejo) -
> 10 miles each way of one-lane dirt road. We were told by some we
> couldn't make it in the bird, but the FC31 handled the road and
the
> arroyo crossing without a problem. The water was warm, the surf
was
> great, and the Bird was stocked with cold beer and tequila - what
> more could we want.
>
> Getting to my sisters place in La Ventana (below La Paz) required
> driving on another tight dirt road. I wasn't sure we'd make it
but
> again the FC31 pulled through without much trouble. The FC31 is a
> capable Baja rig.
>
> Can wait for the next trip
>
> Brent
> 1977 FC31
> Ventura, CA
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>