The Road Less Traveled – Going 4×4 through the Seven Sisters

We’ve just spent the last week exploring the rugged and remote Pacific Coast from the little town of El Rosario through Guerrero Negro, where we are now resting and cleaning up!

It was over 120 miles of beautiful scenery, great surf, empty beaches, incredible seafood and very challenging 4×4 roads and navigation (thank God for Jenine’s amazing navigational skills, as I would still be lost up there).

It was definitely one of the cooler, and slightly nerve wrecking things we’ve ever done, but Titus made it possible – here are some highlights:

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tCzfdI98CSM/VHX7-YWH7WI/AAAAAAAAqAE/mnbLSz1pyUo/s144-c-o/IMG_1551.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086047520566799714″ caption=”The start of the dirt roads” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1551.JPG” ]

Punta Canoas – We started our journey here, camping high top the cliffs over the Pacific. There was a small fishing village below us with a great point break.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qf0WWMyL_Hc/VHX8Dv-26CI/AAAAAAAAqAE/dux97ZqFKac/s144-c-o/IMG_1561.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086047612811012130″ caption=”Must be at Punta Canoas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1561.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7cymClrk_O8/VHX-fwbHaFI/AAAAAAAAqAE/uYWgLiQahWo/s144-c-o/IMG_1567.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086050292989126738″ caption=”First night, feeling good” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1567.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gdAbz1-T2E/VHX-LhWyr5I/AAAAAAAAqAE/YF1GRewTUGI/s144-c-o/IMG_1568.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086049945347075986″ caption=”A view to wake up to!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1568.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GNhoxYafE5k/VHYAWsMWUMI/AAAAAAAAqAE/1I_jmhqcnWc/s144-c-o/IMG_1578.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086052336257880258″ caption=”Jenine waking up to the sunrise” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1578.JPG” ]

Just South of San Jose del Faro – “Lobster Camp” – After leaving Canoas we passed through some amazing beaches and more 4×4 roads where we ran into our first bit of trouble. Unbeknownst to us, our power steering cap got shaken off, and we lost most of our power steering fluid. Titus starting making some horrible noises, and we were far from anywhere to fix it. Nothing to do but push on. Lucky, we found an amazing beach spot to camp and calm us down. We also found nice fishermen to trade us some amazing lobsters and fresh fish, and for the time being, everything was okay!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RBOarkJGovY/VHYG1dHSWAI/AAAAAAAAqAE/5JifYizbPtc/s144-c-o/IMG_1605.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086059461855827970″ caption=”These guys are ready for the pot!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1605.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AQhHm9X5CXI/VHYJrg5s_dI/AAAAAAAAqAE/KJc2bUF3pBs/s144-c-o/IMG_1620.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086062589608787410″ caption=”Jenine about to do her morning yoga” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1620.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xgJCHYq1_0s/VHYHNGwux6I/AAAAAAAAqAE/Enc14pBxGdM/s144-c-o/IMG_1609.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086059868172502946″ caption=”Camping on night two” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1609.JPG” ]

Bahia Blanco – On the way to Bahia Blanco not only was Titus making some horrendous noises at every turn, but we ran into some big trouble in the salt flats. We managed to get Titus buried up to the running boards in salty muddy cement! Carrying MaxTrax and a shovel turned out to be the best investment ever. I dug deep into the muck, deflated the tires onto the MaxTrax and over the course of about 2 hours we freed Titus (Don, you would have been proud). After that, we limped along muddy and tired to a beautiful beach camping spot in Bahia Blanco.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EsuJ4QBgETM/VHYN8C47vFI/AAAAAAAAqAE/-1NVvEx_asA/s144-c-o/IMG_1631.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086067271656782930″ caption=”sinking into the salt flat – cement like muck” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1631.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rChym_EsTUA/VHYP2ozO_RI/AAAAAAAAqAE/_NUCWfGNz20/s144-c-o/IMG_1635.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086069377777466642″ caption=”MaxTrax to the rescue!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1635.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uxXIOi5Npxc/VHYUuCHPSnI/AAAAAAAAqAE/RUno-WTrEy4/s144-c-o/IMG_1638.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086074727511575154″ caption=”rolling up to a remote camp spot” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1638.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ssszOlW1wDY/VHYI1U6nRRI/AAAAAAAAqAE/o9M81tkPqAw/s144-c-o/IMG_1626.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086061658678445330″ caption=”Empty beaches” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1626.JPG” ]

Bahia Maria – We woke up to more beautiful coastline and also more dirt roads. And this time our maps and the roads weren’t matching up too well, probably due to all the hurricane activity here. We were filthy, Titus had no steering fluid and was screeching, and now we were getting lost. Luckily, Jenine has an amazing gift for navigation, and we forged through arriving at the AMAZING Bahia Maria by late afternoon, just in time for a low tide surf. Also, this was the first time we saw other campers, and we were very relieved to have the company after all the isolation. We stayed two days here soaking in the amazing sunsets eating fresh calms and muscles and also saw our neighbor catch a 30lb Yellow Tail which he shared with us!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-utrU5BGEGuI/VHYbX4e2FpI/AAAAAAAAqAE/csZnOGCCQbw/s144-c-o/IMG_1659.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086082043550504594″ caption=”Bahia Maria” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1659.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YTEEHUZ-aPo/VHYdw_LBpjI/AAAAAAAAqAE/LJMWhXRGhqQ/s144-c-o/IMG_1676.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086084673866409522″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1676.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IJVJ7UHl7xw/VHYmf5hDlaI/AAAAAAAAqAE/5oJVe1ww-3I/s144-c-o/IMG_8714.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086094275895072162″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8714.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J4jhCIxMit8/VHYm1vmKSOI/AAAAAAAAqAE/u79Ui2g7v2A/s144-c-o/IMG_8730.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086094651189250274″ caption=”Jenine being adventurous, eating some fresh plucked Muscles” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8730.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q0PW34N62u0/VHYg27Pj1jI/AAAAAAAAqAE/JBJSDIepjOo/s144-c-o/IMG_1688.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086088074425783858″ caption=”Nice catch Pedro!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1688.JPG” ]

“The Wall” – Punta Rosarito – The Wall is a famous surf spot that gets big swell during the winter. There is a community of surfers who camp here during this time, and we wanted to check it out. The Wall had plenty of surf, but also howling winds. To combat this, campers build these rock walls all over the beach to hide from the wind. I did some night and morning surfing and then we quickly headed out to find some gas and get Titus back in shape.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d5rfONIRuxg/VHYnsTeXqeI/AAAAAAAAqAE/ezypbGTUNIs/s144-c-o/IMG_8741.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086095588533184994″ caption=”The long right at the wall” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8741.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CdmUK3KlQGY/VHYno53nY_I/AAAAAAAAqAE/JSFRYEZctrs/s144-c-o/IMG_8739.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086095530120143858″ caption=”Camping at the Wall” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8739.JPG” ]

We made it back to civilization without an ounce of gas to spare, but we are happy to say Titus is now clean, loaded with power steering fluid, and gassed up for the next adventure.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GabspXlBmDc/VHYoJZE4TGI/AAAAAAAAqAE/mgUioyp9vqs/s144-c-o/IMG_8752.PNG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/TheRoadLessTraveled4x4InTheSevenSistersBaja#6086096088253090914″ caption=”Our route” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8752.PNG” ]

What we are listening to:

• Staying nice calm and relaxed with some classical music like Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Part

More photos from our latest adventure:

[pe2-gallery album=”http://picasaweb.google.com/data/feed/base/user/115263927216347870948/albumid/6086045342242046113?alt=rss&hl=en_US&kind=photo” ]