Baja Fog…

A little taste of why I go to La Ventana, Baja, Mexico every winter.

Burning Bush 2012

Burning Bush T-shirt art...

Pre-Bush margaritas at Baja Joe's...

Fire dancing mayhem...

Hanging by the fire...

Blazing tutus....

A different kind of fire dancing...

Mayan temple explodes...I didn't need my eyebrows anyways!

The moon hanging low over the Sea of Cortez lights the long walk back to my tent...

Kiting amongst the palms…

Greg passing the palm tree hammocks...

Crazy world. I took this photo of Greg after coming in from the water kiting with him. I downloaded it from the camera on to my laptop, processed it and put it up online before he got in from his session.

Another day in the Baja…

Greg heading out...

Kill shot...

Fish tacos in the making...

Cerveza, hammock and drum!

Action on the water...

Baja SUP Report

Kristin cools off

I’m really glad I took some stand up paddle boards [SUPs] to La Ventana Baja with me this year.  Although I was really keen on kiteboarding, many days started off with no wind and calm seas ideal for a SUP session.  This was a great way to start the day and get an upper body workout.  It was also really nice to see the marine life and coast of the La Ventana area from a SUP.  Kiteboarding is a very active sport and you just don’t get the same amount of time to quietly observe the area you are in.  SUP in the AM is a bit like doing yoga when you get up.  It’s athletic, but in a calm meditative sort of way.  The other advantage to flatwater SUP is you can take pretty much anyone out and they can learn the basics in 5 mins and have fun.  That’s definitely not true of kiteboarding!

There was a 7 day stretch with little to no wind early on during my stay in La Ventana and the SUPs [as well as the Surly Pugsleys] proved critical to keeping occupied and burning some energy while we waited for the wind to return.

As far as flatwater SUP goes the La Ventana area has a lot to offer with mile after mile of coast line to explore.  There is also the potential for long downwinders if you are in the mood for more challenge.

Sharon SUPing it up!

On the surfing side of the SUP equation La Ventana doesn’t normally get ocean swell so there isn’t a great surf break there. However, it does get wind driven swell from further North in the Sea of Cortez which does result in some breaks forming from time to time.  I didn’t end up surfing at all while in La Ventana.  This was largely due to the fact that I had decided not to drive my truck while I was in Baja and none of the breaks that did form where close enough to paddle to.  The other consideration that affected my decision was that I didn’t have anyone to learn to surf with so I was a bit leery of tackling that alone and possibly getting injured.

If you are keen to SUP surf in the La Ventana area you certainly can get some surfing in locally and within a 2hr drive there are some excellent surf breaks on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja, such as at Todo Santos.  When the wind looks grim you can load up your truck and head East for a couple days to take advantage of the swell.

photo: Balmoral Boards

Not wanting to end the trip without making some progress towards becoming a SUP surfer I stopped in Santa Barbara, CA to get a lesson from the folks at Stand Up Paddle Sports.  I’m really glad I did!  I learned soooo much in my time in the water and I really appreciated the trouble I could have have gotten into trying to figure this out on my own.  Catching my first real wave was amazing!  The acceleration and power behind me was impressive and it felt so smooth and peaceful at the same time.  My stoke was brought back to reality when I rode the wave deep inside the area where the waves were breaking and had to battle my way back out with wave after wave crashing over me and my 11′ board.  Tumbling underwater, bouncing off rocks and fending off my huge board was quite the ordeal.  I sure was glad there was an expert surfer/lifeguard looking out for me and giving me tips on how to work my way back out beyond the breaking zone.

They say that the first ride hooks you for life.  I can believe it!  Even though I had been worked hard and had to struggle to get back out of the break I was excited and ready to catch my next wave…=-)

La Ventana Photos….

Hanging with Deanna on the playa....

Most of my La Ventana photos have been posted on Flickr here.  A few more may get posted over the next couple weeks.

I’m nearly home so this blog should be getting some regular attention shortly.  I’m only a day’s drive from Calgary, but my newly installed transmission failed after 8-9 days of driving so I’m stuck in Kennewick WA for a few days while a new one gets shipped to me and installed.  At least this time it’s a warranty repair that won’t cost me anything [other than hotel and food]. Seems like I picked an opportune time to replace my truck.  I won’t be taking the old one too far from home again!

Although I can’t say I was happy to leave La Ventana if I had to go home before summer this was as good a time as any.  I am looking forward to getting the Pugsley out in the snow and getting as much value from my season’s pass at Castle Mtn as I can.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season…now it’s time to welcome in 2010 and make the most of the time we have!…=-)

Hanna gets her kite on…

Colin waits for the launch...

Kiteboarding Conference

Another La Ventana launch....

Viva la Mexico!

Patriotic Kiteboarder

The Kiteboarder grin! after an Epic day...=-)

No wind? No Problem!

Kristin Backlit

La Ventana wind forecast...

Baja Mermaid

Kite Repair

Adrian & Salvatore fixing a leaking kite.

I can't seem to escape pataching tubes!!!

Mischief Managed!

Kite Rigging

Hanna and Salvatore rigging a Naish Cult

Kite Schooling

Hanna sky high.

Kites on the beach at Elevation KBing School

Trainer Kite Flying

Placebo….

Adrian walks past a pile of my wet gear...

KBing Baja

Launching on the busy beach...

Getting wet!

Full Moon in the Arroyo

The full moon was stunning...

Baja Fresh!

Finally - I made it!

Well a new transmission, a new clutch, a new set of tires and 10 days on the road I finally pulled off the main highway and drove the last few kms to La Ventana.  I stopped in at Baja Joes to chat with the Elevation Kiteboarding School Gang from Lake Nihnat in BC and see if the free camping in the arroyo I had heard about was a good idea. They said it was fine and I rolled a bit further North and found a great spot in the second arroyo.  It was nice to see some familiar faces from Squamish at the arroyo as well as lots of other friendly folks.

My camp in the arroyo is pretty and has some bushes/trees for privacy, but it’s close to the main road, which is a bit noisy.  Happily the town goes to bed early so I haven’t had any issues sleeping.  Unlike my typical Baja trips that featured solitude and remoteness this one seems to be quite the opposite.  I can walk to some free showers, clean porcelain sit down toilets, wireless internet, multiple restaurants and bars as well as grocery stores.

On one hand It’s great to have so many services so close.  On the other it’s not a very quiet reflective sort of experience.  Given that I need to work on this trip having easy internet access is a good thing and if I wanted I could still stop at some of my more remote camp spots on the way back home.

Sun rise at La Ventana

I can see the Sea of Cortez from my camp and it’s a 60 second walk to the beach with my SUP or kiteboarding gear.  Some professional windsurfers from the US have setup a sun shelter right on the beach complete with a sectional sofa!  My first day here I sat down on the sofa, put my legs up on a stool and enjoyed several very cold beers.  Although kiteboarding isn’t as hardcore as bike touring the GDR it does come with several benefits like a beach front sofa and the tendency for bikinis to be present….=-)

Since I will be online daily Monday to Friday I guess I’ll be updating this blog a lot more than I had expected….

 

The fleet stashed out of the sun...

 

 

La Ventana – Baja

La Ventana Baja Mexico

This will be my home for two months this winter.  With the advent of broadband internet you can work from just about anywhere in the world if your job doesn’t require a lot of face to face contact.  Cleverly I’ve invited my boss down for a few weeks of beach action over the holidays.  I’ll provide a fully guided beach experience with all the sports gear she could want to use at her disposal.  Hopefully she gets hooked and wants me to go to Baja every year…=-)~