
Riding into Ensenada on Highway 3, local cyclists ahead of us.
We left the beautiful Rancho Santa Maria Teresa behind as we continued down Highway 3 toward Ensenada. As we neared the city the quality of the highway improved and we found ourselves riding, once again, on nice, wide, shoulders. The weather and the views were spectacular.
We had planned on staying in Ensenada for a few days, to hide out from the forecast of rain on the way, to explore the city and to take care of that pesky business of filing taxes (*blech*) but we ended up staying for a few weeks. Beyond the fact that I had been having some indecision on whether or not long-distance cycle touring was for me, a couple of unexpected things had popped up back home that required us to have a consistent and daily internet connection. We decided to just stay put so that I could take a break from the road and bounce back from my recent doubts and insecurities as well as allow us the time to take care of all our business while we had a stable internet connection. We’ve since come to the conclusion that sometimes you have to be willing to blow the travel budget if it means it will help you to recover and it keeps you rolling down the road in good spirits versus returning home (not that there’s anything wrong with returning home if it’s the right thing to do).
Kai had researched places to stay in Ensenada before we left Tecate so we rode straight to the “America Motel” without checking out other hotels in town. This quaint little place offered clean and spacious accommodations and a kitchenette at less than half the price of the hotels just a few blocks down in the “tourist section” of town. The owners actually live in the hotel so they are always around to keep an eye on things and the police station is across the street so we feel really safe leaving our bicycles and gear in the room.
As usual, we spent some time wandering around town and investigating the local food markets, eventually finding several natural foods markets and bakeries that offered good bread. I found my addiction of choice while in Mexico: empanadas de manzana (apple turnovers). Yum!
Our time in Ensenada has offered us a good break from the road, allowing us time to assess and reorganize. After drowning ourselves in our computers, late night movies on the tele and a semblance of “home life”, we’ve had plenty of time off the bicycles. Tomorrow we happily and whole-heartedly hit the pavement again. Time for us to climb more mountains (both the physical & the mental).
Our route from Tecate to Ensenada.
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Next stop :: Carnaval in Ensenada
A friend showed this to me. My husband and I ride a tandem. We do some long rides 50-70 some days. You two are awesome!!
Hi Mel,
Thanks for letting us know you’re out there and for the encouraging words. Keep on riding! 🙂
Hi,
just saw that you’re cycling down the Baja. I was cycling from Vegas down the Baja in January (check out some of our pics: http://www.travelnerd.eu/en/photosbaja.html)
We had a brilliant time 🙂
Some highlights you shouldn’t miss:
– camp next to the lagoon in San Ignacio (you have to leave the highway).
– camp on one of the beaches on the Bahia de Conception (south of Mulege).
– Leave the MX1 just south of Loreto and head into the mountains. You’ll pass San Javier (really nice), getting to MX53 and back to the MX1 in Ciudad Insurgentes. Dirt track and therefore no traffic. Kind of similar to the MX5 between Puertocitos and Chapala (just more sandy parts).
Enjoy the Baja.
Travel Nerd (currently in Praha).
Thanks for saying hello! Can’t wait to check our your site in detail….just took a look at some of the photos, they’re fantastic! Keep having fun!
Thanks for the compliment.
I have to admit that the site is (still) mostly in German. I really have to translate it…
But hey, what do you do if you have the chance to decide between hitting the road (just went to Turkey and Prague) or translating your webpage?