Baja Bound 2023 (Part 5)

This entry is part 5 of 23 in the series Baja Bound 2023

April 9, 2023

By Simon J. Lau

Today I experienced both the highest high and the lowest low so far on this trip. First, the highs. I visited Bahía Concepción, known for its beautiful beaches. I rode into Playa El Burro, one of the many coves here, and I immediately fell in love with this area.

I was brought here based on a friend’s personal recommendation to visit Nomadico. It’s a new spot along the beach with serves excellent food and coffee. I had a chance to speak with the owners, Laura (in the middle), and Delmar (Chief Roaster, in the next section). They also had a very sweet employee, Daniella (on the right), whom Laura and Delmar knew from their hometown of Puebla.

Delmar was clearly very passionate about coffee, and we spent the afternoon talking about their coffee shops, his roasting philosophy, and his goals for this business. It was inspiring to hear him speak, and I’m excited to chat with him again on my return trip home.

And the lows: On my way to Loreto, I discovered a major problem with my bike. The clutch wouldn’t fully engage, and given the countless mountain passes, I feared I’d be stranded many miles from my final destination. Fortunately, I willed Wilbur across the finish line.

Upon arriving to my Airbnb, I reached out to a motorcycle mechanic. Rolando did a home visit and discovered that my clutch cable was too tight (and wasn’t allowing my clutch to fully engage), and reset it. Here he is wheeling my bike around to test it. It was an amateur mistake on my part, but it was the best $18 I’ve ever spent to fix a problem.

In celebration, I had my first drink in 68 days. Initially, I planned only to go 30 days sober, but I liked it so much that I continued on. I never expected to abstain forever, but it was a good break from alcohol. Now, I’m returning to drinking. 🍹

Overall, I’ve been very pleased with this trip. The highs and lows, especially today, have made this experience feel like a real adventure. Moving forward, this is as far south as I go. I’ll be slowly enjoying each city as I slowly make my way back to California.

Finally, my route from Santa Rosalía to Loreto (197 km or 122 miles).