Today, I crossed the border at Tecate. It was an easy border crossing; there was no wait. However, I had to park and obtain my FMM (similar to a Mexican Visa). Additionally, I accidentally dropped my motorcycle while it was parked. Fortunately, nothing broke (including myself)!

Made it into Cataviña today. It’s deep inside the Sonoran Desert, nearly halfway between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It’s known for its interesting rock formations and cacti, but I also found this gem: An oasis.

Today, I made it past the 225-mile gas desert. Midway, and as expected, I had to fill up using my fuel bag and Rotopax. It’s unbelievable that they haven’t yet built a legitimate gas station here.

I made it to Santa Rosalía, a copper mining town located along the Sea of Cortez. This is my first time visiting this body of water, and to celebrate, I had fish and shrimp tacos. When driving in, you have to pass Baja’s “Highway to Hell,” a scary steep decline from the mountains into town. On the final descent, there’s a beautiful view of the sea from the left, but also the municipal dump on the right.

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 spent today exploring Loreto. It was a former provincial and state capital, but now it’s known as a cultural center and tourist destination. It’s also a Pueblo Mágico, designated by the federal government as a culturally significant town in Mexico. There are two others in Baja, including Tecate and Todos Santos.

Today, I visited Isla Coronado. This island, and the surrounding region, is a protected area and is home to many sea lions, birds, and other plants and wildlife. In fact, we saw a ton of sea lions. The water was also unbelievably clear and warm enough to swim in.

Today, I had my first road spill. I was on my way to San Javier Mission, the second oldest mission in Baja. There were several modest water crossings, this being one of the smaller ones, and the last one before reaching the mission. Unfortunately, as I was crossing, I didn’t see the algae in the water until it was too late. By then, I lost control. As I spun out and fell to the ground, I felt a very deep sense of fear. When I stopped sliding, I found myself pinned under my bike.

Today, I focused on some self-care. This included a boat trip to Carmen Island and light snorkeling. I saw tremendous sea life, including dolphins, starfish, and many reef fish. I’m not totally recovered from my fall yesterday, but I’m feeling much better now!

I made it back to Bahía Concepción and checked into an Airstream! I couldn’t help myself. The owner, Francesca, is from San Diego, and she manages the property with her brother. It’s a cute space and I liked it so much that I already extended my stay!