Baja Bound (Part 22)

This entry is part 22 of 23 in the series Baja Bound

April 26, 2023

By Simon J. Lau

I ended my nearly month-long trip the same way it began, by crossing back into the U.S. at Tecate. The border crossing here was a breeze. I broke Wilbur out of his pen, took the advice of locals on Reddit, and cut in line through a gap meant for motorcyclists. Door to door, I was back in ’Murica in just 15 minutes!

To break up the 10-hour ride back home, I booked a campsite in Bakersfield. It’s on an organic chicken farm, complete with the sounds of clucking hens in the background.

The property includes a man-made lake, its surface rippling with schools of minnows. I briefly considered jumping in for a dip, but the water was a murky green, and I wasn’t sure if it was safe to swim in. Instead, I stretched out on a hammock on the pier and just looked out over the water.

An adorable American Bulldog named Cleo lives here too. She’s been my shadow all day, following me around the campsite and the lake. We even spent the evening together under the gazebo. She’s so endearing, I absolutely love her.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sorting through the trip, photos, and notes, trying to make sense of everything I saw along the way. For now, it’s enough to just let it sit.