Baja Norte, 'Shipwrecks'

We woke the next morning to find a clean 2 foot swell running down the point nicely, but with a quick feel of the water temperature (14c) we decided to keep heading south in search of another break and perhaps warmer water. The next place we had marked on our map was El Socorro, 20 mins of unpaved roads and we venture back out on highway 1 where the highway widens slightly across a level plateau with occasional cultivated fields. As the road flatens upon the descent of a steep hill into Camalu, the road is flat and is basically a feautreless coastal plain. As approaching Vincente Guerro the motorist can catch glimpses of the high Sierra San Pedro Martir out to the east. Beyond this scenery, the road runs in a straight line across level terrain into San Quintin, just south of San Quintin highway 1 narrows and passes a group of roadside communities and a series of cultivated fields, in between two ranch's we find ourselves making an early turn off to find El Socorro, 2 miles up the road we find ourselves forced to turn around due to soft sand. We head back and find the right road that runs to the break. Socorro setup was neat, two tables, palapa shade and an outdoor toilet. The surf was more exposed to the swell and was 4 foot although the onshore sea breeze was already onto it. Over by the palapas was other surfers/campers packing their campsite and surfboards into and onto the car, I was curious as to how the waves had been here so I decided to go ask them. Upon meeting Claude he informed us that the waves had been fun in the morning and again in afternoon, when it had been glassy. He mentioned the water was quite cold and that they were heading south to Abrejoles with two other Australians, that had just left, he offered us to go with him and his two sons or he said we'd have to wait around all day for the tide to come in and wind to drop off. Ellen and I weighed up our options and realised that by going to Abrejoles that would mean missing out on several breaks on the way. We flipped a coin on it, heads stay around for the night at Socorro which would mean exploring the other breaks or tails we head to Abrejoles and be sure there will be waves. The coin flipped , caught, flipped and revealed it was tails Abrejoles.


San Diego to Tijuana, crossing over

With previous advice given about the boarder crossing into Tijuana, nothing could prepare us. Immediately being thrown into another country and not being able to speak basically any spanish, asking a simple question is now difficult and confusion is most evident during our visa process. It was advised not to stop in Tijuana that being exactly the next thing we find ourselves doing next, only out of necessity. Eventually receiving a vehicle permit, allowing us to travel beyond Baja, exchange our US dollars into Pesos all of this with stress and confusion. A few mispronounced words from the Fast Talk Spanish booklet and we found ourselves cautiously driving out of the chaotic city of Tijuana onto the Scenic Road. It was exactly as we had been told it was, along the ocean, 3 tolls and some military checkpoints. The road from Tijuana from Ensenada takes the traveller through a modern maze of interchanges and divided highways, heads through commercial areas and low hills, through Rosarito. After the Military check point in Rosartio the road continues down to the coast at San Miguel and leading into Ensenada, our first intended stay. As we drove into the main town of Ensenada we realised it was still quite a large town, after seeing a Volkswagen dealership. We drove by the ocean looking for a place to stay for the night, eventually continuing on south, after several attempts at finding a surf break off the paved road we finally wound up at Punta Jacinto " ship wrecks". The surf was 2ft although offering a nice shape to it and was quite intriguing having a shipwreck absurdly right in the middle of the cobble stop point break. We were exhausted and after a good look at the Baja Alamanac, we headed to sleep for the first night in Baja Mexico.