News "Blackout" By Choice - The Ultimate Vacation

I've just returned from a Spring trip to Baja, Mexico.  Myself and 5 friends rode our motorcycles to San Jose del Cabo in November of 2016 and it was time to bring them out, along with getting some much needed sun and time away from the office.

The Baja is a great place for a vacation if you like desert, cactus, sand, beautiful beaches with water to match, warm, friendly people and want to get away from the news of the world.  You see, outside of the more populated areas, there is limited connectivity to the outside world.

On this trip I made the decision to stay away from TV and chose not to look at the news from home or anywhere else for that matter when I could get online.  It was actually easier than I thought to "shut off" the news.

The 10 days in Mexico were relaxing, visiting with my friends, making new ones, eating way too much excellent food and seeing sights that were new.  I found that I wasn't missing anything by not knowing what was happening in North America politics or other news outside of what the locals were telling us about their part of the world.

Good friends!

I've been back for 3 days and I tried to watch the news my first day back and found my stress level going up so I turned it off.  I'm not burring my head in the proverbial sand, however I'm realizing more and more that much of what we're being fed is out of my control.  So, for the next few months I'm going to continue on my news blackout and focus on what's happening in my local world.

I challenge you to take your own News Blackout holiday and see what happens.  I'd be interested to hear how it goes.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Small Town Life

In November of 2016 I had the pleasure of visiting a small west coast town on the Baja peninsula which included spending the night in one of the two motels in the town.

The town itself looked old, with small houses, small yards and mostly dirt streets.  There was a small chapel down one of the side streets and small fishing boats in various states of repair on the sides of the road.  The centre piece of the town was the public park.  It was clean, had all the facilities that a small town would need, including a skate park, and it was full of kids and their families enjoying their evening.

The evening was filled with good food from the motel restaurant, which stayed open later than usual to accommodate our group of 7 and we were entertained by the family who managed the motel as they had already invited friends over to play guitars and sing.  Even though we were strangers, we became part of their "family" for the evening.

Super moon rising.  It's amazing how the stars and moon look without any light pollution.

The next morning, I took a walk through the town.  I saw people getting ready for their day, tidying up house fronts, kids heading out the door for school and adults heading out to work.  The locals were warm and it became a game to see who would say "good morning" first.

I walked by a local elementary school where kids were laughing and playing in the school yard under the supervision and participation of their teacher.  Some kids were still walking to school under the supervision of a parent and a few were on bicycles.  I even saw a couple of kids on skateboards, even though there were only a few cement sidewalks to cruise down.

This small town reminds me of what many people are looking for in my home country of the United States and in my adopted country of Canada and yet this small town is in Mexico.

The people of San Juanico, on the west coast of the Baja peninsula have very little in material goods compared to most north american towns.  They're isolated for the most part and their electricity comes from solar, gas / diesel generators and a small wind farm.  The town is without power for several hours during the day and at night in order to conserve what they generate.  Gas is trucked in from the closest large town, which is about 2 hours away,  and sold by the jug at twice the amount as the average gas station.  In other words the people of San Juanico have much to complain about and yet for the most part they don't.

Sure the people want better economics for their town and options for their children, like the rest of the us want for our towns.  In that we're the same.  The one resource San Juanico has that has put the town "on the map" is waves.  The bay generates some spectacular surfing waves that have caught the attention of the surfing community.  The challenge for the community, according to a number of people we met, is to balance growth with maintaining their sense of community.

San Juanico is one of the most peaceful places I've stayed and it's amazing how quiet it is when there is no electricity.  The sound of the waves crashing on the shore through the open windows of my room along with a light breeze was relaxing.

"Home" for the night

For all my north american friends who would like to see what quality small town life is like, cross the border into Mexico and visit a small town.  You'll find warm, friendly people who are very proud of their community and with a smile you'll be welcomed.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Is it November yet?

I know it's only the end of September and October begins tomorrow, however I want November to get here as fast as possible for two reasons.

The first reason is a return trip to Baja with some good friends for two weeks of playing in the dirt, sand, silt and sun, with a few beach days thrown in.

Baja is one of those magical places where time has little meaning, unless it siesta time.

"Idiot" laws don't exist so there are few idiots to be found.

The "social" network is what takes place at the local cantina, which is usually a brick structure with a corrugated, rusted, metal roof.  If you're in the cantina, your part of the network.

The food of the gods, namely street tacos, can be found everywhere.  The further outside the tourist areas the better they taste.

And, if you're into anything that involves playing in the dirt, hiking, biking, motorcycling or 4X4ing, Baja is a huge playground!

The other reason is the US elections!  It's about time this third rate circus act comes to an end.  I'm at the point where I really don't care who wins as both candidates and their cronies have done a fabulous job of further dividing the country and it's time to try and bring the country back together, which will be a daunting task regardless of who wins.

Both sides have taken mud slinging, back stabbing, closet hunting for skeletons and fear mongering to a new level.  This has been further amplified by CNN, Fox, MSNBC, etc... and their endless lineup of talking heads who's "expertise" will fade away the instant a winner is announced.

I'll be leaving for Mexico the day after the election so it will be an interesting and exciting time.



Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

It's A Small World After All

I apologize if the tune from the Disney ride gets stuck playing in your head, however the words do ring true.

The World is small!

Over the years I've met people I know who happened to be traveling to the same destination that I was.  I've also met strangers while traveling who happened to know the same people that I do.  Both are interesting as the chance of meeting someone you know or someone who knows someone you know while traveling seems small.

My most recent encounter is also the most "improbable" I've had to date.  So here we go...

While riding in Baja, Mexico with some friends during November 2015 I met Mirko from Serbia in the city of La Paz.  We happened to be staying at the same place and motorcyclists, regardless of where they're from are attracted to each other.  Mirko was riding through Mexico, on his way to Los Angeles before heading home and we were on our way back to San Diego before heading back to Canada.

La Paz, Baja Mexico

Not thinking too much of the encounter, our group headed to dinner and then off to sleep before an early morning exit to avoid the La Paz traffic.  Later the next day, I was stopped at a Pemex station for gas when Mirko rode in to fill up.  The first thing he did was come up to me and ask if I knew Sky?  I was surprised as I did know Sky.  I'd met Sky in August while riding in Utah with Great Southwest Moto Adventures and we became friends.  Sky lives in Las Vegas and is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Sky and Mirko are friends and Sky knew I was in Mexico and let Mirko know what my motorcycle looked like.

My friend Mirko is on the right.

My friend Sky having fun in Utah.

This chance encounter still seems miraculous to me.  However I'm also a believer in what my friend Sky says.  "Good people fined each other".

The best part of any adventure is meeting people and it's very special when the person you meet for the first time happens to know someone you do.  The world is small and the people we meet are more connected to us then we realize.

Gerald Trees

Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker