Lost with Mike
  • Scoot
  • Paddle
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  • Moto
    • The South >
      • Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
      • BRP and a visit to Charlotte, NC
      • South Carolina and Back on my GS (2011)
      • Jaw-ja Trip #1 - Visiting my Nephew
      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
    • Canada (eh) >
      • 2012 - Beards to Canada >
        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
    • Maryland >
      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
      • Ruck'n around Southern MD
      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
    • New York >
      • Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)
      • Finger Lakes trip to NY (2011)
      • New York City Trip (2011)
    • Pennsylvania >
      • Early Spring in PA
      • Michaux Camping
      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
    • Virginia >
      • From the Mountains to the Sea in Ol' Virginny'
      • What the Fog? (Northern Neck, VA - 2013)
      • Uncle Bucks Ride to Eat and Snowy SNP
      • Charlottesville Area Ride
      • Serious Helmet Time in VA (2011)
      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
    • West Virginia >
      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
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69'000 miles on a      Honda Ruckus named
La Tortuga

Desert Cruising

3/30/2017

0 Comments

 
After hrefueling in Calexico and getting blasted by an oil hungry CBP diesel truck , I set west through the open expanse of land toward the distant mountains in search of cover. The southern crosswind blew my bike all over the lane and tendrills of sand slithered across the asphalt. I was happy to be wearing my hi-viz vest as night closed in and I rode toward the darkening stormy horizon. The highway ends at the interstate and I'm forced to ride 8 miles climbing 3000 feet along I-10 on the shoulder into the blackness. Bands of vehicles come in waves but I slowly make progress up the hill at 15 mph cresting near the desert observatory and turning onto the old highway. Wind driven rain begins to fall when I coast into Jacumba Hot Springs and I'm not energetic enough to set up camp. The library has a front porcheck awning where I park the bike and lay out my bag beside it. The strong line of storms rages eastward and I smile at my fortunate dry location. A sign in the parking lot says I'm being watched by cameras but the Customs and Border Patrol SUV's that idle past don't seem to notice me right out in the open. It's a bit tough to sleep though beneath a row of fluorescent lights.
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Arroyo Salado Campground
The following morning was foggy and cold cresting the 4500ft mountain but I was happy to be back in California
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On the north side of Borrego Springs stands a public art display with hundreds of metal sculptures dotting the landscape. The unpainted metal has oxodized in the desert and slowly begins to take on a copper hue. Below is an elephant which dwarfs La Tortuga.
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Metal sculptures Borrego Springs
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As the sun began to set, a rainbow materialized behind me over camp leading to a most impressive natural spectacle. Nearly every visitor in Arroyo Salado was standing on hilltops admiring the unusual low angle light and stormy clouds.
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0 Comments

Coco's Corner

3/24/2017

1 Comment

 

 It was a blue sky day heading out from Bahia De Los Angeles to Hwy 1.  Arriving at the junction near Punta Prieta, I sat at a crossroad both literal and figurative.  I had considered spending a month or so down in Baja but felt like I had satisfied my beach-bum desire.  Further south was a continuation of desert driving for days and the arrival in La Paz.  The warmer waters of the southern beaches are nice but something kept pulling me to ride to an unexplored corner of the peninsula.  Considering my phone no longer had the saved apps for GPS and navigation, photo editing or audiobooks would make beach camping a bit boring, I decided to head north toward the next larger town of San Felipe. It felt right following my heart to a new place and new experiences rather than the same roads
  Turning at Agua Leon, the wide rocky dirt road is dusty and rutted.  I eat the dust of a tractor trailer before quickly passing it in a sandy ditch paralleling the main road. This route was once a rough trail which led through a mountain range and to the Sea of Cortez and then improved for truck traffic.  After many years, the government has begun construction of a paved highway to connect the east and west coast of the peninsula at this southern point.  Progress is slow going and the many highway worker camps dot the rough washboard gravel.  In this photo below, large diesel tractors and backhoes push truck-sized boulders down the hill in crashing dust clouds.  It looks as dangerous as it sounds but the operator sucking the diesel and dust doesn't seem to mind. 
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Located about an hour from anywhere is the desert home of Coco, an 80 year old man who operates a desert cantina, rest stop and place for weary travelers to rest.  Years ago he became a fixture stop among the desert racers and off-road community.  Complications due to drinking and diabetes forces the amputation of Coco's legs nearly 20 years ago and yet he still has built this home and destination in northern Baja. 
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I turn at the urging of many spray-painted rocks along the highway and a sign made of beer cans and old fence pictured above.  The parking lot is filled with a group of adventure riders from California with BMW's and KTM's with minimal touring gear.  An Indian man riding around the world was there with a Uruguayan buddy and most everyone had a cold beverage.  I walked up to the small building and ducked inside the dark interior.  The first thing I noticed were the collection of bras and panties hanging from the ceiling.  The walls were plastered with hats, license plates, photographs and other memories of a true obscure destination. 
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 Saying Hello to Coco, I bought a beer for $1 and hung out as he reveled the gathered crowd with stories and his affable presence.  He was witty and confident in his home rest stop, his notoriety and legless curiosity endearing.  The ingenuity of his construction efforts and the creativity of his coping with the handicap to operate an Eagle 4wd wagon or his quad was admirable.  There was much laughing as he had the only female ride take a seat on his lap for a picture.  Heck, I even got a shot with the Baja legend.
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1 Comment
    Where is Mike?

    Mike Saunders

    In May 2014 I quit my job to ride a Honda Ruckus over 69'000 mi and counting. Wild camping most nights and cooking most of my own meals, I keep the costs low and the landscape changing. 

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  • Scoot
  • Paddle
  • Pedal
  • Moto
    • The South >
      • Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
      • BRP and a visit to Charlotte, NC
      • South Carolina and Back on my GS (2011)
      • Jaw-ja Trip #1 - Visiting my Nephew
      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
    • Canada (eh) >
      • 2012 - Beards to Canada >
        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
    • Maryland >
      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
      • Ruck'n around Southern MD
      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
    • New York >
      • Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)
      • Finger Lakes trip to NY (2011)
      • New York City Trip (2011)
    • Pennsylvania >
      • Early Spring in PA
      • Michaux Camping
      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
    • Virginia >
      • From the Mountains to the Sea in Ol' Virginny'
      • What the Fog? (Northern Neck, VA - 2013)
      • Uncle Bucks Ride to Eat and Snowy SNP
      • Charlottesville Area Ride
      • Serious Helmet Time in VA (2011)
      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
    • West Virginia >
      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
  • Photos
  • Articles