Baja Divide - Day 1 • San Diego to Pio Pico

Baja Divide - Day 1 
December 26, 2024
San Diego to Pio Pico - 34 Miles
Start 1:53 PM 
Finish 6:50 PM
Total Duration 4:53
Moving Time 3:26
Stopped Time 1:27
Ascent 1,720’
Descent 876’
Tour Total 34 Miles

After a whirlwind week filled with end-of-semester grading, dismantling and packing my bike, hosting a holiday party, and enjoying Christmas festivities, I finally woke up early, ready for the next adventure. An Uber ride to JFK went smoothly, and the bike check-in process was surprisingly hassle-free.

On the flight, I managed to catch some sleep and watched the classic film Chinatown. By the time I landed in San Diego, the reassembly of my bike took longer than anticipated. I chose a spot in the terminal to work—a brightly sunlit area saturated with an endless loop of Christmas music. It wasn’t until 2 PM that I finally pedaled out of the airport.

The journey started along the coast, passing the San Diego Naval Base. Harbor Drive, a bustling four-lane road lined with industrial buildings and heavy traffic, marked the first stretch of my ride. But the warm weather made up for it—I was thrilled to be cycling in a short-sleeve jersey, gilet, and shorts.

Soon, the route transitioned to scenic cycling trails winding through the city’s freeway system. Eventually, I found myself on a pleasant dirt trail—a gentle hint of the rugged paths awaiting me. My first stop was Lil Alex BBQ, where I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and a refreshing Modelo. Feeling replenished, I headed to a nearby Trek store to top off my tires and grab two CO2 cartridges.

Continuing my ride through Chula Vista, I passed a horseback rider and several corrals, a reminder of the rural charm that still thrives in this sprawling area. At Vons, I stocked up on provisions for the night ahead. By 5:30 PM, darkness had fallen, and the temperature was dropping. I added leg warmers and a long-sleeve wool shirt, then set off into the night, determined to escape the suburban sprawl and find a stealth camping spot.

The ride along Otay Lakes Road was challenging. The narrow, winding road had no shoulder, heavy traffic, and blind turns. At one point, a concerned motorist slowed down to inform me that my rear light was barely visible. Without my Varias, I was relying solely on dynamo-powered lighting—less than ideal for these conditions.

Finally, I reached the turnoff to Otay Mountain. The steep dirt road was an uphill battle, made even more intense by the darkness. At the top of the first rise, I found a flat spot where I could straddle a cattle fence and set up camp on private property.

Under a gleaming canopy of stars, I sat on the gate, soaking in the solitude of the moment. The air grew cold quickly, forcing me to retreat into my tent. As I drifted off to sleep, the distant howls of coyotes provided a haunting but fitting soundtrack to my first night of adventure. With no phone service, I felt completely immersed in the wild.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction

Image
¡Hola Amigos! Saludos a todos! I’m back for another cycling adventure, and this time it’s the  Baja Divide —a 1,730-mile bikepacking route created in 2016 by Nicholas Carmen and Lael Wilcox. It was subsequently revised by Pat Boyle, Evan Christenson, and Logan Watts. Originally, I had planned to tackle this ride last year, but hernia surgery had other plans. Now, I’m setting out to connect my North American routes with my Trans-Mexican network. I’ve got 25 days—almost my entire winter teaching break—but I doubt it’ll be enough to complete the whole thing. Chances are, I’ll be back next year to finish what I start. My journey begins at San Diego Airport, where I’ll pedal south through the rugged mountain chains that form the spine of the Baja Peninsula. Along the way, I’ll crisscross between the Pacific Coast and the Sea of Cortez on dirt tracks. The route is 95% unpaved and features an impressive 96,349 feet of climbing. The last time I was on my gravel bike was during the  Si...
Read more

Baja Divide - Day 7 • Vicente Guerrero to Venustiano Carranza (Santa María)

Image
Baja Divide - Day 7 January 1, 2025 Vicente Guerrero to Venustiano Carranza (Santa María) - 41 Miles Start 7:49 AM Finish 2:37 PM Total Duration 6:48 Moving Time 5:08 Stopped Time 1:40 Ascent 1,951’ Descent 2,030’ Tour Total 309 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/245501154 I slept soundly in Room 11 at the Hotel San Martín in Vicente Guerrero. Instead of going out for dinner, I called it an early night, heading to bed shortly after 9 PM, having wished my friends and family on the East Coast a Happy New Year. This morning began with a chilly 52° and heavy fog. Before setting off, I grabbed a coffee and pastry from the reception area. I wore my full kit, which by now was in desperate need of laundering. Last night, I had done some additional patchwork on my pants using duct tape and thread. Visibility on the road was poor, and nothing in town was open. The route quickly diverged from the highway, leading me onto dirt tracks through fields. The fog was so thick I could barely...
Read more