Operation Long Way 'Round

A guy on the Jockey Journal planning on riding the EDR in '08 from St. Louis had a splendid idea a couple weeks ago. How 'bout riding down into mainland Mexico and taking the ferry across to La Paz and then up to meet the rest of the EDR crew? This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time so while we are going to drop in west of where Mark and his crew are going to, hopefully we can still meet them in Los Mochis for the ferry ride and the 900+ miles of riding up baja to Ensenada and then over to San Felipe to join in with everyone else.

Total iron-ass rider Brooks Manbeck is down to do it on his trusty Guzzi. Nick from AZ might join us as well but not on last year's green flaked Shovel, most likely on something a bit more modern. I'll be doing it my '06 Triumph T100 (the one Wes White borrowed last year). I've got a few mods in mind to make it handle a little more gear, but nothing outrageous. Brooks is a great photographer, so our misadventure should be well documented.

Geriatrics on Gold Wings do this kind of thing all the time, why can't we? Well, hopefully I'll have that answer in San Felipe on the night of the 17th.

McGoo and Chris have agreed to organize the first day of the run without me and my faithful friend and long-time baja vet Matt Frick will be driving the new Biltwell van. Thanks guys, for pulling the slack while I go screw around instead of being responsible.

-Bill

Here's the basic route:

4-11 LA to Tucson (453 miles)

4-12 Tucson to Nogales border crossing to Guayamas (317 miles)

4-13 Guayamas to Los Mochis (211 miles)

4-14 Screw around El Fuerte, Copper Canyon area (This needs more research) Also a flex-day for mechanical issues.

4-14 Get on West bound ferry at night

4-15 Arrive La Paz, ride to San Ignacio (393 miles, must visit the mission)

4-16 San Ignacio to San Quintin (349 miles dinner at the Old Mill)

4-17 San Quintin to Ensenada to San Felipe, Meet EDR riders, fall in with the rest (299 miles)