A short break South of the border

 For several years we have talked about spending a winter or part of a winter in Mexico.

When we lived in San Diego we would go to Rosarito Beach for Christmas and New Years occasionally and while we were there we looked at RV parks on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsular

A couple of years ago we took a coach trip to Puerto Penasco on the Eastern side of the Sea of Cortez  and looked around that area too.

Some friends of ours Rick and Mary have a house on the Western side of that sea and frequently post pictures of them fishing the azure blue waters there.

This past summer decided that we would like to spend a month in the area of San Felipe where Rick and Mary are, we also have the house in Casa Grande rented out for 3 months this winter as an experiment so the time was ripe.

By pure chance we were sitting in the Wichita Falls Elks Lodge and heard a couple talking about San Felipe! Pretty soon we had made friends with Tom and Sue who lived in San Felipe and knew the local RV parks because they lived in an RV down there for a few years before buying their house! They highly recommended Pete's Camp.

We mentioned to Rick and Mary that we would be in San Felipe in December for a reconnaissance trip and they connected us with Wayne and Barbara who have a house in Pete's Camp! We let then know we would be there and they recommended a hotel and kindly offered to show us around the area.

Tom and Sue said they would hook up with us too.

Friends from Casa Grande were planning a weekend trip to Algadones Mexico, which is just across the border from Yuma, for some dental work and partying. We decided to go with them and then continue down the San Felipe which would conveniently make 2 easy legs of about 200 miles each.

With our crazy friends in El Paraiso, Algodones

We had a great time with Paul, Karen, Ed, Ruthanne, Denise and Staranne at the Paraiso which is our favorite restaurant/bar down there and the next morning we said goodbye and headed further south.

Wayne. The picture says it al!!

The roads were excellent all the way and we were soon turning in to Pete's Camp to meet with Wayne and Barbara. We were immediately impressed by Pete's Camp, it's primarily a community of beach houses centered around a very nice bar and restaurant that looks down from a small cliff on the beach and the sea.

Pete's Camp Bar

Wayne took us into the center of the town to the Baja Mar Hotel were we would be staying for 3 nights. It was a reasonable place with about 12 rooms at the back of their restaurant and bar that was right on the beach road (the Malecon).

The Malecon

We posted a few pictures on Facebook and arranged to meet with Tom and Sue then went off exploring. 

Malecon night club

The fishing boats launch right off the beach

The area is pretty remote and if you decide to come down this way make sure your gas tank is full as there are stretches of 70 miles without any gas stations. The remoteness is what the American and Canadians who live here came seeking. Along the coast are small clumps of beach houses and RV parking places. Parking places because few of them have any hookups like the average US campground has.

Micro Brewery

We discovered that just a block or 2 from Pete's Camp there was a Micro Brewery run by Americans with some nice dark beers. Tom and Sue were there at a craft show where Sue had a stand so we caught up with them too.

We saw a reply to our post on Facebook from some friends we met in Sault Saint Marie a couple of years ago Tony and Dee. They knew our Australian friends Mike and Lyn from when they were all on an RV caravan trip in Mexico. By pure coincidence Tony and Dee were going to be in San Felipe to buy a house! We would try and meet up while they were here.

Wayne's Razor on the beach

Back at Pete's Camp Wayne took us out in his Razor off road vehicle to show us the campground at the resort and for a trip along the beach.

The campground at Pete's Camp

The campground was beautiful and brand new. They have 36 spaces  with concrete pads, full hookups, 50amp electric and a sunshade at each site right at the waters edge. The beach was soft clean sand and the sea a magnificent green/blue. The monthly rate was compatible with US prices but cheap for being on the beach.

Wayne showed us their house and the amazing patio they have ON THE ROOF! The views are breath taking.

Up on the roof

We met up for drinks and dinner at the bar and Tom and Sue joined us. Just as we were ready to go into the restaurant Tony and Dee walked in! We had a great evening catching up on and exchanging our news.

Tony and Dee on the right,

So the plan now is for us to come back in March if we can get in, Unfortunately the Baja 250 desert race is in March and they may not be able to get the whole month as the racers fill up the whole town. We are waiting to hear from the owners to see if we can make it happen.