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I hope everyone here has been enjoying the walk with a burro adventures of Mike and Don-Kay... ?

Not sure at what point they will cut away from the coast to go around Bahia San Quintin, but Baja Gringo may have an interesting visitor passing by?

Here is today's GPS SPOT location, near Camalu:



If the folks here have not been following the story on Baja Nomad and would like to see the maps of his progress since starting on Oct. 1 (near Tecate)... let me know! Mike plans on walking to Cabo San Lucas and Graham Mackintosh is his mentor.... naturally!

I have been following that story; wonderful pics by Graham. Mike(and Don-Kay) look like they're really enjoying it.



Looks like around 30 miles or so from San Jacinto/Shipwrecks to Gringo's. Maybe 3-5 days; something like that?

Not sure how I missed this story up to now...

Do you know if he is planning on taking the old Camino Real route that will take him around the bay or is he going to take the longer route, following along the coastline via Bahia Falsa?

If he takes the longer route we will see him...

Don't know... Last night (29th of Oct.) his location....

There are a few obstacles and very soft sand along that route south there. Mike and companion may have some slow going the next few days...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

There are a few obstacles and very soft sand along that route south there. Mike and companion may have some slow going the next few days...

Ron, the San Diego Paper did a nice article: Baja adventure for a man, his burro and two dogs - SignOnSanDiego.com

The post by BajaGeoff on Sept. 19 is the thread with his travels updated daily: BajaNomad Forums - "Peace, Love & Fish Tacos"

I find using 'Today's Posts' the best way to read Nomad (and here too, or New Posts here)... See all the new posts and replies from the past 48 hours.

Originally Posted by David K

...the San Diego Paper did a nice article: Baja adventure for a man, his burro and two dogs - SignOnSanDiego.com...

"...he would like to show his fellow Americans that Baja isn’t all about drug wars, guns and kidnappings.

“One of the things I’m hoping will happen is that American citizens who live in San Diego and other border communities will see, if I get enough exposure, that Baja isn’t as dangerous as many think it is,” Younghusband said..."

He's a marked man now! I can already smell the spin:

"...He spent eight months “bonding” with Don-Kay..."

Posted by Graham last night:

posted on 10-30-2010 at 10:34 PM



Mike called me from his cell phone tonight. He said he had found a nice secluded place to camp in a little "oasis" in Arroyo Santo Domingo, complete with a pool of fresh water.

He had picked up his buried stash near Punta Colonet - with water and half a gallon of whiskey intact - which gives him confidence about recovering the other supplies buried all the way down Baja. Ironically, he felt at this stage, he didn’t really need most of that extra 40 lbs weight as he's trying to lighten the burro's load, and he’ll probably end up giving away some of it, and also some of the equipment he’s carrying that he’s appreciating he can do without.

So far, sounds like he’s been camping alone along the Pacific. The caretaker at Punta San Jacinto (Shipwreck) let him stay a couple of nights in front of one of the empty beach houses, so he was able to rest Don Kay and Solo.

Mike sure misses his two dogs. He can’t help thinking of them back in San Diego missing him and missing out on what they’ve trained for a whole year… They’d gone through rattlesnake avoidance courses, he’d bought little boots for their paws, and doggy jackets… they’d gone everywhere with him, and lightened his journey for about 140 miles. But he is so grateful for his newfound "guardian angel" – Solo. She led him to the great campsite this evening. It might be tough, but he knows he’s done the right thing for Max and Rusty.

He’ll decide tommorrow about either picking up Highway One for a while, or following a road closer to the coast till he has to head in towards San Quintin. Then he may go by way of the Old Mill.

He would love a visit from any fellow nomads. And he’s probably ready for a night in a motel room… there won’t be too many once he ventures beyond El Rosario.

When he can find a place to safely leave his traveling buddies and his gear, he's hoping to visit somewhere he can use the internet.

Wherever you are tomorrow evening Mike, Happy Halloween.

DavidK - let me know how I can get a hold of Mike to see if we can help him out with anything he needs...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

DavidK - let me know how I can get a hold of Mike to see if we can help him out with anything he needs...

No way, other than to estimate where he is during the day or to go see him in camp after I post his location (usually around 6 pm).

Read what Graham has been saying on Nomad about Mike...

Here is today's (tonight's) location... as posted on Nomad (I tried to post here, too... but the site was off line):

Mike's new location is about 3 miles south of last night's... Looks like he is staying off the beach and going around Laguna Figueroa.... This is just northwest of that Tourist Information Center on Hwy. 1.

I will head out to see if I can find him in the morning and see if there is anything he needs,,,

Donkeys can be dangerous!

I took off this morning to find Mike and based on the location DavidK mapped out I figured that they were heading along the old Camino Real. That would be a good choice through these parts as along many of the roads here in the ag areas you will run into gates and fences. The Camino Real is considered a federal road and access must be kept open. So I drove up north along Highway One to just where the hill starts to head up to make it over to Vicente Guerrero. There I took a side dirt road heading west towards the beach until I got to El Camino Real and slowly started driving south.

I started getting concerned after a few miles, especially after a couple of locals I asked along the way if they had seen him all shook their heads no. I was beginning to wonder if Mike had headed toward the highway or was making his way back toward the beach (that would not be a good move with Don-Kay in this stretch of terrain).

Continuing on the Camino Real I finally thought I saw something ahead. I took out my camera with the telephoto and sure enough, it was Mike, Don-Kay and two dogs moving along south.

Once we met up I had the pleasure to formally introduce myself to Mike and his traveling companions. Really great guy and after 32 days on the trail I thought he would like a break from his regular trail food so I promised to track him back down tonight.

Cristina and I will bring him a hot dinner as well as some adult beverages and ice to share a toast or two. Will bring some treats for the rest of the crew as well...

Terrific, BG. Tell him we are all watching this great Baja story he is creating....when he gets down to our latitude we will probably go on a search and serve mission too....depending on his route....hope so.

Ron... would you be able to copy this and see if Mike thinks it is close... if he has been recording his mileage on a GPS maybe?

Thanks!.....

================================================================================ =====

MONTH 1 (OCT.) DISTANCE DATA (estimate)



Good Morning, as today is Nov. 1... and Mike began his walk with Don-Kay on Oct. 1, I thought I would estimate the miles he has walked in the first month.

I am using the AAA map as it has mileages on all the roads, and Mike has almost always been on or parallel to the roads. The mileage numbers are rounded up to the next whole number.

As you know, he has rested on a few days... so the total is an average for both the days walking and days not walking.

Oct. 1 - Oct. 7 = 39 miles
Oct. 8 - Oct. 14 = 48 miles
Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 = 61 miles
Oct. 22 - Oct. 28 = 49 miles
Oct. 29 - Oct. 31 = 22 miles

Total for October = 219 miles

Daily average = 7.06 miles.

The most miles in one day is approx. 14

Naturally, there could be much more walking than just the point to point distances on a map. Perhaps Mike is keeping a GPS log for each day's distance?

Good job Mike!

At this pace, he should be in the Seven Sisters region at the end of November (Punta Blanco to Santa Rosalillita) or beyond if his pace increases?

Maybe Bahia Asuncion to Punta Abreojos region by the end of November?

Just estimates, naturally!

Will do when we see him in a little bit. I'll report back...

Whoa!! I don't know whether I feel sorriest for Mike or Don-Kay for the load each is carrying on their backs....but I do know those dogs are getting off really easy!!

I'm with Dusty....if/when Mike gets close to the La Paz area, we'll show him some La Paz hospitality! As a matter of fact, if Don-Kay needs a rest, Dusty has a "woolly mammoth" about his size who could spell him for a few miles!

Enjoy yourselves, BG. I'm sure Mike and buddies will appreciate a good home-cooked meal! It's fun and interesting to watch the progress of the trip, and DavidK's maps are very helpful for those of us who don't know the area up north.

Hope he is feeling ok.. it is one hell of a walk... but, must say I'm rooting for him to make all the way.. with no problems... sorry to see the other two go... but he must know best...

Mike, Don-Kay, and the two dogs advanced about 12 miles today!