Old Mexico: Headed to Puerto Penasco, Rocky Point, Playa Bonita RV Park....

[MAX Burner]

Well...  This thread may not get much mileage because it's happening during the Ollie Rally in Alabama.  But here's an initial SITREP for all y'all that will capture our Sea of Cortez beach adventure over the next week or so...

We're in Ajo, AZ ATM and about ready to launch on the 100+ mile trip to the beach later this morning...  More to follow!

 

 

[ScubaRx]

Drive safely, be careful and come back home alive. 

[MAX Burner]

SITREP 18MAY:

Departed Wednesday AM with 6 Airstreams, an RPod, and our OTT for Playa Bonita RV Park at Rocky Point, Puerto Penasco.  FYI, our only issue with Casablanca was a faulty Suburban SW6DE water heater DC-side thermostat.  Replaced the Tstat in short order - all good, so momma got her "Hollywood Shower" this morning (and I'm back in "hero" status).

Best wishes to all those at the Ollie Rally this week!  We would have been there had we not already planned this trip...

Cheers!

A & D (Magnus, too -  WOOF!!!)

 

[SeaDawg]

I'm glad you are in a caravan.  Do you have a guide?

[Mike and Carol]

Sounds like an adventure!

[MAX Burner]

40 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

I'm glad you are in a caravan.  Do you have a guide?

We've had this trip on our radar screen for years....  Finally, we're able to align the planets to make it happen - we're traveling with friends from our old Airstream club (4 Corners Unit) who've been doing this trek annually since 2003.  They've got it down - it's actually an easy transition from Lukeville, AZ (border crossing)/Sonoyta, Sonora Mex.  The only documents asked for by the Mexican side was our TV and OTT registrations - they took a peek inside Casablanca and "one and done."

No guide needed...

[MAX Burner]

Making the border crossing....

 

Entrance to the Playa Bonita RV Park - roughly $35/nite...

 

Magnus' intro to the salty water of the Sea of Cortez...

 

Casablanca at the beach - tide goes WAY out in the AM...

 

[Katjo]

That is so awesome, what an adventure!
 I would love to do a caravan trip like this. When we were in the Airstream club it was on my bucket list but then we sold the AS for the Oliver! 
We need Oliver caravan trips.😜

[MAX Burner]

11 minutes ago, Katjo said:

We need Oliver caravan trips.😜

100% Concur, definitely need OTT Caravans!  Let's make 'em happen....  Funny story:  We were passing through Durango, CO a few weeks ago.  Stop/go traffic, etc., at one of the stops a dude next to us is yelling, "what kind of rig is that?".  We give them the 25 second answer to his question - he and his lady respond with: "We want one!"....  Can you imagine an Oliver caravan through some of these towns?  It would be impressive, IMO...

[HDRider]

9 hours ago, Katjo said:

We need Oliver caravan trips

Yes we do.

[Katjo]

11 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

100% Concur, definitely need OTT Caravans!  Let's make 'em happen....  Funny story:  We were passing through Durango, CO a few weeks ago.  Stop/go traffic, etc., at one of the stops a dude next to us is yelling, "what kind of rig is that?".  We give them the 25 second answer to his question - he and his lady respond with: "We want one!"....  Can you imagine an Oliver caravan through some of these towns?  It would be impressive, IMO...

It would be so impressive and I’m sure there would be a lot of people saying “What kind of camper are those?”!!! 

[ScubaRx]

On 5/18/2023 at 9:34 PM, Katjo said:

That is so awesome, what an adventure!
 I would love to do a caravan trip like this. When we were in the Airstream club it was on my bucket list but then we sold the AS for the Oliver! 
We need Oliver caravan trips.😜

Organize one. They’re a lot of work. 

[Katjo]

9 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Organize one. They’re a lot of work. 

I use to organize group tours in Hawaii and Europe, land and sea. It is a LOT of work. 
Airstream caravans are organized by people who are familiar with the caravan routes. Of course they have a much larger owners group broken down into regions so there are many people experienced in leading a caravan with knowledge for specific route/destinations. 
I don’t think there would be enough interest to organize an Oliver caravan to justify the time/work to set one up. 
It would be fun though! 


 

[SeaDawg]

3 hours ago, Katjo said:

I don’t think there would be enough interest to organize an Oliver caravan to justify the time/work to set one up. 
It would be fun though! 

If you (or someone) were to organize even a small caravan, you'd likely have a great time.

Back in 2010, a few of us organized a trip we called "the mountain eggroll." We had 5 Olivers, and my friend's Casita. It wasn't a long trip, but it sure was fun. The longest run was from south of Asheville to PlumTree campground, via the Blue Ridge Parkway. (We did turn a lot of heads.) Two weeks, three weekends, bunches of fun visiting small regional  festivals and restaurants. 

Probably doesn't seem like a big number, but the work is much the same. And, at the time, it was over ten per cent of the existing Olivers, so not a bad turnout. 😀

Lots of great memories,  and we're all still in touch. A number I count as very close friends. 

We did a mini reprise two years ago. Only three trailers were able to attend--folks we have camped and sailed with on a regular basis. The weather was pretty bad, so we did our own Wolly Worm races, inside our pole barn, near Asheville,  and bailed out of our reservations for a campground near Banner Elk. (Marcel, though a slow starter, won the wolly Worm race.)

We've caravanned with just two trailers through eastern Canada, Montana to Alaska, Kansas to Colorado, and a number of other routes with Oliver friends. 

It's work. And so worth it, small scale. We've made lifelong friends in our small adventures.

I personally wouldn't be up for organizing a big caravan or camping event, either. Not at this stage of my life.

Maybe some of you younger folks will take the baton?  I know I've said it before, but leaving the door open a bit, invites new friends, and adventures,  into your life. 

PS, for any of you wondering, we released the wolly worms humanely back into the wild, after the race.

 

[MAX Burner]

How cool would it be to have a shot of 4 or 5 Ollies parked along the bulkhead sidewalk at Rocky Point...?

La Playa Bonita RV PARK #1.pdf

[MAX Burner]

Rocky Point #2.pdf

 Maybe a OTT "Spine of the Rockies - Hot Springs Tour"...  any interest?

[Mark Meadows]

Good luck! Be careful down there.  https://www.borderreport.com/immigration/border-crime/10-road-racers-massacred-in-northern-baja-9-wounded/

[MAX Burner]

@Mark Meadows:  Thanks, Mark - no worries!  We made it back as scheduled after having a great time at Rocky Point.  The Playa Bonita RV Park was probably 80-90% full capacity and we were lucky to have been assigned the last "on the beach" site.  The 64 mile run from the border town of Sonoyta to Rocky Point was on very good roads and our "caravan" made it easily without hassle.  We made reservations for next year before leaving.  

[Mark Meadows]

Good to know! Safe travels!

[ScubaRx]

On 5/18/2023 at 8:54 PM, MAX Burner said:

We've had this trip on our radar screen for years....  Finally, we're able to align the planets to make it happen - we're traveling with friends from our old Airstream club (4 Corners Unit) who've been doing this trek annually since 2003.  They've got it down - it's actually an easy transition from Lukeville, AZ (border crossing)/Sonoyta, Sonora Mex.  The only documents asked for by the Mexican side was our TV and OTT registrations - they took a peek inside Casablanca and "one and done."

No guide needed...

Isn't Lukeville just down the road from Organ Pipe NP?

[Wandering Sagebrush]

6 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Isn't Lukeville just down the road from Organ Pipe NP?

It is, I believe it’s right on the eastern border of the NM.

[MAX Burner]

18 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Isn't Lukeville just down the road from Organ Pipe NP?

Correct, Steve.  It's just south of Ajo, AZ.   In fact you drive thru several miles of Organ Pipe NP en route to the border crossing.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

11 minutes ago, MAX Burner said:

Correct, Steve.  It's just south of Ajo, AZ.   In fact you drive thru several miles of Organ Pipe NP en route to the border crossing.

As I recall, the Border Patrol check point south of Why has some weapons grade nasty speed bumps.  Even going really slow, they jolted the **** out of the Airstream.

[MAX Burner]

8 minutes ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:

As I recall, the Border Patrol check point south of Why has some weapons grade nasty speed bumps.  Even going really slow, they jolted the **** out of the Airstream.

Remember them well.