Baja Glenn

The First Baja Rig

One of the first interesting meetings we had was on the Blackball ferry from Victoria , British Columbia to Port Angeles, Seattle . A couple that Phill had met in a mountain hut months earlier were on the ferry. They were on a bicycle trip en route to the tip of the Baja peninsula. The next time we saw them, was in Todos Santos at Pilar’s Taco Stand, some 50 kilometres from the tip of the Baja! Needless to say, they had some interesting stories to tell. 

There were many things that Phill and I did and saw. I’ll relate a few, which to me, really stood out. I wanted to go to Baja to learn how to surf. One of the first “spots” we went to is called Shipwrecks (it’s a point break extended by a grounded ship); however, the surf was not happening, so we moved on.

No surf at Shipwrecks

We were at a gas station that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, and we met these two guys, Sam and Dan, who were from the San Diego area, and looking to surf.

Surfing with Sam and Dan

We headed west to the ocean to a spot we came to refer to as “The Secret Spot!” It was a pretty unique place – one south bay and one north bay separated by only yards of beach and rock. So, if the swells to surf were coming from the north, you could snorkel or fish in the relative calm of the south bay. It was great, and at night, we would sleep on the oversized roof rack of the Land Cruiser, watching shooting stars until we fell asleep.

The Original Secret Spot

South we went, down to where we thought we could go off road to check out more of the west coast. It was December 31, 1990 , and we approached a section of flooded road. “Can we make it?” was probably said ten feet into the water, and about five feet later is when the Land Cruiser started to pull to the left. We didn’t go very far, and three days later, we finished pulling the Land Cruiser from its mired state – only after breaking the winch cable twice and burying the spare tire to use as our winch point, seeing as there were no trees anywhere. But, like most of our experiences on the Baja, this one ended with a good laugh.

Very Stuck

Another great experience was the hike up Picacho. During our eight-hour slog up the hill, Phill was chased by a horse, saw a very large snake, spotted numerous hummingbirds, lost a sentimental walking stick, prayed for water at the top, and got to the elevation where the pine trees grow. Ahhh…the scents of home! Yes! There was a meadow near the top with a fresh water stream – a beautiful alpine oasis!

Resting on the way to the summit of the Picacho

We met a honeymooning Mexican couple using the cabin that was there – they were very nice people. We chatted, and then decided to summit as a group. At the top, we took in the view, and admired the shrine with offerings left by past pilgrimages.  

There are so many stories from our trip that I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, it changed both our lives. I realized that I was in love, and wanted to get married and have kids (which I eventually did to my lovely wife, Celine, with whom we have two beautiful children, Lauren, 5, and Jacob, 2).  

Phill (who initially didn’t want to miss a Canadian winter), however, found another love, the Baja. And, the rest, as they say, is history…

Glenn and Family