We head out from Loreto prepared for our last leg to the bottom of Baja on our way to Cabo.
The ride from Loreto was great, our first day of welcome overcast weather.
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The dogs appeared friendlier in Baja Sur, could be the heat or just that they are well fed.
I had wanted to stop in Totos Santos for some surfing, but the day was burning and we still had to make it through La Paz and on to Cabo. By this time I noticed the oil level on my bike was off the registered sight glass. I had already used all the oil I bought in Vegas and needed to find a place that sold motorcycle oil. Every gas station I stopped in only had car oil. A motorcycle (or at lesat this one) has a wet clutch (meaning its soaked in oil). The bike needs motorcycle oil which is designed to work with a wet clutch, car oil will over lubricate and cause the clutch to start slipping and wear out. Every place wondered why I didnt just put in car oil “its fine” they would say. I know about 10-15 words in Spanish, so I saved the attempt of trying to explain the why car oil slip additive was bad for my wet clutch. Instead I just said ‘no gracias’.
My buddy John in Calgary had given me a map of Baja from his trip. He broke down in La Paz and had circled the place of a motorcycle shop he got some work done – perfect. I followed his map into La Paz and found the place.
Perfect, I go to the front door to find it locked. I walk around back and see some guys working through a gate. The coversation goes something like this:
Tyler: Hola
Worker: Hola
Tyler: ummm, oil por favor
Worker: <something in high velocity Spanish>
Tyler: si si oil
Worker: tapping his wrist talking even faster
Tyler: hmm, no oil?
at this point Ryan comes around back.
Ryan: Hola
Worker (in Spanish): Sorry we are closed
Ryan (in spanish): Closed?
Worker: si
Ryan (in spanish): Open when?
Working (in spanish): an hour
Ryan (in spanish): one hour, great thanks
Ryan to Tyler: Its closed, we’ll come back in an hour and they will be open.
Tyler to himself: Dammit you gringo, learn some basic Spanish
We head into La Paz for lunch and kill some time.
We head back to the Cycle shop and the mid afternoon siesta closure was over. I walk in and a ask for oil in my broken Spanglish – the owner was a French guy who definitely knew his bikes. He looks out the window at my bike, walks over to the shelf, grabs two liters of oil and hands them to me. I ask if this is the right oil, he says “Its French oil, its the best”. I wanted to say “but its not German”, but decided not to push my luck. I topped off the oil pig and we hit the road for Cabo.
We arrived into Cabo in late afternoon just as the sun was hitting the horizon. We followed the road until it ended at the tip of Baja.
End of the road
I had brought some Monte Cristo cigars for a celebratory cigar when we reached the destination.
Mission Accomplished – time to hit Cabo and have some fun.