Ok, my sis always complain that I never finish a trip blog that once I get home, I stop. Well, she is partially true on that…. So I am going to update and finish this website up of summer travel!
Yes, we have been home for almost a month now since finishing the 3 Flags Classic. So here is a summary of that ride (to the best of my memory).
The previous post was a teaser that we were starting our the next morning and that I wasn’t going to be posting much. Turns out I didn’t post AT ALL. But we did do the ride. The 3 Flags Classic is a rally style ride that happens over Labor Day weekend where the route changes every year, has 4 checkpoints to complete within a specific window, and traverses three country’s – Mexico, US and Canada. This one was the 46th annual starting in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) Sonora Mexico on Friday Sept 1st, through checkpoints Knab UT on 9/1/23, Idaho Falls ID on 9/2/23, Sandpoint ID on 9/3/23 and finally Calgary Alberta Canada on 9/4/23.
08/30/2023
Rick arrived at my house on Wednesday morning, August 30th for our ride to Puerto Peñasco. We wanted to attend the opening banquet on Wednesday night and also get a day to relax before we ventured on 4 tall days of riding. The weather called for a clear day but hot once we went into the desert.
I’ve been to San Felipe many times in Baja and Puerto Peñasco is located on the opposite side of the Sea of Cortez (aka Gulf of California) of San Felipe, but I never been to Puerto Penasco. Our ride started with a nice cool clear ride along the coast as we headed to San Diego, but turn hot and muggy as we started heading east. Even in the mountains that you cross over east from San Diego didn’t give us much relief at elevation – and when we dropped down into the desert 30 miles from Mexicali, the heat and humidity was on!
We gassed up just before crossing the border and I get some intel from the clerk about gas stops going to our destination. Today was also the projected hottest day and we could expect cooler days ahead, although that is no constellation right now…. we could feel the higher than normal humidity along with the sunny weather and 105 degrees in the shade temps, but we don’t ride in the shade. We also had about 190 miles to go and it was 11 a.m.
We crossed the border into Mexicali, and as typical, no stopping at the border, just go through the maze and bumps. So far, the ride is familiar to me as it is as though we are heading to San Felipe, which we are till we need to cut across the top of the Gulf of California. Once through Mexicali, the road to San Felipe is good and fast. I’m thinking we will be at Puerto Penasco in about another 1 1/2 as the roads are probably the same. WRONG!
About 30 miles from Mexicali we turn off of Mex 5 and take Mex 4. Mex 5 to San Felipe is mostly wide open with a very good road and non stop till Mex 3. I though this would be the same, but it was really a bunch of small farm towns we had to go through, looking for the stop signs, watching out for dogs, pot holes and don’t forget the surprise speed bumps that you have no warning for. It was tedious for the next 43 miles and probably took us 1 1/2 as we had to negotiate some turns in these towns.
Finally the towns disappeared but we still had about 120 miles to go in this heat and desert winds that were blowing. We continued for a bit, slowing down for the sand covered areas and the recent washouts on the side of the road from last weeks hurricane remnants. Sometimes almost half your lane was gone due to the washout.
We ventured off our route to go into the town of El Golfo de Santa Clara to gas up (the intel I received from the clerk) where a blind man was pleading for money while I was filling my tank. It was a miracle that after a gave him a some greenbacks that his eyesight apparently came back as he commented how he like my bike.
We continued in the heat, plodding along and being carful of the road hazards as we came across them, contend with drifting sands from the wind and a few construction areas. But the drive started to become interesting as you could see the blue sea off to our right in this desert landscape and as we approached the town of Puerto Penasco you could see a group of high rises rising from the desert along the coast. We topped off our tanks before heading to our host hotel so we wouldn’t have to worry about it.
We pull into the host hotel area about 4 pm and there are quite a few bikes already here. It was still very hot and very very humid. We park and enter the building for check in and we must of looked beat as there was a greeter there with a cooler full of bottled waters and he kept asking if I wanted more water. It was a relief to check into our room that had the AC running and both of us just chilled for a while drinking our water.
We check in for the ride and picked up our passports and other items – a yellow ribbon to tie on our bikes to identify 3 flag riders while we are riding the route, a couple of wrist bands we had to wear (One for the hotel security at Playa Bonita, the other for dinner in Calgary) and we were given a token coin with our number on it that we would turn in the morning we start the ride. The passport was a nice summary of our ride legs, with our picture in it, our ride number and places for a stamp for each checkpoint,
After check-in it was time to head to the pool, where there was a bar and other riders. Even though the pool water was warm, it was nice to relax and have a cold beer while wading in the water. Later that night we had our banquet dinner outside. Rick bought me a Cadillac margarita before we ate, but some time after my 2nd helping of food, that margarita hit me like I got roofied… But it must have been good tequila as I didn’t wake up with a hang over.
08/31/2023
During the night, the wind was just howling! The small crevice in our sliding glass patio door was just howling with a little shaking too. I had washed socks, t-shirt and underwear during the day and had them out on the patio. During the night I went out on the patio to only find my socks and underwear. The t-shirt was down below on the bush. So off I went to get it. While walking out side it was like a mini sandstorm. I retrieved my shirt and heading back I noticed someone’s bike was actually pushed over on its side from the wind! I headed back and went back to sleep.
The morning, the wind was strong but not the sandstorm the night before. We got up and cleaned up for breakfast. While heading out, we crossed paths with a guy from Newport who we met the day before in the pool, and he recommended a place in town for breakfast, so we took a cab there and he was right. It was an excellent place and air conditioned! It was still hot and humid today, but not quite as bad as the day before.
Most of the day was just relaxing, hanging at the pool, and reviewing our stuff for our coming days of riding. For dinner, we again got a cab and went to a place that Jean had memories of going to when she use to come to this oasis in the desert. It was still there!
We got to bed early and decided to get up at 4:30 or 5:00 am and be rolling by 5:30 am.
to be continued……
Thank you Jannie for requesting more trip blogs! 😊 I’ve missed reading about the adventures. Interesting to hear about summer in the same areas we might go during the winter; heat, humidity, wind!!… a different place. It’s amazing in 30 years some things might change, but the restaurant is still there!! I don’t blame you for not posting any blogs or pictures on your trip, you put on a zillion miles a day in such weather conditions and rough roads!
Thankfully you made it home safely and now can reminisce and share your adventure, which I find riveting.
Yes, What Jean said!
Although I could (and DID) stalk you during the 3 Flags Classic, it’s nice to hear and see the details. So, as long as you’re finishing up the blog, you can fill in the missing dates on the 15 Roads tab😛
I figured you must be a saint if you cured the blind man, but Saint James is the patron saint of hat makers, rheumatoid sufferers, and laborers. I guess now we can add blind. A miracle, indeed!😅
Keep writing & posting til you’re done. Amazing all the details you still have after a month. I can barely document last week.
Your fans await!
Of course, you have something more memorable to document than my boring week😂 Love the sunset at the restaurant pics…reminiscent of Manuel Antonio💖
I love the shots of the sunset! So beautiful, even if it was hot and humid. I too am impressed by the detail you can recall after time has passed. Glad you were able to heal the man’s blindness with your money!