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Day 252 to 255.
| March 14th to the 17th, 2008 |
From San Felipe, Mex. to Yuma, Arizona, U.S.A.
Back in San Felipe, we have the good fortune to be here in time for
the "San Felipe 250"!
Similar to the Baja 1000, this one starts and finishes in town.
Very few people have a chance to witness, live, two off-road races of
such a caliber on the same trip!
Last year, following an argument between locals and race organizers,
the 250 was moved to a different location. Since it's the area's prime
source for revenues, many businesses went bankrupt. But this year, it's
party time in town!
| Our friend Jim is seriously involved in the race! He'll be
working until late at night prepping the bike of his friend Pete
who will finish 2e in his class!
Great job, guys! |
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In Baja, you can never have too many mattresses on your
truck...
That's Baja!
Everything's street legal in Baja!
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Here are just a couple of the race cars we got to see up close
before the start... |
COOL!
MEAN...
Cute! |
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| Security is taken very seriously! |
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And off he goes!! The public is super close... Let's hope he does'nt
have steering problems!!!
Once again, excitement is at a max!! The power, the speed and the
sound are so impressive that I can hardly speak...
We were supposed to watch just a few starts but it's so exciting that
we don't notice how time flies. Now, we must hurry further down the race
course if we want to see the bikes, cars and trucks fly by!
Unfortunately, following a misinterpretation of a very cheap map (maps...again...),
we get there too late and miss most of the action...
Real bummer... At least, we got to see more starts than expected...
Polaris
Industries - Canada
Polaris Industries - USA
The very next morning, we get up very early to get a last look at the
wonderful beach and the sea of Cortez. Adios, San Felipe!
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Good bye Jim and Caren! Thanks for everything! Especially
for your hospitality and for the good laughs we had! Good bye
Ginger,
good bye Bandit! |
And we're back on the road. This time it really is THE ROAD we take...
After riding about 30 miles on a road-side trail/ditch, we have no other
choice but to ride the pavement...To Yuma...
Hard on the tires, you think? Don't worry, there finished anyway!
Customs...They're always a little stressful, are'nt they?
How can we explain to customs officers that are faced every day with
a serious illegal immigration problem that two Canadians, francophones
from Québec, that speak next to no Spanish, are just getting back from a
4 month trip in Mexico, riding their quads only, with their dog, after
having crossed the U.S. north to south and now want to get back into
Arizona, where their truck is stored, to then get back home???
A slightly more complicated situation than your usual 2 weeks
vacation to the beach...
Pretty simple, let's explain the situation like it is...
Minnie, you behave now! Some told us you might have to stay
quaranteened here...Let's keep our fingers crossed...
About 7 minutes later:
Customs? No problemo!
About Minnie, just one question: "Is this your dog?"
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Actually, Marc had to answer a pretty trick question:
"So euh, what kind of mileage can you get out of these things?"
"!!!"
So, how do we feel now that we're back in the U.S.A.?
We feel...
Bizarre...
Relieved (we made it across...)
happy (to be back...)
sad (one more step of the ride is behind us...)
proud (of the accomplishement...)
nostalgic (already??)
More than everyting else, where in shock! What an incredible
difference of culture! Here, trees, green grass, surrounded with
pavement, shopping centers everywhere, traffic lights, everybody is in a
hurry, stressed out, the smell of money floats in the air. A few miles
south, just across customs, almost no trees, zero grass, everything is
dust, everything is in slowmotion, living is simple, like it or not...
Strange to think that only an iron curtain separates the two
opposites...The natural environement on both sides is actually
very very similar...
After riding 170 miles, from 6:30am to 4:30pm, we celebrate
our return to the U.S. with a wonderful, deliciously thick steak!
Welcome back to Yuma!
''Dos marguaritas por favor....Rockas, con sal''
Ooops!!! That's right, we're not in Baja anymore!
But Baja will forever stay in our hearts!
In the next few days we'll ride back to Lake Havasu where we will
meet our friend Dave and then, it'll be on to Kingman, Arizona.
The Adventure continues...
...TBC...
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Trails? What trails??
 
Total 4 jours / 4 days
| 170 |
Miles |
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| 8942 |
Miles: à date/to date |
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| $180 |
Resto |
| $115 |
Épicerie/Food |
| $50 |
Essence/fuel |
| $132 |
Camping/Motel |
| $232 |
Divers/Misc. |
| $709 |
Total |
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LA CHOSE LA PLUS APPRECIÉE:
THE MOST APPRECIATED THING: |
| The Canadian passport! Without
a doubt, it greatly facilitated our re-entry in the U.S.! |
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Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter nos partenaires.
Ils nous ont fourni un soutien important afin de nous aider à réaliser cette aventure.
MERCI À TOUS
|
 We are proud to introduce you to our partners.
Their precious collaboration helped us live this fabulous adventure.
THANKS TO ALL. |
Polaris Industries -
Canada
Polaris Industries - USA
Cellutron
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