What a fabulous trip!! I am so thankful to have been a part of this tour and with this group of people. I cannot say enough about Josie and Lorne. What wonderful people – so kind, caring and always aware of the needs of the folks on the tour. You are truly lucky to have them on your team.
OUR WAGON MASTERS – As you are aware, we had axle issues on the trip. I am so incredibly thankful that Lorne and Josie were with us! Lorne is an amazing man with great knowledge and skills. He was so helpful to Phil in sorting things out along the way. And he was always very calm and very positive. When we were between Bahia de Los Angles and San Felipe the situation got worse and that was the only time I saw concern on Lorne’s face. He walked away for a few minutes. When he came back to our camper he and Josie had developed a plan. I am thankful that Josie was able to go ahead with the rest of the group and Lorne stayed behind to follow us in case the situation got worse. If there had been only one wagon master, I am not sure how this could have been handled. We were able to cross the border and back to the US due to their help, knowledge and calm demeanor. We stayed in El Centro in the same RV park as Lorne and Josie. They were no longer responsible for us but continued to check in to be certain things were getting sorted out.
As a previous event planner, I know how stressful things can get. To me, it was obvious that they were both doing a lot behind the scenes. This made our trip so enjoyable and allowed things to go smoothly. They were always looking out for us.
TIME IN BAJA – Our time in Baja was everything and more than I had hoped for. It was a wonderful experience, and we learned a lot. It was good to experience traveling with knowledgeable wagon masters and with a group. Two of the other campers/couples on the trip are friends from home and we are planning on going back together for the next several winters. I enjoyed seeing the diversity of Baja – inland, deserts, mountains, cities, small towns and beaches. So much to offer. And, I always felt safe. There was never a time that I felt unsure or unsafe.
Beginning with the trip in Potrero is a great start. I think crossing in Tecate rather than Mexicali is a very good idea. The board crossing is much easier and less congested and Tecate is MUCH easier to navigate. Navigation in Mexicali is confusing and there is much more traffic. Josie and Lorne did a FABULOUS job of navigating us, finding a spot to pull over when those at the end of the group didn’t make it through stop lights and making certain we were all together.
FINAL THOUGHTS – I am so grateful for this experience! We have recommended the tour to two different couples at Rio Grand RV Park and shared business cards that Josie left for us. And one more time, Lorne and Josie are simply wonderful people. They obviously love people, care deeply and love Baja. I am truly thankful to have met them and know our paths will cross again.
