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Dan & Lisa Goy
Dan at work!
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Another terrific stop on the Pacific
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Dan & Lisa Goy
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Day 2 our first body break stop
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Day 2 our first body break stop
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Heading south on Hwy from El Rosario
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Dan at work!
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Everyone enjoys their stay at the Hotel Sererindad
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Everyone enjoys their stay at the Hotel Sererindad
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Everyone enjoys their stay at the Hotel Sererindad
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Dan & Lisa Goy
This is why Dan enjoys the wine tours at LA Cetto
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Dan & Lisa Goy
We had fun tonight!
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Lisa is working
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Lisa is happy with her new Nautilus
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Everyone enjoyed their chance to dance!
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Dan & Lisa Goy
On The Road With Baja Amigos
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Cool but sunny!
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Bahia de Los Angeles Campground at Sunrise
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Stunning with the moon
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Dan & Lisa Goy
Stunning with the moon
Story and Photos By Dan and Lisa Goy
There have been Wagon Masters leading RV Caravans around the world for decades and on Baja soon after Hwy 1 was completed in 1973. Much like their predecessors in the 1800’s leading pioneers across the old west in covered wagons, Wagon Masters of today are a unique breed engaged in work that can be very rewarding, enjoyable and sometimes challenging. Familiar with the journey and hazards that may lie ahead Wagon Masters today lead RVers to vistas unseen, places only dreamed about and experiences that will become fondly recalled for years to come. Baja California, Mexico’s frontier, offers RVers a trip much more akin to those settlers during the 19th century in the wild west than any other RV tour in the US or Canada.
The primary duty is to deliver what the clients have signed on for in a manner that is safe, timely and most importantly fun. The larger the group the more challenging it becomes to keep all of these dynamics in balance. In many ways, Baja is very straight forward given there is only one highway (Hwy 1) from top to bottom, with the majority of 3.5 million residents living Ensenada north and about 500,000 living La Paz south. This leaves relatively few Mexicans living across the 1500 km (900 miles) between these communities.
Everything starts on Day 0, when we meet and greet our group in Potrero, CA. In addition to introductions, we ensure the required paperwork is up to snuff, conduct an orientation and have a social. Everyone is excited in anticipation of this new adventure, however some have anxieties after listening to friends and family discussing the dangers of Mexico - not that they have actually had any firsthand experience or knowledge. Our responsibility is to calm any fears and prepare our guests for the journey ahead.
It begins with driving protocols; in town, highway, topes (speed bumps), the attributes of defensive driving, speed limits, local police, pedestrians, dogs and farm animals. Within a couple of days everyone gets comfortable with the VHF radios we distribute and what to expect when driving with Mexicans, often on a narrow roadway without shoulders. Every driving day for us starts the same; prior to departure we have a pre-travel briefing. How far are we driving? When are we expected to get there? How many body breaks should we expect? Are we stopping for fuel? Are we going to encounter any military checkpoints? Do we stop for groceries? What excursions are planned? It only takes a few minutes and then everyone is prepared for the day.
The good news is our RV tours are a limited size; we have much more flexibility for fuel stops and take very little time to set up on a beach, RV park or campground. Taking charge of both these procedures is vital for an incident and stress free trip. The same goes for grocery stops, body breaks and military check points. Accordingly some have described our tour as “Tight but Loose”, relaxed but on schedule. Folks often comment how busy the tour is particularly with the excursions, but also say they would not want to miss even one of them.
In addition to staying on schedule and delivering excursions, we introduce the group to our many friends on Baja; beach vendors, restaurant and storeowners, RV park operators and snowbirds that we have known for years. We also have to expect the unexpected; this could be a flat tire, dead battery, RV stuck in the sand or an illness. Over the years we have made many good contacts on whom to contact to get things fixed and people looked after.
When we first started our business there was no Baja Wagon Master training course. Fortunately Dan graduated from SEEDS (Self Employment & Entrepreneurial Development Society), which prepared us with a well thought out Business Plan. Our years of camping in Mexico starting in 1985, prepared us to effectively plan and deliver the tours. Familiarity with the language and culture has also been very helpful. However it was only after repeatedly doing the tours, subject to critical analysis that included guest evaluations, that our tours have really become almost effortless and stress free to conduct. Notwithstanding unforeseen circumstances we usually know within 15 minutes what km mark we will be at on travel days at any given time.
A smoothly delivered tour by experienced and seasoned operators definitely lessens the anxieties of everyone in the caravan. Planning, repetition and constant assessment has ensured our selection of stops work well, an important consideration when traveling as a group of 6-8 rigs. Our VHF radios are particularly helpful when driving on the open highway. We know how important it is to the safety of the group to be alerted when vehicles are passing from the rear, large vehicles approaching from the front, animals on the roadway or other hazards we may encounter. Although speed limits are well posted, our experience has taught us that additional caution may be appropriate when conditions are less then optimum; high winds, poor road surface and road construction are just a few examples.
Overtime we have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about Baja and Mexico, which is reflected on tour everyday in our destinations, excursions, activities and protocols. Swimming, kayaking, fishing, hiking, shelling, shopping, eating out; where to go, what to see, who to meet, the list is really endless.
For us the attraction and motivation of being Wagon Masters has been obvious from the beginning. We love Baja and RVing; we spend our winters as snowbirds, and still meet all our financial obligations. In addition, we meet interesting people, some of whom have become lifetime friends. It is rewarding to introduce RVers to this magnificent peninsula, see their excitement at every new vista and bathe in the appreciation of the many vendors and restaurant owners as we arrive.
Naturally, listening to the surf while having a siesta in a zero gravity chair on the beach at Tecolote is great too! Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves to make certain we’re awake and not dreaming that this is the life we are living. Perhaps you would care to join us as a Wagon Master? If this life sounds appealing to you please give us a call or drop us a line!
Dan & Lisa Goy
Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours
www.BajaAmigos.net
info@bajaamigos.net
1-866-999-2252