Do I need a Passport? Yes, that or a Passport card. If you don’t have a one, GET ONE IMMEDIATELY. Your local US Post Office can help you apply for a passport. You can read more details on the State Dept. site here. Do I need Mexican Insurance? We highly recommend it, and we have a fantastic resource for securing your policy. The company is called Baja Bound, and we personally have used them over the past few years for all our motorcycles and chase vehicles with zero headaches or hassles. You can run without it, but get in an accident and you may regret it. Do cell phones work in Mexico? Sometimes. Check with your provider, you may need to turn on "international dialing". Be advised that data roaming on some plans can add up to astronomical amounts if you don't turn it off once you cross the border. Ask us how we know. Will my bike run on Mexican gas? Yes, don't worry about it. Any bands, wet t-shirt contests or TV crews coming? No. None of that. This is camping on the beach in the middle of absolute nowhere. Bonfires and beer coolers is about as fancy as it's gonna get. If someone wants to initiate some sand drags, well then... How many people are going? HTFSIK? Probably 25-75 people would be a fair estimate. Most people don't like riding in the dirt or camping on beach so it's not going to be many people's cup of tea. How’s the weather? This beach is generally always around 72-78°. It gets hotter in the middle of the day and cooler at night but is almost always nice and mild. I’ve never been to Mexico—what should I expect? If you've never been, here are some tips Bill has compiled over the years: Be alert. In Mexico, the minute you think it’s okay to clip corners because you haven’t seen another car for two hours, that’s when a chicken truck will come barreling over the double yellow into your lane. If things seem shady or just not right, don’t do it. Knowing how to read your senses will keep you out of trouble. Know where you are at, how to get back to camp when your boys lose you, and where you left your bike. Border towns like Mexicali and Tijuana are a good place to be alert. The roads on this trip are in relatively good condition, but there are potholes everywhere. If you’re riding in a pack, ride single file so you can swerve right or left to avoid craters. Be courteous. Nothing pisses me off like Americans who come to Baja and treat the place like their personal toilet. The locals deserve our respect. Getting along with them is a piece of cake if you show an ounce of respect. A little humor goes a long way—I’ve never experienced more laidback, generous people. Be prepared. Physical preparedness means having everything you need to sustain yourself for the entire trip. I usually bring enough food to last an entire day in case I get stranded. Water is the heaviest thing to carry and I’ll only bring enough to last a day (half gallon for me, I like to hydrate) and then pick some bottled water at a local mercado before the next day’s trip. You will need this for brushing your teeth as well as drinking. I’ve also had to empty the half-gallon bottle to use as an improvised gas can. Go ahead and drink the local water if you are a daredevil but there is a good chance you’ll regret it. On that subject, there are shitters along the routes we’ve chosen but sometimes they can be few and far between or completely under stocked. When locals wipe their ass they fold the paper and throw it in a can by the crapper—not in the bowl. Nothing bogs down a Mexican toilet like a fistful of Charmin, so don’t throw your paper into the John. Here’s a minimum list of things you should pack for the ride: • Toilet paper • A day’s supply of water (at least one liter)* • Bike fuel • Tool kit • Spare parts (plugs, cables, inner tubes or patch kit, etc.) • Bedding • Toilet essentials • Clothing • American smokes (Mexican Marlboros are shit) • Flip-flops or shower shoes • Instant coffee and a small pot • Cash. There are ATM’s, but only in major towns. • Personal ID (Driver’s license and passport) • Current motorcycle registration papers (notarized copies, not originals) • Mexican insurance • Helmet (for the California leg and within all city limits in Mexico) • Tie-downs (at least three, more if your bike is a boat) • Camera • Lock and cable *Note, we will be in RSADM for three nights, so if you don't want to ride that dirt road to town, you may wanna pack heavy. There are plenty of local provisions in town if you do run out. Be flexible. In Mexico, mental preparation is even more important than physical preparation. You can always buy a raincoat or a pair of sandals, but you only get one chance to make a quick decision. For me, getting mentally prepared for Mexico is easy. I take off my watch, I turn off my cell phone and I remind myself that everything runs on a different time schedule. No one you come in contact with in Mexico is going to be in a hurry. Relax, be self-reliant and flexible and everything will work out just fine. Don't be a dick. Military checkpoints are a way of life in many countries, and Mexico is no exception. Be pleasant and respectful to Federales at military checkpoints and you will have no problems. Act like a jackass and you will get jacked. Keep your hands in the open and your tone friendly and they will treat you fine. In twenty years of traveling Baja roads, I’ve never had a single bad incident with a Federale. Cops, yes, the army, no. As for cops, if you get pulled over for some violation, real or manufactured, ask politely what you did wrong and then ask if you can pay the ticket directly to the cop in lieu of going to the station. McGoo got popped for driving to breakfast with a bed full of dudes and it cost him $50. Third Reich Eric was stopped for doing a smoky burnout on the sidewalk, shitass drunk with no helmet at 2 a.m. and his fine was $35. Justice? Of course not. Typical? Yes. Both guys kept their nose clean and their dumb comments to a minimum and they got off unscathed. If you've still got more questions, feel free to email billdozer and ask away.