Here's an unfiltered dump of our pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27410006@N04/sets/72157626201416358/

On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 9:23 PM, Joel VanderKwaak
<joelvanderkwaak@gmail.com> wrote:
> Awesome trip, highly recommended if Mark offers another next year
>
> I'll post some pictures when i find some time
>
> Sent from myPhone
>
> On Mar 3, 2011, at 7:32 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
>
>> After a nice trip last year, we went again this year to visit the
>> whales. Each winter the Gray Whales migrate by the thousands from the
>> cold waters near Alaska down to the calving and breeding lagoons of
>> Baja. It is quite a spectacle, and people come from around the world to
>> experience it. The season lasts through mid April or so.
>>
>> This year I organized a trip for VW vans and 4 vans took part. We spent
>> 7 days in Mexico, covered about 1200 miles in Mexico. We camped 6
>> nights, at 4 different camps. After 2 nights at the whales we came part
>> way back north to camp 2 nights at Bahia De Los Angeles on the Sea of
>> Cortez for some beach sun, kayaking, and fishing. The other nights were
>> on the road coming and going.
>>
>> Here is a link to some photos taken on the trip.
>>
>> https://picasaweb.google.com/117635085394690440875/BajaWhales2011#
>>
>> The whale counts this year are higher than usual. Supposedly about 300
>> in our lagoon the day we were there. We spotted our first whales before
>> we even arrived at the camp. Just driving down the 30 mile dirt road we
>> saw spouts and some whales hopping in the water as we drove along the
>> shoreline approaching the camp. Once we got to the camp we saw many
>> more, everywhere we looked. The next morning we went out on a whale
>> watching boat to get up close. This is a must see. Go!
>>
>> Here is a link to some gray whale migration info and one for the
>> eco-tourism oriented place we camped at to see the whales.
>>
>> http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/gwhale/map/route.html
>>
>> http://www.kuyima.com/whales/index.html
>>
>> We encountered no problems on the trip, other than a flat tire when one
>> of our party abruptly decided to drive off the pavement to take a photo
>> of some cattle crossing the road. He plugged the tire himself but the
>> tire completely failed while driving the next day. The hole was where
>> the sidewall joined tread. He managed to buy a used tire of the same
>> size in a town along the way while the rest of us ate and shopped.
>>
>> Tourism seemed on the upswing while we were there and others were camped
>> everywhere we were. On the way back there was a steady stream of gringo
>> vehicles loaded up and heading south. We ran into a few other Vanagons
>> too, and some Eurovan campers. There were also some big organized
>> caravans of large RVs, like there used to be more of. I am happy to see
>> that more people are going down this year.
>>
>> Our vans were all Vanagon Westfalia types, 2 were Syncros and 2 were not
>> but all had over-sized tires. I think I was the only person who got
>> stuck, while scouting out a camp spot on a sandy beach. Once I aired
>> down and locked the rear diff I was on my way. The others chose a
>> slightly different path.
>>
>>
>> I may organize a similar trip again next year.
>>
>>
>> Mark
>