Episodes
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Ginni Callahan's Baja introduction started with a simple, straightforward invitation that most would dismiss as crazy: "Why don't you get a kayak, learn to paddle it, drive me to Baja, and tag along for the season?" The invitation from Kayak guide Hans Bruning changed Callahan's life forever.
In 2008, she paddled to the Pacific Baja islands of Cedros and Natividad. In 2009, she soloed to Santa Catalina, the most remote island in the Loreto National Marine Park, renowned for its endemic rattleless rattlesnakes. In 2105, she circumnavigated Angel de la Guarda Island in the remote northern Gulf of California.
In 2020, Callahan paddled solo across the Gulf of California, completing the final 55 nautical miles from Isla Tortugas to the Sonora coast in 18 hours.
When not guiding sea kayaking trips, Callahan is writing a guidebook on the National Marine Park of Loreto. She is a breast cancer survivor who wants to give hope to others undergoing that journey.
Enjoy this Slow Baja conversation with Ginni Callahan.
Watch the conversation on YouTube.
Listen to the conversation on Apple.
Learn more about Ginni Callahan here.
Get your Baja insurance here.
More information on Slow Baja Adventures.
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For episode number one hundred and fifty, I proudly bring you this important and thoughtful conversation with Journalist Carl Honoré. Honoré is the leading voice of the global Slow Movement. We recently spent some time at Los Sagrados Horse Sanctuary in Pescadero discussing his bestselling book "In Praise of Slowness."
In his books, lectures, and TED Talks, Honoré advocates embracing one's inner tortoise and slowing down. He criticizes the Western world's obsession with speed and promotes a more deliberate, unhurried approach to life.
Honoré not only explores the negative impacts of our fast-paced society but also champions those who have adopted a slower, more mindful lifestyle. In a world dominated by haste and diversion, Honoré underscores the importance of deceleration. He provides actionable strategies that empower individuals to not just survive, but thrive in a rapidly changing world, all while prioritizing their well-being and fostering meaningful connections.
Enjoy this Slow Baja conversation with Carl Honoré.
Watch the conversation on YouTube.
Listen to the conversation on Apple.
Learn more about Carl Honoré here.
Get your Baja insurance here.
More information on Slow Baja Adventures.
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Episodes manquant?
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Meet Noel Bhavani Cianci, the founder and owner of Los Sagroados Horse Sanctuary in Pescadero. On a recent trip to Baja Sur, I chose to stay at Los Sagrados when I was looking for out-of-the-ordinary and “on-brand” accommodations near Todos Santos for my conversation with Carl Honoré. Carl is an award-winning author, TED speaker, and the voice of the slow movement.We found Los Sagrados quickly, just inland from Highway One, a short drive down a dirt road and behind a large locked gate. The ranch accepts guests happily. Carl stayed in a tidy stone cabin, and I chose the glamping tent. There’s a bunk room inside the barn, and camping (for a fee) is allowed. The property features a communal kitchen and bathrooms. The outdoor showers may be the best in Baja!In this Slow Baja Conversation, we discuss Noel’s background in fashion styling and the healing arts, her long love of horses, the sanctuary’s history, visiting and volunteering opportunities, and the slow vibe that permeates the property. Learn more about Los Sagrados Horse Sanctuary:https://lossagrados.org/Get your Baja insurance here:https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl...More information on Slow Baja Adventures:https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Meet Jeremy DeConcini, the co-founder of Motosonora Brewing Company in Tucson, Arizona. This unique taproom, inspired by road trips, features a rotating art collection that pays homage to iconic races like the Carrera Panamericana, Baja 1000, and East African Safari Rally. With its Moto Mondays and frequent automotive events, Motosonora is not just a place to enjoy world-class beers but also to showcase your classic sports car or vintage 4x4, like my old Toyota FJ40. We’ve collaborated to launch Slow Baja Mexican Lager, a must-try for scorching summer days and is on tap for a limited time only.
In this Slow Baja Conversation, we discuss his African travels with his brother Jeff, which formed the genesis for the brewery. He shares an epic adventure from the 90s, a Baja trip with his father and three teenage brothers, which resulted in a hospital trip and a few broken bones. Buckle up, crack open a cold one, and enjoy the ride.
Learn more about Motosonora here.
Get your Baja insurance here.
More information on Slow Baja Adventures.
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Thom Hill is the founder and visionary behind the iconic brand Iron and Resin. He was raised on the East Coast, attended college in Southern California, and made his first of many trips to Baja as a student in the mid-80s. After graduating, Hill lived on a sailboat and continued exploring the peninsula by water. His passion for the outdoors, surfing, riding motorcycles, and seeking solace in a vintage 4x4 shines through in his brand and work.
“Forged in Ventura, CA, in a mass-produced, disposable world, Iron & Resin is a product of “one-off” culture, where men still build, by their own hands, the craft they ride, be it water or land.”
Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl...
For more information about Slow Baja: https://www.slowbaja.com/
More information on Slow Baja Adventures: https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Growing up in rural New England, you’re bound to see many Jeeps, trucks, and tractors. Many people have them for transportation and working on their properties, and the Ladden family was no exception. Fascinated from an early age while watching his dad with his Jeeps, it’s a piece of family lore that Michael’s first word was “Jeep.”
A pivotal moment in Michael’s life came when he left his first big job after college and explored Africa. This journey ignited a passion for Land Rovers, adventure travel, and a desire to live life on his own terms. Despite a successful career in real estate and hospitality, his adventurous spirit eventually led him to sell everything and embark on a 220,000-mile expedition across all seven continents.
When the pandemic disrupted his global journey, Michael didn’t let it deter him. Instead, he adapted his plans and turned his exploration towards North and Central America.
He has spent significant time exploring Baja California Sur, Mexico, riding the peninsula on a KTM adventure motorcycle and most of the Baja Divide by bicycle. In addition to his ground adventures, Michael is a private pilot and just released a book about his African adventures.
Michael has visited 122 countries and proudly states he’s been to nine out of ten of the worst ones!
Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl...For more information about Slow Baja:https://www.slowbaja.com/More information on Slow Baja Adventures:https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Azure O’Neil is a badass. She has traveled through 31 countries on two and four-wheels, including a multi-year journey on her 1989 Honda Transalp. In addition to her love for overlanding, Azure enjoys paddleboarding, scuba diving, moto-camping, and planning her next big trip. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @MyTicketToRide.I met Azure at the 2023 Overland Expo, where she is the Director of Programming. Recently, we spent ten days tent camping through Baja. We kayaked Loreto National Marine Park, mule-packed in the mountains above Mision San Javier, and interviewed people involved in the conservation movement in Baja. In summary, Azure is a wealth of knowledge, travels easily, makes a damn fine cup of coffee, and is the one to ask when you need a pinch of salt. Azure O’Neil is Slow Baja Approved! Learn more about Azure O'Neil's travels here:https://youtu.be/9JE3ZXjqM5A?si=tvxDvkc9_13rxb2C
Follow Azure on Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/mytickettoride/
Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
For more information about Slow Baja:https://www.slowbaja.com/
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Author Doreen Cunningham's beautiful volume is a luminous depiction of an epic grey whale migration and an intensely powerful memoir of reclaiming a life battered by poverty and isolation. It is a shining testament to the healing properties of the natural world. Soundings is the story of a woman reclaiming her life, a child growing to love an ocean that is profoundly endangered, and a mother learning from another species how to parent in a time of unprecedented change.Learn more about Doreen Cunningham:https://doreencunningham.com/Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2tFor more information about Slow Baja:https://www.slowbaja.com/More information on Slow Baja Adventures:https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Basil's Garage, located in Vista, California, is your one-stop shop for all your Baja Overland rig build needs. As a specialized vehicle outfitter, Basil's offers practical, simple, and capable off-road vehicle builds for long-term remote travel, from selecting the right vehicle to suspension configuration and camp setup to planning every minute detail. They offer in-house advanced electrical system
design, lighting, suspension, wheels/tires, bar work, armor, fabrication, camp accessories, and flatbed conversions. They pride themselves on delivering high-end finished products with impeccable workmanship, partnering with quality businesses such as REDARC, MITS Alloy, Go Fast Campers, ARB, ADS Shocks, Baja Designs, Nomad Wheels, and more. Basil's Garage is Slow Baja Approved!
Learn more about Basil's Garage:
https://www.basilsgarage.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Troubadour Steve Poltz has a legendary Baja tale involving a whale-watching excursion that went comically awry. As he infers, it might not have been as comical as it sounds today in today’s Slow Baja conversation.
In the early 90’s, Poltz was a singer-songwriter with a massive cult following in his adopted home of San Diego. He and his girlfriend at the time, a little-known folk singer named Jewel, decided to go on a getaway to write some songs for a few days. Without much of a plan, they headed South and found themselves on a dark and lonely road late at night somewhere south of San Felipe.
Finding a few dim lights down a washboard stretch that doubles as an airstrip, the duo broke into a semi-derelict motel room to crash for the night. They awoke to a glorious day on a gorgeous bay; Jewel, taking in the scene, decided they needed to find a boat to go whale watching. The only boat they could find belonged to a group of Federal Police. Poltz surmises that months of boredom AND seeing Jewel in her bikini may have motivated the Federalies to become tour guides.
A high-speed nautical chase ensued; Poltz and Jewel were given bullet-proof vests and offered automatic weapons for their protection. They ran the boats hard onto an island beach. A short foot pursuit led to the apprehension of the slowest drug smuggler; after a brief beating, he revealed where they had hidden a massive stash of marijuana.
Poltz tells the harrowing and hilarious story and the after-bust-party antics that led to their writing Jewel’s 1996 smash single “You Were Meant For Me,” which reached number 2 in the US.
Listen to Jewel tell the story here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBXcpGHPVA
And here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHNKgze6ERc
Check out Steve Poltz here:
https://poltz.com/
For more information about Slow Baja:
https://www.slowbaja.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures -
Sungodz California is the creation of Surfer, turned Fashion Photographer, turned Designer Sasha Eisenman. Sasha grew up in Huntington Beach and began surfing in the Newport River Jetties in the mid-1980s. He traveled camping and Surfing all throughout Baja back in those days, and many of the experiences of this time would later become a foundational part of Sungodz California style. An esthetic that was further shaped during his time working at the legendary Frog House surf shop in Newport Beach in the early 90’s. --from about Sungodz
Check out Sungodz here:
https://sungodz.com/
For more information about Slow Baja:
https://www.slowbaja.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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In today’s Slow Baja Podcast, we discuss the future of Overlanding with Lance Gillies, the Founder and CEO of EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles. We recorded our conversation at the Chicago Auto Show while sitting inside the new EV Hummer EarthCruiser Upfit built by EarthCruiser Innovation.
ECI is a new division of EarthCruiser that draws from decades of Overlanding experience, bringing together people and resources to nurture a culture of innovation. Their first project was collaborating with GMC to design and build an upfit solution for the all-electric GMC HUMMER EV. The future of Overlanding is here. I’ve seen it and sat in it. Enjoy our discussion about its past, present, and robust future on today’s Slow Baja.
“EarthCruiser is a company of designers, engineers, technicians, and, most of all, adventurers with millions of miles of collective, real-world Overlanding experience. With its EarthCruiser EXP, FX, and EC Terranova models, EarthCruiser designs and manufactures the ultimate self-contained, 4×4 off-road, world exploration vehicles in Bend, Oregon.”
Learn more about EarthCruiser:
https://earthcruiser.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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In today's Slow Baja conversation, we turned the tables, and my good friend, Wilson Craig, interviewed me about the origins of Slow Baja. I discuss my childhood, becoming a photographer in high school, and attending San Diego State University.
In the Summer of 1984, I made my first trip to Tijuana --to shop for a laundry basket and to drink, of course. Soon, we were venturing down to Puerto Nuevo for lobster and, eventually, to Ensenada for a weekend on the beach. The true origins of Slow Baja were born in my Junior year when we left Spring Break in San Felipe to explore points south.
Enjoy this look behind the curtain of Slow Baja—huge Thanks to Wilson for pushing me to sit down for this conversation.
For more information about Slow Baja:
https://www.slowbaja.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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In today's Slow Baja Podcast Conversation, I feel like I need to start adding a disclaimer to my recordings. "Slow Baja is not responsible for your desires to blow up your life and move to Baja. Please listen to these shows at your peril; Slow Baja LLC and Slow Baja Adventures are not responsible for feelings of irrational exuberance for living near cacti or an irrepressible desire to surf regularly or fish from a kayak daily."
Or consider the version sent by my legal team:
No part of the Slow Baja Podcast shall inspire you, your family, or your heirs to sell all your worldly possessions and move to Baja. The views expressed in the Slow Baja Podcast are mine, and mine alone, not necessarily those of my sponsors, their agents, Slow Baja Adventures, Slow Baja LLC, its directors, officers, or employees. I make no representation or accept any liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided herein regarding the quality of tacos, adobado, birria, queso birria, al pastor, carne asada, or fried fish and or shrimp. Unless expressly stated, the quesadillas are routinely regarded as excellent. Seafood tostadas in Ensenada may be the finest street food in the world. This message is not intended to be relied upon without subsequent written confirmation of its contents. Slow Baja LLC, therefore, shall not accept any liability of any kind that may arise from any person acting upon the contents of this Podcast without having had, at a minimum, two tequilas and two Tecates and driven at least seventy miles of dirt road in the preceding week.
All humor aside, listen to Hallie and Austin tell their incredible story, and for the record, I only take the tiniest morsel of credit for what happened. Enjoy this Slow Baja Conversation recorded initially in February 2023. -
Longtime riding buddies Chris Gardiner and Dom O'Mahoney share a harrowing tale from a Baja ADV ride gone wrong. "When it's time to shut it down --when you are on your last redundant backup plan --it's not time to keep carrying on and bombing down these roads. Our ride was over, but we were just overwhelmed with fun, and we lost sight of that." -Chris Gardiner on an ADV Ride For The Ages.
Strap in as these two highly experienced riders talk about how they were having too much fun to shut it down when everything went wrong. Dom was lucky that the fire he experienced on the first night --that burned almost everything he had with him --spared his Garmin In-Reach and waterproof tent cover. Those two items probably saved his life. He used the tent cover for warmth and shelter as he weathered the cold and rain on the night he spent exposed to the elements.
Coincidentally, he had just gotten his Garmin In-Reach charged the day he broke down. He chose his out-of-country communications contact wisely, as that fellow (Matt) a former Navy Seal --remained very calm, all things considered. Ultimately, we were lucky that we only had a modest story of endurance while exposed to the elements in Dom's case --and a harrowing tale of devotion to one's mission in the face of extreme adversity in Chris' case.
Happy New Year, and thank you to all who tuned in in 2023 and are still listening today. Please watch this conversation on YouTube. And as always, subscribe, post, tag, and remember to enjoy the ride.
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Today’s show is with Slow Baja Alum David Kier. This is David’s third visit to the show and today he joins us to talk about the 50th Anniversary of the Transpeninsular Highway.
Kier began exploring Baja with his parents in the mid-60s. In 1966 David’s father took the challenge to drive to La Paz in their Jeep Wagoneer. Sitting between his folks on the front seat –his copy of Gerhard and Gulick’s Baja Bible in his lap, young David was given the responsibility for navigating for the entire trip. He diligently watched the slowly turning odometer, and took note of every passing kilometer marker. They made it to La Paz and as was the custom at the time, put the truck on the ferry to Mazatlan and drove the paved highway back home to San Diego.
David was hooked! That epic trip spurred a lifelong affinity for history, maps, off-road exploration, and a deep desire to help his fellow Baja traveler. To that end, in 1973 as a high-schooler, David released his own guide book to Baja and the still under construction Transpeninsular Highway. Since then, David has made countless trips to Baja. He was a consultant on the Benchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlas and writes a regular travel feature for the Baja Bound Insurance Newsletter. His book BAJA CALIFORNIA LAND OF MISSIONS is in its 13th printing.
Learn more about Baja and David Kier here:
https://vivabaja.com/
Follow David on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja
Going to Baja? Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl...
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Sal Fish, the Godfather, is back for his second conversation on Slow Baja. This time, we met above the beach at his place in La Paz. We picked up where our previous conversation ended around 1969. At the time, Sal worked for Petersen Publications as the Publisher of Car Craft and later Hot Rod Magazine. One day, while visiting Revel, the model company, with Bob Weggeland, his advertising salesman, the company’s owners asked Sal and Bob to race the Baja Bug in the NORRA Mexican 1000. He knew the adventure would be a good story (and ad sales) for the magazine and leaped at the opportunity. Sal competed in the 1969, 1970, and 1971 races.
Racer and entrepreneur Mickey Thompson recruited Sal as a partner soon after he created SCORE International in 1973. By 1974, Sal and Thompson were hosting the Baja 1000. Sal used his people and publishing skills to rapidly grow the organization and soon bought Thompson out. In the process, Sal realized Thompson’s vision to make off-road racing as big as NASCAR. Sal sold SCORE in 2012. Active and fit, he enjoys living in Malibu and spending time with his wife of nearly 50 years, Barbara. The couple has a second home in La Paz, where Sal enjoys kayaking and entertaining his friends.
Sal is a 2006 inductee of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Visit their website here:
https://ormhof.org/sal-fish
Enjoy this Slow Baja Podcast conversation with Sal Fish. Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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At age 8, Bob Bower read about the Bill Stroppe Lincoln teams that dominated the 1953 Mexican Carrera Panamericana and later learned about the Baja 1000 race to La Paz. It became a fixation with him to be part of it someday.
Living the life of a Corvette enthusiast, Bower caught the eye of BFGoodrich at a time when the Brand was in the early stages of marketing performance tires to car clubs. He accepted the offer to go to work for BFG in 1977 and found himself at the Mint 400 as a pit volunteer. The fixation transformed into a deep passion for off-road. From that day forward, he would make a huge impact on the world of off-road racing in a variety of roles. Pit volunteer, chase crew, race team manager, pit manager, program manager, winning co-driver, winning driver, ESPN TV color analyst, and teacher. Bower’s goal was to have a positive impact on whatever he was doing. His philosophy of “be alert, listen to what people have to say and always use the truth” served him well.
It was 1982 when BFGoodrich put him in the role of Off-Road Program manager. With very thin budget resources available, the challenge was to provide support for the contracted teams and win races. Bower’s race strategy was very straightforward… “You start winning rather than finish winning.”
Bower’s vision was to establish a common direction on the race course and in the pits, and bring all the teams into one big BFG team. “The direction we’re heading is very, very clear.” “That is to be the best between the green and checkered flags”. Bower launched the BFGoodrich Pit Support program. To this day the BFGoodrich Pits are arguably the most successful and widely used pit service in Off-Road Desert Racing.
The 1985 Baja 1000 ended early for Bob and his teammate Mike Randall in the Class 4 Honcho when they got off course and lost, ending up sunken to the frame in a tidal mud marsh. It took two days for the team to find and retrieve them. Bower swore, and promised his wife Necia, that we would never be lost like that again in Baja.
He would make detailed maps of the race course, highways, and chase roads (KM mileage included), along with other information like fuel and food locations. The chase crews knew at any given time they could drive to the correct chase road and how long the drive should take. Teams raced with a higher degree of safety for their chase crews because of those maps. In the early 1990s Bower turned the map making over to BFGoodrich in order to make it available to the masses. By widely distributing the maps, all of the chase crews could support their teams with a higher degree of safety.
Bob wrote “What About You?”, a powerful piece that has been included in almost all pit books over the past 20 years. It remains fresh and relevant today because of its absolute raw truth. “What About You?” is Bob’s heartfelt advice to everyone in off-road, about safety and taking care of yourself and those you are with during the race. Many are convinced “What About You?” has saved lives over the last two decades. Bob says he was “simply speaking from the heart.”
Over the years Bob has shown his passion, humility and wisdom. They are matched only by his unshakeable ethic. There have been many young racers who have been helped along their way by Bower. He’s always been a champion of the little guy. Sometimes it’s a quiet conversation, sometimes a few hours of highway windshield time, other times simply introducing them to others in the sport who could help them get better. Young stars like Robby Gordon, Ivan Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Arciero, and Rob MacCachren all have had Bob help them along in their racing career in one small way or another. For Bob Bower, it has been a labor of love. “I never wanted to change things in our sport, I just wanted to do what I could to help it along.”
-- Courtesy of ORMHOF
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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In 1978, shortly after graduating as an oceanologist, Antonio Reséndiz Senior went to live in Bahía de los Ángeles. They called him "Crazy" Reséndiz since he arrived with almost nothing and lived in a tent on the beach.
Commercial exploitation of the turtle had skyrocketed, and the species was on the brink of extinction. The National Fisheries Institute and Reséndiz created the first Center for the Study and Conservation of Sea Turtles in Bahía de los Ángeles.
Today, the sea turtle is no longer in danger of extinction, and the scientific knowledge about its lifecycle is extensive. One of the turtles that Antonio kept in captivity was released carrying a radio tracker. A year later, this turtle appeared in Senday Bay, Japan. An epic journey of eleven thousand five hundred kilometers!
Antonio "Toni" Reséndiz Jr. runs the eco-tourism resort, Campo Archelon on the grounds of the now-defunct turtle research center. On today's Slow Baja Podcast, we discuss his history at Campo Archelon and his focus on sustainability in every aspect of life, from reducing, reusing, and recycling to creating a hamburger from Tonno, a little-loved member of the tuna family. If you visit, have a meal at Toni's locally-focused Cafe Siete Filos, although I strongly suggest sharing your plates as the portions are sizable.
Campo Archelon is Slow Baja Approved.
Visit their website here:
https://www.campoarchelon.com/
Enjoy this Slow Baja Podcast conversation with Toni Reséndiz. Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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Trudi Angell makes her third visit to the Slow Baja Podcast to discuss her new "retirement project," The Museo Antigua Californio in Loreto, BCS.
Trudi is well known in Baja as the longtime owner and "Bell Mare" guide-in-residence of the mule-packing outfitters Saddling South. Through her travels into the remote mountains of the Sierra de Giganta, she befriended Dario, a gregarious rancher and "keeper of the old ways" who became the subject of her fabulous documentary film La Recua. https://larecua.com/
You can visit the Museo de Antigua Californio in the Pueblo Mágico town of Loreto BCS on the corner of Benito Juarez and Calle Davis.
To book a mule-packing trip, contact Saddling South:
https://saddlingsouth.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
More information on Slow Baja Adventures:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
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