2019 Rolling Rally Bulletin #1
Welcome one and all to Chapter 8’s next spectacular Rally! We listened to those who enjoyed the Wine to Whales Baja Caravan that we designed for 2018. At the 58th Escapade, we chatted with SKPs at our Mexican Connection “Social Taco Fest.” As Ed and I gave educational seminars at rallies across America, we surveyed what people liked most or were most concerned about traveling in Mexico… and, as Wagonmaster, I designed the 2019 Rolling Rally to be what most people desired in a fun-packed, triple-venue, Baja beach, town & country Rally with “Real Mexico” events and insights that expensive commercial tours have yet to discover.
Chapter 8 was formed 33 years ago by Escapees who enjoyed traveling in Mexico to help other RVer’s learn where to go, how to travel safely and provide a group travel adventure that builds confidence and camaraderie with like-minded SKPs. Over a decade ago, Chapter 8 added a people-to-people charity dimension to the rallies which helps deserving people in pueblos that we travel through. In 2018, we traveled 500 miles into Baja California Sur during 22 action-packed days. In 2019, you will travel 100 miles of better roads into Baja California during 18 days of fascinating events, tasty cuisine and blissful relaxation in the Land of Mañana.
2019 Rolling Rally at a Glance
- Dates: Feb. 11-28, 2019 (18 days)
- Region: Baja California, Mexico
- Campsites: Potrero County Park (4 days), Valle de Guadalupe (4 days), Ensenada (9 days)
- Approximate cost: $650-$750 per couple; special rates for singles and families
- Registration: noon (Central) Sept. 1, 2018
Conveniently nestled between the Escapees Quartzsite (AZ) Event and the 59th Escapade in Tucson (AZ)… the 2019 Rolling Rally begins in scenic Potrero County Park (CA) on February 11th and ends on an Ensenada beachfront on February 28th. Potrero Country Park is located 4 miles from the Tecate Border Crossing, 42 miles from San Diego (CA) and 135 miles west of Yuma (AZ). You will spend four idyllic days at Potrero getting ready for Mexico and exploring the foreigner friendly town of Tecate, home of the giant Tecate Brewery.
For the next four days we will explore the fascinating wine country of Valle de Guadalupe where 90% of Mexico’s wine is created and is home to unusual museums, great restaurants and Mexico’s most unique RV camping experience in the middle of a 100-acre manicured family park and exotic zoological garden where special events will take place just for our Rolling Rally. Wine tasting, tapas, micro-breweries, rustic “Old Mexico” villages and elegant dining abound here.
The bustling Pacific port city of Ensenada, Mexico, lures three giant cruise ships a week into its cosmopolitan harbor. Tour buses bring tourists to La Bufadora, the largest “blow hole” in North America. Halfway between the tourist Meccas of the Ensenada Fish Market and La Bufadora is the unique Pabloff community in Punta Banda and their historic La Jolla Beach Camp. Here, you will enjoy nine days of fun, relaxation, exploration, and the opportunity to contribute a helping hand that Chapter 8 provides for deserving people in Mexico’s third world economy. The La Jolla beachfront has a thermal beneath the sand. If you dig in the right spot, you will have your own private hot tub on the beach… until the tide comes in. An included bus tour of Ensenada’s most interesting areas will begin at your La Jolla beachfront site.
Registration for the 2019 Rolling Rally will open at noon (CDT) on September 1, 2018 to give SKPs in all time zones an opportunity to take part in this sure-to-be popular rally. All our camping venues have 24-hour security on duty. Potrero Park offers 36 water/electric hook-ups, more dry camping sites and a dump station. It is dry camping only at the Zoological Park with modern hot showers and flush toilets adjacent to our camping area. La Jolla Beach Camp has 34 beachfront dry camping sites plus some second row 15 amp electric and additional dry camping sites. A dump station and fresh drinking water is readily available.
Mexico’s Federal Highway 3 from Tecate to Ensenada is freshly paved with shoulders. USLD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) and Top Tier gasoline are readily available in ARCO, BP, Shell, Chevron and Pemex stations in all of Baja California… and will soon be in other parts of Mexico.
In the many months between this first bulletin and the beginning of the Rolling Rally, I will be traveling in Mexico to add more special events, interesting side-trips, unique dining and historic sights and sounds of Mexico to your Rolling Rally experience just as Ed and I did for the Wine to Whales Baja Caravan… only different! Your cost for 18 days of camping, a multitude of events, the Ensenada city bus tour, potlucks and catered meals, special events and Rolling Rally souvenir items will likely range somewhere between $650 and $750 per rig with two adults. Special rates will be available for families with children and solos.
While the rally will likely be twice as large as a typical 22-rig commercial rally, we travel in friendly SKP groups of 5-7 rigs with a group leader and a tail gunner… and that makes the whole trip a “special friends” bonding experience.
The Rolling Rally ends in La Jolla Beach Camp with the mariachi laced Farewell Banquet on the day before Carnaval Ensenada (Family friendly Mexican Mardi Gras) begins. You can enjoy the special low camping rates for the week of Carnaval should you wish to extend your stay and enjoy Mexico’s third largest Mardi Gras celebration… or just relax on the beautiful beach before traveling on.
Check the Chapter 8 Website and read the Newsletter for Rolling Rally updates as we get closer to the opening date. There will be a continuing Rolling Rally thread on the Mexican Connection Facebook page that you are invited to join. Escapees Mexican Connection is a closed group… but just ask to join and we will gladly welcome you. However, be advised that all official Rolling Rally information will be available only in Chapter 8’s newly enhanced Newsletter or on our rapidly improving website.
Kassandra Dennis
kassandra@ekdennis.com
Wagonmaster 2019
Escapees RV Club, Chapter 8
E-mail Kassandra