Biker's Guide To Baja

BIKER'S GUIDE TO BAJA

BOOK NEWS

Biker's Guide To Baja

For The Off-Road Motorcyclist in Lower California

by Joe Parkhurst

Parkhurst Publishing Company Box 2363

Costa Mesa, Calif $8.95

There're many ways to enjoy motorcycle riding, both on and off road. One of the best is exploring the Baja peninsula. Baja is full of lightly traveled roads, quiet little villages, vast unused beaches, and deserts that resemble cactus gardens. But travel in Baja can be extremely hazardous for the first time explorer. Most of the questions about traveling through the upper part of the Baja peninsula are answered by Joe Parkhurst in his new book, Biker's Guide to Baja.

The book covers things like bike choice, photography, gear, camping, and other books about Baja. Joe's book outlines eight rides through Baja. The rides range from one day to one week, with each route roughly marked on a map of the area. The maps, by the way, are the most up to date of any covering the upper part of Baja. Joe spent considerable time making the mas-

ter map, being careful to add all of the roads known by him and Baja riding buddies. The Biker's Guide to Baja deals mostly with off-road touring since most of Baja is unpaved, but one chapter is devoted to the pavement rider.

All in all, the book is pleasing and informative reading. It'll make any trip to Baja more interesting and safer but the first time explorer should still use good judgment, carry water and emergency food, and stay close to major routes and towns, or better yet, go with an experienced Baja traveler the first couple of times.

Just thumbing through the Baja book's 100 pages, including 177 pictures and 10 pages of maps, is worth the asking price of $8.95, but then I'm probably a little prejudiced since I'm in the book and Joe is one of my Baja riding buddies.

—Ron Griewe