Baja adventurer is making good progress

By Ed Zieralski

Originally published October 19, 2010 at 3:37 p.m., updated October 19, 2010 at 7:01 p.m.

Ed Zieralski

Mike Younghusband pictured here as he set out from Rancho Ojai on his trek to walk the length of Baja with his burro, Don-Kay, and two dogs.

On Friday it will be three weeks since Mike Younghusband set out from Tecate, Baja on his adventure to hike the length of Baja with his burro and two dogs.

Here’s the update from both San Diego-based Graham Mackintosh, the Baja adventurer and author who inspired Younghusband to do this, and Mike’s daughter, Tammy Mettler.

Mackintosh is making a quick trip down to see Mike Wednesday or Thursday. He said Mike is southeast of Ensenada and now is heading to the coastal route of Baja. His SPOT device had him between Colonia Lazaro Cardenas and San Vicente today. Tammy said Mike was welcomed by people in a small town last Friday. They gave him a motel room for a night and a good meal and then gave sent him on his way the next morning. She said a TV crew already has found him and interviewed him for Mexican TV.

“He has gone well over 100 miles,” Mackintosh said. “He’s really doing quite well. He and Don-Kay are well, and the one dog (Rusty, the Russell terrier) is OK, but the older dog (Max, the 8-year-old) isn’t doing as well and likely will be sent back home.

Graham added that Mike is well-equipped for rain and has a couple of good tents (for him, his dogs and gear) and a tarp for Don-Kay. Graham said Don-Kay may have to graze a bit in the rain, but should be OK.

Both Graham and Tammy say Mike is having the “time of his life.”

Tammy said he told her over the phone that he’s “feeling happier and healthier than he’s ever felt in his life.” He relayed the same message to Graham.

On the news front, Tammy said an assistant with ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer has contacted her, and she gave the assistant Mike's his cell phone number. They’re going to attempt to travel down and do an interview with Mike.

Mike's adventure story is about to go national.