David K - 9-19-2005 at 02:55 PM
Back last night from a 2 day fun trip south...
Crossed the border (Tijuana) about 4:30pm Friday and had dinner at Tacos el Yaqui in Rosarito (yum) then on the road for a really easy drive to El
Rosario (Baja Cactus Motel, naturally), arriving at 9:35pm...
The big checkpoint that was south of Maneadero has moved to the top of the grade, just south of Santo Tomas. They were only checking northbound
vehicles... same story at the El Rosario mesa checkpoint.
At Baja Cactus, Antonio, Lorenia, baby and the rest of the family were there already. Antonio's dad (Antonio Sr.) had a birthday the day before (9-15)
and this day (16th) was Mexico's birthday!
Saturday, we had breakfast at 'Bocana Beach Restaurant' (in front of the Sinahi Motel, on the road out of town)... always good there... enjoyed their
cantelope juice 'agua de melon' a lot!
The weekend's excursion was to the LAS PINTAS petroglyph and fossil grotto (off the road to Punta San Carlos)... I have been there twice before (2000
and 2001), but Baja Angel wanted to see it, as one of Baja's 'magic places'!
I took lots of photos, milages, and GPS data for a complete trip report for you guys! Stay tuned to the Baja Nomad Baja Trip Reports Forum... (I will
post a note here when it is ready).
Sunday, we slept in a bit longer than usual on those comfortable beds... (plus it was my birthday), we had breakfast with Rob and Anthony of the
Diamante Del Mar project, at Mama Espinoza's... Thanks guys!!!
On our way north, we took one of the many dirt roads heading west towards the sand dunes, near El Socorro, and found an awesome beach to kick around
on... a beer, find some sand dollars, then on north...
We left the San Quintin area about 3:30pm and Baja Angel suggested The Half Way House (Media Camino) for dinner... GREAT CHOICE! She had lobster with
filet and I had the shrimp... came with cesaer salad and desert... We both were members of the clean plate club!
We got to the border at 9:15 Sunday night and crossed in exactly one hour later!
As for the change returning to the border from the toll highway... it is well signed "San Diego' and 'I-5' signs... and is the original way, down to
the lower, circle TJ highway, then a u-turn to head back to the steep hill to the border fence. I suspect the newer away was too great a conflict with
motorist exiting the loop road for Playas...
David K - 9-19-2005 at 03:01 PM
The previous photo is the road as it nears the Las Pintas side trail, in Arroyo San Fernando...
This photo is one of the fossil filled builders at Las Pintas...
David K - 9-19-2005 at 05:07 PM
Rock art is everywhere... This could be a comet or meteor???
Anyway, I got all the photos downloaded and will do the Trip Report and put a bunch more photos there...
If you can't get to all these great Baja places, then at least you can get to Baja Nomad for a brief look!
David K - 9-19-2005 at 05:08 PM
one more to tease you with...
David K - 9-19-2005 at 07:00 PM
Okay, I have the trip report done, with over 20 photos to show some of the site we saw last Saturday... Go to: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=12896
surfer jim - 9-19-2005 at 10:45 PM
Heading down to SAN CARLOS this Friday and should arrive about sunset....will check out those mileages to see where the turnoff is...never been quite
sure.....can't make las pintas this trip as surf is up.....(I hope).....
David K - 9-20-2005 at 12:28 AM
Hi Jim,
Milages can be wrong, but the GPS is right on! I have not found out if my new Tacoma odometer is super accurate or not, yet.
The second road to Las Pintas is just past the farm house on the right, at the edge of the cardonal, and BEFORE crossing Arroyo San Fernando.
It's only 7 miles up that way... see it after surfing the big ones!
The three tires that made the 'frog' are no longer in place, by the way... just before the cardonal.
[Edited on 9-20-2005 by David K]