David K - 6-5-2006 at 09:45 PM
Baja Angel and I followed The Squarecircle to Ensenada last Friday to assist his duties as radio relay for 'Baja Pits'.
Our position was on a curvey section of race course south of Valle Trinidad to fill a radio dead zone between the other Baja Pits.
I have lots of photos of the Baja 500 from our location just over halfway into the race at Race Mile 246... I will post on the Nomad Off Road Forum.
After the race, Sunday morning we packed up our camp of two nights and headed north... But, just driving home on pavement wasn't enough!
Just north of Valle Trinidad, the race course drops down onto Mexico #3 via the old dirt road between Ensenada and San Felipe (paved in this part
around 1974 and completed to Mex. 5 in late 1977).
We turned up the race course and had a great dose of low range four wheeling over some boulders (my new Cooper tires worked great). Some race car body
parts were laying along here and then we came upon a red diamondback rattlesnake...
David K - 6-5-2006 at 09:46 PM
Roy (who possibly taught Steve Irwin) shows us how to deal with the deadly viper!
David K - 6-5-2006 at 09:48 PM
We had a fun time!
David K and The Square Circle by our mighty Toyotas!
David K - 6-5-2006 at 09:49 PM
Here's Baja Angel and I having a cerveza break before returning to the pavement...
David K - 6-5-2006 at 09:55 PM
Next side trip... See a Baja Mission!
They are almost everywhere... if you know where to look!
Santa Catalina was founded by Dominican padre Jose Loriente in 1797 as a fort to protect the trade route between the coastal missions and the Colorado
River.
The mission was destroyed in 1840... the story is quite interesting! Better told on the Nomad Historic Interests Forum!
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:04 PM
A tiny section of adobe in the corner of what was once the fort's watch tower... it's the biggest piece of the mission left!
To reach the mission site in Santa Catarina, turn east of Mex. 3 in Ejido de los Heroes de la Independencia just south of Km. 91 and head east on an
easy graded road near the 5 mile mark on your odometer fork right, go down and work left through the little town and over a hill to the cemetery...
Turn left and go up the hill, above the cemetery... 5.6 miles form Independencia (Highway 3)... GPS (NAD27) is 31-39.63', 115-49.22'. elev. 3,903'.
[Edited on 6-6-2006 by David K]
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:08 PM
A final look (of almost nothing) at Mision Santa Catalina...
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:10 PM
Between Ojos Negros and Ensenada is some creative rock art!
We had a great dinner at Mustafa's in Guadalupe Valley and then an hour and forty five minute border wait at Tecate starting at 5:03 pm Sunday.
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:12 PM
So, if you want to see some Baja 500 photos (like this one) taken at race mile 246 (between Mike's Sky Ranch and Valle Trinidad)... go to the Off Road
forum here on Baja Nomad!
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:14 PM
This dog was a great ham for photographers!
David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:16 PM
Yes, that really IS a dog with helmet and goggles on! We (Baja Pits) pitted for him (and his master)!
See PJC's photo of them in the race the next day!
Skeet/Loreto - 6-6-2006 at 03:40 AM
David: I certainley hope that the Rattler was Skinned and BBQ'ed. that looks like enough for 4 People.
Also keep in mind that the Skin, Propertly prepared is worth $6.00 a Foot.
Glad you had a good time. Keep up the good reports about Baja Norte, someday we may have a good one like you in Baja Sur!!!
Skeet/Loreto
Capt. George - 6-6-2006 at 03:50 AM
that green rock looks like some things we have here in Lake Pierce. Recently took out 2, one 9 and on 10 footer..alligators! gp
DianaT - 6-6-2006 at 11:18 AM
Nice pictures!
I used to have a friend who not only braked for every rattlesnake, he would get out and help it off the road so no one would run it over.
I know they serve a good person, I just don't want to be too close!
Really enjoyed your pictures.
Diane
David K - 6-6-2006 at 05:03 PM
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words!
kOOL PIC'S DK
BAJACAT - 6-6-2006 at 05:45 PM
It's a shame that some of this missions ruins no longer exist.San jose del Cabo, calamajue, san santiago, just to mention some of the missions no
longer affect the surroundings upon they where build.. Thanks David for all the pictures and info....
David K - 6-6-2006 at 09:18 PM
You are muy welcome amigo!
Calamajue has slighly higher melted adobe walls than does Santa Catalina, and it was only a mission site for a few months before being moved to where
Santa Maria de los Angeles is today.
Santa Catarina lasted over 40 years and had a large population.
At least the site has not been built over!
All Baja Missions: http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions
yeah...
eetdrt88 - 6-8-2006 at 06:17 PM
great pics...looks like a fun weekend trip
BajaGeoff - 6-9-2006 at 12:08 PM
Great photos and info on the missions David. Looks like it was a nice trip!