elchinero - 10-28-2006 at 07:39 AM
Kash Vessels
Just got back from Baja. Massive amounts of flooding and water. Most Highway 1 river crossings were much too deep for cars. Took us six hours to go
sixty highway miles on Tuesday. Got to San Ignacio on Tuesday night to find that the river crossing at Vizcaíno would be impassable. Slept on
trailer at “Rice and Beans” hotel. Crossed the river next morning and the water was over the top of the headlights. (Crewcab Chevy HD with
pre-runner in tow. We also hooked up with Ryan Herzog and his group for the last day of dredging.) Many people slept on the side of the road there
and might still be there if they are driving a car. Only trucks and big rigs passing through. Home for a week and heading south again next week for
one more week of pre-running.
No problems or exciting events to report while in the dirt. All problems were on highway heading back home.
Pre-ran to Checkpoint 8 Insurgentes on Hwy 1. No problems. Behind San Javier Misión takes a lot of time. Kind of felt bad for the newbies that came
with me because I didn't give them a true Baja experience. Obviously spoke too soon. Loaded up the pre-runner and headed to Punta Chivato for the
night. Some rain on the way there. Slept at the house in Punta Chivato and it rained HARD all night. I have never seen so much rain in one night.
Took us three hours to get out the dirt road from Punta Chivato to the highway. Had to unhook the trailer and drag it across with tow straps in some
places. When we hit the highway it was worse.
That big wash heading into Santa Rosalia from your place to the south must have been FULL!
That was the first major one. Spent two hours there analyzing it before making the move.
Then we only got to San Ignacio at night and discovered that's as far as we were going anyway because the river at Vizcaíno was impassable. Crossed
at least thirty (30) rivers. Some took hours to cross. Semi-trucks stuck at most crossings. People in cars sleeping on side of road and may still
be there. The most water I have ever seen. We forged ahead and are currently sitting in the office back in California.
-Kash
Bruce R Leech - 10-28-2006 at 07:48 AM
Wow thanks for the good trip report. it is good for everyone to realize that there itineraries can often be changed by days when traveling in Baja
sur. don't plan trips to tight, leave at least 3 days for things to go wrong. if you are not in a hurry those will turn out to be some of the most
memorable times you have in Baja Ca.
TMW - 10-28-2006 at 07:54 AM
Thanks Kash. Glad your OK. Hope the rain clears so the prerunners can get it done before race day. This may become a very interesting Baja 1000.