baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
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Mood: good
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Gonzaga Bay 1964.....My first date with three sisters
This was a trip report I made a year or so ago on the old Amigos board and thought maybe some of you nomads might get a kick out of it.
A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to know a good spot to go fishing,you bet I said where?....a place in mexico on something called the
sea of cortez,lived in huntington bch in those days,jest a hop skip and jump and I would be there great!!!
My friend drew up a map for me,just bought a 64 vw bus and he said I was ready to ,all I had to do was drive down to a bay called
Gonzaga and meet a old guy by the name of papa he would show me where to fish,so I packed up the bus,wife two kids and a friend......He also said I
might have a problem or 2 on the road but everything should be fine,I thanked him.
I have always thought that stupidity must be blessful,for in those days I was my late 20,s and still stupid but happy and was always
game to try anything if it had anything to do with fishing!!.....My friend had also mentioned it might get a little hot it was july and I should plan
on it ,no problem I borrowed one of those window coolers you hang on the outside of the rig,there I took care of the heat problem,went out and bought
a map which gave mileage and some other stuff,we were ready to go.
The trip........left huntington bch late on night ,should be in san felipe by morning, puertecitos a couple of hours later ,Gonzaga for
lunch,everything went smoothly,arrived in san felipe on time , and now the dirt I can,t wait finally the trip starts,not 10 min,s later we were stuck
in a sand pit,I could still see san felipe,this is not what I had in mind,I did bring a shovel,half hour later we were on our way again........the
going was a little slower than I had planned but no matter we were headed south,finally puertecitos dead ahead,getting a little tired,the kids are a
bit loud,my wife is talking to herself not loud something about this #$%^ road I couldn,t make out the other things ,my friend is saying nothing by
now,stopped for some gas in town,while there a gringo came by and asked where we were going I said Gonzaga Bay its just down the road a ways from
here!!!
Left the window cooler at the station,does,nt work going 10 15 miles anyway,he thanked me.......Not2 mins out of town I lost track of the
road saw nothing but rock,know its here somewhere.....going is slow ,its very hot,my oldest daughter is getting sick.......and my wife ...I can hear
her now she is getting mad it me,how could I do this to to her and the kids.......I was very reasurring and told her the bay was just over the next
rise,having no idea what I was talking about,the map I just bought mentions something about three hills that must be climbed and we are in them....God
help us.....the first two we just made,we are at the bottom of the last and my wife wan,ts to go home,she wan,ts to get out and walk,no problem dear
we will get over this we,ll have it made,I put my foot in it and up we go,going slower I see a rock ledge dead ahead must slow down,now stopped can,t
make it over,put my foot on the brakes and start to slide back down the hill.....at the bottom of the canyon my spots several wrecks,poor souls never
made it,we are now backing down the hill,my hands are shaking,kids are crying,my friend is white faced,tried once more but could not get over the
ledge.....one thing left to do back down to the bottom,told everyone to get out and walk,just what my wife wanted to do in the first place.......Well
this time I made it ,felt like rocky on top of that mountion.......flat lands dead ahead,I am numb between the ears but know we are getting
close.....No sooner than we get to the bottom of the hills and I,m stuck again in the sand,will this never end???
Digging and more digging,starting to get pretty good at this though...can,t be to far,daughters temp. is still up,monster
headache,finally arrive at papa,s late in the day but find just a couple of old house,s and a shack or two and no trees,I check my map my friend gave
me,I,m suppose to go down the canyon just before papa,s,he said the fishing was best there and a nice beach so I turned around and made for the
canyon,found a set of tracks to follow,you guessed it stuck again only this time no amount of digging is going to get us out,my friend said he would
watch the family for me so now I,m walking back to papa,s,sometime later I arrive in camp and this little old man come,s up to me smiling and said
something,he already knew what the problem was ,first thing you know chichi his son and a man with a big rig shows up ,things appeared to be a little
slow in camp anyway this would everyone something to do ......Didn,t take long for them to get us out.......Guess we will stay at papa,s place,the
ground looks firm and I,m not moving,the wife got the kids in the water for a cool down and I and my friend enjoyed the best and the coldest beer we
have ever drank to this day.
After a wonderful nites sleep we got up and started looking for shade,no trees what do you do for shade I asked he smiled and pointed
toward his front porch........Lucky for us papa had started to build a big cabana all it needed was a roof,so my first day of vacation we finished
the roof.....still lots to this vacation but you get the idea,lots to learn but having fun,going home no problem all the up hills were now down hills
and I knew what firm ground looks like,when we hit the highway at san felipe we all smiled and my wife leaned over and gave me a big kiss and said
when we come down next vacation maybe we should go a month or so sooner,might not be so hot
BAITCAST
I hope when my time comes the old man will let me bring my rod and the water will be warm and clear
BAITCAST
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Baitcast. Those memories are still vivid in your mind. Thank you for sharing. Skeet/Loreto
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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Goat?????
Skeet nice to hear from you again,have been enjoying your stuff.
Everything is fine on the homefront hope things are good for you.
BAITCAST
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
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Mood: muy cool
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And are you still married?
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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The ledge
There is a pic. of the ledge in the photo gallery.by Bob H...........title
Could it be?
Yes I,m still married,she loved the place.
BAITCAST
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Corky1
Nomad
Posts: 416
Registered: 11-22-2003
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My first date with the sisters -- 1971
Long story but true. My first trip to Baja. Pre running for the Baja 500. 1971
Ensenada back to Ensenada 480 miles +. Sat AM daylight. Leave Ensenada, ride pavement to Camalu, end of pavement. This is before the paved hwy to
La Paz.
I am riding a 71 Husky 400, my partner is riding Yam 250 DT-1. This was going to be our race bike.
Everything went O.K. and we got to Papa Fernandez place at Gonzaga Bay and spent the night.
We were riding with two other very good and very fast riders. Max Switzer & Gene Cannady. (They finisher 2nd overall on a 125 DKW.)
Next morning, headed north over the three sister the Yam loses 1st gear, a few miles later loses 2nd gear, finally 3rd goes.
This is very ruff terrain, you have to really hang it out to ride in 4th gear.
The bike would then stall on the up hills.
Every time he stalled I had to tow him till he was going fast enough to ride in 4th gear. Very hairy conditions. Finally he lost all the gears in the
trans.
If you know anything about early Huskys the rear was very flexy. Pulling him, the side plate on my master link would rub, wear out and come off and
I would loose my chain. I had 2 extra spare master links.
When we got to Puertocitos, about 45 miles, our riding partners had already left for SanFelipe.
They had to get to work on Monday A.M. They left us a note "you can get out of here by Helicopter, Gene and Max"
Now we had about 50 miles of fairly easy trail to get to San Felipe. I towed him all the way. I was using my last master link.
If you wondered my chain was 520 his was 428. I San Felipe we decided to take the hwy back to Ensenada, adding about 200 miles to the trip. Couldn't
buy any master links in San Felipe.
We started up the hwy towards Mexicali. A Mexican with a pick up stopped and offered a ride.
Put both bikes in his truck and jumped in the cap. Once in the cap realized he was very drunk.
Very slow, scary trip. About every 10 miles he would stop and get out and look for "RALPH".
Finally getting to Mexicali, unloaded from truck, started towing again towards Tecate. About 20 later, my last master link goes. His bike has chain,
motor runs, no trans. My bike motor runs, trans is good, no master links for chain.
We push the bikes off the road about 100 yds and hide them in the brush, and started hitch hiking to Ensenada.
Just imagine ,two gringos, Sears linemen boots, dirty army field jackets, carrying helmets, with 2 days of dirt riding on us. Would you stop and pick
them up???
Now its dark Sunday night, on the WY, in the middle of nowhere, in Baja. Belive me in Baja at night is very dark.
I'm sure the few vehicles that did by come didn't see us until they past us. We keep walking down the highway, Very quite, strange noises.
As we were walking I heard this funny clicking noise. We both stopped and listened. I told Bob that's some one jacking up a car with a jack. They
have a flat tire.
We both started running down the WY before they left. The vehicle was around a curve in the road and we couldn't see it.
When we got around the curve, here was this 64 chev 4dr sedan with rear partly jacked up and this Mexican stareing at the two crazy figures running
at him out of the darkness.
Now this guy was dressed in tux standing in the road changing a tire in the middle of nowhere.
We quickly realized he was as confused, as we were in need of a ride.
Things worked out O.K. With my limited spanish I explained our situation and that we would change the tire for him if he would give us a ride.
It turns out he had just gotten married, his bride was in the car, still in her wedding dress and they were headed to Tecate for their honeymoon.
After looking at the tire we took off and the one we put on , I still didn't think we were going to make Tecate.
I asked if there was a tire shop near by. He said yes and off we went to the tire shop. (A wooden shed about a mile off the road).
We bought him a good used tire and two used tubes and we were on our way.
When we got to Tecate he said he would take us to Ensenada for the tires and stuff we bought for him.
Then he would go back to Tecate for his honeymoon.
Long story but true.
We got my truck went back and got the bikes and got home to LA late Monday afternoon.
Just a little Baja story.
Corky 
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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Corky
Your trip sounded like a real hoot!!!
After the 64 trip I bought a dodge powerwagon made things a little better, we would go down to Papa,s a couple times a year,its the first time
with anything that sticks in your memory.
BAITCAST
PS ..........I rode a 250 husky wr in the 70,s
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capn.sharky
Senior Nomad
Posts: 686
Registered: 9-4-2003
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Hey Mastercaster
You sound great. Appears that everything turned around for you...and I am happy for you. Glad it all turned out okay. Now come on down to Loreto
and see some real Baja magic.
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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SHARKY
Sharky.......Nice to hear from you,Yes things are good on the homefront, mama has talked me into a alaskan cruise next summer and I
talked her into a trip to LORETO shortly after
Take care........Happy holidays
BAITCAST
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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Three sisters
Gonzaga Bays seems to be the subject of the day
so here is a replay from 203.
BAITCAST
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64492
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here's Cliff Cross' 1970 map of the Gonzaga Grades south of Puertecitos..
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RonnieRockCod
Junior Nomad
Posts: 48
Registered: 6-28-2004
Location: San Doego
Member Is Offline
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I guess I'll jump in with my Three Sisters adventure. My first trip to Baja was really a liberty in TJ in Jan, 1947. The first real Baja trip began in
1970. My diving partner, Bud, invited me on safari to Punta Final. A dive club from Chula Vista was making a club trip and we had been invited. The
plan was simple. Bud would launch his boat at Puertocitos and he and his wife would cruise to Punta Final, south of Gonzaga. I would drive the trail
in Bud's 2wd, Ford pick up w/camper shell and w/wife's Dad.. I knew absolutely nothing about the conditions. What I did have was the enthusiasm and
naivety of Baitcast. However, I was protected by EGBOK (everything's gonna be OK)
At the top of one of The Sisters I was on the inside as we met a vehicle coming North on the outside. That portion of the "road" was solid rock
with a sand/gravel surface. The slope of the trail was rather steep. After confering w/ the Mexican driver it was determined I should proceed and
pass as he remained parked. As I slowly began the uphill journey my rear wheels began to slide and drift downward on the sandy surface towards the
other vehicle. Taking my foot from the gas, we continued to slowy creep towards the other vehicle, brakes would not have helped. I guess that's when
EGBOK kicked in. The slide stopped and we were able to complete our journey.
As we approached the visible camp site I let out a very large sign of relief. The divers/campers waved a welcoming cheer and about fifty feet
from camp the truck sank into the soft sand to both axles. The only casuality was the ice box. Some of you may remember the the Coleman model. Stood
upright, inside made of plastic and a shelf on top that held a 25 pound block of ice. At camp we discovered the ice was now on the bottom shelf
sitting atop all our goodies.
We all had a great time and a sucessful trip as nothing of consequences happened after that. EGBOK rules !!! Good luck to all. RRC
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LoretoBound
Junior Nomad
Posts: 45
Registered: 10-29-2005
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Mood: excepcional
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Great Stories! I wonder what keepers we'll have since I only started going to Baja 10 years ago. It will be interesting to see what the good 'ole
days are remembered for in another 20-30 years...what will Baja be like?
Skeet, how long you been in Loreto? What do you think about all the changes/development? I don't think Loreto will ever lose it's charm...at least I
hope not.
Longing for Loreto (be there soon!)
Longing for Loreto
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