David K
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Baja Weekend: Shell Island & Matomi Canyon (Part 3 of 3)
Continued from Part 2 at: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=17888
After a dip in the clear water of Matomi, we soon air dryed in the 115 degree afternoon, and climbed back up to the rancho. We said our adios's to
Rene and his assistant and drove away... Going back to the Valle Chico road junction, we took the tracks that led over to the south side of the arroyo
to avoid the rocks we encountered... this would be the 'left fork' coming in, I mentioned in the previous post. It added about 1/10 a mile more... so
it was 5.2 vs. 5.1 miles from the rancho to the junction north to Valle Chico.... Some photos from the ranch back to the junction...
Some rocks are just too big to move...
NOTE: PHOTOS on new web page: http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/618
[Edited on 9-24-2006 by David K]
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David K
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Here was the location of 'my worst stuck'... it was in 1978 after Christmas, and the arroyo was flowing at this point, about 2 miles down from the
Rancho...
Here was then (my Subaru in the rising flash flood) and now (Toyota, 28 years later... )
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David K
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Heading out along the north side of Matomi canyon...
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David K
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It is kind of weird when you see cactus that looks like people!
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David K
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Okay, back at the Valle Chico junction, reset odometer to 0.0 and head north via a steep grade out of Matomi canyon.
At the top of the grade is a nice view of the Matomi canyon from this south edge of Valle Chico (which is called Valle de San Felipe on a few maps).
A truck bed has been up here for many years... My Viva Baja sticker from the 2001 group trip is still on the south side, and the Viva Baja sticker
from our 2004 group trip is on the east end... you can see a TRICK racing fuel sticker there, below mine... This was Doug's family product which is
how Doug got into Baja... at the off road races...
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David K
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From Matomi Canyon/ Arroyo going north... it is 8.2 miserable whoop-dee-doo miles to the Ca?ada el Parral (Azufre Wash/Crazyhorse Canyon) road...
which was used just for a couple miles by the San Felipe 250, which came south in the center of the valley. Our 2004 group came to Matomi from Nuevo
Mazatlan via Ca?ada el Parral: http://vivabaja.com/204
The 2001 group trip came down Valle Chico from our base camp at El Camote's El Dorado home: http://vivabaja.com/matomi
Once off the 250 race course, the road greatly improves!!!
0.0 Arroyo Matomi Road (Rancho Matomi is 5.1+ miles west, and Hwy. 5 is 27.2 miles east)
8.2 The Caņada el Parral road from near the sulfur mine heads east (24.6 miles to the old Puertecitos road, 2 miles south of the sulfur mine).
11.5 Road south past big corral 'Carricitos' is the access to El Carrizo, El Berrendo and El Parral canyons.
From here, all the way to San Felipe, the road is excellent...
17.1 Mostly abandoned Ejido of Agua Caliente (Plan Nacional Agrario). Road to San Felipe turns sharp right, left goes to Agua Caliente Canyon, 1.9
miles... 2.8 miles more in the canyon... then a 1.1 mile hike to the hot springs! See http://vivabaja.com/404
20.5 Abandoned Rancho Linda Vista, with an elevated rusty water tank.
25.5 Algodones/ Morelia 'T' junction... sharp right for San Felipe, ahead and in this area is Colonia Morelia, left goes 1.3 miles to Rancho Algodon
on the older west side valley road which can be taken north to access El Cajon and other canyons before reaching Diablo Dry Lake in a little over 21
miles from Algodon.
28.1 pass an abandoned cattle gaurd and the road soon curves from east to north.
31.2 Road west to El Arco de Triunfo rehab center.
34.3 Road west to El Cajon.
37.9 New road west... ?
44.8 Join with road coming in from Diablo Dry lake, curve north to east.
53.6 El Dorado residents only road east (goes to Rockadile sign on Hwy. 5).
Newer oiled road for public continues south then east...
58.1 Hwy. 5 at the San Felipe Storage facility, about 5 miles from town.
[Edited on 9-24-2006 by David K]
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David K
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View looking back south into southern Valle Chico...
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David K
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Like I said, a great road...
Back in San Felipe about 6:30pm Sunday, we got gasoline then went to Georges for a great (huge dinner) of Steak and Shrimp... for Father's Day!
Mexicali West (original) border wait was 1 1/2 hours starting at 9:22 pm.
Baja again was a GREAT weekend getaway, full of four wheeling, camping, and eating adventures!
The weather (on the beach) was outstanding... a bit hot inland! But, it was DRY heat!
Check out the Restaurant Review forum later for photos of Chelo's and Marina's restaurants in Ejido Delicias, km. 35 south of San Felipe...
Adios Amigos!
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viabaja
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Dave,
WTH! Dry heat is heat! It would have been difficult to leave Shell Island!!!
Chris
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David K
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Yes, and Shell Island was so awesome Sunday morning... However, it was an opportunity to take Baja Angel to Matomi and give you all an update road
report!
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