David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Drive to BAHIA LAS ANIMAS (July, 2004)
We Visited Las Animas
You know how I say So Much Baja, So Little Time? Well, it is true... I am big on Baja, but will need many lifetimes to see it 'all'! I have been past
the road to Bahia las Animas several times, but never on it... until last Monday (7-5-04).
I have seen photos, Marv Sherrill's (Baja Calendar) video of his school's famous field trip there, and it stares at me from my many wall maps at Casa
David K, but I needed to see Bahia las Animas for myself.
I also knew that the Erle Stanley Gardner expedition of 1966 went there just before discovering the ruins that MIGHT have been a mission started, but
not completed... called Sant Maria Magdalena on the Jesuit map ( http://community-2.webtv.net/baja4me/1757 ). Using two photos taken at the site, I have traveled the roads south of L.A. Bay trying to 'see' that
same mountain ridge... no luck, yet.
Debra, her son and grand daughter were in her Toyota 4Runner (with a motor twice rebuilt in the last 2 months). My two teenagers, Bo's daughter Andee,
and I were in my Toyota Tacoma.
The following is from my trip book notes:
0.0 L.A. Bay where one leaves the pavement heading south from the Xitlala (yellow) market intersection.
3.35 mi. Access road right to the Santa Marta mine tram line seen going up the mountain (next trip).
4.14 mi. Camp Gecko Driveway, office is 0.2 mi. left.
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0.0 Camp Gecko Driveway (28-53.96', 113-31.85' Map Datum is NAD27 Mexico)
5.7 Las Flores Jail to the west of road here
8.1 Road bends left, a 'Jeep' trail continues straight 3 miles to the end of the railroad line (terminal canyon) and bottom of the cable tram line
from the San Juan mines at the top of the mountains ( http://vivabaja.com/402/page4.html )
18.5 Old road south via Valle la Bocana (San Rafael) turns right at No Hunting sign and car door with decals. Continue straight.
22.3 Bahia las Animas road turns left, go left. (28-40.52', 113-21.72')
The 11.3 mile road in is okay for 2WD, but no low body vehicles. At each fork, keep left. Right branches go to the mud flats and may be wet during big
tide periods of the month (full and new moons). Mangroves are in the back bay at the end of the road, a small islet is off the point east of the fish
camp. GPS at the fine beach near the camp is 28-48.57', 113-21.34'
Fish jumping, birds diving, clear water, hundreds of giant squid beached themselves near here. Friendly pelican allowed Sarah to pick it up and pet
it!
Very special Baja place. One family camping on beach. Worth a return and camp. Surf fishing looks promissing.
On the way out, I saw nothing that looked like the photo from 1966... Lost Mission is still lost!
Photos at http://vivabaja.com/704
[Edited on 2-5-2005 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Las Flores Railroad (south of L.A. Bay)
Here is Doc on the elevated train line near the southern end of the railroad line.
This is surrounded by desert vegetation and virtually unseen until you are right on top of it! Access from side road at Mi. 8.1 above post.
[Edited on 2-7-2005 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Bahia las Animas
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Pelican at Las Animas
He just swallowed one of the many squid on the beach...
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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return trip
David When are you going back I want to tag along maybe. or if anyone else is going there this year I would love to drive there Ive been there by boat
but couldnt find the way there by truck Im thinking end of May early June maybe. I drive a Toyota Tacoma 4x4
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I am sure anyone from this web site would welcome you to follow them in... However, I think my trip mileages and GPS give you two ways to find the
road (it is signed as well)... should nobody be around when you are at L.A. Bay.
Here's L.A. Bay from Baja Bush Pilot's web site www.bajabushpilots.com ...
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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Return Trip
David, I am sure I can find My way with your Gps Way points and Mileages but I dont feel comfortable driving roads Ive never been on without at least
another vehicle hopefully one whos driver knows the way and the road. Ive driven all over Baja, not as much as you, just wondering If I can tag along
sometime with someone who knows what is where, I am sure I miss alot of nice places because I dont know whats down that almost hidden dirt road that
looks like an animal path. We have gone to Baja 5-6 times a year, for the last 10 years. Every year we try to go some place we have never been to
before as well as the places we Like/Love. A lot of the places we go to we have gotten the Idea to go there from one of your pictures or Trip reports
or from info on your web site. Thanks.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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That's great to hear Dan!
Of course you are welcome to join me anytime I am in Baja on an adventure...
I have nothing firm planned, as school vacation, money, and ??? guide my ability to travel south.
Check in to my Baja Notebook as I will post there when I am leaving again...
Some ideas: L.A. Bay for Spring Break (Mar. 26- Apr. 3)... possible side trips: Pacific Coast, San Pablo Visita (south of Santa Gertrudis), Lost
Mission Hunt VI, ???
Hiking up Arroyo Grande is also on my to-do list (the A.G. north of San Juan de Dios) as Jide, Mexitron, and others want to do this...
Naturally, next time I am near the El Marmol road at Hwy. 1, I will visit the geoglyph we were discussing here. Marvin Patchen ('Baja Adventures by
land, air, sea' & 'Baja Outpost') has been emailing me more details and another Nomad sent me a copy of the detailed paper on the site written by Marv
and Eva Ewing.
What do I say?: So much baja, So little time!
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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LAS ANIMAS
Thanks David we are going to Guerrero Negro Mar 11th then Back up to San Quintin as we only have 4 days, this time. we will be going down to BDLA at
the end of May, also going to try to fit in one more trip between now and then. We like to do the spur of the moment type trips as often as possable.
Sometimes the plan is to have no plan. Just go, we have found some of the best places and had some of our best trips that way. Las Animas will have to
wait until May, I think, if I can wait that long.
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