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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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New Years 2012: Clams, both fresh & petrified! 5 photos from Tunaeater added!
Baja Angel and I headed south Saturday morning, crossed the border at Mexicali about 12:30 and loaded our ice chests with all the beer they could hold
(Dos Equis, Carta Blanca Light) from a distributor at Km. 5.5 who added free ice above what we had. Very nice man runs the place who moved back to
Mexico when business in the US soured.
The highway to San Felipe was in super condition with just a very short detour about 50 miles south, near the sand dunes. However, that was finished
yesterday... so no detours at all now.
Gasoline in San Felipe was 9.42 pesos/ liter for Magna and 10.20 for Premium. The station at El Dorado Ranch was giving an exchange rate of 13.65
pesos per dollar. Making the cost of Magna US$2.61/ gallon... a dollar a gallon less than in California.
The time was 3:30 and we headed directly to the Malecon (beach front street) for some tacos and beer. The town seemed nearly deserted from tourists
(Mexican or American) and it was a sad scene. The taco stand plaza has morphed into just two restaurants from the original dozen fish taco vendors of
up to 10 years before.
We were invited to stay at BajaRob and Connie's (Bahia Santa Maria) which is 24 miles south, and we arrived about 4:30 pm and enjoyed the sky changing
color and the Sea of Cortez. Rob and Connie arrived about an hour later from an event put on by the South Campos Community, called a White Elephant...
Rob can describe that to you guys!
The night was wonderful and we were asleep before New Years (well, unless you go by a different time zone).
The next morning (Sunday, Jan. 1), was an awesome sunny day... Good omen... I helped Rob and his neighbor Jim bring up fresh water for the clams for a
final purge. Rob ordered 100 dozen clams and has the clam thing down to a science... There were up to 100 people at the New Years Day party (1-4 pm)
and the clams were perfect in both quantity and flavor. It is a pot luck, so many dishes and salads and Rob's black eyed peas add to the bowl of clams
and butter everyone enjoyed.
Before the party, Baja Angel and I drove to Shell Island and enjoyed some quiet time before the party. A kite-surfer went from Santa Maria to Percebu
and back while we were there. It was interesting to watch him tack into the north wind.
Noticed how tires sink less than foot prints in sand... I guess they should re-think that vehicles could harm beach life, they would be better to ban
people walking!
Monday, we hooked up with 'Chick' and his wife who live at El Vergel to visit the fossil beds nearby. Rob tried to show us the place 2 years ago, but
we missed the correct path... but had fun four wheeling anyway!
TO BE CONTINUED!...
[Edited on 1-10-2012 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Next, we hiked further up the wash to see petrified sand dollars!
BajaRob
After seeing the sand dollars, we drove over to an entire hill made of oysters and other shells...
Chick's Ford was a nice off roader... it only broke down about 3 times that day!  (Chick fixed it while I goofed off driving circles around it on the beach)  Chick has a Toyota too... I think he drives it when he doesn't have another vehicle along for support!
Near the top of the fossil hill.
Wednesday, we head home... But, not without some exploration into new (to me) territory.
This is the water pipe that goes from Arroyo Grande to the La Fortuna gold mines, 40 miles north of San Felipe. The power lines go to the well at the
end of the pipe. The access road leaves Mex. 5 at Km. 107... just south of La Ventana.
In ~6 miles you come to the water and power lines... ~6 more miles is the end in Arroyo Grande. The Baja 1000 course was in Arroyo Grande, heading
south.
It is pretty slow going in anything but an off road racer in Arroyo Grande, for ~5 miles to where it turns east out of the arroyo.
The desert is beautiful...
Like all my other Baja trips, this one has me wanting to go back... just to experience it one more time!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
[Edited on 1-6-2012 by David K]
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Pertified?
I could not find any such word in any english or spanish dictionary. Some dude did write a song by that title:
www.justsomelyrics.com/1177084/Fort-Minor-Pertified-LyricsCa...
I think you meant PETRIFIED:
past participle, past tense of pet·ri·fy (Verb)Verb:
1.Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move or think.
2.Change (organic matter) into a stony concretion by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a calcareous, siliceous, or other...
Bob Durrell
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I got a bad cold... I will fix, sorry!
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Another great trip to Baja, thanks.
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Bajaboy
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Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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cool stuff, glad you were able to make it down.
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Ken Cooke
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Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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The road to Cohabuzo Junction?
Our new friend Rafael who lives in Ejido Saldaña lives near this route. If you see him walking with his dogs, be sure to give him a Gatorade.
[Edited on 1-5-2012 by Ken Cooke]
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Islandbuilder
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Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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Hey David, great report!
It's great that you guys were able to get down, even if only for a few days.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Our new friend Rafael who lives in Ejido Saldaña lives near this route. If you see him walking with his dogs, be sure to give him a Gatorade.
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Nope... we were a quite bit south and east of Cohabuzo... actually on or just south of the road from the Pole Line Road out to La Ventana, the way you
guys drive out of there, I think. The photo is the Baja 1000 course in Arroyo Grande before it crosses the Sierra Pinta towards Hwy. 3/ San Felipe
side.
This is Howard Gulick's 1962 map of the area. We went as far as the road junction area just north of the lable 'Grande' for Arroyo grande on the map.
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
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Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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Great report as always. Im happy that you and Elizabeth had a great New Year week.
Im ready for a another Baja beach trip, dont know when that will be but soon. I just finished installing a 20-gal air compressor/tank aboard my
motorhome so now Im not afraid to air down for fear of airing up taking half a day.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Hey David, great report!
It's great that you guys were able to get down, even if only for a few days. |
Thank you... it is hard to resist an opportunity to go to Baja... even if it is just for 5 days instead of 2 weeks! I hope to always bring something
interesting back for you guys to read or see, no matter what! It is fun for me to share...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by edm1
Great report as always. Im happy that you and Elizabeth had a great New Year week.
Im ready for a another Baja beach trip, dont know when that will be but soon. I just finished installing a 20-gal air compressor/tank aboard my
motorhome so now Im not afraid to air down for fear of airing up taking half a day. |
Hi Art,
We always think of you and your 4WD motorhome on our trips...
Good move on the air tanks!
I want you to seriously consider TIRES that self clean the mud out... Getting onto Shell Island wasn't nearly as exciting as the high tides last week
didn't surround the island like it did last July!
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
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Location: yuma,az
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again a nice report David
making me want to get down soon to SF
but I want it to warm up a bit
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Mood: Life is good
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Great trip report and pictures
Thank you. We spent the last two days in Mission Bay shopping and doing the VA thingy. It took 2 days with zero alcohol consumption to dry out after 3
parties in 3 days. We have a bit more shopping in El Centro tomorrow and then back to San Felipe. We have resolved to take it easier next Holiday
Season. So soon old, so late smart. Fair winds, Rob
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaRob
Thank you. We spent the last two days in Mission Bay shopping and doing the VA thingy. It took 2 days with zero alcohol consumption to dry out after 3
parties in 3 days. We have a bit more shopping in El Centro tomorrow and then back to San Felipe. We have resolved to take it easier next Holiday
Season. So soon old, so late smart. Fair winds, Rob |
Thanks again for your hospitality, warm days, star filled nights and finally finding and showing us the fossil beds!! We will see you sooner than
later, I hope!
I also wanted to say how great your party was and I had a chance to visit with Tunaeater and El Comondante Loco... and met Baja Ponderosa, too. It was
great watching the Chargers beat the Raiders, too! 
Fun Fun Fun in the bright Baja sun!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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Trust me, we doubled back through this area for 5 hours in November.
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Our new friend Rafael who lives in Ejido Saldaña lives near this route. If you see him walking with his dogs, be sure to give him a Gatorade.
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Nope... we were a quite bit south and east of Cohabuzo... actually on or just south of the road from the Pole Line Road out to La Ventana, the way you
guys drive out of there, I think. The photo is the Baja 1000 course in Arroyo Grande before it crosses the Sierra Pinta towards Hwy. 3/ San Felipe
side.
This is Howard Gulick's 1962 map of the area. We went as far as the road junction area just north of the lable 'Grande' for Arroyo grande on the map.
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I remember this area vividly, and the mountain just to the right in this photo is the landmark for Cohabuzo Junction. It was near our campsite on the
1st night of our Pole Line Run in November.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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This map is fairly inaccurate, as well.
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
This is Howard Gulick's 1962 map of the area. We went as far as the road junction area just north of the lable 'Grande' for Arroyo grande on the map.
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For starters, Hwy 5 does not hook the way it does on this map. Plus, where you were driving when you took the photo behind the wheel, is sandy, but
is past the actual arroyo - leading to some massive silt beds.
I would post my photos, but they would throw your screen orientation out of sorts. And, I know you wouldn't like reading your thread with larger
photo images to condend with.
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Skipjack Joe
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I helped Rob and his neighbor Jim bring up fresh water for the clams for a final purge.
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I was surprised to read this because fresh water will kill a clam.
I would think that a saltwater clam placed in fresh water would close it's shell and stop filtering altogether in an attempt to stay alive. Doesn't
that happen?
I found this thread posted 4 years ago where Corky, our seafood restaurant owner from Oregon, urges to never purge clams in fresh water:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23091
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I helped Rob and his neighbor Jim bring up fresh water for the clams for a final purge.
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I was surprised to read this because fresh water will kill a clam.
I would think that a saltwater clam placed in fresh water would close it's shell and stop filtering altogether in an attempt to stay alive. Doesn't
that happen?
I found this thread posted 4 years ago where Corky, our seafood restaurant owner from Oregon, urges to never purge clams in fresh water:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23091 |
Sorry that I wasn't clear on this... Fresh SEA water! Obviously, you keep sea clams alive in sea water... Helping bring up fresh water from the ocean
(gulf) to Rob's patio.
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Skipjack Joe
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Oh, OK.
I was thinking that maybe the freshwater was used to purge the sea water and make them taste less salty.
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