David K
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Where the pavement once ended... near Km. 120, south of Ensenada.
As early as 1956, the roadbed was ready for paving to San Quintín, another 50 miles south. Yet, the blacktop ended here at Arroyo Seco, north of
Colonet, until about 1968 when new blacktop began being extended south, taking five more years just to reach San Quintín!
1965 (as thankful northbound travelers kiss the pavement):
Google Street View:
My camera, last month:
Places like this in Baja were the subject of a recent article: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/pavement...
Where did the pavement end on your first Baja trips? Gotta photo?
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bajatrailrider
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David is that a 59 GMC 4x4?
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David K
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If you say so!
My trip was the following year in a '65 Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer with the 327 Rambler V-8. I was just under 9 years old in that 1966 trip to the tip.
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bajatrailrider
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Was asking as could be 56 to 59 GMC locks like manual hubs in front . If so a very rare truck
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AKgringo
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58 was the first year of double headlights!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
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From about minute 6:30 to 7:45, the end of the pavement location is featured in this film about the 1967 Mexican 1000: https://youtu.be/vpNlLzwxY4U
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bajatrailrider
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Thank you I forgot that correct
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Vince
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Thanks for that old video! I remember going to San Quentin with my parents in 1950, towing a small camping trailer. It was demolished inside by the
time we got there. We had a fun time fishing on fresh water lakes and catching many bass using small frogs as bait. That set the hook for me for a
lifetime of wonderful trips to Baja. I didn't drive my first trip to La Paz until 1970, in a VW bus. That was also a great adventure.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by Vince  | | Thanks for that old video! I remember going to San Quentin with my parents in 1950, towing a small camping trailer. It was demolished inside by the
time we got there. We had a fun time fishing on fresh water lakes and catching many bass using small frogs as bait. That set the hook for me for a
lifetime of wonderful trips to Baja. I didn't drive my first trip to La Paz until 1970, in a VW bus. That was also a great adventure.
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Very cool! I am guessing the fresh water lakes were by Santa María, where the Sky Ranch would be developed in the late 1950s?
The 1970 trip had to have been epic!
While I recall most of the 1966 trip to the tip, I wish I was a bit older to remember even more detail. One of my dreams was to drive the original
trans-peninsular road myself! Alas, Mexico paved it all, the year I turned 16!
I did drive the original gulf road (San Felipe to El Crucero or later to Laguna Chapala) a few times before it was all graded in 1987 (and all paved
in 2020)!
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thebajarunner
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My first trip down was 1971 and it ended just at the north limits of Camalu. Then came the notorious "whoopies" across the San Quintin valley.
My first race was 1972 Baja 500 and pavement ended same spot.
We bent the I-beams on our F150 about an inch back on that nasty stretch across to San Quintin.
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David K
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Indeed... Mexico went gangbusters in 1973 to finish the highway by the end of the year... Basically, San Quintin to San Ignacio in one year!
The southern crews working north were way ahead of the game on speed...
I do wish I could get a 1970 AAA map, it would really show how the south half progressed from what the '69 map showed (paving north of La Paz ending
in just 110 miles or so... to the '71 map with paving at Santa Rosalia!
SEE how the highway was shown from before any new construction, north from La Paz (1969 map) to the completed road ((1974 map):
1969 AAA Map
1971 AAA Map
1972 AAA Map
1973 AAA Map
1974 AAA Map
Again, please look in your collections for the missing 1970 map... and a better 1972 map than I have! Thank you!!
Here are all the Auto Club Baja maps I have preserved: https://vivabaja.com/automobile-club-maps/
[Edited on 1-25-2023 by David K]
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freediverbrian
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I remember the payment ending there and thinking this is not so bad until!!! The silt whoppies heading into San Quintin. The worst form of
punishment.
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watizname
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | As early as 1956, the roadbed was ready for paving to San Quintín, another 50 miles south. Yet, the blacktop ended here at Arroyo Seco, north of
Colonet, until about 1968 when new blacktop began being extended south, taking five more years just to reach San Quintín!
1965 (as thankful northbound travelers kiss the pavement):
Thanks for the Google view. With that, I know exactly where it is, having driven that stretch many many times in the past, but after the paving was
completed.
Google Street View:
My camera, last month:
Places like this in Baja were the subject of a recent article: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/pavement...
Where did the pavement end on your first Baja trips? Gotta photo? |
I yam what I yam and that\'s all what I yam.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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My first time south of Ensenada was the trip to the tip, summer of 1966. The pavement ended at the place in the photos, today's km. 120, north of
Colonet.
A photo from that trip, that has survived the past 57 years:
A couple more are here: https://vivabaja.com/album/
[Edited on 1-25-2023 by David K]
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