BajaNomad

Baja 525: Missions & More, Part 8 (The Voyage Home)

David K - 5-20-2025 at 02:12 PM

Report continued from Part 7: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101853

What a rush, in the past two days (May 10, 11), we went to eight mission sites, Albertino Mine, La Lobera, Antonio's luxurious Baja cactus Motel, Hugo's Tacos Misión (and art studio), El Rosario's La Bocana beach, El Mármol and El Volcán, the spring were Serra and others on El Camino Real rested, and the San Judas onyx mine!

For dinner, we went to Aniceto's in Colonia Delicias (Km. 35.5, south of San Felipe). I had the breaded fish plate and ice-cold Dos Equis Lager. We visited with a couple of loco gringos there, as well.
The evening was great and I slept on a cot, under the stars, with the lapping Sea of Cortez as a lull-a-bye.

The next morning (Monday May 12, 2025) was ideal... high clouds made a beautiful sunrise and kept the sun from cooking us too early. I will guess it was around 80°. We packed up and drove into San Felipe for a really good breakfast, at the far north end of the Malecon. I ordered us a pitcher of (fresh squeezed) OJ to go with our chorizo or machaca and eggs. It was more juice than the two of us could drink, but I was celebrating and didn't mind paying the 350 pesos. I just love fresh squeezed juice, so common in Mexico!

We headed for Tecate, via 2-D, west from Mexicali. The military inspection at the Mex 3 junction waved us through, but we were pulled over at the base of the Rumorosa Grade on Mex 2-D. It still went pretty quickly.

At the Tecate border line around 3:30 pm and it was 42 minutes until we got to the booth, showed our passports, and were waved on into the USA.

Overall, a super, jam-packed trip (or expedition). Dave and I were very happy to see as much as we could. A future trip will be back to Dave's beach house and have some excursions to see (again for me, fist time for Dave) sites around Gonzaga Bay: missionaries' warehouse site, the soda/onyx springs behind Rancho Grande, Molino de Lacy, and maybe the water of Las Palmitas oasis and La Turquesa Canyon.

The Gonzaga warehouse, in 1958:


What is it that I say? So Much Baja... So Little Time!

PHOTOS:
Last supper, Aniceto's


At Dave's beach house


Low tide, north and south views:




San Felipe gas price


Gas station exchange rate ($4.77/ gallon for Regular)


Tecate Border


I hope you have enjoyed this tour/ trip report.
Please feel free to ask questions.
Soon, I will be making a photos album/ webpage for this trip on VivaBaja.com It will be more selective with photos and perhaps more details will be included. The other thing I am doing with the new mission photos is either creating a web page for each mission or add the newest photos to any existing mission pages I already have made.

I did make one for Descanso, yesterday: https://vivabaja.com/el-descanso/

I hope to see your Baja trip reports too... Please share with us!

watizname - 5-21-2025 at 09:01 AM

I really enjoyed your trip report. Brings back lots of memories of fun times we've had. I like Dave's place. Reminds me of a spot I had on Shell Beach in Chivato during much simpler days. I would council to keep it that way. Just a comment on your last meal, I'm sure it was dee-lishous, but on first glance, it looked like a deep fried pair of fishing gloves. LOL. The last shot of the downhill at Tecate, ---ahhh the memories. Keep the reports coming.

[Edited on 5-21-2025 by watizname]

David K - 5-21-2025 at 12:06 PM

Glad you like the nauseating details of my reports! I love reading other's reports, as well.
I wonder how Russ is (of Shell Beach)?
The fish was overcooked and dry, sadly.
Next, web pages to build.
Hope to get back to Baja, at least one more time!

watizname - 5-21-2025 at 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Glad you like the nauseating details of my reports! I love reading other's reports, as well.
I wonder how Russ is (of Shell Beach)?
The fish was overcooked and dry, sadly.
Next, web pages to build.
Hope to get back to Baja, at least one more time!



Maybe they were old fishing gloves. Sadly, Russ passed a few months back. He had been in the states for a while at the VA hospital. For sure, he was a Baja character. We had some good times with him, and he will be missed. Thanks again.

David K - 5-21-2025 at 06:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by watizname  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Glad you like the nauseating details of my reports! I love reading other's reports, as well.
I wonder how Russ is (of Shell Beach)?
The fish was overcooked and dry, sadly.
Next, web pages to build.
Hope to get back to Baja, at least one more time!



Maybe they were old fishing gloves. Sadly, Russ passed a few months back. He had been in the states for a while at the VA hospital. For sure, he was a Baja character. We had some good times with him, and he will be missed. Thanks again.


I apologize for forgetting he passed. I was his guest on two trips during my Baja Bound mapping expeditions of 2017. Russ was so kind and a good guy. I hate to lose Baja amigos like that! Heck... one day, I too will be a memory, good for some and bad for others, LOL!

David K - 5-22-2025 at 12:28 PM

Each part of the trip report is linked to and from the next/previous, so you simply click the next part link at the end of the part you are reading. Enjoy!
Part 1: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101805
Part 2: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101809
Part 3: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101813
Part 4: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101817
Part 5: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101820
Part 6: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101849
Part 7: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101853
Part 8: https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101862

Web pages are next... one for the entire trip and specialty ones for places visited. The mission photos taken on this trip will be added to pages already existing for missions or I will make pages that didn't exist before. Such is the case for Mission El Descanso: https://vivabaja.com/el-descanso/

I am also working on one for the San Francisquito waterhole. This one is a work in progress... Have a look, but come back as I will be editing and adding more to it... That's the plan, anyway! https://vivabaja.com/pozo-san-francisquito/

Thank you for your questions or comments! :light:

mjs - 5-22-2025 at 02:18 PM

Not surprised your meal at Anicetos was less than satisfying. They've really gone downhill the last couple of years. The new Chelo's is excellent but has very limited hours and menu. Sanctuario is good but a bit farther up the road at k13. Chenoweth can be hit or miss.

Unfortunately the south campos food options are very limited.

David K - 5-22-2025 at 03:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
Not surprised your meal at Anicetos was less than satisfying. They've really gone downhill the last couple of years. The new Chelo's is excellent but has very lim-ited hours and menu. Sanctuario is good but a bit farther up the road at k13. Chenoweth can be hit or miss.

Unfortunately the south campos food options are very limited.


Good to know! I am a fan of the old Chelo's (circa 2006)!

BoenBaja - 5-23-2025 at 09:43 AM

Great report, thank you David!

David K - 5-24-2025 at 01:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BoenBaja  
Great report, thank you David!


Muchas gracias, Paul!
I just answered the u2u... sorry not to get to it this morning!

wilderone - 5-25-2025 at 09:05 AM

Loved the armchair adventure, David. Great report with the interposed mission history. And nice to see current information on some places, like El Marmol (the fence?), and El Volcan (was very disruptive with mining activity not that long ago). You didn't get any bandito/cartel vibes?

David K - 5-25-2025 at 09:33 AM

Not a bit, Cindi. It was very peaceful everywhere, including places where people were!

I knew you would appreciate the good news on El Volcán. Yes, a barb wire fence and locked gate keeps you from driving into the onyx quarry or on to the south road back to Mex 1. You can still get through to walk around El Mármol, between the barb wires.

surfhat - 5-25-2025 at 01:50 PM

Speaking of old fishing gloves, the piece of breaded and fried fish could serve a dual purpose, and probably better for your body.

I could not resist. That is on me.

David, so good to see you on road once again.

Treasure every moment we are given is a mantra to treasure.

Peace, love, and non-fried fish tacos, if you have the choice at the time.

David K - 5-25-2025 at 06:34 PM

Thank you!
I know there could have been a better choice,
that's healthier.
I have been a good boy, losing 40 pounds the past year!
Maybe staying away from the good food in Baja helps? Say it isn't so!!!

David K - 6-2-2025 at 07:40 AM

I made a webpage to see the trip all on one link, it is refined from the trip report, more selective photos, maps added, etc.
Have a look and let me know how it appears for you. Do all the photos load okay? If not (slower Internet), I can break it into two pages.
>>> https://vivabaja.com/baja-525/