BajaNomad - North Road to Scorpion Bay?

North Road to Scorpion Bay?

sierrabum - 8-5-2005 at 08:38 PM

Anyone have any current info on the condition of the north road from San Ignacio to Scorpion Bay? I know they ran the 500 or something on it last year because we saw all the prerunners...planning on driving it for the first time as a quicker route from Abreojos to Scorpion this year....then out thru La Purisima....

thanks

woody with a view - 8-5-2005 at 08:59 PM

was down in june-depending on your tolerance for loose teeth, i'd just go in thru purisima. it only adds an hour or two (for a first timer) to the drive and the scenery is 'mo bettah...IMHO.

bajaloco - 8-5-2005 at 10:18 PM

If you want to take the north road, there are two routes. The washboard hill road or the salt flats. This time of year take the flats. It is a dream to drive on...smooth as it gets. I've seen 1 1/2 ton trucks out there doing 60mph. Use the Baja Almanac and a GPS and you can't get lost...I tried. If you go take some extra stuff for the kids in El Datil...They love any kind of stickers or small toys....have fun...Gary

BajaNomad - 8-5-2005 at 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaloco
If you want to take the north road, there are two routes. The washboard hill road or the salt flats. This time of year take the flats. It is a dream to drive on...smooth as it gets. I've seen 1 1/2 ton trucks out there doing 60mph.

I'll second that.

Just have to make sure of the tides - as very high tides could cause a problem. I enjoy driving the flats out there.

--
Doug

flats, did someone say flats?

Sharksbaja - 8-5-2005 at 11:29 PM

Mucho Gusto!! Can be very exciting! Same trip I will be taking soon. When are ya goin' Bum?

Bruce R Leech - 8-6-2005 at 06:57 AM

can any one tell me which surfer dude originally changed the name to Scorpion Bay? and why did you not like the real name given by the Mexicans? I wish people would stop trying to rename every thing in Baja Ca.with English names.

The Sculpin - 8-6-2005 at 07:27 AM

Before Scorpion Bay it was called Rattlers....what's the mexican name...Punta Pequena? You realize that this is the only point/bay set up that does not follow the typical naming convention i.e. naming bays after the point under which they are formed? It should be Bahia Pequena, but then, the bay is not pequena at all, is it...an neither is the point! Soooo....what's my point, you ask?

Maybe it should be called Punta Grande Owie because those damn rocks are real sharp!!

Or maybe Punta Nadas Olas because it breaks so rarely,

or Punta Muchos Gringos because the place gets soooo damned crowded,

or Punta Plancha Grande because everyone rides a frickin 12' Frye at Bambis

or Punta Comida Suave becuase the food at the cantina is so bland, (try Cristis in town - a nice alternative)

or,....well, you get the picture...

bajaloco - 8-6-2005 at 03:12 PM

Sierrabum....This site may be helpful on road conditions and general info on San Juanico......

http://www.scorpionbay.net/index.html

Tomas Tierra - 8-6-2005 at 03:58 PM

If you take the salt flats DO NOT leave the track at all!! you will see the marks of people who did.

When in EL Datil, if you stop, Checck out the Perlas (Scallop Pearls) the locals will sell you.. Sometimes they have some BIG ones...

taxcutter - 8-9-2005 at 12:01 PM

Some friends just came back, via the Salt flats. So far, so dry.

It's been a lousy hurricane/southern hemi season and my friends told me it was pretty much flat for the week that they were at Scorpion Bay.

So if you are planning to surf, please think about all the other spots. Yea, I figure you're trying to connect the dots and camp at the surf breaks going south. But if there is no swell, why go? Scorpion Bay has a tiny swell window.

Your car is going to get beat up if you take any road into S-bay, especially the North Road. So, even if you really want to go, why beat up your car if there is no sizeable surf? Take it easy, what?s the hurry?

Besides, most people stop and camp along Conception Bay if they are taking the South Road. And this area is very beautiful, with great beaches, bathtub warm water, fantastic fishing and diving. Also, Loreto is a good place to get supplies, ice and gas. And if you are looking for some surf, heading down south will be that much faster.

Ok, so you really want to take the North Road into S-bay. At San Ig, when you get off Mex 1, at the first lagoon, on the left, is a restaurant called MiKasa. Senora Terri runs the place and she can give you the latest information on the North Road. Terri is very mellow and this is a great place to cool off, relax and get a bite to eat. Plus, if you are lucky, Terri may be able to hook you up with someone heading South on the North Road.

Tomas esta correcto, do not leave the most traveled road if you plan on taking the Salt Flats. Yes, you can hit freeway speeds on the salt flats, but you can easily roll your car if you get off the road most traveled and into the mud. And it seems more difficult for rookies to navigate the salt flats going southbound. South of Datil, coming out of the salt flats are long sandy sections, and big ruts, with various forks in the road. The upper North road is washboard hell, but it is easier to navigate and less forks in the road.

As always, I get my Mexico car insurance at www.mexicanautoinsurance.com/ Super cool people with funny stories of idiot gringos driving in Baja.

Tambien, Sculpin esta correcto, Punta Nada Olas. In 1979, I took a blood oath not to repeat the name Punta Pe*&^ or San Jua*&*# to anyone and always call it Scorpion Bay. Back then, any random kook could look up the correct name on a map and find it, but you never can find Scorpion Bay on the map. And not finding it on the map reduced the crowds and added the mystic.

Although, there are Scorpions (it is Baja), I was told it was called Scorpion Bay because the waves only break when the constellation Scorpio is above. And what I really hate is all those dang field mice running around your camp at night. But I guess Mice Bay just doesn?t cut it.

Taxcutter taxcut22@email.com

San Juanico

Juan del Rio - 8-10-2005 at 06:32 AM

Here in San Juanico and came in the south road last week. From the camp talk here, the North road is it's old self without changes due to no major rains. If you love adventure and are prepared for teeth-jarring, non-stop action, this road is for you. The East road is also starting to have issues with rocks and major wash board. The road down the cliff into San Ysidro if tough, but doable in one of those rental double Nissan trucks. Be prepared for flat tires on all roads. Coming in on the South road, washboard is really bad. Air down and try to get above it. We brougth a trailer in and it took almost three hours from the turnoff and getting a flat tire in our truck( my very first one on the south road, ever).
Also, there is only a three-four difference (and a tankful of gas) between San Juanico via Loreto vs. San Juanico to San Ignacio using the North road. Again comfort vs. adventure.
No surf in the bay to write about here for over nine days. Water is 76 and the air in the mid-eighties, very pleasant. Campground activity, while I havew been here, has been on the light side. The photo attached was taken last Saturday.

Second Point

Juan del Rio - 8-10-2005 at 06:35 AM

Beach area

Juan del Rio - 8-10-2005 at 06:38 AM

bajaloco - 8-10-2005 at 07:01 AM

Looks perfect :biggrin:

..... for a little kayak fishing....

August 13th Update

Juan del Rio - 8-13-2005 at 08:35 AM

Spoke with someone that has a place here who came in on the North road yesterday via the salt flats. They got buried real good. Out of the three cars, two were buried deep in the mud for most of the afternoon. Lucky for them, the third car did not get stuck and was able to help pull the others out. Recommending the North part (below the Mesas) of the North road for those who are looking for a little action and adventure, but be prepared for the "mix Master" ride.
Weather has been pleasant here the past few days. campground is still "light" with campers. Water temp around 72-74 degrees and keeps changing. Second point bay has a lot of sand.
Photo is first point, yesterday evening

First point

Juan del Rio - 8-13-2005 at 08:43 AM

capt. mike - 8-13-2005 at 03:09 PM

hey Juan, K pasta amigo? how was the aug bash?

sierrabum - 8-17-2005 at 09:07 PM

THANKS for the info....sounds like adventure...which is good....we'll see what we feel like I guess as we go......probably be hangin' at some south swell spots north of scorpion for awhile and then head down to meet some friends....around the 18/19th sept. ....

I hear ya on the blood oath not to tell anyone about anything....because EVERYONE knows EVERYTHING it seems all to easily these days......

but if you run into us out there....you'll see a 84 toyota landcruiser all loaded with stuff, and all of us have instruments - guitars, bass, mandolin, harmonica, drums, etc etc etc.......so

maybe the north road, maybe the east road, maybe the south road.....drove the east road last year, it was six hours of slow solitude amongst the mountains....pretty incredible....north road sounds a little hectic.....but I know....it's baja....

cheers folks...
crossing the border on the 3rd or 4th, probably be down for 6 weeks or something....who knows, might never return....

-dave

San Juanico Roads

Juan del Rio - 8-18-2005 at 06:25 AM

Spoke with Gloria here in San Juanico and she said they are planning to scrap the south road very soon due to the service vehicles that supply everything that's needed here getting trashed due to the washboard. Spoke with a guy who came in the east road this week and he too said it's still doable in a two wheel vehicle, but just take your time. North road is still tough no matter which route you take. Spoke to the person who came in with three vehicle via the salt flats and got two of them stuck...he said they got off the "well used part" and took a shortcut and that's how they got stuck. He said the north part (close to the mesas) of the road is pure washboard. Thought you'd enjoyed the photo posted below. We flew right above the road from Cadaje to San Juanico last week. I the foreground, you'll see the pila where we get our water.
Medium swell the past few days with tons of great waves for everyone. Water temp in the low-mid seventies and not too many people in the campground during the past two weeks. Has been a very pleasant August so far!

after reading this thread,

eetdrt88 - 10-5-2005 at 02:00 PM

i'm wondering if the road to scorpion bay is worse than the one that runs between puertecitos and gonzaga bay,anybody done both???

elgatoloco - 10-6-2005 at 11:02 PM

I have. Scorpion road mostly washboardy dirt with the occasional scary rock. Lower tire pressure, 40-45 mph. Puerto road mostly scary rock with occasional dirt. Lower pressure, 20-25 mph. Go for it.