David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:38 AM
Or call this report: 'Cool Rocks, Hot Water, and Good Friends'...
Friday afternoon I get a call from Hot Schott inviting Baja Angel and I to Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs http://www.guadalupe-canyon.com where he reserved campsite 'La Paloma'.
As it just so happened, Elizabeth and I were already planning on heading to Baja, but no firm plans just where to go... Fate plays its hand well, and
Steve's phone call was at just the right time.
I had a dentist appointment in Tijuana Friday night (7pm), and when that was done, we chowed down a couple of Carne asada tortas across the street and
headed east for Tecate and beyond on the toll road, Mex. 2-D...
Getting across Tijuana takes some calm nerves, and a couple of extra trips around a block to hook up with the road leading up to the Otay Mesa border
area and Tijuana airport area, where the fast toll road to Mexicali begins.
There are three toll booths:
TIJUANA was $6.30 US, EL HONGO was $4.40, and LA RUMOROSA was $1.25.
We only went from Tijuana because of my dentist visit, otherwise you (north of the border people) should drive east on Hwy. 94 and cross into Mexico
at TECATE... Easier, faster, and save that really high first toll of over six dollars.
The first well signed road to Guadalupe Canyon is the graded road (read 'washboard') and should only be used in wet weather or if Laguna Salada ever
fills again! Continue 2.6 miles to the next well signed exit 'Laguna Salada'...
You drive 25 miles south on the drylake bed then head up the desert slope to the canyon and reach Arturo's Campo #1 about 34 miles from Hwy. 2-D. The
last 1.5 miles are very rough with big rocks in the road... In fact, it is the worst I have seen in the 5 years I have been coming to Guadalupe
Canyon...
We arrived at Steve and Val's campsite at 10:45 pm, set up the tent, and were in the hot tub like really fast! Oh man, soaking in the hot water with
all those stars overhead is really great!
Saturday, after a soak, we did a desert ride with Hotschott (Steve) and Val... We stopped the examine some interesting rock... and before long we
found lots of evidence of past residents of the area... pottery pieces. Who knows how old?
Saturday night we had a great beef stew meal and roaring campfire, thanks to Steve and Val... more hot tub soaking, more great sleeping!
Sunday we walked up to see Arturo (who runs Campo #1) and pay for the weekend at La Paloma ($150 for both vehicles).
To see more of Arturo's camp, see the web site link above and my photos from a few months ago when Baja Angel and I camped here previously: http://vivabaja.com/405
The following photos are mostly of our desert drive and of the interesting rocks, pottery pieces laying about, etc.
Coming home Sunday afternoon was easy, we crossed north at Tecate after a 23 minute wait starting at 5:20 pm.
Viva Baja everyone!
Val and Steve... ('Hotschott')
[Edited on 11-14-2005 by David K]
[Edited on 11-14-2005 by David K]
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:39 AM
Baja Angel and David K
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:40 AM
Desert views
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:41 AM
I climb a hill for this shot looking down on Baja Angel and Val
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:42 AM
Verticle rocks
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:43 AM
Leaning barrel cactus and 'Boomer' in the background
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:43 AM
Lots of cholla
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:45 AM
That's me below a rock I think looks like a polar bear!
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:46 AM
See the piece of pottery?
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:47 AM
Here's another... (remember to take only photos)
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:49 AM
Returning to Guadalupe Canyon is this small grove of palms near the canyon mouth..
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:51 AM
There are three campos in Guadalupe Canyon (three brothers or their children run them)... Arturo's is the one best known because of the private
camping sites in natural desert settings...
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:52 AM
Here is the other sign at the entrance... 'hot tabs'???
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:54 AM
My new Tacoma has over 9,000 miles and it's not quite 3 months old!!! Built Baja tough!!!
David K - 11-14-2005 at 12:56 AM
Okay, that was Saturday's photos... go to part 2 for Sunday's pics...
David K - 11-14-2005 at 06:38 PM
Here's a photo of La Paloma's big hot tub, taken last April on our previous visit... When not exploring the desert or sleeping, this is where we were
las weekend!
David K - 1-13-2006 at 10:29 AM
Part 2 continues at http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=14021