John M - 5-12-2006 at 06:23 PM
Shortly we realized we had missed a turn to keep us along the coast toward Erendira and so we re-adjusted our route just before lunch found us a a
lovely deserted cove, La Calavera on the map. See attached photo.
While we ate we noticed perhaps 15 buggies heading south along the coast. This was an organized desert buggy group, where the participants ante up
good money to drive what appeared to be pretty well set-up buggies. Catered lunches, a chase buggy, rooms in nice hotels at night - and all this style
for four days - seems like a dandy deal if you have the bucks.
So, back to highway 1 for us at San Vicente. Then uneventful miles whiled the time away all the way to El Rosario. We settled in at the Baja Cactus
Motel for the first of three nights. Next day it was off on one of the trips David K had outlined, the run south toward Bahia San Carlos.
We had gotten a late start and the "improved" road - rocky, washboard, and slow for an old leaf sprung Jeep proved too slow going so we retreated
toward El Rosario, detoured out to Punta Baja, a cool rocky point maybe ten miles south of El Rosario.
We also stopped at the little museum in El Rosario de Abaja, along with a pause at the site of the second mission in the area. It's nice to see some
attempts at retarding the erosion of these historic adobe structures.
Next day, Saturday the 6th, we headed east along the El Rosario river bottom, turning east just across to the south side of the bridge. This
interesting road follows the river bottom leading you past 5 or 6 miles of farms. Before long we were climbing the grade of the Cuesta la Vibora and
treated to outstanding views of the river and farms far, far below. We ventured around a bit, challenged a bit by an inaccurate map until we found
the correct road north, back into the hills and wonderful desert plant displays. We were again following David K's previous route into some awfully
pretty and remote country. At one point in his notes, David wrote that the remaining route was one to be attempted by OHV style vehicles. He was right
on the money. The road deteriorated a bit, some dandy climbs, lots of rocks, wash outs and more deserted ranchos. Eventually we headed west and back
to the highway not far south of San Quintin. A really fine off-highway experience. Full of wonderous cactus and desert flower displays, the wonder of
Baja in all its glory on this fine day. Thanks for the ideas David.
Two photos follow, one showing the now-deserted cove where we had lunch, just north of Erendira and the other is of one of the neat buggies that
passed while we ate.
Part 3 maybe later tonight, maybe tomorrow.
Cove at La Calevera:
Baja fun in a rented buggy
John M - 5-12-2006 at 06:24 PM
Is this fun or what???
[Edited on 5-13-2006 by John M]
Roberto - 5-13-2006 at 08:11 AM
That looks like a buggy from: http://www.wideopenbaja.com/.
TMW - 5-13-2006 at 08:41 AM
It is. We met a group of them at Mike's Sky Ranch last July4th. A pretty good setup. They race in Score with a BC number. I think they still do.