BajaNomad

Just back from Punta Chivato - Road Report

Doug/Vamonos - 9-9-2006 at 08:52 PM

Drove down Thursday to get my boat. The first sign of storm damage is a big boulder blocking the southbound lane at the top of the Santa Rosalia grade. Everyone gets through in one lane. Once you get to Santa Rosalia there is still dirt on the road in places, and a rough spot in front of the ferry. Then when you drive out of Santa Rosalia and past the police building in the arroyo the road is totally destroyed. There is one lane of rough rocky trail to get across and a line of traffic at times. Further south there are two more very, very rough detours where the highway was destroyed. Some of it must be taken very slowly. I towed my boat back (Bayrunner Baja 21) and was very surprised not to rip the axle off my trailer at times. It was that rough. The road into Punta Chivato from Palo Verde is totally gone in places. I drive a 4x4 Expedition and had to crawl over and around much of it. A grader was working while I was there but there is much work to be done to restore the road. On the bright side, the fishing was great. I put the boat in for two hours before leaving (who can drive down there and not fish?) and found wide open dorado underneath a huge skum line of storm debris just two miles past the islands. Floating palm trees, furniture, doors, etc. Got a few for the cooler and turned away from dozens of dorado. All in all, the road is certainly passable but it would be tough in the washouts for a large boat, large trailer or big RV, at least for a few days. No water in the washouts when I was there.

bajaden - 9-9-2006 at 09:14 PM

Thanks for the report Doug. I'll be heading down in a week or so. Maybe by then the roads will be a little improved.

Hey Doug

steve55 - 9-13-2006 at 08:45 PM

Hey Doug,
I am the guy with the camo netting that was camped next to your toybox at PC last July. I see that you finally got back down and recovered your boat. Good for you.

We got up the morning after you left to intermittent heavy rain and blowing about 25mph or so. I think you made the right move by leaving. We gathered up all of our soggy stuff and hauled butt for LA bay. The weather was better there. We stayed 4 nights at LAB and saw some new territory which is a nice side benifit. It was a good trip for us.

maybe we will see you down there again. steve
Quote:
Originally posted by Doug/Vamonos
Drove down Thursday to get my boat. The first sign of storm damage is a big boulder blocking the southbound lane at the top of the Santa Rosalia grade. Everyone gets through in one lane. Once you get to Santa Rosalia there is still dirt on the road in places, and a rough spot in front of the ferry. Then when you drive out of Santa Rosalia and past the police building in the arroyo the road is totally destroyed. There is one lane of rough rocky trail to get across and a line of traffic at times. Further south there are two more very, very rough detours where the highway was destroyed. Some of it must be taken very slowly. I towed my boat back (Bayrunner Baja 21) and was very surprised not to rip the axle off my trailer at times. It was that rough. The road into Punta Chivato from Palo Verde is totally gone in places. I drive a 4x4 Expedition and had to crawl over and around much of it. A grader was working while I was there but there is much work to be done to restore the road. On the bright side, the fishing was great. I put the boat in for two hours before leaving (who can drive down there and not fish?) and found wide open dorado underneath a huge skum line of storm debris just two miles past the islands. Floating palm trees, furniture, doors, etc. Got a few for the cooler and turned away from dozens of dorado. All in all, the road is certainly passable but it would be tough in the washouts for a large boat, large trailer or big RV, at least for a few days. No water in the washouts when I was there.

losfrailes - 9-14-2006 at 06:13 AM

The road into Punta Chivato has been graded sufficiently to allow any type of vehicle desired to go and come. Once past the mud flats there is very little change from the past.
The road to Dolphin Cove cannot be traversed normally, you must go around the back way, but it too is open and manageable with almost any type of vehicle.