SF to Gonzaga Off-Road

Earlier this month I had the wonderful experience of an off-road trip - several days over land and beaches from San Felipe to Bahia SL Gonzaga and back. It was a trip unlike any other I've had. The days were hot, the Sea glassy, the scenery incredible, and I enjoyed exploring along the way.

In the past I'd done this trip by plane and also by car. This time I traveled in a Ranger... off-road and along portions of the "old road", the one which the "bad" road replaced. Did my first ever fishing from shore - caught two trigger fishies right off.... and that was just soooo much fun!

Although I didn't take my own camera along, I could not help but grab my friend's camera for a few photos which I'd like to share with you. I hope you enjoy them.

view:

another:

off-road:

on the "bad" road for a bit:

the bushes were smokin':

Sunrise at Bahia Gonzaga, from Alfonsina's, was as good as it gets. Shortly after this shot, the dolphins began jumping and playing close to shore.

later that morning:

Natalie Ann, Thanks for the pictures. You camped along the way?

End of trip was San Felipe, just like the start. Soon I'd be on the bus back to Ensenada.

A big thank you to my friends for taking me on this fantastic outing.
SF sunrise, another view:

Cypress - My friends have a campo on the Cortes several miles south of Puertecitos... stayed there along the way, and also spent a night at Alfonsina's.

My poor old body probably could not have withstood another day of jostling - took several days for me to recover from this trip. But it was just so much fun! Now that I'm healed, I'm ready to do it all over again.

Thanks Natalie Ann. As an "early riser", the sunrise photos are my favorite.

Nat, my wife and I will be making the same drive next week. Thanks for the preview!

I always enjoy your photos, and as usual, they are just great.

Having just returned very recently from staying a couple of days at Alfonsina's, I especially like those. I smiled thinking that at sunrise, you must have been either sitting or very near this.



And it always amazes me the different colors from the same spot that change so quickly.



It is a magical place to sit and enjoy the sunrise.

Thanks for sharing, and I hope you recover quickly from those rough roads.

Diane

Thanks Natalie...
Here's sunrise over Punta Final from Campo Beluga last month...

(note: I edited this post because the 'Thanks Natalie' was not filled in fully and I didn't catch it when posting. I never intentially shortened her name as any form of disrespect... I surely wouldn't even bother with a thank you if I didn't mean it. I am sorry Natalie that you thought I was being rude and my reply in the U2U was the truth as best as I recall that I never shortened your name. Please forgive me, Davey or Dave or David!)

[Edited on 3-27-2007 by David K]

NATALIE ANN...

Very nice photos!! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Sounds like you really had a nice trip. I love that area and it's beautiful scenery!

Miguelamo

Said it before and I say it again, Bahia SL Gonzaga is my favorite piece of heaven on earth! Thanks to all y'all who enjoyed these photos.

Thanks Diane and David for your posted images - I sure enjoy seeing them. At Campo Beluga I had a cerveza at that same spot where your photo was taken, David. And Diane, I too love how both sunrise and sunset change with each day there... and somehow it's always excellent.

Igor - Yes, smoke trees are exactly the right name for those plants! The wash where my smoke bush/tree image was taken is actually south of Matomi, although the plant life is much the same. If you'd like to be there look for Isla Huerfanitos and the pueblo/fish camp of El Huerfanito. Driving through town, we took a right turn at Tano's place, crossed the road, and drove the wash through some really beautiful tierra.... many smoke bushes doing their thing, small wildflowers blooming, dark brown canyon walls deeply sculpted by the wind, and more hummingbirds and dragon flies than ever I've seen in one spot. Seemed like an area you'd enjoy.

How I came to be separated from my camera, Ken, was a personal decision before the trip. When I realized that I'd be carrying that expensive (to me) piece of equipment in an open vehicle and bouncing through sand and water and grit, and that the glove box would be about large enough to hold the extra batteries, I decided to leave that baby in Ensenada. If I'd had my own camera with me, never would we have completed the trip... I'd still be about half-way to Gonzaga saying, "wait, wait... just one more shot".

And friends... please make a mental note that I be a Nena or Natalie or Natalie Ann... but never a "Nat". Muchas gracias.

[Edited on 3-27-2007 by Natalie Ann]

I hope you don't mind me squeezing my smoke tree in here

Natalie,

I had a bear of a time finding that Matomi road leading from the 'highway'. I passed it back and forth several times before finally asking a local to lead me to the junction. Once located (it looked like a driveway) I couldn't believe that this thing I was on was actually going to proceed for the next 15 miles.

What's in a name

Get a GPS amigo for exactly this reason... I have a hard time spotting it too... and there is more than one way to go!

ARROYO MATOMI 30°29.42', 114°39.99' (NAD27)

15 miles? How about 32 miles! It's one of the longest arroyos you can drive in without leaving!

See http://vivabaja.com/618/page4.html



Here's a photo of a blooming smoke tree from last June in Matomi wash... (this photo has not been published before...)

[Edited on 3-27-2007 by David K]

Nena, I don't mean to hijack this thread but has anyone seen this fellow at Alfonsina's recently? They call him "coffee man", he lives, or used to live, at Punta Final. I am curious to know if he is still around.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy Nena, I don't mean to hijack this thread but has anyone seen this fellow at Alfonsina's recently? They call him "coffee man", he lives, or used to live, at Punta Final. I am curious to know if he is still around.