bajarickster - 11-4-2007 at 06:46 AM
I saw yesterday in Baja Insider that Pemex has reopened a single pump at the Desert Inn in Catavina and taken the black market guy out of biz. Anyone
confirm?
David K - 11-4-2007 at 09:02 AM
The 'black market guy' is as nice person who provides a service when needed (like most the time the Pemex pump is closed)... His name is Alfonso and
he is not the only one.. a few hundred meters before his spot some lady was also selling gas out of cans... This was last July. They drive 152 miles
to have gas there for only about a buck a gallon profit... and you get an honest 5 gallons since it comes from 5 gallon cans.
Cataviņa is only 76 miles from El Rosario, so if you fill up there you will make it to the next Pemex at L.A. Bay or Jesus Maria, unless you get under
200 miles per tank... Even if someone says the Pemex pump is running again, when YOU finally arrive, it may well not be. This is part of the Baja
adventure... never quite knowing what you'll find! Learn to enjoy that part, and your trip will be more of an adventure and make for some good story
telling in the years to come... A trip without incident can be boring!
Fred - 11-4-2007 at 09:24 AM
Great points David
Paulina - 11-4-2007 at 09:33 AM
I remember when the hotel pump was working, and when it ran "empty" at a certain time of the day. Travelers were warned not to go any further, as
there weren't any reliable fuel sources until G.N.
They were encouraged to stay the night at the hotel...then magically there was gas again in the morning....I bet it did wonders for their business.
P<*)))><
fishbuck - 11-4-2007 at 11:28 AM
Was there last Tues and the Catavina pump was inop. I even stopped on the fuel island so I could look under my truck for a clunking noise (broken
shock).
Get your fuel at El Rosario. And then again at G. Negeo.
The Pemex at Vizcano had a parking lot full of hustlers trying to squeeze you for pasos so I'd skip it if I could.
You'll need a vehicle with at least 300 miles range to play it safe.
Was there yesterday..super NADA- no signs in sight of service except the "5 gallon can guys"
CasaManzana - 11-4-2007 at 09:40 PM
The pumps were totally in un-repair with no signs in sight of operation.
4baja - 11-5-2007 at 07:43 AM
the hotel pump has a very small tank so even if they filled it up it would empty quickly. will be there friday and check it out.