NOMAD RANCHO MATOMI TRAIL RIDE 08

Nomads filtered in through the afternoon on Saturday to our meeting place and BBQ location. Baja Leti and I found the Baja Warrior house after some asking around and an un-eventful drive down about 1:30PM. We met our hosts and other Nomads, unloaded GSB from the trailer and headed for the dirt. I wanted to scout the trail before dark to check conditions. Got to the bottom of Azufre wash at 4PM and to the fence line at Valle Chico road in a little under an hour in 2WD. The wash was nice and damp from recent rains, everything was green, traction was great. Had a couple beers and watched the sun set, put up the new HID light bar and headed back. The new lights were great and my preliminary aiming only required 1 light to be adjusted down a little. Back to PH as the first steaks were going on the grills and some were starting to worry.

Baja Warriors, Chuck and Chris Cherry agreed to host the over night crew and a BBQ potluck at their beautiful beach house and compound at Playa Hermosa south of San Felipe. The food was awesome, 2 grills going, garlic shrimp, salads, dips, 2 huge pies and plenty of beverages. What a night and our thanks to such great and generous hosts.

Neal Johns and TacoFeliz, Jay and Sylvia popped up their campers, but the rest of us all had beds to sleep on. Such undeserved luxury!

We couldn't have asked for a nicer day, better group of Nomads and friends or better hosts and location for our 08' Matomi trail ride.

Up early for coffee and meet with other folks at trail head on H5 at KM 32

SOC sunrise

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

The Nomads and friends:
BajaWarrior (Chuck & Chris Cherry, Geoff Palomino & Tyson the pooch)
Gadget & BajaLeti (Will & Leslie Mitchell)
Squarecircle (Roy Hall & Blanche Hurley)
BajaCat (Jose, Luz, Jawelly, Jorge Ruiz)
FineDoubleRacing (Alex Waters)
Rob Huggins
BajaJac (Jac Jacqmin)
Jerry Hewett
BajaLou (Lou Wells)
Neal Johns
Jerry Abbott
John Curts
TacoFeliz (Jay & Sylvia Lawrence)
Henry & Joan Schroeder
Bruce & Bette Logan
Don Heller
Dave and Joan Minney
BajaRob
Steekerz (Doc Bennett) and friend Jim

If I missed any of you, sorry, you were probably off hikeing at the Ranch when I went around for names.

14 vehicles
3 bikes
5 quads

Our wonderful hosts

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

The Crew less BajaLou and his possy.
Talk about a varried collection of rigs, we had it.



[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

BajaWarrior tightened up some loose lugs on his Yota and we hit Azufre wash.
Perfect day, mid 60s, light breeze, no dust, plants sprouting and blooming...perfect Baja

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

We were in contact with BajaLou on the radio coming down from Morelia junction with his crew of 4 rigs while we were about 2/3 up Azufre. Plan was to meet them at Agua Caliente but he informed us that road was washed out and Eduardo was denying us access to the hot springs. We would meet at the top of the fence line.

Out the top of Azufre looking at the fence line.

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

Fence line to Matomi desert views. A photo op around every bend.

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

All 14 rigs, the motos were in the wash below us.
Dropping into Matomi... Baja rush hour???

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

Had our 1st & 2nd tire issues, BajaCat going to ranch and me coming out.
Lunch and BS at ranch untill about 1PM and headed for Matomi wash.

Rancho Matomi pools

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

Baja desert beauty

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

Matomi Feb 08
Joining the group heading up the Matomi from El Dorado was Jim, (Nomad "Meme"s husband), Henry & Joan, Bruce and Betty, and BajalLou. Hit Zoo road about 730.

After taking to Gadget on the radio, I talked to the people at rancho at mouth of Canon Agua Caliente and got a "No Go" from them about the hot springs. They said recent rains had again washed out the road.

Met up with main group at Azufre fence and Valle Chico road and after a little break and introductions we all head south to the Matomi. Several miles of race whoops kept our speed down. Jim tole me "Boy this road is sure longer in the Jeep Cherokee than it is in my Rail". I had to agree about that. Lots of great scenery - cholla bright in the sun - just great.



Started to drop into the wash and stopped for a photo op.



Headed up the trail to the ranch. Slow going with mostly stock vehicles and a flat or two slowed things but arrived at 12 noon to explore and enjoy our lunches.

Met up with the quad and moto guys as shared Baja tales. Walked around a bit and saw there is water in the pool just below the ranch.




1pm and time to head out. A few more flats and a rest stop or so and we hit

Hghy 5 just after sundown. Suzuki had a locked transfer case, so got "On the Hook" for the last few miles to his place in Santa Maria. Back home about 7pm.

Gadget is a great trailboss, keeping everything together.

Between the great BBQ at Baja Warrier's Sat evening and the Sun trip I met several nomads that I hadn't met before. Gadget, BajaCat, Neal Johns, Taco Feliz, BajaWarrier. And it was great to see skeeters, BajaRob, SquareCircle again.

And yes, every year doesn't sound to often to me.

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by bajalou]

As for the crew at BWs place, everyone took off for the most part.
Neal Johns and TacoFeliz left south for Gonzaga from Matomi.
BajaCat drove home??
Steekerz headed north I think.
Will, Leslie, Roy and Blanche went into town to Rositas for dinner. Riguerberto, Ricardos brother, Rice and Beans of San Ignacio must have lost a cook on a Sunday night. Food and service have always been good but it wasn't this night.
Didn't get back to house untill 10PM after a long day. Bed felt very good.

No camping at NM

[Edited on 2-20-2008 by Gadget]

Thanks Will for starting the trip report.Like He saids we had a Blast,meet alot of Nomads,good Host,and good people.I really enjoy the trip,it was a little long for my Family but the handle it well.We have to have this again next year,this time with two spares




Pix, of Will(Gadget) our fearless leader, heading up Azufre

Thanks to Chuck & Chris for hosting this event.

Early morning Sunday the trop is getting ready,this are Neal's &Tacofeliz's rigs.

Sunrise at Bahia Santa Maria

Nice desert views going down Azufre.

so much to see wow

Me and our great host chuck.Im the mexican looking one

Nomads to the rescue,Roy (The squarecircle), is helping me to put new shoes.

Rancho Matomi
No cowboys this time the place was deserted

Coming down Matomi wash was a well treat for a long ride,beautifull bolders,and rock formations every where.
it's about 30 miles +/- from Matomi down the wash to Mex 5,soft sand all the way.

this will me my last picture to many to post I took over 100 of them.This will give other nomads to post their pictures too.

Thanks to all the people that participated on this event,and like Will said,"WE SHOULD DO THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR".
Thanks to our host's Chuck&Chris,and son Jeff.
Thanks to Gadget our Trail Boss,he did a great job and also help me with putting this together.
Untill the next one Nomads see ya in BAJA

The "we" in TacoFeliz's post included Neal Johns and Dixie Dog Johns. Ditto on Chuck's hospitality and all the hard work the ladies did in preparing the feast.

Speaking of ladies, I just could not resist acquiring a couple of new WiW's. One of them (who shall remain nameless) really screwed me up. She screamed "He said I'm really Number One!" This no doubt, will come back to haunt me.

Gadget let us to the promised land and back without a single wrong turn. I did learn not to trust a Pre-Runner's slow pace, however. My poor old Tilt'n Hilton Pop-Top is still hobby horsing over the whoopties in my dreams. On our way south, we split off and Jay (TacoFeliz) led. Did he slow down?; Noooo! He was infected by Gadget's disease.

Gadget's Fast Bronco 'GSB'

Here Baja Angel is getting strapped in for a ride in GSB... from last July's trip, then they go flying:

GSB

Gadget's "GSB"

BIG>RED

[Edited on 2-24-2008 by BAJACAT]

Waiting to see the rest of your guys photos!

Ruffing it in Baja o yeah,Thanks to Bajawarrior & Chris

BAJA LOVERS

"NOMADS enjoying a great day"

SQUARECIRCLE dropping down into MATOMI wash..

WHAT,I skru op hagain.
Thanks Dk for letting me know.
I hope you can make it for next year.

Ouch, David. That hurt!

Our group was made up of any vehicle-owner of any make/model that wanted to attend Baja Grande. We had Toyotas and Jeeps on this trip. Just a few Rubicons as well.

Also, our group was supposed to have a guide to help lead us to the trouble spots. As the group leader, I couldn't find our way across to the road, because we didn't know what or where exactly we were going. Not to dwell or anything, we were doing what we could given the circumstances, and our main objective was to enjoy ourselves in the outdoors, away from work for one week.

A few Toyotas were also on our 1 week tour...



Nicolas in his Toyota trying to locate the route, but to no avail:

Ken

You need some navigation equipment in your vehicle so you always know where you are




Topo map with pointer at current location (it moves as the vehicle does)

Or could use Satellite photos

[Edited on 5-26-2008 by bajalou]

Nav equipment is nice but not necessary because...

"All roads in Baja lead to where you're going".

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou Ken You need some navigation equipment in your vehicle so you always know where you are Or could use Satellite photos

I know somebody real sheap.just in case

No you didn't understand, I was thinking of a easy way to come back to the states(coyote),it was supposed to be funny but you didn't get.

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT No you didn't understand, I was thinking of a easy way to come back to the states(coyote),it was supposed to be funny but you didn't get.

Cool

Thanks, I am going to try to make this one if possible. JH

Yah, I hate it when that happens! LOL

The new Matomi Canyon

Here is that same narrow, from the other side, in June, 2006:

The oasis swimming pool in 2006... just s trickle instead of the usual waterfall into the pool...

(this is behind/ north of the ranch house reached by a short/ steep hike down)

RANCHO MATOMI 30°27.40', -115°04.82'

The Matomi ranch house ... was abandoned or seasonally occupied...




(note that the GPS waypoint is at map datum NAD27 Mexico)



[Edited on 12-29-2012 by David K]

We can always drive just south of Matomi arroyo, avoid the landslide, and visit the natural arch shown to be on a photo from Baja Lou...

Bajacat, when planning this year, can you give some info for a newbie to the ride, I am planning to make this one and could use some help with my planning. I am thinking about bringing my toyhauler and side by side, just wondering about the closest place to dry camp when you pick the starting point. Also, any food or cooking equipment that might be helpful for a big feed, as I am sure many of us would like to contribute or provide and I am sure I will have more questions as we progress. JH

This year's PRESIDENTS DAY NOMAD TRAIL RIDE,will not be start it by me,this year do to family matters will not be able to make.In the other hand on the past years that we had held this event, only a handfull of nomas attended the rides,last year trip 95% of the riders where from the south campos and San felipe area,you could count the nomads with one hand...so if some one wants to take over you are welcome,remember this event was started by David K I belived back in 2004.I will thank all the people that help me in the past with this..Chuck(BajaWarrior), the late (BajaLou), Hook, BajaRob, just to mention a few..so as today on my behalve I pass the torch to the next person.Thanks for the memories..

JOSE RUIZ

Last Saturday in Joshua Tree

I don't think we can make the run in February, but we can probably make a run in March or (better yet) November and check out the rocks!!

Would I make it???

Driving up the backside of a Toyota Supra Turbo on concrete blocks

Gettin' things done!