David K - 4-22-2004 at 04:21 PM
From the Neal Johns Library... Photo taken west of San Agustin.
[Edited on 4-24-2004 by David K]
Mexitron - 4-22-2004 at 07:30 PM
Very Cool David!
David K - 4-22-2004 at 07:49 PM
Thanks Mexitron. I have my own photos of the highway U.C. when my folks and I went to Loreto in July, 1973. We had heard the pavement was nearly
completed, so we used my dad's new '73 Ford LTD wagon (not a 4WD)!
Pavement ended at the Mision San Fernando turn off, graded new road bed ended near Agua Dulce (Km. 157 today) and we were detoured to the old main
(Baja 1000) road all the way past Santa Ynez (no Catavina existed) to the Chapala valley, where we met the road crews and new roadbed coming north.
Sections of pavement began near Punta Prieta with solid pavement begining near the El Tomatal/ Miller's Landing area. There was no Eagle Monument,
hotel or traffic circle near Guerrero Negro at the 28? line... They sure changed that in the following 4 months!
Mexitron - 4-22-2004 at 09:46 PM
Must have been interesting back then.....I didn't actually drive to Baja until 1978--My first two trips in 1975 and 1976 were flying into Gonzaga with
my friends the Grindles. I will never forget that first trip--I was hooked!! I knew I had to get back, so finally in 1978 I had a truck and I've been
going ever since. But what a great experience to see Baja before the road was done!
David K - 4-23-2004 at 07:49 AM
Yes it was great... Our first trip the length of the peninsula was in 1966, in a Jeep Wagoneer. Pavement ended north of Colonet and didn't start again
until 100 miles north of La Paz. It was only paved for 10 miles south of La Paz with grading ending between San Bartolo and Los Barriles. Can you
picture coming to Cabo San Lucas (a fish cannery village) on an unimproved dirt road?
Funny that Gonzaga Bay was also my first Baja destination! (1965)
I have posted my recollections of the old days on the Amigos board (Bajanet.com), perhaps I shall repeat that here?
[Edited on 5-19-2013 by David K]
Chapala-1 (of 4)
David K - 4-23-2004 at 05:40 PM
My dad had me go up on the elevated new highway levee, and he wanted to show his LTD wagon in Baja's dreaded Chapala dust bowl. The new roadbed was
closed here because of unfinsihed bridge work...
[Edited on 4-24-2004 by David K]
Chapala-2 July 1, 1973
David K - 4-23-2004 at 05:49 PM
Finally up on the new highway roadbed, looking back north.
Chapala-3
David K - 4-23-2004 at 05:55 PM
El Portezuelo (the pass exiting Chapala) has such a great view to the south. Here's my mom and new highway construction...
Chapala-4 (of 4)
David K - 4-23-2004 at 06:05 PM
Success! We made it out... 15 1/2 year old David K (wearing a Dick Cepek Baja Proven T- Shirt) congratulates his dad...
[Edited on 4-24-2004 by David K]
Mexitron - 4-23-2004 at 07:13 PM
Too classic---in an LTD no less!!! b-tchen!
Bob H - 4-26-2004 at 10:48 AM
David, that was great! 
David K - 4-26-2004 at 11:14 PM
Thanks Bob... I really hope there are others out in cyberspace that also experienced Baja as I did (before the pavement stole Baja's virginity), and
will share memories and photos.
One of the great Amigos de Baja was Lorenzo de Baja (LdB) and at my first Viva Baja party, he showed some of his great home movies from1963 or
there-abouts showing him on a Honda 90 climbing the Aguajito grade (the hills beyond El Rosario) and in other parts of Central Baja... If you got
pre-pavement Baja photos, please shre them!
Mike Humfreville has a great story about his first Baja trip in the 60's...
[Edited on 4-27-2004 by David K]