BajaNomad - Gonzaga Bay Fence

Gonzaga Bay Fence

TMW - 6-5-2008 at 07:25 AM

While in Gonzaga Bay last weekend we drove down the south side of the runway thinking we'd turn north at the end and go to Alfonsina's. Much to our surprise there was a fence and the gate was pad locked closed. Anyone know why? The fence and gate are new to me, it's been a couple of years since I've been to Alfonsina's. We turned around and went back out to the road and came back down on the north side of the runway. Had great fish tacos at Alfonsina's for lunch.

David K - 6-5-2008 at 07:58 AM

Sounds like there is a 'closed border' between the Rancho Grande property and Alfonsina's on the beach end of the Rancho Grande east/west runway?

Does the fence extend out into the beach?

Perhaps too many were driving on the east end of the runway trying to get to Alfonsina's for the great food?

The squarecircle enjoying garlic shrimp at Alfonsina's after the Baja 1000 in '06.

Bwana_John - 6-5-2008 at 08:08 AM

There are new fences all over the GB area.

Getting ready for the paved road :no:

TMW - 6-5-2008 at 02:49 PM

The end of the runway is where the gate is and the fence runs another maybe 100 yards to the beach. There is another N/S runway or maybe taxi way but high tide covers a lot of it with water. There were no planes behind the homes on the Alfonsina's side and a plane isn't going thru the gate. It appears someone doesn't want someone to land their plane then taxi to their home on the Alfonsina's side.

mtgoat666 - 6-5-2008 at 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
While in Gonzaga Bay last weekend we drove down the south side of the runway thinking we'd turn north at the end and go to Alfonsina's. Much to our surprise there was a fence and the gate was pad locked closed. Anyone know why?

fences go up, fences come down.
when opportunity is in the air, most land title in mexico is a mess

DianaT - 6-5-2008 at 06:48 PM

Every time we meet one of the "homeowners", we ask if they are concerned about the paving of the road since they are on one year leases--

Their answer is that it just won't happen until far, far in the future if ever. Wonder if they are correct, or just in denial.

Diane

Bob H - 6-5-2008 at 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter
Every time we meet one of the "homeowners", we ask if they are concerned about the paving of the road since they are on one year leases--

Their answer is that it just won't happen until far, far in the future if ever. Wonder if they are correct, or just in denial.

Diane

I think they are in denial, for sure. It's going to happen - it's funded and they've already started.... two years and it will be done.

Check out this thread
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=29666#pid2968...
Bob H

[Edited on 6-6-2008 by Bob H]

David K - 6-5-2008 at 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H

Quote:

While it looks to be happening, this new road was first bulldozed in 1986 and that was after it was surveyed in 1974... They have been waiting since '74 for a new highway and they got only a dirt one 12 years later... which has been pretty under maintained... specially since late '05. So, more than 22 years from building the new roadbed to actually asphalting it, as promissed!?!

You would have loved the original road (pre-'86) that was pretty much impassable south from Puertecitos... Everything for Gonzaga came in from Hwy. 1 after Dec. '73.

scan0003r.JPG - 40kB

BajaWarrior - 6-5-2008 at 09:22 PM

So how far south is it now?

David K - 6-5-2008 at 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior
So how far south is it now?

I hope TW sees this in the morning...

(last reported was they just built the detour around the west side of Puertecitos)

DianaT - 6-5-2008 at 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

While it looks to be happening, this new road was first bulldozed in 1986 and that was after it was surveyed in 1974... They have been waiting since '74 for a new highway and they got only a dirt one 12 years later... which has been pretty under maintained... specially since late '05. So, more than 22 years from building the new roadbed to actually asphalting it, as promissed!?!

You would have loved the original road (pre-'86) that was pretty much impassable south from Puertecitos... Everything for Gonzaga came in from Hwy. 1 after Dec. '73.

With a college graduate class, John did the loop to Chapala out to Gonzaga and then north to San Felipe. It was about 1970 when the new Highway 1 road bed ended at El Rosario.

They had an old International that he drove part of the time and the road from Gonzaga to Puertocitos was not that bad--not as good as the "new"road, but very passable. In the late 80s when he took me there for the first time, he was disappointed that they had built the "new"road, but learned to like it. Too bad his ex-wife has the pictures. :lol:

We think the "new"road is great---I have even driven it from Gonzaga to Puertecitos a couple of times recently and I am a wuss---but I guess it is all about what one expects. We really like that road.

The think the people are in denial, but if I owned one of those places with a year to year lease I might want to stay in denial also. We thought the opening of the Pemex was a real message.

It will be interesting to follow what happens and to hear more information as to the whys of the fences.

Diane

TMW - 6-6-2008 at 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior
So how far south is it now?

There is no paving south of Puertecitos, other than the bypass. The bypass is sort of done. I'm not sure if you can use it yet or not. Coming up from the south it appears you could get on it but there was a couple of cones to one side so we kept going on the graded road but had to pass a couple of dump trucks being loaded. At that point I thought maybe we should have got on the paved road, there was nothing saying not to. The road crew is continuing to move rock etc south of the new paved section, so little by little the road will be paved to Gonzaga Bay and out to hwy 1. It may take 10 or 20 years to complete. I think 2-3 years is very optimistic and probably not doable, at least with the crew they have now.

bufeo - 6-6-2008 at 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
.... The road crew is continuing to move rock etc south of the new paved section, so little by little the road will be paved to Gonzaga Bay and out to hwy 1. It may take 10 or 20 years to complete. I think 2-3 years is very optimistic and probably not doable, at least with the crew they have now.

I quite agree. This paving project does not have the same importance that the Transpeninsula Highway did in the '70s. The natural obstacles are also quite formidable.

We sold our house in Pta Bufeo last month, but not owing to any concern about paved roads, stolen planes, or spoiled beer. We just want to travel to other parts of the world. We've had nine wonderful years en la playa, but are looking for new venues.

As far as the fence goes, that may have something to do with the whims of the authorities. Runways are supposed to be fenced off from the casual vehicle and restricted to aircraft only, but this rule seems to be enforced rather arbitrarily. When the runway (now closed) was in use at PB (continual 'temporary permits') I remember Tio laboriously constructing the ocotillo fence in order to be in compliance. Gone were the days of tying-down your aircraft at your casita.

Then, again, as mentioned in a prior post, the fence may have something to do with the rivalry between Alfonsina's and Rancho Grande.

¿Quién sabe?

capt. mike - 6-6-2008 at 09:52 AM

hey Allen - good luck on new adventures. sorry i never made it down while you were there.
i let my place go too after 6 + years, you just get bored going to the same place all the time.
it's gonna be big fun searching for that next shack away from the shack. :lol:

for me San Carlos is in the lead, big time.

TMW - 6-6-2008 at 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bufeo

We sold our house in Pta Bufeo last month, but not owing to any concern about paved roads, stolen planes, or spoiled beer. We just want to travel to other parts of the world. We've had nine wonderful years en la playa, but are looking for new venues.

¿Quién sabe?

Good luck on your new travels, enjoy the world. It's always fun to meet new people and customs.

bufeo - 6-6-2008 at 01:41 PM

Thanks Mike and TW.

I certainly didn't mean to divert the subject of this thread. We still plan to make frequent trips south of the border—just not to one destination.

Allen R

Roberto - 6-6-2008 at 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
The bypass is sort of done. I'm not sure if you can use it yet or not.

Not sure if you're supposed to use it, but Memorial Day weekend I did, south-to-north. It's about 6K. Following the Mexican priority scheme, all the signs are already up in that stretch :lol:

There is a lot of heavy equipment and grading going on and it appears that for another stretch after the bypass, the new road will not follow the current one.