BajaNomad

road from Puertecitos

captgorn - 9-14-2008 at 10:14 AM

I want to take the road south from San Feilpe all the way to Mx 1 and then to Mulege. They were going to work on the road I wonder does anyone know if you can take a class C and a tow car that way ?

[Edited on 9-14-2008 by captgorn]

road south of Puertecitos

captgorn - 9-14-2008 at 10:19 AM

I want to drive from Puertecitos south to Mx 1 and then to Mulege. Does anyone know if you can take a Class c with a tow? We will leaving in Jan.

[Edited on 9-14-2008 by captgorn]

bent-rim - 9-14-2008 at 10:58 AM

It would be an adventure. I wouldn't recommend it.

DianaT - 9-14-2008 at 11:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bent-rim
It would be an adventure. I wouldn't recommend it.


Agreed. Rocky and slow to Bahia de Gonzaga and often a lot of washboard from there out to Highway 1.

It is a beautiful drive, however.

Diane

Oso - 9-14-2008 at 12:26 PM

I've been over it a few times in 2 different 4wd trucks and haven't made it yet without SOMETHING going wrong; flats, things vibrating loose, lost a camper shell... It's a beautiful drive taken very slowly. But a moho with a tow? I wouldn't. Very rocky (sharp rocks) Puertecitos to Gonzaga, then soft sand and/or washboard to Coco's, then washboard and rocks to Mex 1.

BajaWarrior - 9-14-2008 at 01:36 PM

You don't want to do that route with the rig you speak of, you wont have anything left on the frame of the MoHo but the seats and the steering wheel.

The road is rougher than ever, and the new road south of Puertocitis is only paved one mile or so.

I take it you want to visit Gonzaga as part of your trip?

EDIT: Ah hah, I now see a double posting here...

[Edited on 9-14-2008 by BajaWarrior]

David K - 9-14-2008 at 03:21 PM

Please see either my trip report of 2 weeks ago here on Nomad Baja Trip Reports Forum ... also the web page for the trip... In short, no, not until it is paved or regraded... The new pavement ends only 2 miles from Puertecitos and the older road is as rocky and bad as ever... 3 hours to Gonzaga in a light truck... http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum2/908/page6.html

[Edited on 9-14-2008 by David K]

David K - 9-14-2008 at 03:25 PM

See my reply to your same question on the Nomad Road Conditions Forum, I was on it 2 weeks ago...

Ken Cooke - 9-14-2008 at 03:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
See my reply to your same question on the Nomad Road Conditions Forum, I was on it 2 weeks ago...


David, you're going to wear that truck out! :!:

larry - 9-14-2008 at 04:52 PM

My favorite road anywhere--and the worst road I have ever been on. Did it in a Dodge Grand Caravan and just barely made it with a temp spare to replace a flat. And in a Suburban--very slowly.

David K - 9-14-2008 at 05:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
See my reply to your same question on the Nomad Road Conditions Forum, I was on it 2 weeks ago...


David, you're going to wear that truck out! :!:


NO WAY... It's a TOYOTA! :light:

bajamikey - 9-14-2008 at 05:33 PM

i love that road,slow down air down grab a cold pacifico,more dirt less blacktop, baja is not ment to be easy it is a adventure......next week will be my 3rd round trip on this road this year. arizona to el juncalito and back

David K - 9-14-2008 at 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajamikey
i love that road,slow down air down grab a cold pacifico,more dirt less blacktop, baja is not ment to be easy it is a adventure......next week will be my 3rd round trip on this road this year. arizona to el juncalito and back


It is special for sure!






Ken Cooke - 9-14-2008 at 05:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajamikey
i love that road,slow down air down grab a cold pacifico,more dirt less blacktop, baja is not ment to be easy it is a adventure......


Please save the booze for camp. DUI's in Baja are not fun - Rubicon's do make excellent rescue vehicles, though...

bajamikey - 9-14-2008 at 06:15 PM

your right ken....but from puertecitos to gonzaga i think were ok. i'v seen the pictures of your rubicon(nice) i do this trip in my f-250 4x4 diesel.(rubicon's yeah as does my 2000 tj it's not stock)

Pappy Jon - 9-15-2008 at 10:51 AM

Great road. My favorite scenic road. Only road my Toyota has ever had an issue with. Fractured a wire coming off the battery last year. Dead truck. Glad I was able to fix it. You should see my shocks. The shafts are blue from the heat going over the washboard.

I wouldn't drag a rake over that road let alone a trailer.

[Edited on 9-15-2008 by Pappy Jon]

Packoderm - 9-15-2008 at 07:11 PM

It would be hard to imagine getting a DUI for simply driving from Puertecitos to Gonzaga while drinking a few beers. I've done the road in my VW bus driving 30-35 pretty much the whole way with no problems, but it sounds like the road is rougher now. It seems that our whole camping dynamic has changed now that we bring our dirt bikes with us, and the bus now stays home. I'd like to talk my son into leaving the bikes at home, so we can do another Gonzaga trip.

I love this road

BAJACAT - 9-15-2008 at 09:38 PM

I almost melted the shocks in my RAM, but irt was worth it...

Gonzaga bay trip Memorial Day 5-07 084.JPG - 50kB

ROAD HAZARDS

BAJACAT - 9-15-2008 at 09:40 PM

i THINK I NEED A SPOTTER

Gonzaga bay trip Memorial Day 5-07 072.JPG - 46kB

David K - 9-16-2008 at 08:29 AM

The road was fast BEFORE Nov. 2005 for a short while after they regraded it. We drove it in July of '05 and it was a breeze (less than 1.5 hrs.)... the same trip over it in Nov. '05 took 3 hours!

Then in late 2005 were some flash floods and the Baja 1000, both blamed for the loss of the smooth coat of dirt that covered the sharp rocky bed of the road.

It was never repaired since...

thebajarunner - 9-16-2008 at 08:58 AM

In the 70's that road defined all that was rugged about Baja driving,
last time I went over it the grades had been changed and it was a mere memory of the definitive Baja rough road.

The races almost always went over those grades, and when someone broke down on a grade it got real dicey to clear the road.

Generally, when enough guys stacked up behind the "broke-down" got sent over the side.....
not a pretty sight, but what else could you do.

baitcast - 9-16-2008 at 12:05 PM

:lol: How about the early 60,s,never forget the first trip when we got into the grades my wife wanted to get and walk when she saw the crosses,she asked "what are those for" and I answered "don,t know dear":lol: but what freaked her out most was the wrecks at the bottom of the canyon on the last hill.
Ah yes those were the days:lol:
Rob

Cypress - 9-16-2008 at 03:28 PM

Go for it! Don't get in a hurry.:D Take your time. Don't get in a hurry.:DEnjoy the ride.:D

David K - 9-16-2008 at 04:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baitcast
:lol: How about the early 60,s,never forget the first trip when we got into the grades my wife wanted to get and walk when she saw the crosses,she asked "what are those for" and I answered "don,t know dear":lol: but what freaked her out most was the wrecks at the bottom of the canyon on the last hill.
Ah yes those were the days:lol:
Rob


Getting to Gonzaga Bay was the prize!

desertmag 005.jpg - 42kB

baitcast - 9-16-2008 at 06:22 PM

Dave that IS a old pic,I used to walk out on punta willard,thats the point lower left and get some of the nicest fish,didn,t have anything that floated,think of that often,I miss it.Rob

David K - 9-17-2008 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by baitcast
Dave that IS a old pic,I used to walk out on punta willard,thats the point lower left and get some of the nicest fish,didn,t have anything that floated,think of that often,I miss it.Rob


Yes, about 50 years old, from Desert Magazine...

Natalie Ann has the greatest modern Gonzaga from above photos! My web site home page is a photo of Gonzaga Bay taken from the trail up the island from Alfonsina's sand spit, 1986: http://vivabaja.com

nomad 034.jpg - 48kB