BajaNomad

Real big 4WD convoy - TJ to GN 11.22-

Ken Cooke - 10-28-2008 at 07:27 PM

So far, we're looking at 10 vehicles. Not bad, considering the current downturn. If you want a safe convoy from TJ through San Felipe/Tecate or south Hwy 5, etc., we're heading south on Saturday the 22nd of Nov. and we're traveling towards Tecate/El Hongo (for gas), then to San Felipe for the night.

::Safety in numbers::

David K - 10-29-2008 at 01:16 AM

A new Pemex was U.C. just east of Tecate near where you join the toll highway. If El Hongo is out, then try La Rumorosa... But remamber the Baja 1000 is running the 21 & 22 and all the support and spectator vehicles will likely be draining the Pemex storage tanks since the 1000 passes through La Rumorosa and San Felipe!

Caravans that big may take a half hour to fill up!

Gas is now in the $2.70's per gallon around here, perhaps topping off in El Cajon before entering at Tecate... or going straight to Calexico (fill up there) for a far easier and faster jump on San Felipe to avoid the mobs and gas lines along Hwy. 2 ??? Hope for gas at San Felipe... if not, or too long lines, then Puertecitos, Gonzaga Bay, L.A. Bay have Pemex and no Baja 1000 mobs...

Good luck!!!:yes:

Ken Cooke - 10-29-2008 at 10:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
A new Pemex was U.C. just east of Tecate near where you join the toll highway. If El Hongo is out, then try La Rumorosa... But remamber the Baja 1000 is running the 21 & 22 and all the support and spectator vehicles will likely be draining the Pemex storage tanks since the 1000 passes through La Rumorosa and San Felipe!

Caravans that big may take a half hour to fill up!

Gas is now in the $2.70's per gallon around here, perhaps topping off in El Cajon before entering at Tecate... or going straight to Calexico (fill up there) for a far easier and faster jump on San Felipe to avoid the mobs and gas lines along Hwy. 2 ??? Hope for gas at San Felipe... if not, or too long lines, then Puertecitos, Gonzaga Bay, L.A. Bay have Pemex and no Baja 1000 mobs...


I'm not worried about Baja 1000 mobs. Typically, the group fills up on gas while everyone else finds a place to grab a fast bite of food. El Hongo should be a good bet - if not, the other side of Laguna Salada - El Progreso has gas, and plenty of taco stands across the street (at the intersection).

San Felipe should be no problem - 1/2 hour minimum for large groups, but no big deal, we're topping off our gerry cans, buying beer, soda, wine, etc.

Gonzaga Bay requires visiting with the caretaker, getting him to open up the Pemex for our use, and then, heading to LA Bay for more gas. Once again, keeping our gerry cans topped in case things get thin with regard to gas. Thanks for the advice...

David K - 10-29-2008 at 10:36 PM

Have a fun time Ken!

You did see my posts about using the original road south of L.A. Bay, yes?

Ken Cooke - 10-29-2008 at 10:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Have a fun time Ken!

You did see my posts about using the original road south of L.A. Bay, yes?


Disculpe, David. Pero, no supe nada como un camino al sur de bahia de los Angeles. Dime la direccion pa la info., amigo.

David K - 10-30-2008 at 11:00 AM

Well, it is in the Almanac for visual aid...

Bahia San Rafael (Pancho's) is just off to the right of the map.

I have circled sites I have photos of or mentioned with photos. San Pedro ranch is actually La Bocana. You cannot see it or Los Paredones from the Valle La Bocana road without driving the access roads in.

Tinaja Santa Maria and La Bocana are on the eastern branch of the Camino Real to San Borja from Santa Gertrudis... sometimes called the Gulfo Camino Real. Some of it can be seen on the satellite images in Valle San Pedro.



Here are some GPS directions from various times I have traveled it:

GPS DIRECTIONS: L.A. BAY & SOUTH (Map datum at WGS 84)

From our 7-4-01 Lost Mission Hunt trip:

Casa Diaz, Bahia de los Angeles: N28�56.77' W113�33.55'

Camp Gecko, south of town: N28�54.05' W113�31.73'

Las Flores (jail house): N28�49.10' W113�31.77'

Jcn. with old road south: N28�40.77' W113�25.45' (turn right here)

Arroyo to Las Venecas: N28�39.40' W113�25.86'

Site of Paredones, Jesus' ranch: N28�36.81' W113�24.59'

Road ahead into canyon to La Bocana & San Pedro, turn sharp left (east): N28�28.40' W113�23.47'

<Ken, ignore the next two waypoints and continue straight for San Francisquito>

We turn right, off road here: N28�28.01' W113�20.46'

Tinaja de Santa Maria: N28�26.09' W113�20.02' or at NAD27: GPS is N28�26.07'/ W113�19.99'



The end of the 'road'. This water hole served travelers on the Gulfo Camino between Santa Gertrudis and San Borja. GPS is N28�26.07'/ W113�19.99'. Cerro la Sandia is in the distance. This is the same peak seen south from L.A. Bay.

We hiked a half mile further, but this was not the old mission era site. Santa Maria Magdalena is a bit further east.

=============================================


The end of the old road run (4-03):



This is looking north, the old and new L.A. Bay to San Francisquito
road junction at 28�26.05'/ 113�10.41' (map datum at NAD27 Mexico), south of Bahia San Rafael.


Also see this page: http://vivabaja.com/403/page12.html

[Edited on 10-30-2008 by David K]

David K - 10-30-2008 at 11:30 AM

Wikimapia satellite image of region (you can zoom in and see the road, etc.): Valle la Bocana

Debra - 10-30-2008 at 03:59 PM

Ken, stop by Camp Gecko for a cold one!

Ken Cooke - 10-30-2008 at 05:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
Ken, stop by Camp Gecko for a cold one!


Thanks for the invite. I'll mark this down on our itinerary.

David, Thanks for the great, detailed information. I appreciate it.

David K - 10-30-2008 at 05:41 PM

The pleasure is mine... if you detour through Valle La Bocana, you will be on a REAL Jeep road!


Traveling west from San Rafael to Valle la Bocana in search of a lost mission. This was the road opened by the Gardner party almost 40 years ago.

Ken Cooke - 10-30-2008 at 05:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
The pleasure is mine... if you detour through Valle La Bocana, you will be on a REAL Jeep road!


Traveling west from San Rafael to Valle la Bocana in search of a lost mission. This was the road opened by the Gardner party almost 40 years ago.


That road looks rough! Anything my old Ford could have handled??? :lol:

BAJACAT - 10-30-2008 at 07:05 PM

Ken so whats up with the BajaGrande shirts???

David K - 10-31-2008 at 08:54 AM

Read chapters 11 & 12 of Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Off the Beaten Track in Baja' c1967 where he describes the cross country and ancient road discoveries south of L.A. Bay. Uncle Erle had a new Ford Bronco that made that first trip.

Read chapter 5 of Choral Pepper's 'Baja California: Vanished Missions, Lost Treasures, Strange Stories, True and Tall c1973 where she describes that same Gardner expedition she was in and the strange wall, dam, fort ruins they found south of L.A. Bay that she later researched and concluded they very well could have been the site of a mission that was abandoned before being completed... that is shown on the 1757 Jesuit map as 'Santa Maria Magdalena, started' in that region of Baja.

See the map and photos from Pepper's Desert Magazine at the site: http://vivabaja.com/1757

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2008 at 10:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Ken so whats up with the BajaGrande shirts???


Work has been INSANE lately. I will be working on t-shirts tomorrow and Wednesday - the designs are finished, I'm paying the designer, now I need to locate a silkscreener in my area that does good work. These shirts will be Baja Proven, and they had better hold up.

I am working at getting the vendor for the shirts tomorrow, and hopefully in 2 weeks, I will have product in hand.

David K - 11-3-2008 at 10:14 PM

Ken, we just got back from Guadalupe Canyon and there are now two Pemex stations (Cuali) along the road leaving Tecate towards Mexicali... in the Industrial park area... one on the left next to a Circle K type store and another on the right before the toll road entrance.

You do not need to go to El Hongo, or La Rumorosa for gas now... keep everyone together and get to San Felipe sooner!

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2008 at 10:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Ken, we just got back from Guadalupe Canyon and there are now two Pemex stations (Cuali) along the road leaving Tecate towards Mexicali... in the Industrial park area... one on the left next to a Circle K type store and another on the right before the toll road entrance.

You do not need to go to El Hongo, or La Rumorosa for gas now... keep everyone together and get to San Felipe sooner!


Our plan is to cross in Tijuana for two reasons; 1. Tourist visas w/bank thats actually open. 2. Pick up 'Nomad CG from his house/neighborhood in Soler. Therefore, we will be on the toll road, and getting off the toll road to hunt for a gas station will suck the time up. Just like watching 8 or 10 vehicles gas up, use restroom, grab a bite to eat, etc.

This morning, I was looking at Kacey Smith's Off Road GPS Guidebook, and our routes are getting close to completion. That was a great event you hosted years back, David.

David K - 11-3-2008 at 10:23 PM

Okay Ken, that is news to me... I just remember you saying you were getting gas at El Hongo... I figured you were entering at Tecate, as before.

Fill up in Tijuana and you should get to San Felipe on a tank in the Jeep, right... about 250 miles?

OR... go south to Ensenada then over to San Felipe on Hwy. 3... even better!!

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2008 at 10:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Okay Ken, that is news to me... I just remember you saying you were getting gas at El Hongo... I figured you were entering at Tecate, as before.


When the itinerary changed to us entering Baja Sur, we decided on the Yahoo Groups page to enter through Tijuana instead. Tecate's bank wasn't open on Saturday as we recall, so we changed venues to San Ysidro/Tijuana instead. Better choice since CG will be a ride-along and he lives there in town.

David K - 11-3-2008 at 10:35 PM

Makes perfect sense Ken... The Ensenada-San Felipe highway is sure more casual/ fun/ no toll drive, and with the race using and crossing many parts of it, more fun for you guys!!! Gas at Ensenada then it's only 150 miles to San Felipe!

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2008 at 10:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Makes perfect sense Ken... The Ensenada-San Felipe highway is sure more casual/ fun/ no toll drive, and with the race using and crossing many parts of it, more fun for you guys!!! Gas at Ensenada then it's only 150 miles to San Felipe!


We liked the drive from Tecate to San Felipe. I know the Laguna Salada will be packed with racers as will Hwy 5. But, probably safer than crossing through the hills. We'll definitely be in San Felipe before dusk.

BAJACAT - 11-4-2008 at 08:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Ken so whats up with the BajaGrande shirts???


Work has been INSANE lately. I will be working on t-shirts tomorrow and Wednesday - the designs are finished, I'm paying the designer, now I need to locate a silkscreener in my area that does good work. These shirts will be Baja Proven, and they had better hold up.

I am working at getting the vendor for the shirts tomorrow, and hopefully in 2 weeks, I will have product in hand.
No problem Ken , remember i need a 1 XL and 1 L

Ken Cooke - 11-4-2008 at 08:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Ken so whats up with the BajaGrande shirts???


Work has been INSANE lately. I will be working on t-shirts tomorrow and Wednesday - the designs are finished, I'm paying the designer, now I need to locate a silkscreener in my area that does good work. These shirts will be Baja Proven, and they had better hold up.

I am working at getting the vendor for the shirts tomorrow, and hopefully in 2 weeks, I will have product in hand.
No problem Ken , remember i need a 1 XL and 1 L


I just talked to a t-shirt maker today - the same guy that did the shirts last year. I am ordering 8 XXL t-shirts for some of the bigger guys in the group, and lots of others. I'm expecting my quote tomorrow by phone.

This looks better than your suggestion, David!

Ken Cooke - 12-20-2008 at 05:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K

The end of the 'road'. This water hole served travelers on the Gulfo Camino between Santa Gertrudis and San Borja. GPS is N28�26.07'/ W113�19.99'. Cerro la Sandia is in the distance. This is the same peak seen south from L.A. Bay.

We hiked a half mile further, but this was not the old mission era site. Santa Maria Magdalena is a bit further east.

=============================================


The end of the old road run (4-03):



This is looking north, the old and new L.A. Bay to San Francisquito
road junction at 28�26.05'/ 113�10.41' (map datum at NAD27 Mexico), south of Bahia San Rafael.


Also see this page: http://vivabaja.com/403/page12.html



David,

This looks like my kind of trail. Does this route go through? Or, does it deadend??? :?:

David K - 12-21-2008 at 09:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Quote:
Originally posted by David K

The end of the 'road'. This water hole served travelers on the Gulfo Camino between Santa Gertrudis and San Borja. GPS is N28�26.07'/ W113�19.99'. Cerro la Sandia is in the distance. This is the same peak seen south from L.A. Bay.

We hiked a half mile further, but this was not the old mission era site. Santa Maria Magdalena is a bit further east.

=============================================


The end of the old road run (4-03):



This is looking north, the old and new L.A. Bay to San Francisquito
road junction at 28�26.05'/ 113�10.41' (map datum at NAD27 Mexico), south of Bahia San Rafael.


Also see this page: http://vivabaja.com/403/page12.html



David,

This looks like my kind of trail. Does this route go through? Or, does it deadend??? :?:


What looks better... there's two photos here? This was posted to show you a good Jeep road south of L.A. Bay, shown in the map in this thread... What do you have in mind?

Lots o' Rocks!

Ken Cooke - 12-21-2008 at 11:25 PM



I don't know if this route is passable, but it certainly looks interesting in order to reach the mission. Just a thought, but I don't know if it would be possible...What do you think?