BajaNomad

Baja Grande 2008: San Francisquito

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 01:41 PM

Puerto San Francisquito (fran-sis-key-toe):

We were greeted with a recently graded dirt road all the way past Coco's Corner (which was closed due to Coco's recuperation in Ensenada) [Photo: Coco at 2008 Baja 1000] We continued on to the Laguna Chapala intersection with Hwy 1. There, we aired up and headed into LA Bay. In LA Bay, we stopped for a quick bite while Russ and Ron went to the local Internet cafe to check their mail. At 4 p.m., we were gearing up for our 3+ hr. drive into the desert backcountry south of town. With KC Daylighters and Hella FF50s, I was able to lead the pack with a decent handle on the road ahead. The darkness fell on us while we were in the middle of the desert, climbing high altitudes near the coast, and navigating near farmland with grazing cattle all around us. This was indeed a long day on the trail, but we chose to see something new in '08, and new we encountered.
At Punta San Francisquito, we stayed at the local campground located on the beach. Several Mexican families tended to this campo which ordinarily hosts Motocross riders from around the world. We had to set up our campsites in the darkness, but no problem when you get to sleep in the next morning.
The next day, everyone decided to go out for a little exploring. Above the airstrip was a recent addition - a $6 Million dollar airplane which had to crash land and overshot the runway. After looking over the wreckage, but leaving everything intact, we headed south to El Barril (Baa-reel). There, we saw what appeared to be more of the same. Beach, rocks on beach, sand, blue skies, and surf. We headed back to San Francisquito and decided to fix dinner early - before dusk. In camp, we celebrated with a 8 pack of Modelo Light, and plenty of Baja Grande happiness. The next morning would be a long, difficult drive to Cataviņa in the pouring rain, so off to sleep for the Baja Grande crew.

$6 Million Dollar hulk of junk!

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 01:44 PM






Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 01:46 PM

Kell-Baja - 11-30-2008 at 01:52 PM

gREAT PICS

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 02:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kell-Baja
gREAT PICS


Thanks for the compliment! :light:

David K - 11-30-2008 at 04:09 PM

I see the Campo San Rafael sign in your photo... no comments? Did you pay a visit to Pancho?

Thanks for the photos!

[Edited on 11-30-2008 by David K]

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 05:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I see the Campo San Rafael sign in your photo... no comments? Did you pay a visit to Pancho?


No visit for Pancho. We arrived after dark in San Francisquito, and did not have time to make visits on our way.

capt. mike - 11-30-2008 at 06:00 PM

Ken - excellent!!
wish i could have dropped in - next year i hope!

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2008 at 07:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
Ken - excellent!!
wish i could have dropped in - next year i hope!


This was an interesting section of the trip, but the driving became a grind. I'll look at not traveling south of LA Bay next year because I really didn't like traveling at night.

David K - 11-30-2008 at 10:54 PM

You missed some good country by not sleeping at L.A. Bay and driving at day on the OLD road south of L.A. Bay... A good 4WD track through forests of the largest cactus trees on earth (giant cardon of La Bocana Valley)... You can only do so much at a time... The mostly dull drive from El Arco to Guerrero Negro than back north towards Punta Prieta could be dropped in favor of some great desert runs and a Mision San Borja side trip heading north from Bahia de L.A.

In one day drive south to San Francisquito or just to the new road via the OLD ROAD, and back north on the fast graded road passing by Pancho's or staying there the night. The next day go to Santa Ynez via San Borja/ Nuevo Rosarito/ Punta Prieta.

Just a thought or two, considering you are a JEEP CLUB, and not a pavement club.

Ken Cooke - 12-1-2008 at 07:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
You missed some good country by not sleeping at L.A. Bay and driving at day on the OLD road south of L.A. Bay... A good 4WD track through forests of the largest cactus trees on earth (giant cardon of La Bocana Valley)... You can only do so much at a time... The mostly dull drive from El Arco to Guerrero Negro than back north towards Punta Prieta could be dropped in favor of some great desert runs and a Mision San Borja side trip heading north from Bahia de L.A.

In one day drive south to San Francisquito or just to the new road via the OLD ROAD, and back north on the fast graded road passing by Pancho's or staying there the night. The next day go to Santa Ynez via San Borja/ Nuevo Rosarito/ Punta Prieta.

Just a thought or two, considering you are a JEEP CLUB, and not a pavement club.


I agree 100%. Mision San Borja is on the list for next year.

New Photos!

Ken Cooke - 12-1-2008 at 10:10 PM

Playa San Francisquito



Puerto San Francisquito




capt. mike - 12-2-2008 at 08:02 AM

wow that dock is new since i have been there.

cpg - 12-2-2008 at 08:49 AM

Hey Ken,

Was the hot water working in San Francisquito?

Thanks

Chris

Ken Cooke - 12-2-2008 at 06:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cpg
Hey Ken,

Was the hot water working in San Francisquito?

Thanks

Chris


Everyone wished it was. Cold showers persisted from Gonzaga Bay to Cataviņa. El Sol in San Felipe and Baja Cactus in El Rosario were the only hot showers in Baja for us.

San Francisquito...catching that "Baja feeling"

Ken Cooke - 12-4-2008 at 09:16 PM








Enjoying the good life!

Ken Cooke - 12-4-2008 at 09:19 PM




[Edited on 12-5-2008 by Ken Cooke]

capt. mike - 12-5-2008 at 05:47 AM

hey Ken - can you update us on the rates at PSFO?
palapa, camping etc.

Ken Cooke - 12-5-2008 at 06:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
hey Ken - can you update us on the rates at PSFO?
palapa, camping etc.


Camping at Puerto San Francisquito = $5 per person/per day

Palapas at Puerto San Francisquito = $20 per person/per day

Be sure not to use the "Front porch" of the Palapa, or you will be charged for full usage, as we were. But, in our case, rain necessitated our using the Palapa for keeping cooking and camping gear out of the weather.

capt. mike - 12-5-2008 at 08:24 AM

thx Ken, my they have gotten high on price.:o
2 people in a palapa have to spend $40 now?
i could go with $10 to set up a tent on a nice beach but....dang, i will miss those old bat and termite infested huts! we used to pay $20 total for a hut and that was not too long ago.

for only $60 a nite i can be on the water on Kino Bay in a nice place with all the amenities, no need to hop 20 minutes across the SOC.

David K - 12-5-2008 at 08:31 AM

Mike, it's LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION :yes::light:

You have a plane, so moving to any location is muy rapido!:spingrin:

Ken Cooke - 12-5-2008 at 08:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
thx Ken, my they have gotten high on price.:o
2 people in a palapa have to spend $40 now?
i could go with $10 to set up a tent on a nice beach but....dang, i will miss those old bat and termite infested huts! we used to pay $20 total for a hut and that was not too long ago.


Personally, I liked LA Bay much better, because I loved looking at the islands, and having a little infrastructure isn't necessarily a bad thing. PSFO had cold showers, the drive felt excessive, and the people running PSFO charged our group for the full use of a palapa because we huddled under the awning of Palapa #7 because it was raining, and all of our gear was getting soaked.

I know the economy is tanking right now, but the management wouldn't budge on charging us the money. I paid it myself, but I was a little surprised with the hard-line attitude we were fed. Live & learn, I guess.

capt. mike - 12-6-2008 at 07:41 AM

that sucks - what they did was abusive, Genaro RIP would never have done that.
there is talk of a makeover for PSFO given the apparent scuffle in the ownership family. i hope someone with a lick of sense takes charges, cleans it up, puts in friendly service oriented management and makes it the go it once was!!
i hope you told the SOB you would not be coming back. Some Mexicans could use a dose of business education.

David K - 12-6-2008 at 10:24 AM

More on the plane crash here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35715

Ken Cooke - 12-6-2008 at 11:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
that sucks - what they did was abusive, Genaro RIP would never have done that.
there is talk of a makeover for PSFO given the apparent scuffle in the ownership family. i hope someone with a lick of sense takes charges, cleans it up, puts in friendly service oriented management and makes it the go it once was!!
i hope you told the SOB you would not be coming back. Some Mexicans could use a dose of business education.


It was a tense discussion, but not from my end. I was intending to tip the people there, but after being told several times (like I'm an idiot) that our group used the Palapa, I considered the extra $20 to be a conribution to their children's Elementary Education scholarship fund.

What a difference 8 weeks makes!

Ken Cooke - 1-13-2009 at 09:03 PM

geoffff - 1-22-2009 at 12:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Above the airstrip was a recent addition - a $6 Million dollar airplane which had to crash land and overshot the runway.


That explains what I saw! It was a bit more disassembled when I got there. At least I assume that guy in the red truck is stripping off parts rather than trying to rebuild the plane :)



-- Geoff

[Edited on 7-22-2009 by geoffff]

[Edited on 7-22-2009 by geoffff]

Ken Cooke - 1-22-2009 at 10:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by geoffff
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Above the airstrip was a recent addition - a $6 Million dollar airplane which had to crash land and overshot the runway.


That explains what I saw! It was a bit more disassembled when I got there. At least I assume that guy in the red truck is stripping off parts rather than trying to rebuild the plane :)



-- Geoff


Geoff,

Thanks for the update! I appreciate your time in showing the progression of this airplane project that is underway.

Ken

Humboldt Chris and Robin - 1-25-2009 at 05:54 PM

We were in San Francisquito a few weeks ago - it is per person, both on the beach and the palapas. We camped where the old camping palapas used to be but its a hoof the banos!

The plane was gone when we were there. There was a helicopter and a mining exploration company based in Chihuahua there.

We also noticed the Campo San Rafael sign but didn't stop in to say hi.

cpg - 1-25-2009 at 08:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Humboldt Chris and Robin
We were in San Francisquito a few weeks ago - it is per person, both on the beach and the palapas. We camped where the old camping palapas used to be but its a hoof the banos!

The plane was gone when we were there. There was a helicopter and a mining exploration company based in Chihuahua there.

We also noticed the Campo San Rafael sign but didn't stop in to say hi.


What where the temps? Did the get the hot water working for the showers?