BAJA 1/09... So super fine! Part 2: Why we continued south!

This is Part 2, continued from Part 1 here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36237

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Just over a month ago, I received an email from Sharksbaja asking me if the attached Google satellite image might be the wall described by Choral Pepper that she and others with Erle Stanley Gardner found in 1966.



I thought that the wall shape and location made it a prime candidate for a personal inspection... I had the support of my wife (she really IS a Baja Angel) and L.A. Bay was our next stop!

[Edited on 1-4-2009 by David K]

Sharksbaja (Corky) is really good with the Google satellite stuff... it is inspiring! Got me to post the El Camino Real images last month.

Corky has been looking over the area real well and even spotted the sleeping circles and more walls... Exploring Baja from your home PC... who would have ever guessed!??

I (naturally) couldn't sleep for the past month with so much excitement over seeing a site I have wanted to see since reading Choral's book in 1973.

When I finally got to talk with Choral, that was my main question: "Where was that site?" She didn't know exactly... We met, became friends, inspired me to find it even more!

Now, with the image from Sharks/ Google Earth... I had to get there to confirm it!

Thursday morning, BajaRob and Connie followed us to Chelo's Cafe (Km. 35.5/ Colonia Delicias) and joined us for breakfast... after which, Elizabeth and I headed on south.

We found the turnoff to Rudy's new beach property and drove the short distance to the coast...





Camp Whenever-you-want will be a fun place for future Matomi Gang parties! It is nearly opposite where the Arroyo Matomi road reaches Hwy. 1.

See the 'Lost Mission' location in the next installment! Coming soon!!!

[Edited on 1-4-2009 by David K]

The new paved highway now runs for 4 miles south of the Puertecitos paved exit and new roadbed can be driven for a couple more miles... then back to the rough, unmaintained graded, rocky road, over the volcanic ridges. A couple new highway photos at http://vivabaja.com/908/page6.html

Near Miramar (Okie's Landing area), we took a side road inland, covered with shells and found some horses. One was very friendly!





South of Gonzaga Bay (about 3 hour drive from Puertecitos/ 45 miles) we pulled over to see the Camino Real where it is right next to the graded road... Here just a well worn animal track:


We arrived at Bahia de los Angeles, filled up the gas tank (only 11 pesos per dollar here) at the new station, then find a place for the night... It was just getting dark.

I have heard good reports on Costa del Sol... and that is where everyone was... Well, the original motel has 7 rooms and tey added a new building with 3 more now available. We got a room (the last one) in the new building.

Staying there was a Baja Nomad who read my posts... 'Baja Chris' and his wife... We chatted for a while about off road racing and exploring Baja. We were really tired after driving the road south of Puertecitos, and so we turned in early.

The bed was almost as hard as a rock, the shower barely could get you wet, and at $60 it sure wan't any Baja Cactus or even close! I will tell you that the lady who runs the place was very nice and we ate there and the food we had was very good (corn chowder, carne asada & fish tacos, fresh guacamole & chips). The next morning I asked one of the people staying in the original rooms how the bed was, and he said 'no complaints'. So, avoid the new building or at least Room 8!

Here are some photos we took the following day, in town:


New 3.5 lane main street... east bound is a couple feet lower than west bound, and erosion already taking place. Westbound is only a lane and a half wide...


The first Internet store was closed... in fact the whole town looked dead... China (Chee-nah) said there isn't any tourists... The terrorism in Tijuana is hurting all of Baja.

China's taco stand, between the Lizeth market and Las Hamacas restaurant.

Here's China... her tacos are great! Baja Angel had her first fish taco here in 2005 on our first Baja trip together. http://vivabaja.com/105

The Las Hamacas Restaurant... dead on a Friday afternoon!

This story continues on Part 3, here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36243&pag...



[Edited on 1-5-2009 by David K]

Fish tacoes for less than $1??

I love Mexico because the prices are so much more reasonable. I wish I could have tasted these goodies. Next year for Baja Grande, I'll be sure to stop at China's Tacos..

thanks david