BajaNomad

Sunrise at Gonzaga Bay

bonanza bucko - 2-13-2009 at 09:05 AM

Sunrise at Ganzaga Bay

Here are pictures of the sunrise at Gonzaga Bay on January 23, 2009. I posted quite a few pictures because I couldn't stop shooting as the day got better and better and the birds and pongueros took to their hunt for fish.

The pictures look better full size so click on the "slideshow" button on the lower left of the screen you get at the URL. You can see the captions then at the top of the picture...but the captions are kinda dumb after you see what God gave us that day!

Natalie Ann - 2-13-2009 at 09:11 AM

Beautiful morning that was, Bucko. Seeing those shots over my morning cuppa tea... like going home for breakfast. Thanks so much for your photos.

Nena

DianaT - 2-13-2009 at 10:20 AM

It is a beautiful place to enjoy a sunrise, and I really enjoyed your pictures. Love Gonzaga and love you photos.

Thanks
Diane

David K - 2-13-2009 at 10:28 AM

Gonzaga Bay will always be special to me not just for its beauty and remoteness, but because it is where my Baja fever began!

I never noticed the crockadile before, for Punta Final... very cool!


Just one of your great photos:



[Edited on 2-13-2009 by David K]

24baja - 2-13-2009 at 10:54 AM

Absolutely beautiful, nothing better than sitting on the porch at dawn with a cup of coffee and gods miracle happening all around you. Brought tears to my eyes and longing for Baja to my heart.

Captain Nemo's Submarine

bonanza bucko - 2-13-2009 at 04:04 PM

David K:

If you look at #15 in those photos you will see Captain Nemo's submarine from 20K Leagues Under the Sea...the Crockodile is gonna gobble it up if he ever gets over there.

This is all due to 30+ years of looking at the Bay with a Pacifico in my hand starting every day at 1700:tumble:

Nautilus

David K - 2-13-2009 at 05:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bonanza bucko
David K:

If you look at #15 in those photos you will see Captain Nemo's submarine from 20K Leagues Under the Sea...the Crockodile is gonna gobble it up if he ever gets over there.

This is all due to 30+ years of looking at the Bay with a Pacifico in my hand starting every day at 1700:tumble:


fishbuck - 2-13-2009 at 05:32 PM

Boring!

How did you do that?

bonanza bucko - 2-13-2009 at 05:46 PM

For David K:
I tried to post that picture directly but couldn't figure it out....how did you do that?

BB:?:

Gonzaga Bay

wytedolfun - 2-15-2009 at 04:04 PM

Will be heading to Gonzaga Bay through San Felipe in April. What is the road condition from San Felipe south?

That Road

bonanza bucko - 2-16-2009 at 08:31 AM

South of Puertecitos THAT ROAD is worse than ever. They have completed about five miles of the new pavement so there are only 46 miles of pain left. What is left is miles of washboard about four inches deep and about five hill climbs in the Tres Marias....north of Huerfanito....that are just awful.....exposed boulders and sharp rocks up to two feet in diameter with most at least six inches.

It will take you a good three hours if you have a good truck with off road tires. It will take you about a day if you are driving a car and you had better have at least a spare tire on the truck and two on a car.

But it's a beautiful trip....if you wanna see what it looks like see my post from early December of shots of our Thanksgiving trip down that road.

wytedolfun - 2-17-2009 at 10:17 PM

Thanks. Sounds like the first time I drove it 36 years ago. May it never change. Kind of a selfish attitude but it would be nice to keep it that way as long as possible. Makes it worth the trip.

That Road

bonanza bucko - 2-18-2009 at 08:50 AM

36 years ago it was worse if you can believe that....since then they have built some viaducts over the old washouts that required us to build our own road. But that only makes the trip faster....not better.

I think the paved road will be done about 2012 or thereabouts if they don't run outa money. They are doing a first class job...real engineers, real bridges, big machines, local rock crushers for cement and all the stuff you don't normally see on a "pavement" job in Baja.

Once the road is done it will be the preferred route for trucks from the Imperial Valley and east to get to Mex 1 and south. That will ruin the peace and quiet and it will allow yer basic Gringo bunch with campers and trailers to show up for a three day week end....and then us old timers will be history.

There are a lot of Mexicans betting on the road...starting to build real Pemex stations and grade and lay out camp grounds and trailer parks. Gonzaga Bay will probably look a lot like San Felipe by about 2020.:fire:

DianaT - 2-18-2009 at 11:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bonanza bucko
Gonzaga Bay will probably look a lot like San Felipe by about 2020.:fire:


Sounds like the road north is getting a lot worse. Last time I drove it was in 2007 and while it was slow, it wasn't as bad as you describe. It is such a beautiful drive, however.

Gonzaga is such a beautiful, beautiful place, that I am sure you are correct---once the pavement is complete, it will change quickly.

You are the first person we have encountered who owns a home there and believes that the pavement will happen. Everytime we meet someone from there who owns a house they keep telling us that it will never happen, the road will never be totally paved, at least not for 100 years or more. We think they are in denial---and we understand why.

Enjoy your place, it is such a nice location.

Diane

David K - 2-18-2009 at 11:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wytedolfun
Thanks. Sounds like the first time I drove it 36 years ago. May it never change. Kind of a selfish attitude but it would be nice to keep it that way as long as possible. Makes it worth the trip.


I traveled over the 'original' bad road to Gonzaga from 1965-1979 (nearly impassable that last time).

Then in 1985-86 they built a new graded, highway-like road often on different mountainsides than the original route, and further inland on the flat plains... In mid 2005 was the last time that road was 'fast'... Storms and the Nov. 2005 Baja 1000 tore it up and it was never re-graded since.

This new paved road is using a third alignment, just inland of the '86 graded road... and it IS being built super well... a slow. The question I have is will the road between San Felipe and Puetecitos be rebuilt to take out the stupid sharp bends and oh-sh*t-dips (vados) that reuiring slowing to 5 MPH??? That, so it will be a normal speed highway the entire distance from Mexicali to Laguna Chapala...

David K - 2-18-2009 at 12:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bonanza bucko
For David K:
I tried to post that picture directly but couldn't figure it out....how did you do that?

BB:?:


Go to photobucket.com (free)... pick a size: 'large' or '15" screen' (so it doesn't distort the Nomad page) to upload the photos... and hot link directly on Nomad... photobucket provides several kinds of links depending on how you want to share the photo, for each photo! I can talk you through it if you want, via phone call... u2u me if you need that assistance!

wytedolfun - 2-18-2009 at 10:34 PM

Sounds like "progress?" is being made. I will remain thankful for the memories and do my best to enjoy the remote aspects of this area for however long it lasts. As Jimmy Buffett says, "Lust for the future while you treasure the past."