" 2010 SANTA MARIA MISSION NOMAD RAID(CANCEL DUE TO BAD WEATHER)..

As of today it is something I would want to do....

Jose, one more catagory to vote on could be: Yes, I want to go and will if the economy permits!

That would be me... Need to take the new Tacoma in there so it can get its first underbody damage!

Okay, Baja Angel is putting in for those days off, so we are planning on BREAKING (IN) the new Tacoma with its first trip to Mision Santa Maria and over the WIDOWMAKER!

(PS [shameless plug, but for good water conservation]: It would help if I had some more work between now and then, so everyone in north San Diego County that would like their irrigation system or landscape lighting upgraded, please call! Online consulting for distant do-it-yourselfers, too.)

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Okay, Baja Angel is putting in for those days off, so we are planning on BREAKING (IN) the new Tacoma with its first trip to Mision Santa Maria and over the WIDOWMAKER! (PS [shameless plug, but for good water conservation]: It would help if I had some more work between now and then, so everyone in north San Diego County that would like their irrigation system or landscape lighting upgraded, please call! Online consulting for distant do-it-yourselfers, too.)

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Yes, I want to go and will if the economy permits! That would be me... Need to take the new Tacoma in there so it can get its first underbody damage!

David,
New truck, huh?! Nothing like a bit of retail therapy to cure those blues

What was wrong with the last one....too much sand on the mats?

I will be riding dirt bike into the mission sometime around Feb1-3 while spending a few days exploring Catavina boulder fields and coastal road....the pictures provided on this mission ride thread have been helpful in my anticipation of some conditions.....thanks to you and others for that info....

David,
#1) Thanks for the route tip....might check out that option....

#2) Yep, that's the kind of logic I used to justify a new third bike....need the right tool for a specific application.....now we are both happier guys

Oh Goody

I know I'll make enemies with this one. But just for fun:

[Edited on 12-12-2009 by Skipjack Joe]

Igor.... ROFL

nena

Point taken!

Some guy just made this trip a few weeks ago in a LOBO (F-150) 4X4 4 DOOR when down and up the widomaker no problem, he only said that have good tires and be prepare to scratch the pain in your truck...

[Edited on 12-23-2009 by BAJACAT]

39 DAYS AND COUNTING

Jose, do you have a list of those planning on going? Sounds like TW, Kurt, Neal & Marian Johns, Cyanide41, edm1, fernando, Wilderone...?

Arriving Rancho Santa Ynez Friday PM or by 9 AM Saturday... Remember, it is cold up there at night in winter... real cold!

TRIP PRIMER:

Suggest any vehicle going to have min. 9" ground clearance, four wheel drive with rear lockers or limited slip differentials, like-new tires, some off road driving experience over big rocks and steep grades, and desire to have fun.

It is about 14.4 miles to the mission, and can take up to 3 hours. So, if we leave Santa Ynez by 10 am, we get to the mission with plenty of time to set up camp and 'chill' after the drive.

Sunday can be a day of exploring around the mission... and/or to the canyon rim where the road construction to Gonzaga Bay was abandoned 35 years ago... see the petroglyphs or hike the Camino Real... Maybe spot some bighorns?!


My previous 3 Mision Santa Maria trips:

2007: http://vivabaja.com/msm
2003: http://vivabaja.com/403
1999: http://vivabaja.com/missionsm
1999: http://bajamur.homestead.com/index.html (BajaMur's pics)

Giant panorama at the mission, 1999: http://bajamur.homestead.com/files/mission.html

Panorama at the mission, 2007:
http://www.vivabaja.com/stamaria360.swf

The hardest part, is leaving... climbing up the widowmaker!:



(It's real fun and why you got four wheel drive!)

ROAD LOG

0.0 Rancho Santa Ynez, take road through left gate, north of ranch.

0.9 FORK, go left/ uphill.

1.8 Deep Gully, 4WD climb out (if this scares you, go back!).

2.4 Rock pile, a road to left, go straight/ right fork.

4.7 Cement monument off to left (tracks continue past monument).

5.6 Arroyo crossing with palms.

9.9 Peninsular Divide, view of Punta Final on the gulf.

13.3 Top of the 'Widowmaker' grade.

14.4 MISION SANTA MARIA

15.4 Road enters sandy Arroyo Santa Maria, after very steep downgrade.

15.7 Turn left, out of arroyo (may be hidden by plants). Tracks ahead in arroyo end in 1/4 mile.

15.9 El Camino Real climbs to the left, up hillside. The mission trail stays out of the canyon, along the north ridge and returns to the arroyo at the east end of the canyon.

16.0 Roadbed washed out. Park and hike on to end of bulldozed grade to see petroglyphs, canyon view, Indian trail to canyon bottom.

From my mission history data page:

Santa Maria de los Angeles 1767-1769




GPS: 29°43'54.5" 114°32'50.2"


When crops wouldn't grow at Calamajue, the Indians showed the Jesuits their oasis of Cabujakaamung
20 miles north, with its sweet water. The Jesuits moved their mission and
had only constructed palm log shacks when they were removed from California, in early 1768.

The Franciscans who replaced the Jesuits built the adobe ruins
that we see here. Santa Maria had a very brief mission history.
In 1769, the first Franciscan mission in California was founded by Junipero Serra some 35 miles away.
Named San Fernando by Father Serra on his long walk from Loreto to Alta California.
San Fernando was a superior mission site and soon
Santa Maria was reduced in status to a visita.

Wow! This is turning into quite a 'Nomad turnout!

If my wife had her Green Card, we would definitely attend!!
My next project will be a stool to help her inside of the Jeep...

OMG, first time I see this thread,

My wife and I will be there for sure. I think we will drive all the way to cataviña and camp but still have to plan because we have to ask for days off from work.

TW: I hope your wife gets better.

BIG NEWS FROM 'BAJA CACTUS' for Nomads!

YUP! So call or email your room reservation...

Here is Antonio and Lorenia (and little Lorenia) talking with ROLI at MAMA ESPINOZA'S where we all had breakfast (2005):

Well here's how to tell us three apart!

I'm the shorter one, on the left...

Doug (BajaNomad) is in the center holding the plaque...

Antonio (BajaCactus) is on the right, wearing a tie...

Viva Baja Cactus, Los Arcos Restaurant, Nov. 2006:

The plaque that Antonio made for Doug on behalf of all us Baja Nomads... what a guy!

Yes, we are on for MISSION: MISION SANTA MARIA! Baja Angel has the Friday and Monday off... So, we will drive to El Rosario on Friday... not real early, since it is only 6 hours from Oceanside to Baja Cactus... Once traffic is done, maybe 9 am.

Saturday morning, we should try and leave El Rosario by 8:30 to arrive at Rancho Santa Ynez by 10 am, meet Kurt and any others who are already there... then begin the trip to MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!

Seriously, only go if you have 9+ inches of ground clearance, good tires, don't mind getting dents in the underside, and have good 4WD with LOW RANGE. Locking Rear Differentials or Limited Slip Differentials would be HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

IF not, a winch may be needed to pull yourself up the long Widowmaker grade or several short, steep grades...

This is a 'Jeep Trail' much like the Rubicon of Lake Tahoe area... the closest thing in Baja to the Rubicon, perhaps.

We will camp at the mission or near-by Saturday night and drive out Sunday by noon... and return to El Rosario for Sunday night... and have a relaxing Monday morning and return drive home.

Others that don't need to get back to work Tuesday or want to drive all the way home on Monday from the mission could stay a second (Sunday) night at the mission. I recommend that, if you can... It is a VERY special place... I originally thought we could, but want to not stress out with a long Monday drive or possible night time drive in the border area.

Green Angels...

Hello my friends,

I made some calls and, if you want, I may be able to get you an escort from one of the Green Angels vehicles for your trip (http://www.sectur.gob.mx/wb/secturing/sect_eng_angeles_verde...)... this means that one of their units could tag along with you and be ready to help, in case any problems arise... just as a precautionary measure.

They could escort you all the way from Tijuana, Ensenada or El Rosario to Mision Santa Maria and back... it all depends on how you arrange your final schedule.

I do not wish to make your trip less exciting, and since I do not know what you are expecting from it, this is totally optional and up to you all... no one will feel bad if you decide you do not need them.

I only ask that if you do decide to take the offer, please let me know ASAP to secure the vehicle for you.

Also, once you have your schedule finalized, I would like to offer you all a treat at BajaCactus, maybe a nice Mexican style breakfast or dinner, so you are ready and strong to start your wonderful adventure on Saturday.

A big hug to all of you.

BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."



[Edited on 1-16-2010 by BajaCactus]

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaCactus Hello my friends, I made some calls and, if you want, I may be able to get you an escort from one of the Green Angels vehicles for your trip (http://www.sectur.gob.mx/wb/secturing/sect_eng_angeles_verde...)... this means that one of their units could tag along with you and be ready to help, in case any problems arise... just as a precautionary measure. They could escort you all the way from Tijuana, Ensenada or El Rosario... it all depends on how you arrange your final schedule. I do not wish to make your trip less exciting, and since I do not know what you are expecting from it, this is totally optional and up to you all... no one will feel bad if you decide you do not need them. I only ask that if you do decide to take the offer, please let me know ASAP to secure the vehicle for you. Also, once you have your schedule finalized, I would like to offer you all a treat at BajaCactus, maybe a nice Mexican style breakfast or dinner, so you are ready and strong to start your wonderful adventure on Saturday. A big hug to all of you. BajaCactus "Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."

Has everyone looked at BajaRoadrunner's video of the Widowmaker?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7yTm5v-gTg

If this excites you, join us... If it scares you, admire us!

So, as my speakers happen to be on... I hear the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE theme music! ELINVESTI8R at work here?

Quote:

Originally posted by David K So, as my speakers happen to be on... I hear the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE theme music! ELINVESTI8R at work here?