BajaNomad

North road(s) San Ignacio to San Juanico

skippermike - 3-31-2010 at 03:17 PM

Am thinking of going down for Day 2 of the NORRA rally April 30, which goes thru San Juanico.
Has anyone been on the North road lately? Which one??
Will be driving well-setup Tacoma 4x4 (lifted, good tires, good equip. etc.)
Appreciate any input.

woody with a view - 3-31-2010 at 04:36 PM

lower road is always best....

TMW - 4-2-2010 at 08:59 AM

Looks like I'll be down there too at El Datil to pit several bikes. I have not been on that road in several years but I doubt it has changed much. Just find a smooth driving speed if possible and take your time. I'll be in my 2004 silver GMC Z71 with lots of gas cans.

taxcutter - 4-3-2010 at 09:52 AM

Alot of people are taking the middle, sandy dirt road into El Datil. The turn-off is about half way to Currenta Gap from the upper Road and ends up at the empty block building with those telephone poles, just outside El Datil. One can still take the lower salt flats road, but look out for the tide and axle bustin pot holes and car swallowing/up to the axle sink holes.

skippermike - 4-3-2010 at 01:02 PM

Taxcutter -
Looking in the Almanac, I think I see the more Easterly road, which T's to go left to San Pedro/El Cuarenta or right to go West to the beach road that ends up in El Datil.
Are you suggesting that that is a better route than all the way along the lagoon and beach?
What about staying on that Easterly road thru La Ballena, taking a right at Cadeja, and then dropping down into San Juanico?
It looks like that is the Rallly course??

Elena La Loca - 4-4-2010 at 09:08 AM

Take Tomas at La Cueranta whatever you can when you pass through. He's been very good to the travelers that pass through his neck of the woods over the years & is having a hard time lately (not sure if it's a remoteness issue or a health issue) We gave him some water & whatever "extra" stuff we had on board (not that there really *was* such a thing as "extra" on that trip) I didn't get out of the truck when we passed through his gate but he appeared to be battling a bad cold or fever or both (he was blowing his nose & dripping sweat & it was far from hot out) and I noticed everybody in our group wiped their hands w/ disinfectant wipes when they got back in their vehicles.

TMW - 4-4-2010 at 10:49 AM

If you go to Google Earth you can see the route the race is taking. At Laguna San Ignacio you turn left. Go about 9 miles and take the road to the right. Stay on it straight at the various jcts along the way. If you take the main road south you'll go thru the silt beds. They should not be too much of a problem now since there has not been a race thru them for some time now. But the race route is the better. There are cross over roads between the two in several places but the race route is the best in my opinion.

TMW - 4-4-2010 at 10:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elena La Loca
Take Tomas at La Cueranta whatever you can when you pass through. He's been very good to the travelers that pass through his neck of the woods over the years & is having a hard time lately (not sure if it's a remoteness issue or a health issue) We gave him some water & whatever "extra" stuff we had on board (not that there really *was* such a thing as "extra" on that trip) I didn't get out of the truck when we passed through his gate but he appeared to be battling a bad cold or fever or both (he was blowing his nose & dripping sweat & it was far from hot out) and I noticed everybody in our group wiped their hands w/ disinfectant wipes when they got back in their vehicles.


I have never met the people living there, maybe waved at them on passing a time or two. I would be happy to drop off some supplies similar to what I do for Coco.

taxcutter - 4-9-2010 at 09:36 AM

Hey Skipper,
At the Currenta Gap, there is a sandy dirt road that goes to El Datil. I believe this turn off is right at the start of the Currenta Gap, just as one drops into the arroyo and just past the first cement patch. Tomas, the rancher and family takes this road to El Datil.

However, when one is driving from Laguna, one is on a little mesa and this is the upper road leading to Currenta, one can see the start of the salt flats, on your right. One drops down from the upper road on to the salt flats and on to El Datil. But, further along the upper road, there is a turn off, the sandy dirt road, as I describe above. But one has to look good and guess better to get on this road. It's much easier to get on this road going North bound.

The Easterly road you describe is what I call the upper North Road. And after Currenta, one will find some major cuts in the dirt/heavy washboard road from flash flood water. One must drop down, off the road, go thru heavy talcum powder sand with deep ruts and punch it back up onto the upper road. Plus, this section of the road is really bad, rocky wash board and I usually have to drive slow or less than 35 miles per and more likely 5 mph and this section is about 5-10 miles. If you take this road, Upper North Road, you will have to stop at Currenta Ranch and Tomas or his sons will open the gate for you. Most likely, they will show you a piece of paper asking for any supplies. Please give as much as you can, because if you get stuck or broken down, most likely, it will be Senior Tomas that will be helping you out. On top of that, Senior Tomas will advise you on road conditions. And if that is not enough, Senior Tomas is super cool.

The kids at El Datil love stickers! Bring a ton of them.

Six more days until April 15th.
Taxcutter