BajaNomad

9-18-10: To Las Pintas Petros PART I (incl. Otay to Blvd. 2000!)

David K - 9-21-2010 at 08:36 PM

Part 1, Friday 9-17-10

A quick weekend adventure was in order from my birthday, so we headed south to Baja! Our destination for the evening was El Rosario's Baja Cactus Motel.

We left California at the Otay Border about 6:30 pm, Friday afternoon...





The line going into Mexico moved quickly, and we did get a red light and pulled up to the customs officer standing between lanes, who quickly had us continue on (only an ice chest in the truck bed).

Ahead from the border, 1.1 miles is Blvd. Industrial where a left turn is made to get to the Corredor 2000 (formerly Blvd. 2000) which is a fast, easy freeway to the Ensenada highway, just south of Rosarito.





This is also the route to the Tecate Toll (Cuota) highway (Mex. 2-D).





About 5 miles down Blvd. Industrial is where the Corredor 2000 (to the right) and the Tecate Toll Highway (to the left) begin.







The sun was setting as we neared the end of the Corredor 2000 on the Pacific Coast.



The Corredor 2000 ends on the Free (Libre) Ensenada highway at Popotla, about 32 miles from the Otay Border. We went home via the Corredor 2000 and the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2) to the Tecate Border (38 miles from Mex. 1 at Popotla).

South of Ensenada at Maneadero, we enjoyed some yummy carne asada tacos at Los Poblanos (red taco shop on the east side of the road). From Maneadero to almost Ejido Uruapan (12 miles) they are widening the highway and there are a few miles of dirt and paved detours. The military checkpoint just beyond Uruapan (north of Santo Tomas) and again just north of El Rosario both waved us through southbound, but did an inspection northbound.

We arrived in El Rosario at 11:30 pm Friday night and enjoyed a great night's sleep at Baja Cactus...

To Be Continued...







[Edited on 9-25-2010 by David K]

RnR - 9-22-2010 at 07:20 AM

Great photo log going south, David. I have come north through Otay a few times but never south. This year will be a southbound trip as I have a lot of stuff to declare and will be above TJ's limit.
Quote:
Originally posted by David K




Which one of these lanes is the "Declare" lane? And, what happens immediately on the Mex side of the border?

I have a full size pickup and a 26 ft trailer. Will need to park and declare. I've looked across at Mex Customs while going northbound in preparation for this year but can't quite decipher the lanes. Looks like I should be able to park under the roof in long diagonal spaces. Anybody done this?

David K - 9-22-2010 at 08:18 AM

Just like Tijuana, the far right lane.

David K - 9-22-2010 at 08:22 AM

Saturday, 9-18-10:

We slept well at Baja Cactus and were in no rush, so we casually got motivated and went 2 miles down the highway to Baja's Best (Bed and Breakfast) Restaurant... across the highway from the Turista Motel on the far edge of El Rosario. Elizabeth had hot cakes and eggs and I had their chorizo and eggs breakfast burritos... delicious!

With so many interesting sites around El Rosario, we had not decided exactly which ones to visit until then. We decided on Las Pintas, but this time to try the northern road in and see more of the top of the boulder field. We have been to Las Pintas several times before, and it never ceases to amaze us. See http://vivabaja.com/pintas for our day there in 2005 and http://vivabaja.com/406 when my son and I spent some time there in 2006 (on pages 5-7).

The access to Las Pintas is off the road to Punta San Carlos, a tiny fishing village and nearby wind-surfing resort, about 36 miles from Highway 1 http://www.solosports.net . The turnoff is between Km. 80 & 81 (just over 14 miles from El Rosario's Pemex station). There are two turn offs, the first one is signed for 'Puerto San Carlos' and the second one is just ahead at the second curve in the highway. Set your trip odometer to zero when you leave the pavement.



Just over 3 miles from the highway on the graded road, my low air tire warning light came on! For the second time, a pointy rock punctured one of the truck's tires (BFG Rugged Trail, with 16,000 miles on it). I was able to plug the leak and refilled the tire with my electric air pump. The same thing happened at 13,000 miles while southbound from Gonzaga Bay, near Laguna Chapala (on a different tire). We were in no rush, so we turned back to have the tire patched in El Rosario at Raul's Tires ($5.00). No more flats on this trip... note to self: Get new rubber for the truck!

Take Two, back on the road to Punta San Carlos! Six miles from Highway One we pull over for a beer break where the old road from El Rosario meets the new, graded road to San Carlos... Life is good!





Victoria is a really good tasting beer that isn't as common as our other favorites (XX, Pacifico, Sol, Modelo, Tecate).

We noted the mileage at Rancho Emiliano Zapata as 10.0, and knew the northern road to Las Pintas was not far past the ranch, and took the first road we saw, 1.9 miles ahead. 1.8 miles on this side road is another road to the left (which was correct), but seemed to me to be going too far north so I elected to continue ahead. The road ahead returned to the San Carlos road. No matter, we will just continue south to the normal Las Pintas access road, and return via the less used northern road! Just before the Las Pintas road, the San Carlos road enters a cardonal (a cardon cactus forest, the cardon is the world's largest cactus).



The Las Pintas road is 17.4 miles from Highway 1, and if you miss the first one, another is just ahead. Go too far and a ranch is passed, then you will cross the big Arroyo San Fernando (a usually dry riverbed).

Once on the Las Pintas road, reset your odometer for the 7.2 mile drive in... Here is my road log to Las Pintas:

DIRECTIONS
Highway 1, southward from El Rosario 14.6 miles (between Km. 80-81), turn right at the left curve. GPS: 30°01.59', 115°32.05' (Map datum set to 'NAD27 Mexico')

Go 17.4 miles on the good graded dirt road to a single track road going left. If passed, just ahead is a ranch house on the right and there is a second left road that joins the first. Set odometer to '0.0'. GPS: 29°49.64', 115°28.42'.

Pass ranch houses ('Malvar') and make an 'S' turn right, into Arroyo San Fernando. You soon will be reach a (possibly) closed gate at Mile 3.5. Always re-close any gate after you pass through.

Mile 5.2, (GPS: 29°52.53', 115°25.22') turn LEFT off of Arroyo San Fernando road, and follow a small side arroyo. Brush may scratch your vehicle in here.

Mile 5.4, (GPS: 29°52.69', 115°25.26') turn RIGHT, out of small arroyo and cross low divide to small valley.

Mile 7.2 LAS PINTAS parking area. GPS: 29°53.90', 115°24.48', elev. 755'. You are 24.6 miles from Highway 1 and 39.2 miles from El Rosario's Baja Cactus Motel and Pemex gas station, per my odometer.



Cardon cactus along the Las Pintas road.





An unusual multi-branched boojum tree.



The road drops into the San Fernando riverbed before reaching the side canyon for Las Pintas.





Nearing Las Pintas.



As close as we can drive. The storm of last January really changed the terrain here, as the sand was washed away and made getting to the rock art a bit more of a climb.



I can't say enough good things about my truck! It is my third Tacoma, and comfort and off road ability is supreme. Only the tires could be better!





Here we celebrated my birthday, exploring Baja!











Okay, we have arrived at Las Pintas and we make a lunch, have some cold beer, and explore around the lower end of the rock art and fossil site. In the next part, see more of the lower Las Pintas site and then we travel around to the top end of Las Pintas and see fantastic rock art that we have not seen before!

To Be Continued...

[Edited on 9-22-2010 by David K]

wessongroup - 9-22-2010 at 08:31 AM

Super job from an old man.... :lol::lol:

Thanks for all the work, really great job... all kidding aside...

[Edited on 9-22-2010 by wessongroup]

Pacifico - 9-22-2010 at 08:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
Great photo log going south, David. I have come north through Otay a few times but never south. This year will be a southbound trip as I have a lot of stuff to declare and will be above TJ's limit.

Quote:
Originally posted by David K




Which one of these lanes is the "Declare" lane? And, what happens immediately on the Mex side of the border?

I have a full size pickup and a 26 ft trailer. Will need to park and declare. I've looked across at Mex Customs while going northbound in preparation for this year but can't quite decipher the lanes. Looks like I should be able to park under the roof in long diagonal spaces. Anybody done this?


RnR -
I have done this before and like David said, it is the far right lane. You will go through that lane quite aways (which is covered part of the way) and then it will take you to a large parking area with the customs agents. There you will present your receipts and declaration papers, and then go pay. There is an office a short walk back north from the parking lot on the right. Good luck!

RnR - 9-22-2010 at 08:52 AM

Thanks for the detail and confidence boost.

RnR - 9-22-2010 at 08:55 AM

David,

Even better photos in the second post. Great!

Pacifico - 9-22-2010 at 08:56 AM

Great report David! Looks interesting there....

I have a couple questions about Corridor 2000:

"The Corredor 2000 ends on the Free (Libre) Ensenada highway at Popotla, about 32 miles from the Otay Border. We went home via the Corredor 2000 and the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2) to the Tecate Border (38 miles from Mex. 1 at Popotla)."

1. I take it you still have to travel the free road a little ways to get onto the toll road? Are the on-ramps under construction?

2. Going north, Can you take the Corridor 2000 to the Tecate Toll Road to get to Tecate or only to the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2)?

Thanks!!!

David K - 9-22-2010 at 09:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pacifico
Great report David! Looks interesting there....

I have a couple questions about Corridor 2000:

"The Corredor 2000 ends on the Free (Libre) Ensenada highway at Popotla, about 32 miles from the Otay Border. We went home via the Corredor 2000 and the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2) to the Tecate Border (38 miles from Mex. 1 at Popotla)."

1. I take it you still have to travel the free road a little ways to get onto the toll road? Are the on-ramps under construction?

2. Going north, Can you take the Corridor 2000 to the Tecate Toll Road to get to Tecate or only to the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2)?

Thanks!!!


1. YES, about 8 miles to Cantamar is the first on ramp to the toll road... next one is at Splash (near the Half Way House) and the third is at La Fonda... The Free Road is now 4 lanes wide all the way to the Cantamar sand dunes. We took it to La Fonda (La Mision) and got on the toll road there (because it was dark and we were rushing for El Rosario. However, the free road is nice all the way to Ensenada, and we use it northbound, all the way to Popotla.

The on-ramps to the toll road from Corredor 2000 are still unfinished. There must be some issue with the politics of connecting the state highway BC 201 with the Federal toll road Mex. 1-D ???

2. YES, it is 7 miles LONGER to Tecate using the Tecate toll road and costs like 8 dollars! Use the free road, it is 4 lanes wide all the way to Tecate and passes the Toyota Tacoma Plant!

[Edited on 9-22-2010 by David K]

David K - 9-22-2010 at 09:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
David,

Even better photos in the second post. Great!


Part 3 gets better! Stay tuned! Thank you!!!

Pacifico - 9-22-2010 at 09:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by Pacifico
Great report David! Looks interesting there....

I have a couple questions about Corridor 2000:

"The Corredor 2000 ends on the Free (Libre) Ensenada highway at Popotla, about 32 miles from the Otay Border. We went home via the Corredor 2000 and the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2) to the Tecate Border (38 miles from Mex. 1 at Popotla)."

1. I take it you still have to travel the free road a little ways to get onto the toll road? Are the on-ramps under construction?

2. Going north, Can you take the Corridor 2000 to the Tecate Toll Road to get to Tecate or only to the Tecate Free Highway (Mex. 2)?

Thanks!!!


1. YES, about 8 miles to Cantamar is the first on ramp to the toll road... next one is at Splash (near the Half Way House) and the third is at La Fonda... The Free Road is now 4 lanes wide all the way to the Cantamar sand dunes. We took it to La Fonda (La Mision) and got on the toll road there (because it was dark and we were rushing for El Rosario. However, the free road is nice all the way to Ensenada, and we use it northbound, all the way to Popotla.

The on-ramps to the toll road from Corredor 2000 are still unfinished. There must be some issue with the politics of connecting the state highway BC 201 with the Federal toll road Mex. 1-D ???

2. YES, it is 7 miles LONGER to Tecate using the Tecate toll road and costs like 8 dollars! Use the free road, it is 4 lanes wide all the way to Tecate and passes the Toyota Tacoma Plant!

[Edited on 9-22-2010 by David K]


Thanks for the info!!! I will try it next time heading north....

Skipjack Joe - 9-22-2010 at 09:52 AM

David,

Could you make out what those petroglyphs represented?

They seem to be just geometric shapes.

Maybe there was a budding Euclid among them. :lol::lol:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-22-2010 at 10:31 AM

Hola david k, as always, thank you for the great trip report and fantastic pictures.

i appreciate greatly your photo description from the tecate crossing to the blvd 2000 route. does this route totally bypass all the road construction i have been told and read about just south of tecate ?

i'll be going north in october and cross at tijuana but on my return in march, in your opinion, will they be making headway to complete the construction from tecate to ensenada ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

tires

desertcpl - 9-22-2010 at 12:03 PM

David or anyone else that would like to answer this

David I see that you have had recently 2 flat tires,, do you use tire sealer that you put into the tire? would you recommend it

Taco de Baja - 9-22-2010 at 12:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
David or anyone else that would like to answer this

David I see that you have had recently 2 flat tires,, do you use tire sealer that you put into the tire? would you recommend it


That stuff probably makes a gooey mess inside the tire and may even ruin the modern low pressure sensors inside the tire. I would not recommend it

I always use the plug kits and also carry the tools to dismount the tire and put a patch on the inside. If the hole is too big an inside patch is the only way to go.

Even duct tape can be used in a pinch over a VERY large patch and hole. The hole in this tire was big enough to stick a thumb in. It was also 20 miles off road. The spare also got a hole, and then the tire shredded itself, hence the need to patch this one...Talk about stressful times :o



desertcpl - 9-22-2010 at 01:28 PM

thanks for the info

David K - 9-22-2010 at 03:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola david k, as always, thank you for the great trip report and fantastic pictures.

i appreciate greatly your photo description from the tecate crossing to the blvd 2000 route. does this route totally bypass all the road construction i have been told and read about just south of tecate ?

i'll be going north in october and cross at tijuana but on my return in march, in your opinion, will they be making headway to complete the construction from tecate to ensenada ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


Thank you!

I don't have a clue of the rate of their work... I find it odd that they tear up such long sections at one time, rather than get shorter sections done so that drivers don't have 10 or more miles of dirt detours to drive on.

The Corredor 2000 route totally avoids all of the construction on Hwy. 3... as you never go onto Hwy. 3.

Southbound, cross at Otay (as I did above) or cross at Tecate, and take Hwy. 2 or 2-D to the Corredor 2000 (BC 201)

The Corredor 2000 is about 6 miles east of Otay or 16 miles west of Tecate, using either Mex. 2, or 2-D.

David K - 9-22-2010 at 03:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
David,

Could you make out what those petroglyphs represented?

They seem to be just geometric shapes.

Maybe there was a budding Euclid among them. :lol::lol:


I have a book on the meaning, and might try to share some of that. In 2001, one of the kids on our Viva Baja/ BBBB-1 tour of Las Pintas knew some of the meanings (like rainfall) and was interesting to hear... Neal Johns was there when they were drawn, so we should ask him! He does know the meaning of the symbols for fertility... typical sailor! :lol:

capt. mike - 9-22-2010 at 05:45 PM

i want to know if any of those have UFO ot ET refs to them??
i think the smarter guys were here 1st.

------- Art Bell speaking thru a marooonic IQ level guy AKA capt. mike :yes:

David K - 9-22-2010 at 08:05 PM

After a quick look, and another beer, I find a way to the big room... a cave created by a giant boulder resting on others. Inside are petroglyphs, as well.



One more of the outside glyphs.



Inside the big room, on the ceiling...







From the big room are these boojum tree views...







Back outside...











See Baja Angel waving?











The quail (cordonices) come out to check on us.



Okay, time to go on new (to us) roads! Back out the 1.8 miles to the side arroyo, then 1.0 mile north to the upper Las Pintas road, and 1.4 miles to the end of the road...



Continued, in the new Part II HERE: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=48021



[Edited on 9-25-2010 by David K]

sanquintinsince73 - 9-22-2010 at 09:36 PM

Hey David K, have these "pinturas rupestres" been documanted by anthropologist's??

David K - 9-23-2010 at 07:25 AM

I learned of the site from Walt Peterson's 1987 'The Baja Adventure Book', and it has appeared on Mexican Topo maps for many years... so my guess is yes, it has been studied for it is very well known.

Raul at the El Rosario tire shop says he owns it, told me to enjoy the area... his uncle's ranch is in the San Fernando arroyo just east of the Las Pintas side canyon.

Lista - 9-24-2010 at 05:46 PM

Very nice, thank you!

David K - 9-24-2010 at 07:07 PM

Glad you liked it! :cool:

David K - 9-25-2010 at 08:33 AM

Okay, I have divided the trip report into two posts as the number of photos was really slowing down the time to view them being all on one post... Go to http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=48021 to see the new, upper Las Pintas photos and the trip to Tecate via Corredor 2000.

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 09:37 AM

any snakes while kicking around the cave(s)?

David K - 9-25-2010 at 10:05 AM

Not even one! :bounce:

(I have only seen rattle snakes in April... year after year, always in April)

Bump

Ken Cooke - 3-7-2011 at 05:42 PM

I posted a question regarding part 1 in case people are just tuning in...

David K - 11-4-2011 at 08:01 AM

bumpy road for Ken...