BajaNomad - Baja Trivia: A Game, Questions 1-5:

Baja Trivia: A Game, Questions 1-5:

David K - 8-4-2004 at 07:38 PM

Here is #1:

Back in the 'old days' on the Amigos board, we played this... BajaHwy (La Tijereta) was one of the best contestants!

Anyway... to learn and have fun: Can you name this historic site from a nearly 100 year old photo? Reply 'Yes' or 'Maybe' and then U2U your answer to me (so others can take a shot at the answer). Dr. Jackson is disqualified as he knows too much LOL!!!

[Edited on 8-5-2004 by David K]

Question 2:

David K - 8-4-2004 at 08:18 PM

Can you name this historic site? Photo taken in 2001:

Question 3:

David K - 8-4-2004 at 08:22 PM

Dry Lakes are known as 'lagunas' in all of Baja California. What is another name for them, but used only in Baja California Sur? :?:

[Edited on 8-6-2004 by David K]

Question 4:

David K - 8-4-2004 at 08:27 PM

The tallest mountain in Baja is Picacho del Diablo... Can you provide other map names used for this mighty peak (not with Diablo in them), over the years? Winner will be the first one to give the most names applied to Diablo. :yes:

Photo in question #1

academicanarchist - 8-4-2004 at 08:29 PM

David. Least you forget, I provided you with the copy of the photo used in question #1. so I guess I should know what it is.

Question 5:

David K - 8-4-2004 at 08:31 PM

In 1853, a crazy gringo invaded Baja and named himself the president of the Republic of Lower California. Who was he?

David K - 8-4-2004 at 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by academicanarchist
David. Least you forget, I provided you with the copy of the photo used in question #1. so I guess I should know what it is.

YES you did (and even stumped me with it)... Note in my post I disqualified you!!!

Yes I saw that

academicanarchist - 8-4-2004 at 08:40 PM

Yes, David. I did see the disqualification. The site in question #2 is too easy.

[Edited on 8-5-2004 by academicanarchist]

Corky1 - 8-5-2004 at 07:41 AM

David,
Great post.
As I told you when we met at Gonzaga I have been riding Baja on motorcycles (racing) since 1972.
When racing you ride in a tunnel and miss all the good stuff.
Keep all the good stuff coming.

Corky :biggrin:

surfer jim - 8-5-2004 at 08:36 AM

Correct answers.....
1). Tijuana border crossing...1878...
2). Complaint department about corupt police....
3). runway for drug dealers...
4). :no:

Some guesses

David K - 8-5-2004 at 04:19 PM

Surfer Jim, they say close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades... you're not close. But, I did like your dry lake answer!

Elizabeth, You did so good at #5 I declare you the winner on that one with your answer, shown here (nobady else even tried to answer):

The rest of my answer is Gen. William Walker was unhappy with the Treaty of Guadalupe...he wanted to add another slave state to the confederacy...he took La Paz in 1853...and in some accounts called himself the President of the Republic of Sonora. He later tried an invasion in Nicaragua where he was subsequently executed.

If you go to my Miscl. Baja Links section at VivaBaja.com there are two web sites on William Walker as well as one on the flags he used for his Republics (Lower California and later renamed Sonora when he added that state).

Your answer for #2 was not complete, other sites also had that name.

Mexitron, you are ahead in the Diablo Mountain aliases guess... there are more!

William Walker

academicanarchist - 8-5-2004 at 06:15 PM

Walker's filibustering expedition in Sonora ended in a gun fight at Caborca, one of the missions in the Pimeria Alta (northern Sonora and southern Arizona). As to site #2, I first visited it in 1975, and had to make a hasty retreat because there were hornets nests in the ruins and they came after me.

William Walker Web Site

David K - 8-5-2004 at 07:47 PM

I just discovered the links on my site to Walker are dead. I will have to update them... in the meantime, here is a good one, with links to other sites: http://ralphandsue.com/WilliamWalker/

Here is even more details on Walker's Baja invasion with mention of his time in San Vicente: http://www.fotw.net/flags/mx-rso.html

Walker was executed in Honduras, by the way. Here's a photo of his grave!:
http://www.goodfelloweb.com/honduras/trujillo/walker.html

Go to the Baja Historic Interest Forum later, as I will post the chapter on William Walker that Choral Pepper wrote from the unpublished book!

[Edited on 8-6-2004 by David K]

Good One!

LaTijereta - 8-5-2004 at 07:48 PM

David,

Your #1 image I know I have seen published :?:

Image #2 is in color, and I have not been down that road.

#3 For what few dry lakes we have here in BCS.. They are called "Llanos" I believe.

#4 Other names I have seen are "Calamahue Mtn" and "San Pedro Martir" for naming this range

#5 William was a young 29 years old when arrived with his "filibusters"... :rolleyes:

What was the name of his ship that sailed into La Paz??

Happy Trails....

David K - 8-5-2004 at 08:13 PM

Hi Kris!

Good to see you here like the old days, when you were being 'trivial' as 'BajaHwy'!

#1) Yes, it is from a book (hint everything I ask can be found in my web site, but since I have so many photos there, it may take hours or days to find, ha!)

#2) Yes, I took that photo in Dec. 2001... You can see the structure from Hwy. 1!!! How old is the site? Elizabeth got part of the name in a U2U.

#3) Mexitron beat you to the answer for what dry lakes in Baja Sur are often called (by U2U)... Yes it is Llano (also means plain).

#4) You and Mexitron are almost tied... give me more names!

#5) Elizabeth won this.

Yes I know the name of the ship.. But, how about the rest of you? I gave the links, just read. There was another ship first... it mysteriously sailed out without Walker, what was its name???

Llano, plainly means PLAIN. there are many in BCS, my old baja Almanac lists several-teen lagunas in

Tucker - 8-5-2004 at 08:38 PM

BCS!!!

[Edited on 8-6-2004 by Tucker]

David K - 8-5-2004 at 09:00 PM

Yes, in Baja Sur 'laguna' is used (as well as llano) for a dry lake. In Baja Norte, llano is not used for dry lake. Llano means plain, yes.

Now for example (in the Almanac), see Llanos Hiray just north of the Puerto Cancun road; Then, near Comondu are several dry lakes: Llano San Julio, Llano Chipi, Llano Catarina, Llano San Pedro, even a Llano la Laguna!!! There are more... It is just interesting that the custom to use 'llano' for a dry lake is found in Southern Baja... Perhaps a missionairy started that?

FYI, it was originally Lorenzo de Baja who used this as a trivia question on Amigos...

[Edited on 8-6-2004 by David K]

David

Tucker - 8-5-2004 at 11:02 PM

I don't have any objection to your game, I do though, object to you presenting bogus information as fact. You have not presented one iota of information backing up your assertion. You should at least be responsible enough to protect your reputation as a "Baja expert", perhaps you should limit your posts to "Shell Island" or whatever that place is you re-named.

David K - 8-5-2004 at 11:09 PM

What more do you need than examples I gave of DRY LAKES called llanos? La Tijereta saw this without any help from me.
Here (again) is what I posted above for you:

Now for example (in the Almanac), see Llanos Hiray just north of the Puerto Cancun road; Then, near Comondu are several dry lakes: Llano San Julio, Llano Chipi, Llano Catarina, Llano San Pedro, even a Llano la Laguna!!!

Buenos Noches

You must be having brain cramps

Tucker - 8-5-2004 at 11:16 PM

Those are all plains!

Whatever...

David K - 8-5-2004 at 11:36 PM

The Mexican map clearly shows them as dry or seasonal LAKES! In the Lower Ca Guidebook map it even has "(dry lake)" written right below "Llanos de Hiray" as well as at Llanos de San Julio by Comondu. That too is a dry lake (most of the time).

Again, I didn't invent any of this, it is right there for all to see, on the maps and in person.

[Edited on 8-6-2004 by David K]

Knock it off you guys....

Debra - 8-6-2004 at 03:57 AM

I just got home and you are giving me a head-ache :biggrin:

Tucker: As you probebly heard I had major car problems on my trip down so I didn't make it as far as I wanted. Anyway, thank-you for the offer of you hospitality, next time.

Hi Debra

Tucker - 8-6-2004 at 06:40 AM

I just got back from CA a few days ago........Ditto, major car problems!

Llano

jrbaja - 8-6-2004 at 07:39 AM

means level or plain. If anyone basis their information on what the gringo maps say or the Baja Almanac, you are being fed wrong information.
Only when it comes to place names or actual routes though.
One of the problems with getting information regarding Baja out of books rather than personal experience is that a lot of it will be based on other wrong information. :lol:

La lluvia en Espa?a cae principalmente en el llano.

Tucker - 8-6-2004 at 07:50 AM

jrbaja - 8-6-2004 at 08:00 AM

:lol:

elizabeth - 8-6-2004 at 08:33 AM

This was fun...and David K thanks for the correction on Walker...I had forgotten that although his unpopular (at least to Nicaraguans) incursion into Nicaragua was the start of the end, that he actually was executed in Honduras.

Answers #1 and #2

academicanarchist - 8-6-2004 at 10:59 AM

David. Have you received correct answers to 1 and 2?

David K - 8-6-2004 at 04:58 PM

No Robert, nobody has even taken a stab at #1 other than to say they think it was in a book. I did give a hint that it can be found in my web site. A new hint: It is a mission as seen about 1905/6.

#2, Elizabeth gave most, but not all of the answer (she left out one word that makes this place unique over the other San Juan Bautistas in Baja).

David K - 8-6-2004 at 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
means level or plain. If anyone basis their information on what the gringo maps say or the Baja Almanac, you are being fed wrong information.
Only when it comes to place names or actual routes though.
One of the problems with getting information regarding Baja out of books rather than personal experience is that a lot of it will be based on other wrong information. :lol:

Yes, and 'laguna' means lagoon, so what... ?

MEXICAN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MAPS are where the Baja Almanac comes from. Several dry lakes in Baja Sur have Llano in their name on those maps, that is where the trivia question comes from, I didn't make any of this up, I am not creating bogus information.

Howard Gulick in 1955 + mapped Baja... his information on place comes from interviewing LOCALS. 'Llanos de Hiray (dry lake)' is on his map. It is a dry lake north of today's Puerto Cancun road (south of the Puerto San Carlos highway).

The other 'llanos' I see on the Mexican topos are near Comondu and Purisima.

A plain (also 'llano') is a much larger level area, as in the Magdalena Plain around Constitucion. But' a 'plain' is not an area the fills with water after rain or floods and is dry the rest of the time. Also they are not a few miles or less across as are the numeros 'llanos' near Comondu, shown on the maps as seasonal or dry lakes.

If you don't like the Mexican people of Baja Sur calling dry lakes 'llanos' for 50+ years, then take it up with them, I am just saying what is on the maps.

Elizabeth Wins #2

David K - 8-6-2004 at 05:28 PM

Yes, it is SAN JUAN BAUTISTA de LONDO... just west of Hwy. 1, between Bahia Concepcion and Loreto. Established as a vista for the Loreto mission in 1699, with constuction of the stone church in 1705, making it one of the oldest sites on the peninsula! Some have even considered it a seperate mission, as it was a very substancial structure with ornate carvings in the stone. It was abandoned about 1750.

surfer jim - 8-7-2004 at 08:33 AM

Well now this proves there are planes on the plains....

So Laguna Hanson

jrbaja - 8-7-2004 at 08:36 AM

is a lagoon ?? :lol:

Number #1 historic photo

Barry A. - 8-7-2004 at 11:39 AM

David----I know what number 1 is, and I have u2u'ed you with the answer.

Best, Barry

Laguna

Barry A. - 8-7-2004 at 11:44 AM

JR----laguna also means "pond" and Laguna Hansen is certainly at least, a pond. Barry

Barry A.

academicanarchist - 8-7-2004 at 12:04 PM

Barry. if you want to, you can send me a message as well regarding #1, but I would guess that you checked out David's mission web site.

am I being accused of cheating????

Barry A. - 8-7-2004 at 12:31 PM

AA----absolutely, unequivically, and under no circumstances did I consult David's sources of info------I just remember that I was with that guy that took that picture (at least sometimes I feel that old).

Actually, I have an extensive library of my own, and I remebered seeing that pic. in one of my books.

Best, Barry

Barry A. is Question #1 Winner

David K - 8-7-2004 at 02:05 PM

... as he was the first with the correct answer. Elizabeth was close when she guessed Purisima Vieja. However the photo by Arthur North in his 'Camp and Camino in Lower California' is of the second and final location for Mision La Purisima Concepcion. Only rubble and graves mark the site today, as seen in the photo by Jack Swords in my missions web site. This North photo is also there, thanks to AA: http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions (and click on La Purisima link).

[Edited on 8-7-2004 by David K]

So far...

David K - 8-7-2004 at 02:32 PM

Barry A. wins #1 (Mision La Purisima)

Elizabeth wins #2 (Visita San Juan Bautista de Londo)

Mexitron wins #3 (La Tijerita knew this as well): Many, if not most dry lakes in Baja Sur are called 'LLANO' (which in Spanish also means a plain), several examples were given... It is unusual, and hard for most to accept this word because in Baja Norte, only LAGUNA is used.

#4 is still open, although a few of you have given some correct names (see seperate reply on this, below)

#5 Elizabeth wins this with the correct answer of William Walker and she included some additonal history, to boot!

ALL contestants may receive my brand new, printed by BajaCactus in Tijuana, "got baja?" stickers if you send me your mail addresses.

Natile and Barry, I cannot respond to any U2Us just yet, I can see them... but I cannot reply until more of my U2Us are deleted.. So, if anyone is saving a U2U from me, please delete them if you are finished reading... Thanks!

PICACHO DEL DIABLO's other names:

David K - 8-7-2004 at 03:02 PM

From John Robinson's Camping and Climbing in Baja (La Siesta Press c1967 and many editions following)....

Early Spanish explorers called it LA PROVIDENCIA due to the snow seen ,above the burning desert.

Early U.S. Navy charts starting in 1880 called it CALAMAHUE MOUNTAIN, somtimes it was called SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAIN (after nearby missions, although Calamajue wasn't near).

SAN PEDRO MARTIR MOUNTAIN and EL PICACHO BLANCO appeared around 1900.

The official name used by the Mexican government is CERRO LA ENCANTADA, after the nearby meadow, but few locals call it that.

So, of the six names above, none are as popular as the name we all know it as: EL PICACHO DEL DIABLO, 10,154 feet ASL.

A couple of you gave two answers, but not close to the total of 6.

I hope this was fun, and sorry if it offended anyone. My information comes from published material and I did not make up any answers, including calling a dry lake a 'llano'! Viva Baja everyone!

elizabeth - 8-7-2004 at 03:31 PM

I can't believe I couldn't get number 1 right!!! I knew I saw the picture before...it's in a book sitting on my book shelf: Las Misiones Antiquas, The Spanish Missions of Baja California by Edward W. Vernon. I just looked it up...a little too late...the full name is Mision La Purisima Concepcion de Maria de Cadegomo.
Thanks for the fun game...I learned a few things...

David K - 8-7-2004 at 03:48 PM

You are a great addition to Baja Nomad, Elizabeth! Please don't be shy and tell us about why you love Baja, where do you like to go in Baja, or whatever!

Send me an address to my email or U2U, and I will be happy to send you some stickers, as seen at http://vivabaja.com

La Purisima Mission Photo

academicanarchist - 8-7-2004 at 05:19 PM

The La Purisima Mission photo was taken by North, who visited Baja California about 100 years ago and photographed several mission structures that no longer exist such as La Purisima and Comondu.

burro bob - 8-9-2004 at 10:32 AM

David K
I didn't play your game cus your way beyond me in knowledge of Baja.
However I'll take acception to your names for the tallest mountain in Baja. You say that the locals don't use the name cerro de Encantada. Wrong they use it all the time amongst themselves but when talking to tourists they revert to Picacho del Diablo. You also say they named it for the nearby meadow. Again wrong. Encantada is the closest spanish translation for what the natives originally called it. They had enchanted mountains but they didn't have devils or understand the concept of providence. Those names came from later explorers.
It is interesting to know that the US military has been helping to misname places in Baja for so long.
Great game though. I'm working on a burro friendly version for the less experienced.
burro bob

David K - 8-9-2004 at 06:35 PM

Thank you Burro Bob for the local side.

Please note that I was quoting from John Robinson, author of 'Camping and Climbing in Baja' c1967 regarding Diablo/Encantada...

I don't pretend to know everything about Baja, that would be impossible! However, I will pass on information from my 100 Baja books, and give credit to the author... I thought I had in this thread.

The important thing is that you came forward with the inside story... and that is appreciated! I will make sure to have cold Pacificos next time I visit your canyonside home!