BajaNomad

Huerfanito bridge

mcfez - 11-12-2010 at 09:47 AM

Well....any reports on the new section of pavement getting opened past the Huerfanito bridge? According to info I got from the engineers 3 weeks ago....it should be opened up.

David K - 11-12-2010 at 10:04 AM

Doesn't it just drive you crazy... wanting to go to Baja... and can't?? I know the feeling!!

mcfez - 11-12-2010 at 01:47 PM

Funny. I have traveled to enough places in parts of this world. Very cool places. I dont think about going back to them. You know..."seen it - done it". But Baja...I just kept thinking of it daily.

Maybe I should move down to San Diego ...down the street near your house ....by that park :-) Then I go to Baja every weekend.

David K - 11-12-2010 at 04:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Funny. I have traveled to enough places in parts of this world. Very cool places. I dont think about going back to them. You know..."seen it - done it". But Baja...I just kept thinking of it daily.

Maybe I should move down to San Diego ...down the street near your house ....by that park :-) Then I go to Baja every weekend.


Did you Google Earth my house??? :lol:

That park (I think you see) on my street is just a nice grass area kids play soccer on... part of the HOA here. There is a nice 5-6 mile bike path along the San Luis Rey River levee that goes all the way to the beach from here... We are going to ride our bikes on it next week (Elizabeth's vacation is annually during the Baja 1000, but we won't be able to travel to this year's).

Unless they updated the photo, you can see Elizabeth's old Jeep CJ-5 parked in front of my house, looking west... about 4 years ago.

mcfez - 11-12-2010 at 05:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Funny. I have traveled to enough places in parts of this world. Very cool places. I dont think about going back to them. You know..."seen it - done it". But Baja...I just kept thinking of it daily.

Maybe I should move down to San Diego ...down the street near your house ....by that park :-) Then I go to Baja every weekend.


Did you Google Earth my house??? :lol:

That park (I think you see) on my street is just a nice grass area kids play soccer on... part of the HOA here. There is a nice 5-6 mile bike path along the San Luis Rey River levee that goes all the way to the beach from here... We are going to ride our bikes on it next week (Elizabeth's vacation is annually during the Baja 1000, but we won't be able to travel to this year's).

Unless they updated the photo, you can see Elizabeth's old Jeep CJ-5 parked in front of my house, looking west... about 4 years ago.


No no...was looking for Shell Beach. Took a wrong turn I guess. That must be Shell Park I saw :O

bajalou - 11-12-2010 at 07:29 PM

I was there today - You are directed off the pavement at the same spot as we were in April. I drove south a mile or so and got back on the new road - unpaved - and headed south on it and reached a stretch - maybe 3 miles that was paved, then it ended where you could drop off on the old road. The farthest south end of pavement is at 30,01,40.1 -114,34,30.7. but as I mentioned, the road isn't open to there and there is a few miles of roadbed without pavement.

There was a grader laying out the route further south.

David K - 11-12-2010 at 07:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
I was there today - You are directed off the pavement at the same spot as we were in April. I drove south a mile or so and got back on the new road - unpaved - and headed south on it and reached a stretch - maybe 3 miles that was paved, then it ended where you could drop off on the old road. The farthest south end of pavement is at 30,01,40.1 -114,34,30.7. but as I mentioned, the road isn't open to there and there is a few miles of roadbed without pavement.

There was a grader laying out the route further south.


Thanks Lou... keep us posted! Have fun when the Baja 1000 races through town next Thursday!!

bajalou - 11-12-2010 at 07:37 PM

yes, the B1000 - first trucks about sundown - and almost 200 miles down course they can really spread out. But the course is only about 3 miles from home so that's a plus.

David K - 11-12-2010 at 07:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
yes, the B1000 - first trucks about sundown - and almost 200 miles down course they can really spread out. But the course is only about 3 miles from home so that's a plus.


You will probably be seeing Trophy Trucks befor that Lou... Have fun!

mcfez - 11-12-2010 at 11:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
yes, the B1000 - first trucks about sundown - and almost 200 miles down course they can really spread out. But the course is only about 3 miles from home so that's a plus.

They run right behind you at the El Dorado, right?

David K - 11-13-2010 at 07:40 AM

The race course uses to original Ensenada to San Felipe road from Diablo Dry Lake to almost Hwy 5 at the arches in San Felipe. It passes closest to Lou's place where the 'zoo road' meets the old Ensenada road... That point is Race Mile 178.

The first motorcycle leaves at 6:30 am (I believe), and if it does an average of 60 mph it will be there at 9:30 am.

If the first Trophy Truck leaves Ensenada at 11:30 am and averages 50 mph, it will arrive there just before 3:30 pm. If 60 mph, then close to 2:30 pm... If they start at 11:30.

3464james - 11-13-2010 at 10:05 AM

bajalou,
so, how much of the old road is left to Gonzaga. We are going down the 27th and my wife and I are more than a little interested.
Thanks,
Jim

David K - 11-13-2010 at 11:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 3464james
bajalou,
so, how much of the old road is left to Gonzaga. We are going down the 27th and my wife and I are more than a little interested.
Thanks,
Jim


New road construction ends 25 miles south of the Puertecitos paved entrance fork. The final 6 miles are mixed paved/ unpaved/ detour per Lou. The Gonzga Pemex is 46 miles from Puertecitos giving you 21 miles of older road... not yet re-graded for new highway construction access. That is 21 SLOW miles!

Here is my road log from July (Puertecitos to Hwy.1):

Here is the road log from Monday, July 19, 2010 (was posted on the Baja Road Conditions forum):

0.0 (0 min.) Puertecitos Entrance Road, sign ahead for Laguna Chapala.

5.2 (6 min.) Playa Cristina

6.2 La Costilla

17.6 (20 min.) El Huerfanito (off to east of highway, no sign)

18.5 Detour off pavement onto older road, regraded for construction traffic. Piles of sand on road mark this point, no sign. Ahead on pavement is sign for Campo Tano at Mile 19.0. At 19.3 is a sign 'End of Pavement, 200 mtrs.'). At 19.5 is the absolute end at an unfinished bridge. No sign of road work on the opposite side of arroyo. Road work does continue beyond, out of sight from here.

Return back to Mile 18.5, detour onto dirt... log continues from this point.

25.1 (34 min. from Puertecitos, not including run to end of pavement) End of new road construction alongside old road. Old road new grading ends... very rough, rocky road on to Gonzaga. Motorhomes and trailers should avoid!

26.0 'Okie Landing' to east (note cement pads along end of gravel beach marking the fish camp of the 1960's.

33.1 (1 hr. 14 min.) Campo Delfines

36.3 (1 hr. 26 min.) Las Encantadas

37.9 (1 hr. 31 min.) Punta Bufeo

43.1 (1 hr. 59 min.) El Faro

43.4 (2 hr. 1 min.) Papa Fernandez' Bahia San Luis Gonzaga

Military Checkpont is just a mile + ahead.

46.1 (2 hr. 12 min.) Alfonsina's Pemex (closed from 2-4 pm), Rancho Grande Market just ahead on right.

Clear odometer for next section... The main road south from Gonzaga is much better than the road north, but the rough surface still limits maximum speed to ~30 mph (twice that of the north section) in a Tacoma, loaded.

0.0 Rancho Grande 'Gonzaga Bay'

1.3 (8 min.) Road to Campo Beluga and Sacraficio

7.5 (22 min.) Road west to Arroyo Santa Maria and Las Palmitas oasis on the old mission trail 'El CaminoReal'

10.0 (28 min.) Road in from left is the south access route to Punta Final

16.7 La Turquesa Canyon road to west (green pools of water, turquoise mine, and very difficult off road and abandoned mine road shortcut to Hwy. 1 near El Pedregoso)

19.2 (52 min.) Las Arrastras site access road. Gold ore grinding mills, well, nearby waterhole of San Francisquito on the Camino Real.

23.0 (1 hr.) Coco's Corner (cold Pacifico for sale $2) Coco in Ensenada, helper Ramón on hand.

36.1 (1 hr. 30 min. driving time) HWY. 1, Laguna Chapala. Gasoline and tire repairs advertised, 1 km. south.

bajalou - 11-13-2010 at 01:54 PM

You will use the old road about 27 miles from where you are sent off the pavement. This is what I figured in April when I was there and it is the same exit from pavement in use now.

SFLowTide - 11-13-2010 at 04:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Doesn't it just drive you crazy... wanting to go to Baja... and can't?? I know the feeling!!


You're not kidding, and it gets worse every year...

cj5orion - 11-14-2010 at 06:52 AM

james;
gonzaga road is jus the way you left it from your last trip !
cya down here !
bert
Quote:
Originally posted by 3464james
bajalou,
so, how much of the old road is left to Gonzaga. We are going down the 27th and my wife and I are more than a little interested.
Thanks,
Jim

mcfez - 11-14-2010 at 08:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
You will use the old road about 27 miles from where you are sent off the pavement. This is what I figured in April when I was there and it is the same exit from pavement in use now.


Lou....is there still the sandy off road that can be used? Usually runs right next to the road.

bajalou - 11-14-2010 at 10:13 AM

Only in some areas is there a close parallel side road. Unless you want to jump back on the unopened portion of the road, it's best to just use the old road. Of course right now it's being used for the B1000 race so have to watch out for racers and support people.

mcfez - 11-14-2010 at 02:15 PM

Thanks Lou

Huerfanito bridge & Hwy 5 pictures later this week.

bryanmckenzie - 11-15-2010 at 01:07 PM

I'll be down to watch the Baja 100 race this week. I plan on heading down to the construction zone to obtain pictures and an update, even though your report is just a few days ago. I'll post the pictures as soon as I can.
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
I was there today - You are directed off the pavement at the same spot as we were in April. I drove south a mile or so and got back on the new road - unpaved - and headed south on it and reached a stretch - maybe 3 miles that was paved, then it ended where you could drop off on the old road. The farthest south end of pavement is at 30,01,40.1 -114,34,30.7. but as I mentioned, the road isn't open to there and there is a few miles of roadbed without pavement.

There was a grader laying out the route further south.


Thanks Lou... keep us posted! Have fun when the Baja 1000 races through town next Thursday!!

CortezBlue - 11-16-2010 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Funny. I have traveled to enough places in parts of this world. Very cool places. I dont think about going back to them. You know..."seen it - done it". But Baja...I just kept thinking of it daily.

Maybe I should move down to San Diego ...down the street near your house ....by that park :-) Then I go to Baja every weekend.

mcpuitar - 11-22-2010 at 01:03 PM

As of yesterday 11/21 there is still the same pile of sand blocking the pavement as you head south just beyond Isla El Huerfanito. The far end of the pavement, about 10 kms to the south, needs a center stripe but otherwise looks complete.

David K - 11-22-2010 at 01:07 PM

Thank you.

mcfez - 11-22-2010 at 06:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Thank you.


Guess them engineers told me false mumbojumbo :o

Highway 5 Update with Pictures & Map

bryanmckenzie - 12-2-2010 at 04:38 PM

Well, it took a week to compile all the pictures and update the Baja Almanac map, but here it is as of 19 November 2010. These images & maps are downsized to better fit this website. If you'd like high-resolution images of any of these items, send me a private e-mail.

So here's the end of the "old road" inside Puertecitos (the new road bypasses town to the west).















bajalou - 12-2-2010 at 04:49 PM

Regarding KM numbers - San Felipe is about KM 200 from Mexicali so those 200 series aren't from Mexicali. I'm still wondering also.

David K - 12-2-2010 at 05:29 PM

Great stuff...

The 'Huerfanito Bridge' in your photo is north of Huerfanito, coming out of the hills... Most of us saying the Huerfanito Bridge are referring to the unfinished bridge just past El Huerfanito on the coastal plain where the pavement ended the last few months (April to November) a mile past the sand piles.

Thanks Bryan... my neck hurts from looking at the panorama sideways! LOL

bryanmckenzie - 12-2-2010 at 05:45 PM

Exactly, Bajalou. That matches up. I saw high 200's S/o SF. I was so caught up in the new road, I forgot to take notes or pictures of the Km markers.
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Regarding KM numbers - San Felipe is about KM 200 from Mexicali so those 200 series aren't from Mexicali. I'm still wondering also.

David K - 12-2-2010 at 05:50 PM

If you add the distance from San Felipe (Km 191) to Puertecitos (about 80 km) you have Km. 271 at Puertecitos... is that close? High 200's?

bajalou - 12-2-2010 at 07:36 PM

The 200s I saw were near Huerfanito Bridge. - seem like it was in the 240s but I'm probably wrong on that. (remember, it was at least 3 weeks ago)

Of course, if the rumored by-pass to the west of San Felipe is built, that will change the numbers also.

[Edited on 12-3-2010 by bajalou]

Bob H - 12-2-2010 at 08:37 PM

This is all very good stuff! Thanks for the images and the recent update.

David K - 12-2-2010 at 08:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
The 200s I saw were near Huerfanito Bridge. - seem like it was in the 240s but I'm probably wrong on that. (remember, it was at least 3 weeks ago)

Of course, if the rumored by-pass to the west of San Felipe is built, that will change the numbers also.

[Edited on 12-3-2010 by bajalou]


I took that into account with my 80 km (50 mile) guess for the new route... which was what the old road was about in distance. The current paved route is 5 miles longer because it swings out east to Punta Estrella where-as the old road went straight south via the sulfur mine.

It is one of the interesting oddities Baja is famous for!