BajaNomad - The road we shouldn't have traveled.

The road we shouldn't have traveled.

BigOly - 5-22-2011 at 03:21 PM

Last week, my lovely wife and I decided to take the old road in our Highlander. You know, the one that is just north of San Jose del Cabo that crosses over the mountains to Todos Santos. We thought we might see some interesting birds to photo. Never been there before. Maybe find a new pond or spring or something.
Well anyway, 17 kilomaters in, and after seeing nobody for an hour we meet Jose'. In broken spanglish I ask if the road is O.K. ahead for travel. (he is on a quad) He kinda shrugs and says si. We continue on and the road is really getting narrow and little to no room to turn around. No birds, nothing especially noteworthy except how steep the canyon is and how skinny the road is getting.
I didn't mention the fact that Debbie is driving. To keep the peace, she drives when she wants to. I don't care if she makes a wrong turn or hits a bump or dip in the road but it seems like when I drive, roads turn into unforegiveable mine fields. If I take a wrong turn, instead of warning me of a turn ahead I'm supposed to take, its "where in the he!! are you going"? If I hit a rock the air in the cabin turns blue for an hour and neither of us smoke. So she drives when she wants to.
We've reached the point of no return on this nasty trail of a road. Up ahead, the road has fallen away on one side and there is a sharp, unmoveable rock on the other. We have to keep going. No turnaround and backing up miles uphill was not in the cards.
It went something like this(and mind you this is from a gal that was given 6 months to live((stage 4 ovarion cancer)) 6 years ago. "Are we going to be allright"? I,m looking out the passenger window to see our tire about ready to split on this big, sharp rock and she can't muster up the courage to look out her window.(straight down 200 meters at least). "Sure baby doll, keep goin'.
Then she gets going too fast after we pass the worst of the road and we are sliding and breaking and this steep corner is approaching...
O.K. so we made it home but, for now, don't take the road less traveled, the one to Todos anyway!

KurtG - 5-22-2011 at 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigOly
Last week, my lovely wife and I decided to take the old road in our Highlander. You know, the one that is just north of San Jose del Cabo that crosses over the mountains to Todos Santos. We thought we might see some interesting birds to photo. Never been there before. Maybe find a new pond or spring or something.
Well anyway, 17 kilomaters in, and after seeing nobody for an hour we meet Jose'. In broken spanglish I ask if the road is O.K. ahead for travel. (he is on a quad) He kinda shrugs and says si. We continue on and the road is really getting narrow and little to no room to turn around. No birds, nothing especially noteworthy except how steep the canyon is and how skinny the road is getting.
I didn't mention the fact that Debbie is driving. To keep the peace, she drives when she wants to. I don't care if she makes a wrong turn or hits a bump or dip in the road but it seems like when I drive, roads turn into unforegiveable mine fields. If I take a wrong turn, instead of warning me of a turn ahead I'm supposed to take, its "where in the he!! are you going"? If I hit a rock the air in the cabin turns blue for an hour and neither of us smoke. So she drives when she wants to.
We've reached the point of no return on this nasty trail of a road. Up ahead, the road has fallen away on one side and there is a sharp, unmoveable rock on the other. We have to keep going. No turnaround and backing up miles uphill was not in the cards.
It went something like this(and mind you this is from a gal that was given 6 months to live((stage 4 ovarion cancer)) 6 years ago. "Are we going to be allright"? I,m looking out the passenger window to see our tire about ready to split on this big, sharp rock and she can't muster up the courage to look out her window.(straight down 200 meters at least). "Sure baby doll, keep goin'.
Then she gets going too fast after we pass the worst of the road and we are sliding and breaking and this steep corner is approaching...
O.K. so we made it home but, for now, don't take the road less traveled, the one to Todos anyway!

A few years ago while on the narrowest portion of that road probably at the point you describe my passenger got out to walk saying "there's no point in both of us dying here!"

bajajudy - 5-22-2011 at 03:39 PM

"A few years ago while on the narrowest portion of that road probably at the point you describe my passenger got out to walk saying "there's no point in both of us dying here!" "
We did that drive in our GMC long bed...19 1/2 feet long and I, also, got out to walk, making the same comment.
What a spectacular view of the Pacific though.

David K - 5-22-2011 at 03:45 PM

The Narranjas Road isn't 'that' old... but it was reported to be an example of a road building disaster in the waiting.

I would love to take it, never have... well, I was only in the Cabo area once since it was built!

How about some photos?

dtbushpilot - 5-22-2011 at 05:44 PM

Me and my sweetie drove over to Todos on it a couple of months ago. The road is a bit "sporty" in that area and best traveled in a smaller vehicle. It was a "non event" in our FJ Cruiser and is doable in a full size pick up.....don't try it in your motorhome.......dt

MikeYounghusband - 5-22-2011 at 05:48 PM

Not much fun walking thru those mtns either. The most challanging of my whole trip. Tooooo steep.

Marc - 5-22-2011 at 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The Narranjas Road isn't 'that' old... but it was reported to be an example of a road building disaster in the waiting.

I would love to take it, never have... well, I was only in the Cabo area once since it was built!

How about some photos?

My Bud and I drove down to Batopilas in Copper canyon last year. I drove down, he drove back, I had the big drop window view both ways. :wow:

1bobo - 5-22-2011 at 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Me and my sweetie drove over to Todos on it a couple of months ago. The road is a bit "sporty" in that area and best traveled in a smaller vehicle. It was a "non event" in our FJ Cruiser and is doable in a full size pick up.....don't try it in your motorhome.......dt

As a matter of perspective, how does that road compare to say, the Agua Verde road?

shari - 5-23-2011 at 09:29 AM

ahhhh bigoly...that was a classic baja trip report!!! I have so been in that same situation so many times!!! whew...glad you made it out alive but sure am missin the photos.

dtbushpilot - 5-23-2011 at 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1bobo

Quote:

As a matter of perspective, how does that road compare to say, the Agua Verde road?

I haven't driven the Agua Verde road yet but it is on my short list. Me and Ged were going to ride through AV to Constitution on our excellent adventure but decided to save it for a day when ged's leg wasn't broken. :lol:

Hopefully there will be a Nomad who has been on them both recently to chime in.....dt

Eli - 5-23-2011 at 10:21 AM

Whoa, what great trip report Oly, glad you made it home to write about.

aqua verde

caboguy - 5-23-2011 at 11:45 AM

As a matter of fact.... My wife and I made the AV trip a few weeks ago. Not a real good idea in a rental rollerskate with onion skins for tires. Two hours of white knuckles, we passed only an older fellow on a mule. The view is amazing on the way, problem is only the one not driving can view it. I have driven over some really hairy roads in the mountains of Idaho, and this one is among the top 5. I don't think I will tackle the todos road in the near future.

BajaBlanca - 5-23-2011 at 02:23 PM

what a good story !!! I love the line about - no point in both of us dying here !!!

I also thought about the road to BATOPILAS in the copper canyon as I was reading the original thread ... it is very scary, very narrow, extremely dangerous after the paved part. we took the 5 hour bus ride and I swear, I have never seen my husband so pale. He used every curse word he ever heard on that trip down !! My though process went liek this: this bus has been doing this trip, every day, since forever....so it must be safe......

I never saw the fallen vehicles off the side of the road, but someone recently told me that they are there. OMG ... I am so grateful that I never saw them