BajaNomad - Low Clearance Vehicles Be Warned

Low Clearance Vehicles Be Warned

Bajahowodd - 10-18-2011 at 02:05 PM

Just made the trip from San Ysidro to Los Cabos. The good news is that Highway 1 is in excellent shape in BCS. But in BC, there are a number of repair and repave projects underway that can cause delays and also mess up your vehicle.

First one is South of Maneadero. Not all that bad. But both North and South of Catavina, there are many miles of repaving going on.

But, for me, the all time kicker came about 50 miles North of Guerrero Negro, where they were crushing the old pavement on the N side and allowing the NB vehicles to use the SB lane. They provided a detour in the dirt to the right of the highway for SB traffic. But, it appeared to me that this project had been abandoned. I saw no equipment along the way, and the dirt detour was awful, with huge rocks protruding, along with a section of very soft sandy dirt that wa so deep, our sedan bottomed out in it. Not to mention that we hit a few large rocks with the undercarriage because there was no place to turn. THIS DETOUR LASTS ABOUT FIVE MILES AND IS NO FUN!

I plan an actual trip report if I ever decide to return home. However, in connection with another thread. I did want to report that according to the lovely Esmeralda at Jardines Restaurant in San Quintin, Baja Gringo was spotted there just a few days ago. Methinks he was drinking Cadillac Margaritas through a straw!

DENNIS - 10-18-2011 at 02:25 PM

Howard....check your U2U.

David K - 10-18-2011 at 03:22 PM

Thanks!

TMW - 10-18-2011 at 04:23 PM

[" Baja Gringo was spotted there just a few days ago. Methinks he was drinking Cadillac Margaritas through a straw"]

Desperate people will do desperate things.

BajaGringo - 10-18-2011 at 04:42 PM

Guilty as charged!

:lol:

Actually I made a trip down to check on the house and things. Was a very emotional moment when I arrived out at the beach and reconnecting with the community for the first time since the event...

Ken Cooke - 10-18-2011 at 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo
Guilty as charged!

Word travels..

Hook - 10-18-2011 at 04:49 PM

Ron, it might be a tough way to accomplish it, but your events may bring your community even closer together.

Glad you made it ALL THE WAY back.

deportes - 10-18-2011 at 05:07 PM

Great news! Q Viva el Baja Gringo!!! drinking tequilyou through a straw is a fast way to recovery. Hope to see you in San Quintin someday in the future, salud. Che! :spingrin:

tripledigitken - 10-18-2011 at 07:14 PM

Howard,

I know you are a liberal and strive for a greener existence, but really you have to stop driving that Prius in Baja.
:biggrin:

Have a great trip.

Ken

Mex. #1

Hooker33 - 10-19-2011 at 05:48 AM

Just arrived in Cabo from Tiajuana. The worst trip I have made out of 22 trips. Towing a 21' boat made the trip more difficult. The dirt and stone construction sites destroyed the surge breaks on the boat trailer, knocking a hole in a brake line and dumping all the fluid. No gas in Ciuadad Constitution, power was out throughout the area, had to siphon gas out of the boat to make it to La Paz. Decided to stay on hyw 1 rather than going by way of Todos Santos, glad I did as a friend going that way lost a windshield from a rock thrown by a vehicle in front of him in the construction south of Todos. I could go on but right now I am happily having my morning cup of coffee and looking over Mar de Cortez. All will be forgotten in a few days.

Mex #1

Hooker33 - 10-19-2011 at 07:49 AM

Oops, I hope the spelling police forgive me, just proof read my post. I can only blame it on a rattled brain from driven many miles over very rough terrain.

RnR - 10-19-2011 at 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hooker33

Just arrived in Cabo from Tiajuana.

Oops, I hope the spelling police forgive me, just proof read my post. I can only blame it on a rattled brain from driven many miles over very rough terrain.

Don't worry. That's just the phonetic spelling!

Can't believe how many people I know that say, "Tee-Uh-Wan-a"

:lol:

David K - 10-19-2011 at 09:29 AM

There is an 'edit' feature on Nomad! :light:

durrelllrobert - 10-19-2011 at 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RnR

Quote:

Don't worry. That's just the phonetic spelling!

Can't believe how many people I know that say, "Tee-Uh-Wan-a"

:lol:

You mean that aunt Jane no longers wants to? :lol:

tiotomasbcs - 10-19-2011 at 10:19 AM

I just made the drive a few weeks ago and there are some "new" very rough sections of roadwork. My Odyssey is very angry with me! :no:

N of GN I quickly jumped back up off the dirt road onto old hwy as no one was coming. Had to race a semi for the end/beginning of the detour!! Would not want to pull a boat or trailer even with a big Pickup. Con Cuidado. Tio

Bajahowodd - 10-19-2011 at 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hooker33
Just arrived in Cabo from Tiajuana. The worst trip I have made out of 22 trips. Towing a 21' boat made the trip more difficult. The dirt and stone construction sites destroyed the surge breaks on the boat trailer, knocking a hole in a brake line and dumping all the fluid. No gas in Ciuadad Constitution, power was out throughout the area, had to siphon gas out of the boat to make it to La Paz. Decided to stay on hyw 1 rather than going by way of Todos Santos, glad I did as a friend going that way lost a windshield from a rock thrown by a vehicle in front of him in the construction south of Todos. I could go on but right now I am happily having my morning cup of coffee and looking over Mar de Cortez. All will be forgotten in a few days.

Forgot to mention that. The road is all finished South of Todos through Pescadero. But then, it is all construction all the way to where the power station is about 5 miles N of Cabo. Trust me. You will make much better time using Mex 1 from La Paz to SJD.

Mexican Stand-Off

LaTijereta - 10-19-2011 at 01:41 PM

Just made the trip down from SD to Loreto..

No border issues with inspections..
South of Ensenada road is tore up dropping down in Valle Santo Tomas..

South of Catavina road is gone for about 5 miles.. Met a water truck coming the other way..

Next area is the section north of Guerrero Negro.. Very rough on the south boundside for about 10 miles in soft sand conditions..
Nice to be back home in Loreto :cool:

Bajahowodd - 10-27-2011 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
I just made the drive a few weeks ago and there are some "new" very rough sections of roadwork. My Odyssey is very angry with me! :no:

Tenga Cuidado!

As I headed North through this construction area, the single paved lane was mine! However, in the course of the 5 or so miles, I encountered four Southbound vehicles in my lane, each of which yielded to me by pulling to the left into the torn-up Southbound side.

However, there are at least two very blind hills on this stretch that could spell disaster with the wrong timing!!!

rts551 - 10-27-2011 at 12:33 PM

I talked to the folks in Jesus Maria. Apparently the contractor pulled out after a disagreement with the government over money. Negotiations are going on with the contractor who is working up by Catavina. But it may be a while...

and Federal Police pulled a south bound car over for apparently going the wrong way on top (in the North bound lane) just as as I was passing North bound. Be careful since the lane markers at the entrances to the road construction have been destroyed by cars hitting them.

DianaT - 10-27-2011 at 12:43 PM

I sure hope they start work on that section of road SOON. It is an awful detour and it is very dangerous with people driving the wrong way on the paved part----and right at the south exit from the detour, we came across someone with a broken utility trailer. We stopped, but he already had someone going to GN for help.

Glad to hear they are at least in negotiations for work to begin again! Thanks

choyero - 10-27-2011 at 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
N of GN I quickly jumped back up off the dirt road onto old hwy as no one was coming.

I did the same, but in the dark trying to get to GN after a late start, and a prolonger border search which included dogs, secondary and then customs. all after a green light of course :?:

I figured this saved me over a 1/2 hr of driving over turd roads.

[Edited on 10-28-2011 by choyero]

Ateo - 10-27-2011 at 09:49 PM

Yep. That GN stretch sucks. Did it in July and it still sounds the same. Got stuck behind an 18 wheeler and wanted to go completely off road to pass the buttcrack but had my family in the truck so I didn't.

David K - 10-28-2011 at 08:20 AM

Anyone consider using another route to Baja Sur, if you aren't in a rush and have a 4WD or 'good enough' vehicle?

a) via Bahia de los Angeles and Guillermo Prieto (paved and graded 2WD roads).
b) via the original transpeninsular main road from Rosarito or from near the El Tomatal jcn. to El Arco and on south (unimproved and graded roads)