BajaNomad

Mex-1 Road Conditions

mulegejim - 2-29-2012 at 07:50 AM

Just made a trip going south to Mulege crossing the border at Tijuana. Looked as though all pickups and most SUVs were being sent to secondary - no problem there, just a quick look and I was on my way. The toll road construction is pretty much finished. The major work north of Santo Tomas is coming along with just a few sections of graded dirt. I have a Tacoma PU and it was easy to maintain 30/35 MPH. Maybe not so with an RV but still not bad. The rest of the highway is in very good shape until you get to the Jesus Maria area. That section of dirt detour was much shorter and better graded that my last trip in January. Only about a mile of dirt roadway that was well graded. Most of the new paving is done so that area should be completed in the not-to-for-distant-future. All in all, an easy trip south - did see more range animals than I have ever seen long the roadway so keep a sharp eye out. Jim

dorado50 - 2-29-2012 at 09:17 AM

Appreciate the update!!:yes:

Udo - 2-29-2012 at 09:58 AM

We had the same experience with horses, burros, cattle, back In December. All my years of traveling Mex 1, these have been the most I have ever seen.

I think they like the FRESH grass that grows along the sides of the pavement after it rains.

mulegejim - 2-29-2012 at 10:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
We had the same experience with horses, burros, cattle, back In December. All my years of traveling Mex 1, these have been the most I have ever seen.

I think they like the FRESH grass that grows along the sides of the pavement after it rains.


Totally agree - the cattle looked very lean with ribs showing so must not be much to eat other then along the side of the road. Lots of horses also and they tend to spook much easier than the cattle. Just be careful and alert. Jim

gallesram - 2-29-2012 at 11:49 AM

Jim, thanks for the update; I'm making the trip in April and have been wondering what's in store for me; helps a lot knowing what to expect. I'm relieved that some of the bad spots are completely fixed (south of Catavina) and that they're making progress on the other bad spots (south of Ensenada & north of Jesus Maria).

mulegejim - 2-29-2012 at 12:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gallesram
Jim, thanks for the update; I'm making the trip in April and have been wondering what's in store for me; helps a lot knowing what to expect. I'm relieved that some of the bad spots are completely fixed (south of Catavina) and that they're making progress on the other bad spots (south of Ensenada & north of Jesus Maria).


I should have mentioned that south of Catavina there is a section that is a bit rough still (not bad just a little rough compared to the rest of the highway). It is still better than the best sections of twenty years ago. I am sure they will be repaving along there shortly. Jim

DavidE - 2-29-2012 at 12:24 PM

Back in the eighties, I found several broken bales of hay on a side road near Insurgentes. I tossed them in the back of my truck. When I got to Tres Enriques I saw a group of cattle on the side of the road including a scraggly looking cow with calf. I stopped and pitched the hay out. Boy did they ever come running. I sat there for the better part of an hour watching those bovines stowing away the hay. Then I heard the clomp of hoof beats. One of the fellows from the Rancho had ridden up. He gave me the eyebrow signal of "what's up?". I told him the hay was a gift of the highway. He gave me a gold plated grin, reached into his saddlebag and insisted
I take a small wheel of cheese wrapped in what seemed like parchment. Then he invited me to what I would guess to be the rancho and I drank tequila with them until I couldn't see straight. I spent the night in my sleeping bag on the floor. The next day I could only make it as far as the Cielito Lindo before collapsing in agony. After hearing my story the people in the bar insisted I take a little hair of the dog as a curative.