BajaNomad - Chapala to Coco's

Chapala to Coco's

Desertbull - 10-26-2012 at 05:59 PM

Last night ... THURSDAY night was an amazing experience on the northbound inbound to Coco's...

First was a fully loaded enclosed semi tractor trailer following me down the Chapala road in the dark.

Second was the fully loaded semi flatbed loaded with massive steel fabricated components that took up the entire road as the Black Mamba slid just by before he lost his load blocking the road.

A Sportsmobile yuppy worried about how rough the road was...I just laughed

An Applied construction manager towing gear out of bridge construction with a flat tire on his Ford F150 right rear, and a flat tire on his flatbed trailer and NO TOOLS! We solved his problem in 10 minutes.

An American towing his Airstream south over the road not listening about the blocked road by the big flatbed semi.

Chase trucks and trailers like it was Friday night LA traffic....

By the time we got to Rancho Grande the motos and ATV's were heading south..

So much traffic

willardguy - 10-26-2012 at 06:07 PM

we encountered semi's with humongous tanks and machinery rumbling south towards coco's a couple weeks ago. we were told its mining equipment heading to santa rosalia.

thebajarunner - 10-26-2012 at 07:14 PM

Top secret UFO launching pad

David K - 10-27-2012 at 08:57 AM

Gonzaga Bay... on a highway... how sad.

Sweetwater - 10-27-2012 at 08:58 AM

I can hardly wait till the entire stretch is paved.........

that's cynical sarcasm intended.......

dtbushpilot - 10-27-2012 at 11:01 AM

I'm looking forward to it, no sarcasm intended......dt

rts551 - 10-27-2012 at 11:16 AM

I'll be glad when it is done. Provides an alternative (and shorter for Arizona) route for us southern Baja dwellers....without the punishing road.

not for the people of mexico

capt. mike - 10-27-2012 at 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Gonzaga Bay... on a highway... how sad.

this means jobs. and maybe a future.

David K - 10-27-2012 at 02:17 PM

Since there is almost no local population look for a bunch of new to Baja workers from the mainland... and non of you liked it when other parts of Baja got new demographics!

rts551 - 10-27-2012 at 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Since there is almost no local population look for a bunch of new to Baja workers from the mainland... and non of you liked it when other parts of Baja got new demographics!

Yup. There goes the neighborhood. As hwy 1 was paved, Every community ruined by them darn Mesicans

David K - 10-27-2012 at 03:52 PM

Highway One was paved in 1973, and connected existing towns together, the only town that was created by Hwy. 1 I can think of is Cataviña, and that isn't too big of a town...

Hwy. 5 south of San Felipe, and specially south of Puertecitos has no existing natural towns*... so if Gonzaga Bay is developed into the mega resort some of you desire, then new towns will grow... and I am talking 'people' not something as derogatory as what Ralph posted above. If you like places with lots of people (it doesn't matter what race they are Ralph), then welcome pavement into previously low populated places.

*Colonia Delicias and Puertecitos both became towns specifically for services to vacation and retirement homes.

DianaT - 10-27-2012 at 04:04 PM

Quote:

Curious as to whom you were referring when you stated, "non (sic) of you liked it" and what you mean by "new demographics."

rts551 - 10-27-2012 at 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Highway One was paved in 1973, and connected existing towns together, the only town that was created by Hwy. 1 I can think of is Cataviña, and that isn't too big of a town...

Hwy. 5 south of San Felipe, and specially south of Puertecitos has no existing natural towns*... so if Gonzaga Bay is developed into the mega resort some of you desire, then new towns will grow... and I am talking 'people' not something as derogatory as what Ralph posted above. If you like places with lots of people (it doesn't matter what race they are Ralph), then welcome pavement into previously low populated places.

*Colonia Delicias and Puertecitos both became towns specifically for services to vacation and retirement homes.

Give me a break. Vizcaino, Guerrero Negro, Rosalia, Punta Prieta, and on and on.

My tongue in cheek comment was aimed at the obvious, which I guess you missed. Bad on me. Its not the meg resort. Its the ease of transport and transportation for the multitude of people that live in that area and point south. Get off your high horse and let go of your personal play ground. No mega-resorts until water is found....ahhhhh not likely in that area.

rts551 - 10-27-2012 at 05:15 PM

I know I am not likely to change the minds of people who fight against minor progress in Mexico... but I KNOW the paved road to my town, Abreojos, and the paved road to Asunccion and Bahia Tortugas have resulted in postive benefits to the community. That pavement has not resulted in an influx of undesirable Baja workers from the mainland (whatever that means) nor has there been any megaresorts built other than Shari's campground!

David K - 10-27-2012 at 07:06 PM

Didn't read my post well? Abreojos and Asuncion were towns BEFORE pavement. There is no local population / town south of Puertecitos other than the few running the Gonzaga campos.

Sweetwater - 10-27-2012 at 08:45 PM

I will tell you the reasons for my sarcasm and cynical attitude.

I grew up in the late '50-'60's in southwestern Wyoming...Sweetwater County for those interested.

My folks were both immigrant children from Italy and Slovenia. There were any number of established coal mining towns with dirt roads between them, some were camps (sound familiar?) and several were 'company towns'.

As my 85 year old dad relates, the Great Depression was the best time of his life because everybody was equal, nobody had more than his neighbors and folks knew how to share. We grew up awfully poor compared to modern standards, and even compared to the standards of those times. Fresh fruit and veggies were a major treat.

One of the truest attractions of the Sea of Cortez and Baja is this same "equality", IMHO.

When the great highways and Interstates became established in the late '60's and early '70's, the quality of life improved.....?........ or make that 'modernized'.....yes, lot's of new jobs and people, less isolation, more business and money spent.....

But really.........?

Maybe I came to this planet too late but I surely enjoy the solitude, isolation, rugged topography and relative undeveloped Baja that's being paved over.

Just my centavos.....

[Edited on 10-28-2012 by Sweetwater]

redhilltown - 11-6-2012 at 04:46 PM

I'm with David K and Sweetwater on this one and I have driven the road dozens of times...probably knocking out a few loose teeth and bruising a couple of ribs! But that is just the way I liked it. Even with the old road, Gonzaga Bay was a glorious and stunning day's drive from Los Angeles...another world...and a beautiful world at that. It will be developed and jet skis will rule the bay. That is fine for some but certainly not the reason I drive to Baja.

David K - 11-6-2012 at 04:49 PM

At least we are old enough to remember the 'good old days' when that bay was the reward for such a hard drive. I don't think it will be nearly as appreciated when it is easy to drive any car to.

MMc - 11-6-2012 at 04:57 PM

"At least we are old enough to remember the 'good old days' when that bay was the reward for such a hard drive. I don't think it will be nearly as appreciated when it is easy to drive any car to."

DK changes his song when it's closer to home.
It is so funny reading you lament about change... :lol:

MMc

David K - 11-6-2012 at 04:59 PM

Changes what song? I have always gone with Mama's quote: "Bad roads bring good people, good roads bring all kinds of people"

I love slow, rocky or deep sand roads that require 4WD!

MMc - 11-6-2012 at 06:30 PM

David, you have never understood that with today's technology it is very easy to overexpose spots and in doing so provide the means for their change. For anybody to promote a remote spot without care as to the long term affects is wrong (IMHO). Some of us don't believe exposure from us is what is best for the locals. If somebody wants to use the internet to promote their business fine. They live there and will live with the outcome.

For the wanderer to shrike-out with a map and a few notes on a napkin, get stuck, worry if they made the right choice, and find the grail. That is the ADVENTURE. David, you've done this.

By exposing remote places it minimizes the wonder of the discovery. As the wanderer pulls up to the spot they have seen in photos, having not made any wrong turns, they are less impressed but happy for the safe trip. Most folks will not venture out without a guide and you fill that roll on this board for many. We all need a place to shine and this is yours.

Now that part of your remote Baja is being changed you don't like it as much. I'm with you on not liking the change, just laughing at the irony.

David K - 11-7-2012 at 10:45 AM

Yup... I see what you're saying... however what I have seen is that bad roads and 4WD needed still keeps a place unpopulated and naturally beautiful. Case in point, Mission Santa Maria, and the Seven Sisters (northern section) has been mapped and written about for over 50 years, and it still looks the same. My favorite beach camp area, Shell Island... no matter how much I show it here, it is still as beautiful and empty as it was when I first camped there in 1978.... What do these three areas have in common? They require or are best reached with a four wheel drive.

Until 1987, Gonzaga Bay was only reached by airplane, four wheel drive, or sturdy truck or dune buggy... and it was almost unchanged. By 2000, a motel was built then a Pemex station... but the graded road finished in '87 wasn't maintained so things didn't grow too much for the next 25 years. Now, I guarantee you this paved highway will make a big change there. Only the new (last night) likelihood of 4 more years of a depressed American economy will help keep big development form doing damage soon.

MMc - 11-7-2012 at 02:02 PM

I understand that Baja is changing, I miss the adventure it had to offer. Over the last 30 years I have seen remote sites become more and more poplar. A spot that was unique or had something to offer becomes crowed. A dirt road is put in, a fence, a house, those of us that enjoyed a spot are excluded. I can name spots all over the coast that have become restricted. Places you could set up camp and not see another soul for days. Now, we have pictures and updates on grounded sailboat, on what was a remote beach.
The more people that show up the better the roads become, equals 4x no longer needed.

Most the roads on the pacific are going to a fish camp and assessable by 2-wheel drive. The Sisters are much more crowed now then in the past, packed on a good swell. A lot of the crowd is because of the Internet. Guys that have read about spots and are looking for a venture, pack up and go. I have spent a lot of hours helping these clowns out, knowing they will post about it and next year it will be that much more crowed.

David, I hope access to your little island never gets denied or somebody thinks it needs a bar/house/bathroom/improvement, cause when it happens it sucks.

Change is coming I don’t have to promote or support it. I believe that posting it on a board that gets 1000s hits per month is doing both. I know this will not change your view, just ironic that it’s a little closer to home.

no baddies 'til thr road was paved ~8^)

EdZeranski - 11-7-2012 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

[ and none of you liked it when other parts of Baja got new demographics!

Yup. There goes the neighborhood. As hwy 1 was paved, Every community ruined by them darn Mesicans

It was the Mesikins that told me that story!!Text

CortezBlue - 11-8-2012 at 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
I'll be glad when it is done. Provides an alternative (and shorter for Arizona) route for us southern Baja dwellers....without the punishing road.

Agreed, I can't wait til I bring all of our Zoni friends down for snorkeling and fishing and be able to go back to my San Felipe house

David K - 11-8-2012 at 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CortezBlue

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
I'll be glad when it is done. Provides an alternative (and shorter for Arizona) route for us southern Baja dwellers....without the punishing road.

Agreed, I can't wait til I bring all of our Zoni friends down for snorkeling and fishing and be able to go back to my San Felipe house

You see, there goes the neighborhood! :lol:

coloradoboardheads - 11-8-2012 at 04:07 PM

It will not be the experience it now is when paved...sigh!

On that note...I am travelling Mexicali, thru Gonzaga, Chapala and on to La Ventana in early December. Last time I drove it was last January. Any info on the progress of the (ugh) paving and the road out to Chapala?

David K - 11-8-2012 at 05:19 PM

The last report posted here said the pavement still ended 10 miles north of Papa Fernandez' driveway... but was graded smooth. They are building a huge bridge for the big arroyo just before Papa Fernandez' (33 miles south of the Puertecitos fork).

The grading south to Coco's is washboardy, and from Coco's to Chapala, is pretty rocky... no recent grader work... go slow, save the tires!

[Edited on 11-9-2012 by David K]

coloradoboardheads - 11-8-2012 at 05:34 PM

I did see a report, dated Oct. 12. I was wondering if any significant damage from the hurricane that I should be aware of.

I drive a suspension modified Tundra, so I am not real concerned, but thought I should check.

Thanks

David K - 11-8-2012 at 07:34 PM

ElComandateLoco just posted he passed through on Nov.4 in the Coco Battery thread by TW.

TMW - 11-9-2012 at 01:19 PM

There appears to be a short detour just north of the military checkpoint.

David K - 11-9-2012 at 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
There appears to be a short detour just north of the military checkpoint.

I think that is to go around where they are building the big bridge, just north of Papa Fernandez' road.