BajaNomad - PAVEMENT almost to Gonzaga (bbbait report)

PAVEMENT almost to Gonzaga (bbbait report)

David K - 1-9-2013 at 08:16 PM

Hi David! Mike S. and I went from our camp (Cristina) to Alfonsina's Sunday morning for breakfast.

It is 43 miles door to door.

The new pavement is right at the turn in to "El Faro", which is just over the hump from the entrance to Papa Fernandez's. So it's three miles out from Rancho Grande (& Pemex) now.

We have some fresh photos I will send to you soon, probably tomorrow. Go ahead and post them if you wish.

The breakfast was as good as it gets down there, Shrimp Omelet, Juevos Rancheros, were enjoyed. It was very windy out to sea, but the bay was very calm... Wayno

January 6, 2013:

End of Pavement almost at Papa Fernandez'

Bridge over Arroyo San Luis Alfredo

Pacifico - 1-9-2013 at 09:15 PM

Wow.... Should be into Gonzaga soon!

Hook - 1-9-2013 at 09:50 PM

I would think that the paving is going to go much faster for this last 50 miles or so. They've conquered the worst of it.

Pueblo Bonito coming soon to Gonzaga??? :lol:

motoged - 1-9-2013 at 10:56 PM

I heard that Coco has applied for an Oxxo franchise :biggrin:

I can see it now.....CocoOxxo........

Beercans strung along the highway for miles.....

And panties all over the ceiling ...

mcfez - 1-10-2013 at 10:20 PM

So it is now paved through the winding little hill there coming up to Papa's? Wow! Txs for the 4 report

David K - 1-10-2013 at 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
So it is now paved through the winding little hill there coming up to Papa's? Wow! Txs for the 4 report

Well that bridge is over the big arroyo just north of Papa's road.
So the pavement ends just before the bridge. Wayno said it is at the El Faro road.

capt. mike - 1-11-2013 at 10:24 AM

where do all those highway workers stay? in camps along the way? too far to drive "home" each night!

mcfez - 1-11-2013 at 12:29 PM

Wow....just back from this stretch of road. Here's the latest update:

Anders - 1-11-2013 at 03:18 PM

Drove by there last week - progress is looking good indeed!

[Edited on 1-11-2013 by Anders]

Barry A. - 1-11-2013 at 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
where do all those highway workers stay? in camps along the way? too far to drive "home" each night!

Well, the second pic above sure answers THAT question.

Barry

David K - 1-11-2013 at 08:01 PM

Capt. Mike... they sleep under the bridges or culverts or in tents. The taco shop at Rancho Grande gets a lot of business!

[Edited on 1-12-2013 by David K]

bajagrouper - 1-11-2013 at 08:06 PM

Where will the timeshare salespeople sleep?

Bob H - 1-12-2013 at 12:13 AM

Wow... unreal!!!

redhilltown - 1-19-2013 at 12:39 AM

A Burger King!!! Finally!!!!

Thank god...I am SOOOOO sick of the fried Corvina at Alphonsinas...

paranewbi - 1-19-2013 at 05:01 AM

"where do all those highway workers stay? in camps along the way? too far to drive "home" each night!"

Heres a link to my wife's video of the Baja 1000 showing a Trophy truck coming down the switch back into the Gorge where the bridge is being constructed...in the foreground is a road workers camp. Shortly after this video about 30 of them arrived back here where during the day we had noticed large propane containers at one shack with a couple of outdoor freezers nearby. As it was sprinkling occasionally during the day a solo women got up on the shack and spread a blue tarp over the structure...she was the only one there as far as we could tell until the men arrived. This video was shot right at the entrance to the Papa's access road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa_TwlknIa4&feature=youtu

Udo - 1-19-2013 at 09:53 AM

Sure would be nice if the Mexican Feds sent some of that asphalt to Vizcaino!

David K - 1-22-2013 at 11:24 AM

A couple photos from Wayno somehow went to my older email box and I just now found them...

Here is one that shows the end of pavement, and Gonzaga Bay in the background... Jan. 6, 2013:

freediverbrian - 2-28-2013 at 02:08 PM

I was down in gonzaga last week and the equipment in the photo sent Jan 6 is still in the same spot .No work the week we were there. Every time I see a completion date I just laugh

David K - 2-28-2013 at 04:51 PM

Right... the average on this project has been about 10 km. (6.2 miles) a year completed. Now the first 18 miles were the toughest, through the volcanic ridges to El Huerfanito... but the average has remained pretty close each year.

44 miles from the Puertecitos junction to the Gonzaga Pemex station.
New highway construction south from Puertecitos began in 2007.
6 years later pavement ends 41 miles (65 kms.) from the Puertecitos junction.

There is 38 miles to Laguna Chapala still... maybe a bit less as the word is they are short-cutting to the west of Coco's Corner by about a mile (this was the older road to Chapala route, and the Padre's El Camino Real many years before!

So, at this rate, 6 years more to complete Hwy. 5...?!?

motoged - 2-28-2013 at 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
.....Here is one that shows the end of pavement, and Gonzaga Bay in the background... Jan. 6, 2013:

David et al,
Those shoulders look like they will be washed away in a bad rain....great pavimento....

I sure hope their efforts hold up....

And am glad I had the chance to ride the old road....

David K - 2-28-2013 at 05:50 PM

Yah, where is the soil compactor they usually roll up and down those berms? :lol:

freediverbrian - 2-28-2013 at 08:24 PM

In the picture the road is not completed, most of the road is very good, high speed , my only complate is the road cuts Thur the mountains are not very wide and the rocks some big fall on the road. Very dangerous.

[Edited on 3-1-2013 by freediverbrian]

BAJACAT - 2-28-2013 at 09:47 PM

"I SURVIVE PUERTECITOS-GONZAGA ROAD" SHIRTS are in order,I also have the honor of using the old road, I have 2 crak teeth to prove it. :lol:

dizzyspots - 2-28-2013 at 09:55 PM

2 please both 2X ! 1st trip 2007 brand new FJ I know I know...amongst the legions of Mads...i remain a rookie :rolleyes:

DianaT - 3-2-2013 at 10:33 PM

As of today, the bridge has a top, but not completed or connected to the pavement, so the traffic is diverted around to the back of the mountain and then up to connect with that great pavement.

Road from Highway 1 to Gonzaga is rocky, bumpy with some surprise holes and interrupted in some places by a quite smooth road. From Highway 1, it is 40 +/- miles to pavement.

We and one other traveler were stopped before it climbs into the hills by a pilot truck and had to wait about 20 minutes for three HUGE over-sized trucks and he was correct---we could have not passed them in the hills. Later, I have a picture of the trucks. The first one was the largest with a monster piece of some type of equipment for the mines in Santa Rosalia. I just cringed at picturing them passing the RV caravan we saw and picturing them going down the mountain into Santa Rosalia!

David K - 3-2-2013 at 11:25 PM

Thank you for the update!

rts551 - 3-3-2013 at 08:28 AM

Thanks for the report Diana but no GPS waypoints or maps? Wonder why the heavy equipment are using that route? Think I will go that way next trip.

David K - 3-3-2013 at 11:23 AM

From Mexicali or the mainland trucks, using Hwy. 5 to get to Baja Sur saves hundreds of miles and many extra hours vs. going to Hwy. 1 from Mexicali.

The Mexicali-San Felipe corridor is already 1/3 4 lanes wide and 1/3+ new, wider 2 lane highway... with the remaining soon to be completed.

San Felipe to Puertecitos corridor is the issue... old style, slow narrow highway with steep dips...

Puertecitos to (almost) Gonzaga Bay is new, wide, fast highway... as will be the final 38 miles from the new bridge to Laguna Chapala.

willardguy - 3-3-2013 at 11:31 AM

I have seen these monstrous pieces of equipment rumbling thru coco's and gotta say it looks like quite a feat for these truck drivers. wonder why they dont put em on a boat and ship em across? :?:

rts551 - 3-3-2013 at 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
From Mexicali or the mainland trucks, using Hwy. 5 to get to Baja Sur saves hundreds of miles and many extra hours vs. going to Hwy. 1 from Mexicali.

The Mexicali-San Felipe corridor is already 1/3 4 lanes wide and 1/3+ new, wider 2 lane highway... with the remaining soon to be completed.

San Felipe to Puertecitos corridor is the issue... old style, slow narrow highway with steep dips...

Puertecitos to (almost) Gonzaga Bay is new, wide, fast highway... as will be the final 38 miles from the new bridge to Laguna Chapala.

I know all that David, since it is one of my favorite routes to and from Aeizona. But the section from Gonzaga to Chapala has to be rough on them. You been that way RECENTLY.

DianaT - 3-3-2013 at 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Thanks for the report Diana but no GPS waypoints or maps? Wonder why the heavy equipment are using that route? Think I will go that way next trip.

My GPS has a very dead battery and is just waiting for me to decide which local I want to have it (with new batteries).. We think that too much GPS destroys the sense of adventure and discovery. :biggrin:

You wanted a map? OK

On the dirt those trucks, especially the lead truck, were crawling along that dirt. As they crawled down that last little hill, but went just far enough past where we and the other vehicle were pulled way off the road, and they stopped. They looked very exhausted from driving through those hills and frankly, there are places I really wondered how they got through. But at least, there was not much in the way of on coming traffic.

I just hope they and everyone else along the main highway made it OK!

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by DianaT]

rts551 - 3-3-2013 at 05:12 PM

wow Diane. Nice current, first hand report!

J.P. - 3-3-2013 at 05:22 PM

WOW
Those pictures shure Kill the argument for high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles to travel that road,

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by J.P.]

DianaT - 3-3-2013 at 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
WOW
Those pictures shure Kill the argument for high clearence 4 wheel drive vehicles to travel that road,

No, one does not need a high clearance 4 x 4 for that road. It is rocky and bumpy through the hills --- just need to avoid the holes, the places where the road is crumbling on the side, and some of the bigger rocks on the road. The people who were stopped with us said they met someone who had taken their fifth wheel trailer over the road. Not sure I would want to do that, but they made it just fine. With our Subaru, we just drove rather slowly.

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by DianaT]

micah202 - 3-3-2013 at 05:39 PM

....funny thing,,,,,~3 weeks ago when my son and I arrived at the area of 'end-of-road' daveK's picture,,,the dirt mound wasn't fully in place,,,no signage for a detour,,,detour road not very visible,,,,,,,,,,,,2 workers not fully paying attention,,,,but then -thankfully- motioned for us to take the detour rather than carrying on at highway speed!!

....I reallydo -love- baja for things like this!!!

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by micah202]

J.P. - 3-3-2013 at 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
WOW
Those pictures shure Kill the argument for high clearence 4 wheel drive vehicles to travel that road,

rts551 - 3-3-2013 at 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
WOW
Those pictures shure Kill the argument for high clearence 4 wheel drive vehicles to travel that road,

But it sure makes you feel important when you say its a special road and only 4x4 high clearance need apply.

tripledigitken - 3-3-2013 at 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

But it sure makes you feel important when you say its a special road and only 4x4 high clearance need apply.

It does, until you get a flat in your 4x4, and a local driving a Toyota Tercel stops and helps you change the tire.

:lol:

David K - 3-3-2013 at 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
WOW
Those pictures shure Kill the argument for high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles to travel that road,

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by J.P.]

Not sure what was edited, but so all newbies to Nomad are clear... it was before 1986 when you needed such a vehicle, except if there was a flash flood washout after then.

In 1986, the Mexican government replaced the 'jeep trail' between Puertecitos and Gonzaga Bay with a graded dirt highway... Now, that dirt highway wasn't maintained after 2005 and it got really rough and slow to drive, but high ground clearance and 4WD was still not needed. 2007 saw the start of the newer paved highway heading south to Gonzaga... at about 6 miles a year progress.

From the south, in 1983 a graded dirt highwaty was built from Laguna Chapala to Puerto Calamajue and where Coco's Corner would eventually be, you could turn north to Gonzaga Bay... and it was not too difficult to drive in 2WD, from Hwy. 1. By ~1987, the new graded road from Puertecitos reached the Coco's Corner intersection completing the government grading of Mex. 5.

DianaT - 3-3-2013 at 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

But it sure makes you feel important when you say its a special road and only 4x4 high clearance need apply.

It does, until you get a flat in your 4x4, and a local driving a Toyota Tercel stops and helps you change the tire.

:lol:

J.P. - 3-3-2013 at 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

But it sure makes you feel important when you say its a special road and only 4x4 high clearance need apply.

It does, until you get a flat in your 4x4, and a local driving a Toyota Tercel stops and helps you change the tire.

:lol:

In my travels around Baja I see a few Tacomas and a whole lot of other stuff mostly old American made cars and trucks.
The point being there is a huge difference in whats needed to acess the out of the way places or whats needed to Soothe the EGO of the Week End Warrior. :lol:

bajacrawler - 3-4-2013 at 01:29 PM

I agree that with David that the old Puertecitos road needs a 4wd and high clearance vechale. I made 2 trips down the old road some time between late 70s an early 80s in a Chevy Blazer with 4wd. First time I had 10.5 X 16.5 tires and the second I got new wheels and 12 X 15 tires. The new tires seemed to help going up the real steep hills and also helped with the rough ride going over ever present rocks. The BFGs All Terrain had much softer side walls and seem to help the ride. As I remember I was in 4wh low range low gear almost the entire road. This helped the braking going down the steep rough hills and and crawling slowly up the next hill. I was probalaby going between 2 and maybe 5 miles per hour most of the trip.

On the first trip I saw the old Mexican Gentleman with the wheelbarrow, shovel and rake working on the road by the 3 sisters. I heard that Papa Fernandez and Alphonsia also sent people to work on the road. In the old days both of them brought in supplies from San Felipe. After highway one was paved the supplies came from Ensenada. From that time on the old road got road worse and worse. Speaking of the 3 sisters. On the first trip I had trouble with the one with the 8" solid rock step at the top. I tried to craw up that very steep and badly ruted hill with deep holes where many people just sat and spun wheels going no where 2 times and failed. I had to back down both times. I then tried the third time with he pedal to the metal held on to the steering wheel for dear life. I managed not to go off the road bounced over the 8" rock step and was at the top. There many ld vehicles in the canyon to the west of the road. My friend was at the bottom of the hill looking up shaking his head and his eyes as big as saucers.

I am back now had to take a shower and get cleaned up. The cleaning lady is coming today.

On the second trip we did not arrive at Alfonsina's until after dark. When we told the people in the Cantina we drove the road from San Felipe we became the main topic of discussion that night. They all wanted to know about the old road. It seems to me I read somewhere this road was once considered the worst road is Baja.

A little information on the dates I have used they are in the ballpark. I am 79 years old now and just dianosed with alheimers so my memory is not the best. But you get the idea how bad the road was.

No one took a 5th wheel down that road.

Then they finally built the graded dirt road. They did not maintain it. It slowly deterioted till what it was when they started the pavement. The various storms did a lot of damage to it.

My next trip was on that road. Not sure about the date. I used a GEO Tracker 4wd Hardtop. Left San Felipe 9 AM in morning and arrived back after dark. We had a good lunch at alfonsina's. Used 4wd a few times wash out and sand just to keep the wheel from spinning. It was like a walk in the park.

Went again around the time the pavement stopped around El Huerfanito with our neighbors and their wifes from Villa Marina RV Park. We had our motorhome parked in the front row on the bluff above the beach for 5 or 6 years. That was the life. I had lot of toys. A GEO Tracker, VW Dune Buggy and a Honda 300 Quad. The ride to the end of the payment was great per the ladies. They did not like the next 20 some old miles. It really was not to bad wash board and rocks. Some good sand roads along the sides. The first few of the dirt road graded by the road workers very good. Everyone had a good lunch and conversation Alphonsia's. Returned to Villa Marina in the afternoon with no problems. Man that is some way to go to Gonzaga
Bay. Fun but not an adventure.

God willing I am going to San Felipe in May of this year. I have rented a condo in El Dorado Ranch with all those people that don't know what Baja is. Right on the beach. I can sit on the patio and watch the Sea of Cortez. Maybe I can get in another trip to Gonzaga Bay like I was driving a passenger car. I know thats no fun. OK thats enough.

Jack

bbbait - 3-4-2013 at 02:08 PM

*Good story Jack, I would like to treat you to a cold one some time. Check your U2U.. Wayno

[Edited on 3/5/2013 by bbbait]

David K - 3-4-2013 at 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajacrawler
I agree that with David that the old Puertecitos road needs a 4wd and high clearance vechale. I made 2 trips down the old road some time between late 70s an early 80s in a Chevy Blazer with 4wd. First time I had 10.5 X 16.5 tires and the second I got new wheels and 12 X 15 tires. The new tires seemed to help going up the real steep hills and also helped with the rough ride going over ever present rocks. The BFGs All Terrain had much softer side walls and seem to help the ride. As I remember I was in 4wh low range low gear almost the entire road. This helped the braking going down the steep rough hills and and crawling slowly up the next hill. I was probalaby going between 2 and maybe 5 miles per hour most of the trip.

On the first trip I saw the old Mexican Gentleman with the wheelbarrow, shovel and rake working on the road by the 3 sisters. I heard that Papa Fernandez and Alphonsia also sent people to work on the road. In the old days both of them brought in supplies from San Felipe. After highway one was paved the supplies came from Ensenada. From that time on the old road got road worse and worse. Speaking of the 3 sisters. On the first trip I had trouble with the one with the 8" solid rock step at the top. I tried to craw up that very steep and badly ruted hill with deep holes where many people just sat and spun wheels going no where 2 times and failed. I had to back down both times. I then tried the third time with he pedal to the metal held on to the steering wheel for dear life. I managed not to go off the road bounced over the 8" rock step and was at the top. There many ld vehicles in the canyon to the west of the road. My friend was at the bottom of the hill looking up shaking his head and his eyes as big as saucers.

I am back now had to take a shower and get cleaned up. The cleaning lady is coming today.

On the second trip we did not arrive at Alfonsina's until after dark. When we told the people in the Cantina we drove the road from San Felipe we became the main topic of discussion that night. They all wanted to know about the old road. It seems to me I read somewhere this road was once considered the worst road is Baja.

A little information on the dates I have used they are in the ballpark. I am 79 years old now and just dianosed with alheimers so my memory is not the best. But you get the idea how bad the road was.

No one took a 5th wheel down that road.

Then they finally built the graded dirt road. They did not maintain it. It slowly deterioted till what it was when they started the pavement. The various storms did a lot of damage to it.

My next trip was on that road. Not sure about the date. I used a GEO Tracker 4wd Hardtop. Left San Felipe 9 AM in morning and arrived back after dark. We had a good lunch at alfonsina's. Used 4wd a few times wash out and sand just to keep the wheel from spinning. It was like a walk in the park.

Went again around the time the pavement stopped around El Huerfanito with our neighbors and their wifes from Villa Marina RV Park. We had our motorhome parked in the front row on the bluff above the beach for 5 or 6 years. That was the life. I had lot of toys. A GEO Tracker, VW Dune Buggy and a Honda 300 Quad. The ride to the end of the payment was great per the ladies. They did not like the next 20 some old miles. It really was not to bad wash board and rocks. Some good sand roads along the sides. The first few of the dirt road graded by the road workers very good. Everyone had a good lunch and conversation Alphonsia's. Returned to Villa Marina in the afternoon with no problems. Man that is some way to go to Gonzaga
Bay. Fun but not an adventure.

God willing I am going to San Felipe in May of this year. I have rented a condo in El Dorado Ranch with all those people that don't know what Baja is. Right on the beach. I can sit on the patio and watch the Sea of Cortez. Maybe I can get in another trip to Gonzaga Bay like I was driving a passenger car. I know thats no fun. OK thats enough.

Jack

That is a great memory you have Jack... I hope my potential bout Alzheimer's is as 'good' as yours!

The road to Gonzaga (from San Felipe) was the first dirt road in Baja I traveled on, as a kid... and then I drove it once I got my license... two Easter Breaks in a row ('74, '75) from south to north. It wasn't until my next trip south over it in 1979 did I find it had become 'dangerously' rough/ steep. That was the last time over the old 'Gonzaga Grades' until the graded road was built in '86.

Cliff Cross' 1970 map was very well noted:

My dune buggy coming down a steep grade, 1974:

1975:

The roadbed was still pretty clear... but in '79 it was almost all broken up, loose rocks, miserable... but memorable!

1979:

I was pre-running the Baja 1000 in Nov. 1979, with my Subaru 4WD wagon... almost didn't make it, and my muffler and exhaust got ripped off by the rocks... rolled into Alfonsina's after dark...

The 'good 'ol days of Baja travel!

bajacrawler - 3-4-2013 at 06:34 PM

Well David I also have cliff's book and many others I don't know what revision it is. All my Baja books are still packed away in a box from my move in November last year. I guess my memory is not so good after all I thought there was 3 hills and the book has 6. Sorry about that. I remember seeing your pictures and pages from the Cliff Cross book. I used it to find my way down highway 1 before it was paved. I made it somewhere south of the LA Bay turnoff. I think it was close to Punta Prieta. I came a very wet an swampy area. I was driving a 2wd International Travelall. I didn't want to get stuck with no other vehicles around. A little bit later a Mexican told me I was only a few miles from the new payment coming north. To bad I turned around. I could probably have made it a long ways south in my alotted time.

Jack

David K - 3-4-2013 at 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajacrawler
Well David I also have cliff's book and many others I don't know what revision it is. All my Baja books are still packed away in a box from my move in November last year. I guess my memory is not so good after all I thought there was 3 hills and the book has 6. Sorry about that. I remember seeing your pictures and pages from the Cliff Cross book. I used it to find my way down highway 1 before it was paved. I made it somewhere south of the LA Bay turnoff. I think it was close to Punta Prieta. I came a very wet an swampy area. I was driving a 2wd International Travelall. I didn't want to get stuck with no other vehicles around. A little bit later a Mexican told me I was only a few miles from the new payment coming north. To bad I turned around. I could probably have made it a long ways south in my alotted time.

Jack

Great memories Jack... A lot of gringos called the grades 'The Three Sisiters' or even 'Tres Marias'... Maybe for the worst of the worst? I remember nearly 20 miles of bad stuff from Puertecitos to El Huerfanito... I wasn't counting how many grades!

Some pavement sections were as far north as Punta Prieta by July of 1973... paved then unpaved sections as they built the highway that year north from Guerrero Negro... Southbound, it ended near El Progreso, about 40 miles from El Rosario (July, 1873).

Thank you for your posts on Nomad!

Alm - 3-10-2013 at 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
I heard that Coco has applied for an Oxxo franchise :biggrin:

I can see it now.....CocoOxxo........

Beercans strung along the highway for miles.....

Yep. The end of another beautiful place.

LaTijereta - 3-10-2013 at 07:05 PM

Two questions..

What is the travel time from the pavement end to San Felpie and travel time from San Felpie to the Tecate Crossing, via the Mexicalli "by pass" route?

This route is starting to look like a new adventure north when I leave Loreto...

David K - 3-10-2013 at 07:31 PM

Approx. 2 hours to San Felipe from end of pavement and approx. 3.5 hours to Tecate... depends on the military inspections.

freediverbrian - 3-14-2013 at 08:50 PM

David , when I was a kid going down to gonzaga in the late 60's and 70's there was a guy I think his name was Mateo, kind of a hermit who would work on the road by himself with pick and shovel and put out a jar for donations for his work . He would work on the Buick grade and black mountain area I remember us leaving money and Food by his tools . Do you know any of this story ?

David K - 3-14-2013 at 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by freediverbrian
David , when I was a kid going down to gonzaga in the late 60's and 70's there was a guy I think his name was Mateo, kind of a hermit who would work on the road by himself with pick and shovel and put out a jar for donations for his work . He would work on the Buick grade and black mountain area I remember us leaving money and Food by his tools . Do you know any of this story ?

Hi Brian, I think you and I our about the same age, and share great memories, yes? The 'Gonzaga Grades' are what my folks called the road south of Puertecitos... so narrow and steep, with crosses along the side marking were lives were lost, and wrecks in the canyon below! I remember my mom and I getting out to walk part of one, while my brave dad piloted the Wagoneer in low range, 4WD!

Do you remember this guy?...

Anyway, here is the Gonzaga Road Crew of the 1960's... (we only saw the wheel barrel with a donation request sign, and what looked like an unused new shovel and pick! Photo from Cliff Cross Baja Guide of 1970.

[Edited on 3-15-2013 by David K]

Gonzaga Road Crew.jpg - 22kB

freediverbrian - 3-15-2013 at 04:15 PM

Yes ,great memories I too walk the grades with my mom and sister while my dad drove the the truck up the grades. 8 hours from San fielpie to gonzaga . We called the Buick grade because of the rusted old Buick at the bottom of the canyon.

David K - 3-15-2013 at 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by freediverbrian
Yes ,great memories I too walk the grades with my mom and sister while my dad drove the the truck up the grades. 8 hours from San fielpie to gonzaga . We called the Buick grade because of the rusted old Buick at the bottom of the canyon.

That is great!

Do you remember a dog at Alfonsina's that did tricks (or ??). My parents often talked about that dog after two trips there in 1965. The next time I was at Alfonsina's was when we drove to Bahia de los Angeles in 1967.

Here is a photo of me on that trip, at Calamajue Canyon (the gold mill site).. July, 1967, I was two months shy of 10 and yes I liked army surplus stuff:

[Edited on 3-15-2013 by David K]

freediverbrian - 3-16-2013 at 06:02 PM

Not at alofonisas but at papa's there were two big labs that would work together at low tide and drive and herd fish up in shallow water and grab and eat them. The old story was about a three leg dog that got his leg cut off by chasing a panga and getting cought in the prop .

David K - 3-16-2013 at 11:38 PM

My parents went to Papa's first, one their maiden voyage with the new Wagoneer (I wasn't on that trip)... they then explored and saw the beautiful beach at Alfonsina's... They wanted to return ASAP, and I got to go that second trip, so we set up camp using a tent trailer on the beach a mile or so down from Alfonsina's, which was not too big in 1965!

The funny thing is, unknown to my parents on that first trip, they were filmed by a movie crew that flew into Papa's to do a movie about hunting in North America, from Baja north to Alaska. The movie didn't appear in theaters until about 1971 or 2... called 'The American Adventure' (or something like that). They came to Gonzaga Bay to hunt bighorn sheep, and that was the first animal hunted in the film. The last was a giant polar bear... yah, that's all really not PC anymore, but 50 years ago was different.

Anyway, my mom and I went to see the movie (my dad was working in L.A.) and imagine the shock when, on the big screen, the camera zeros in on a white Jeep Wagoneer approaching Papa Fernandez' camp, and with no narration during the 30 seconds or so spot, shows my dad getting out to look around after coming to a stop, then he looks into the Jeep where you see my mom still inside, to talk to her. Then a new scene begins... We called my dad to surprise him with the news the next day... We think the deal was seeing a (new) vehicle or any vehicle was so rare there, in '65, it deserved an appearance??? Airstrips were at both Papa's and Alfonsina's back then, as flying in was how 90% of visitors got to Gonzaga for many years.

I have been unable to locate that movie to see it again... PETA must have destroyed all copies?

My dad said he did recall the film crew being at Papa's but had no idea they were filmed when they first arrived.

Fun times! :bounce: