On the way back to SJD from Nine Palms last weekend we encountered a security stop. It was a uniformed private security guy with a chain across the
road basically half way between Zacatitos and the turn off to Buzzard's.
He asked where we were going and I told him home to San Jose. He let us through.
Anybody got a clue what this is all about?
.El Jefe - 2-12-2013 at 01:54 PM
You must have been on the new (but already deteriorating) paved road. The new road was built by the development companies that plan to do big things
just north of Zacatitos on the coast. The road was poorly made and suffered damage during the summer rains. The development companies are going to
have to fix the road before they can turn it over to the municipality. Nothing has been done for several months.
In the mean time, public northbound access is denied by the guards. You have to use the old beach route around Punta Gorda.Floatflyer - 2-12-2013 at 02:51 PM
Accurate report. A couple of weeks ago we drove the coast road to the Farmer's Market in San Jose. We followed the signs at Zacatitos and ended up
on the paved road. At this intersection there was a sign pointing to the left for San Jose and another to the right for East Cape. We took the left.
While parts of it is in good shape, there are also sections with severe erosion. I was driving along fat and happy when my wife alerted me to the
chain across the road!! A lonely guard came out and let us continue towards San Jose.
This past week we had some extra time to kill and decided to head back out and see where the East Cape portion of the paved road went. When we got to
the chain across the road the guard wouldn't let us proceed any further?? We returned to San Jose.El Jefe - 2-12-2013 at 04:00 PM
There are several ways to get on the new road from the northeast. Too many to control with a few guards. So people can often get on the road heading
towards town. So they will let you off the road if you have managed to find it, but will not let you on at the southern end where they have control.
And just FYI, the section of dirt road from Zacatitos north to La Fortuna is as bad as it gets. Passable, but not very comfortable.Wally - 2-12-2013 at 04:09 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by El Jefe
And just FYI, the section of dirt road from Zacatitos north to La Fortuna is as bad as it gets. Passable, but not very comfortable.
Nearly unbearable. Had the cooler strapped to the roof basket and the beating was so bad that the tie down straps somehow ripped the lid off. Didn't
notice until water started sloshing out and into the open sunroof. I think I lost a couple of fillings.snowcat5 - 2-14-2013 at 09:06 AM
The Coast road from La Playita to Zac was hit pretty hard by the Summer and Fall rain storms and was closed for a couple of weeks in late Sept. The
road was re-opened and paid for by the residents and visitors to Zacatitas- we hired Thomas and son to use his backhoe and dump truck to repair the
road. They also filled in the water crossing near Zac.; all paid for voluntarily by the users. The county did nothing to help. The newer back road
( with guards) was put in place more than a year ago by the Spanish real estate developers with no permits, no environmental clearances and they only
used 1-2 inches of asphalt. Last Summer the Spaniards tried to give the road to the Municipality but they refused to take ownership of it because of
poor construction. The Spaniards put the road through and across several other peoples' parcels without permission, to get potential buyers out to
their property at Shipwrecks. You can bribe the guards at the chain to let you drive the road to the East/ North. Be careful; the road is rough with
extreme drop-offs and many eroded sections. There have been several of car accidents on this closed road lately. Stop by Zac's Bar and say "Hi" to
Angle and Paul, if you go out this way- tell 'em the Snowcat sent you!
