BajaNomad

mulege to gonzanga to puertecitos??

soul-on-ice - 3-10-2014 at 02:10 PM

im on a triumph Bonneville motorcycle in cabo. soon i will head back north and bail through mexacali.

I considering taking 1 and cutting through cocos corner and then towards alfonsina, then up towards puertecitos

is there a better route that take takes me due north from mulege / santa rosalia north towards puertecitos without having to divert on hiway 1?

[Edited on 3-10-2014 by soul-on-ice]

motoged - 3-10-2014 at 02:34 PM

Nope....not on that bike....some off-road/trail/double track goes from just east of San Ignacio up through San Francisquito area to Bahia de los Angeles and on to Gonzaga and San Felipe.... but that is rough-road vehicle territory mostly....

Enjoy the main highway...and do a few side trips along the way....

soul-on-ice - 3-10-2014 at 05:17 PM

so are you also saying avoid the chalapa > cocos corner > Gonzaga > puretocitos route?

i did this route antares rd / aka 149 from old route 66 to meadview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLGNELKuu3Y

it was mostly washed out graded dirt rd with some sand.

please verify whether you think i should avoid turning at Chapala and aoid cocos corner route.

chuckie - 3-10-2014 at 05:20 PM

Be careful.....Motoged bites....My opinion? go for it, its only about 30 miles..

motoged - 3-10-2014 at 06:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soul-on-ice
so are you also saying avoid the chalapa > cocos corner > Gonzaga > puretocitos route?

i did this route antares rd / aka 149 from old route 66 to meadview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLGNELKuu3Y

it was mostly washed out graded dirt rd with some sand.

please verify whether you think i should avoid turning at Chapala and aoid cocos corner route.


Soul,
I would encourage you to consider going through Chapala to Coco's and up north that way if you are comfortable and confident with riding on washboard gravel with some soft sand and possibly washout/rutted sections (rain ruts).

I don't know what your riding skills are and have met street riders who are capable off pavement....while others get nervous on softer/rougher surfaces.

The rider's skill level is way more important than the bike they are on....and all factors vary from person to person.

I respect an adventurer's spirit....as it will overcome street tires, poor suspension, and marginal ground clearance every time....:saint:

As for Chuckie's comment about me biting....he has a point....as a fish guy, he might resort to fishing terms a lot.

So, I have taken the bait to your cast.....sure, go through Coco's....it's my preferred route....for the ride and the chance to visit with Coco.





The Bonny is a sweet ride (no matter what vintage):





My Baja weapon of choice:





[Edited on 3-11-2014 by motoged]

[Edited on 3-12-2014 by BajaNomad]

Santiago - 3-10-2014 at 08:16 PM

wow - I had no idea those were still around - I always wanted one of those. They had a very nice sound.

willardguy - 3-10-2014 at 08:25 PM

RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG! steve's rolling over in his grave!:(

soul-on-ice - 3-14-2014 at 06:58 PM

love the photo. and the movie.
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG! steve's rolling over in his grave!:(


rolling in his grave my azz. he would be right with me. but he had some tread on those tires....im pure street tires. deep sand is very difficult, mud is nearly impossible.

either way im going for it. and I will put the ride on youtube when i hit civilization.

here are some of my other rides

[Edited on 3-15-2014 by soul-on-ice]

[Edited on 3-15-2014 by soul-on-ice]

deep sand not an issue

John M - 3-14-2014 at 07:24 PM

We've not seen deep sand on this route. That being said, along a decent portion of the ride there is a parallel route, sometimes a few feet to the left, sometimes to the right. These are there to find a softer ride than the ever-present rocks and hard packed dirt of the main road. Lots of washboard the first 3 or 4 miles but certainly doable with a bit of caution for speed.

...posted from the point of view of a 4x4 driver, not from a bike rider perspective.

John M

motoged - 3-15-2014 at 09:40 AM

Soul,
So, you have enough of our opinions....how was your ride? :?:

Let us know your impressions....

soul-on-ice - 3-15-2014 at 07:23 PM

well i plan on doing this ride first week of april.

i appreciate the info. i'm pretty confident about it, my only concern is making it from pemex to the next pemex. my raange on the 87 Verde that pemex serves is about 120-130 miles max. but that should be no problem right?

anyway I will be sure to let you guys know.

tripledigitken - 3-15-2014 at 08:11 PM

My only suggestion is to try and have at least 50% tread remaining when you leave Chapala NB off road. Have fun.

KasloKid - 3-15-2014 at 10:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soul-on-ice
well i plan on doing this ride first week of april.

i appreciate the info. i'm pretty confident about it, my only concern is making it from pemex to the next pemex. my raange on the 87 Verde that pemex serves is about 120-130 miles max. but that should be no problem right?

anyway I will be sure to let you guys know.


Last Pemex going north before the turnoff to Gonzaga is Jesus Maria. Jesus Maria to Gonzaga Bay Pemex is 126 Miles.
There may be barrel gas available at the turn off to the Bay of LA, so if you top off there, it's only 67 miles more to Gonzaga Pemex.
Maybe somebody else can chime in here, but I've found the Gonzaga Pemex is not always open. Rumor has it that the owner takes a siesta every afternoon? It's another 98 Miles from Gonzaga to San Felipe Pemex. Maybe you want to carry a gallon or two with you.....



[Edited on 3-16-2014 by KasloKid]

rts551 - 3-16-2014 at 07:28 AM

There is almost always gas (sold at the side of the road) at the LA bay turn-off.

I say almost because always is pretty absolute.

David K - 3-16-2014 at 01:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
There is almost always gas (sold at the side of the road) at the LA bay turn-off.

I say almost because always is pretty absolute.


I would agree with this totally... I may not travel past this junction as often, but I have recorded gasoline for sale (from 5 gallon Jerry cans) since 2001. While the price per gallon will be about $1.50 more than at a Pemex station, you do get a guaranteed full 5 gallons!

The other fuel service is at Cataviņa. Sometimes we see signs for fuel, for sale, at other points in central Baja, such as Rancho San Martin, Rancho Chapala, Nuevo Rosarito...

MMc - 3-16-2014 at 02:00 PM

Most towns have somebody that sell gas. I would see if you can top off at Chapala.

mulegemichael - 3-16-2014 at 02:48 PM

there was gas at chapala yesterday...and in san quintin there were THREE gasoline vendors!!!...most i've ever seen there...just filled up some cans in mulege this morning and my oh my has the price of gas gone up!!...two cans= 620 pesos!!

David K - 3-16-2014 at 04:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mulegemichael
there was gas at chapala yesterday...and in san quintin there were THREE gasoline vendors!!!...most i've ever seen there...just filled up some cans in mulege this morning and my oh my has the price of gas gone up!!...two cans= 620 pesos!!


Where? San Quintin?

mulegemichael - 3-16-2014 at 06:03 PM

sorry dk, i meant catavina...my bad....san quintin was just a mess of buses and pedestrians.

redhilltown - 3-17-2014 at 11:21 PM

At least in the past before the Pemex station Rancho Grande at Gonzaga always had gas... do they still have it or have cut back because of the station?

David K - 3-18-2014 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by redhilltown
At least in the past before the Pemex station Rancho Grande at Gonzaga always had gas... do they still have it or have cut back because of the station?


This is dated, but in the past the deal was when the Pemex was closed (or out of gas), then Rancho Grande could sell from their tanks. Just ask...

The way Joaquin and Roman are progressing with operations at Alfonsina's (new motel expansion), I would bet they will be keeping the Pemex open longer and ordering fuel before they run out. No doubt, a new town will grow around the Pemex, Rancho Grande area just like it did at Cataviņa shrortly after Hwy. 1 was built through there.

soul-on-ice - 3-22-2014 at 02:54 PM

you guys are awesome. great info. i'm defintely going Chapala route and i hope i can top off there. otherwise i will be a nomad living off the land. =)

Sweetwater - 3-22-2014 at 06:36 PM

I've been through that stretch twice in the past 3 weeks, southbound, then northbound.

Barrel gas truck at the Bahia de Los Angeles turnoff was NOT there 2 of 3 times we went past that intersection.

Southward bound, there were two 18-wheelers in the wash north of Coco's and one at the Chapala junction. Two of them had broken trailer axles, the third was stuck in the rear.

We saw a few other adventure bikes and several of them were struggling in the sand. The bigger bikes were struggling most, BMW has great marketing.

Going south, the two of us had fresh tires and no problems. There were 5 of us going north and one got a pinch (rim) flat. The Gonzaga Pemex was open both times although we had to search for the attendant both times.

Motoged doesn't bite.....but he's also been on the road recently.....Personally, it's easy to be a cheerleader when you haven't driven a road in the past several weeks so I'll just say this....

I would not take a street bike on that stretch of road as short as it is. It's getting pounded by traffic and has no services or maintenance. The gasoline issue is pretty far down from the real concerns you're going to face. If you have significant off road experience and are willing to beat the chite out of your bike, that advice is reversed. Either way, be sure to secure any load you carry because it will be shaken, not stirred......

Edit: These are our bikes....




Please take pics and let us know if you do take that 36 mile shortcut.....

[Edited on 3-23-2014 by Sweetwater]

willardguy - 3-22-2014 at 06:54 PM

on the other hand :O

http://www.enduro360.com/2014/03/21/featured/ktm-1190r-flogg...