BajaNomad

Hwy and Road Report

TMW - 5-3-2015 at 11:16 AM

Just got back from a week in Baja. Weather was great.

Hwy 5 from Mexicali to Gonzaga Bay was in good shape. Did notice a couple of breaks and small pot holes starting to develop just past Puertectos. Road from end of pavement to Hwy 1 same same, met one 18 wheeler hauling junk. Coco doing good, had been in the hospital the end of Feb. Stomach problems due to food poison, he said.

Hwy 1 to LA Bay Jct and Hwy 12 to LA Bay also in good condition until you get to LA Bay where the road is OK but not fully repaired from last years hurricane. Road from LA Bay around to El Arco in good condition for a graded road, no really serious problems. Pancho doing great. I took him a couple pair of jeans, designer type T shirts and a couple of sweatshirts. El Arco to Hwy 1 good on main road.

Hwy 1 from El Arco turnoff to Loreto in good condition. At Loreto they are redoing the south bound lane so it was tore up.

The paved road into Agua Verde is good for either 14 or 17 miles. Sorry I didn't write it down so I'm going from memory. Graded road after that. I had been wondering if the graded road from Agua Verde to Constitucion had been worked on. I went to the turn off from the Agua Verde road. The dirt road soon puts you into the arroyo. The road up the mountain is about 1.5 miles back. We made it about a mile before being stopped by the rocks. So my guess is it will not be fixed for many years since it is not used by very many people.

Hwy 1 to Insurgentes is good.

Hwy 53 from Insurgents north is good most of the way to the Barrancas turn off. However the Hwy is being worked on. It is paved but some of the new has edge damage and some of the old section has damage from last years hurricane. Overall just a few slow downs.

After the Barrancas turn there are a couple of bridges out with go around roads in the dirt. The paved section to San Juanico is OK.

North of San Juanico the graded road is good with the exception of a bridge out also with a go around. A single lane rock crossing at Cadeje.

We took the high road that passes the San Jose de Gracias jct and on to the El Cuarenta ranch. Several places the road was washed out but with bypasses. At the ranch we left them with some supplies and Martin always seems to need batteries which I had. I noticed they had a lot of goats, something I had not seen there before.

From the ranch we went west following the more used road but doing so I was not sure if it was the right road, in other words I thought I was lost. Not uncommon for me. Anyway we came to a group of houses and vehicles and as I got out of my truck to ask for directions another truck pulled up by me. He said go out west 100 meters and bear right to a good sand road and it will take me to the road to the laguna and road to San Ignacio. He said the old road from El Cuarenta north is in very bad shape from the rain.

The sand road to the Laguna was good. The road to San Ignacio still has a couple of single lane sections in the mud flats. The pave road section to San Ignacio is good.

San Ignacio Hwy 1 north was good all the way except for the area before and after Catavina for several miles. Lots of pot holes.

El Rosario to Ensenada all good. Ensenada to Tacate is also good except one place where construction is going on. They are cutting right thru the mountains with what looks to be a four lane Hwy.

Crossed at Tecate Saturday at 9:30 am and it took 30 only minutes.




[Edited on 5-3-2015 by TMW]

tiotomasbcs - 5-3-2015 at 12:29 PM

Outstanding report. Thanks. The weather is great in the central Baja areas; not too hot and cool nights. I enjoyed the Mulege, San Nicolas, Loreto areas last week. Good time to explore. Tio

David K - 5-3-2015 at 05:51 PM

Thanks Tom... zipped around Baja faster than our speed on the Pole Line Road!

woody with a view - 5-3-2015 at 06:18 PM

Hell of a trip!

Bajaboy - 5-3-2015 at 07:24 PM

you get around...I like it!

TMW - 5-3-2015 at 08:34 PM

I didn't have anyone to chase or help in the NORRA race but I did have three things needing done in Baja. The clothes for Pancho, check out the road up at Agua Verde to Constitucion and plant a geocache for a fellow Nomad.

I also did a run up the No Wimp Trail from San Ignacio toward Arroyo La Trinidad. I got 43 miles up and had to turn around. I was loosing the road to large sand driffs and it was getting late.

The Oasis hotel in Loreto was great to relax at.

Met a lot of good people at the San Nicolas hotel in Ensenada that were down for the bike race, Rosarito to Ensenada.

Bajaboy - 5-3-2015 at 09:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
I didn't have anyone to chase or help in the NORRA race but I did have three things needing done in Baja. The clothes for Pancho, check out the road up at Agua Verde to Constitucion and plant a geocache for a fellow Nomad.

I also did a run up the No Wimp Trail from San Ignacio toward Arroyo La Trinidad. I got 43 miles up and had to turn around. I was loosing the road to large sand driffs and it was getting late.

The Oasis hotel in Loreto was great to relax at.

Met a lot of good people at the San Nicolas hotel in Ensenada that were down for the bike race, Rosarito to Ensenada.


I have a small tv/radio that I promised to deliver to Pancho this summer. Did he mention anything else that he needs?

TMW - 5-4-2015 at 12:41 PM

He did not say anything about a TV other than his TV and satellite system were working good. No battery problems. I'm sure he would appreciate whatever you take him. I don't know if he has a radio if not that would be a welcome addition.

I don't know where he gets his water but I usually take him a case of bottled water when I see him. If you think about it ask him where his water comes from.

Bob53 - 5-4-2015 at 01:21 PM

Any protesters or road blockages in San Quintin?

irenemm - 5-4-2015 at 01:24 PM

no protesters in San Quintin right now but maybe Friday. They might be out again if they don't get what they want