Just ANOTHER update on highway 5. Passed through on Wednesday 22nd and again on Thursday 23rd. Lots of work being done in the middle section through
the mountains with a long way to go if you ask me. I would say for maybe 5 miles east from Mex 1 and 5-7 miles west from the end of the pavement have
completed road beds and just need paving and a few other little touch ups.
As far as the dirt goes, I believe its the best that I have ever seen it with the exception of the last 4 miles headed west, this section is very bad
and by far the WORST I have seen it in the last 5+ years. Took me about an hour from end to end (23 miles) but I am driving the best baja vehicle out
there, a Tacoma (right DK?) with the best tires money can buy (IMO) BFG KO2's load range E of course for the 2 extra plys for rock protection!
P.S. I had all the pictures in order and uploaded them in order from west to east but I must have done something wrong and can't figure out how to fix
it. Photos 5 and 6 in the order below should be the last two, they are at the far east end of the dirt road just before entering the pavement.
[Edited on 2-27-2017 by WestyWanderer]David K - 2-27-2017 at 03:51 PM
Thank you for the update. I was over in on the 8th... saw about the same stuff... They were still dynamiting about 4 miles south of the end of
pavement over New Years weekend. Those granite boulders are really tough!
Looks like 2 miles southbound (what you are calling westbound) from the current end of pavement have asphalt or could now, with the first two +
bridges done. The couple miles from Highway 1 northbound (but going east right here) are also ready for asphalt. The 23 unpaved miles will be reduced
by at least four miles this year. Also, take away 3 miles overall distance because of the shortcut bypassing Coco's Corner.
So, 20 future paved highway miles (23 dirt detour miles now) will be down to 16 to complete over the next few years... (19 dirt detour miles).Udo - 2-27-2017 at 04:30 PM
Excellent photos, WestyWanderer!
BTW...is your a synchro?WestyWanderer - 2-27-2017 at 07:25 PM
Udo,
Sadly I no longer have my Westy, I sold it during a weak moment in life. When I did have it she was a 1981 full westfalia, not a syncro. I have a
good friend that married my wife and I who has an original 87 factory syncro full westfalia and he says I have first right of refusal when he goes to
sell, I can assure you that we will not pass on that one! Hopefully that opportunity comes sooner rather than later, until then we will travel in our
Tacoma with our Starcraft 10RT pop up trailer.El Jefe - 2-27-2017 at 07:38 PM
I drove it southbound.yesterday. It was just as you said with the worst part the last few miles before you hit Hwy 1.
It took me 50 minutes, but I was in my overloaded Honda Pilot so I had to go.............. Wait a minute, did it take you an hour in your Toyota?
I did pass a lot of cars and pickups that tended to get all bunched up and eat one another's dust. I guess I'm kind of used to the dirt road, as is
my poor car.
Oh, and I had a Westy too back in the day. It served us well in Baja until we got hit head-on in Newport beach in 1984. We got us some Detroit steel
after that. WestyWanderer - 2-27-2017 at 08:15 PM
The Honda Pilot is the second best Baja vehicle! Yea I was taking my time, stopping for pictures (obviously) and enjoying the greenery and wild
flowers out there right now, the desert is ALIVE!Santiago - 2-28-2017 at 06:51 AM
