BajaNomad

Gonzaga Bay

HeyMulegeScott - 3-18-2018 at 04:07 PM

We took The Bago down to Gonzaga Bay and stayed for nine days at Rancho Grande. The plan was to scout out Hwy 5 to Hwy 1 in the Jeep to see if wanted to go further south. The trip through the vado/potholes zone south of San Felipe was slow but uneventful. We saw a crew patching some of the worst potholes.

Our spot with a palapa for 250 pesos was pretty nice.

Rancho Grande, Gonzaga Bay

We enjoyed paddling around the bay and out to the island.

Gonzaga Bay

Gonzaga Bay

Gonzaga Bay

Enjoyed some nice quiet nights under the stars.

IMG_4583

We did a day trip up to Catavina in the Jeep. The 22 unpaved miles took us about an hour. Some of the rocky dips in the detours looked pretty scary for a bigger rig so opted not to go any further with the Bago.

Catavina

Catavina was really interesting. I would love to go back here for sunsets out the desert. The road south of Catavina was pretty bad but we did see another crew out patching some of the holes. We did a quick stop at Cocos.

Cocos Corner

The last couple of days were pretty windy but overall it was a great place to hang out.

IMG_4565





[Edited on 3-19-2018 by BajaNomad]

AKgringo - 3-18-2018 at 04:25 PM

Nice shots, and I like your hotel too!

TMW - 3-18-2018 at 05:56 PM

Beautiful pictures, thanks for the report.

David K - 3-18-2018 at 06:01 PM

Was the new highway shortcut that bypasses Coco's open when you were there? Thanks for the photos...

Paco Facullo - 3-18-2018 at 06:17 PM

Really great photos as well and report. Thanks for taking the time to share .

What is that fire thingy you have going in photo # 5 ? Looks cool errrr I mean HOT !

HeyMulegeScott - 3-18-2018 at 06:46 PM

Thanks guys.

David K - The Coco bypass wasn't open yet.

Paco Facullo - That's our small propane fire pit. Great for a little fire ambiance without the smell of a campfire.

StuckSucks - 3-19-2018 at 01:57 PM

All photos are really good, but I like the SUPB.

HeyMulegeScott - 3-20-2018 at 09:32 AM

Here's a quick video from the trip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDMQaWzErw

LancairDriver - 3-20-2018 at 10:34 AM

Great report and pictures. I take it you would not recommend driving a larger RV the final unpaved 23 miles to get back to hwy 1. I was hoping to take a 42ft RV down 5 and going further south on 1. Have done the trip many times on 1 but was looking for a change of scenery and avoiding taking the pot hole beating around Catavina

HeyMulegeScott - 3-20-2018 at 10:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver  
Great report and pictures. I take it you would not recommend driving a larger RV the final unpaved 23 miles to get back to hwy 1. I was hoping to take a 42ft RV down 5 and going further south on 1. Have done the trip many times on 1 but was looking for a change of scenery and avoiding taking the pot hole beating around Catavina


Thanks. Hwy 5 is doable in an RV. We spoke to a couple with a 40+ft RV who said it took them 5 hours. I would just be concerned with breaking something I couldn't easily get fixed down there.

LancairDriver - 3-20-2018 at 10:59 AM

Good point on the repair problem. That’s always a consideration driving a RV in Baja. Did it take the couple 5 hours to do the unpaved 23 miles? You could almost walk it that fast but whatever it takes to get through.

David K - 3-20-2018 at 11:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Three2tango  
Here's a quick video from the trip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDMQaWzErw


Very nice. The water was sure calm!


Hint for posting YouTube videos here:

Put this tag in front of the URL [flash=640x480 ] (but no space at the end)
and this one at the end: [/flash]

Then remove the 'watch?' and replace the = with a slash: /

Looks like this (but a space is added so it doesn't work to illustrate):
[flash=640x480 ]https://www.youtube.com/v/IbDMQaWzErw[/flash ]

without the added space:



HeyMulegeScott - 3-20-2018 at 11:25 AM

Yep. 5 hours for the unpaved.

bonanza bucko - 3-20-2018 at 01:19 PM

We love that place. We had a second home right in the middle of the houses on Alfonsina's beach for 35 years.....sold last December because we got old and sick. It's magic there sometimes.


BB

TMW - 3-20-2018 at 01:37 PM

BB did you know the Fire Chief from Fallbrook who had a place probably close to yours , it was in that row of homes. I think his name was Steve Bacon. I believe he drove a Jeep.

[Edited on 3-20-2018 by TMW]

mojo_norte - 3-20-2018 at 01:52 PM

Beautiful ! You're the only ones there ? I thought that was a busy place ?

AKgringo - 3-20-2018 at 03:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mojo_norte  
Beautiful ! You're the only ones there ? I thought that was a busy place ?


It can be crowded! In 2014, just before Thanksgiving, I was the only one there. In 2016, within a week of the same date, it was jamb packed with loud campers. I went and found an undeveloped place by myself...except for a few coyotes!

HeyMulegeScott - 3-20-2018 at 04:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Quote: Originally posted by mojo_norte  
Beautiful ! You're the only ones there ? I thought that was a busy place ?


It can be crowded! In 2014, just before Thanksgiving, I was the only one there. In 2016, within a week of the same date, it was jamb packed with loud campers. I went and found an undeveloped place by myself...except for a few coyotes!


I'm guessing next week you might have some company. Many folks passing through last week heading North.

gueribo - 3-20-2018 at 04:49 PM

Beautiful, artful photos. Thanks for sharing.

willardguy - 3-20-2018 at 05:02 PM

enjoy it while you can!:yes:

freediverbrian - 3-20-2018 at 06:28 PM

I have a house in Gonzaga it is a great place . I am glad you had the beach to your self.Enjoy !!!!

David K - 3-21-2018 at 08:33 AM

Gonzaga Bay was the first destination my family and I had when we began four-wheeling down Baja in 1965.

It was also on my Spring Break Trip of 1974 when I first traveled without my parents at age 16.

It continues to be a beautiful and special place, but the added highway and additional building does take some getting used to if you knew it as long as I have!


Gonzaga Bay in 2018

floydo - 3-22-2018 at 06:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Was the new highway shortcut that bypasses Coco's open when you were there? Thanks for the photos...


The unpaved roadbeds, including that one, are sort of closed..people drive them, and we did on Jan 1. There are typically a few cones that cars drive around at or near both ends of the roadbeds...
That may have changed, but others we talked to have subsequently enjoyed the smoother graded sections...

bbbait - 3-22-2018 at 06:39 AM

Alfonsina’s has a new staff, and the service was very efficient yesterday. They never let me run out of beer..

David K - 3-22-2018 at 07:01 AM

Good news Wayno! It was getting some bad PR once Antonio was gone.

rts551 - 3-22-2018 at 07:23 AM

Quote: Originally posted by floydo  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Was the new highway shortcut that bypasses Coco's open when you were there? Thanks for the photos...


The unpaved roadbeds, including that one, are sort of closed..people drive them, and we did on Jan 1. There are typically a few cones that cars drive around at or near both ends of the roadbeds...
That may have changed, but others we talked to have subsequently enjoyed the smoother graded sections...


That is too bad people disregard the cones (and barrels) blocking the road. The roads are blocked for a reason. They were ready for paving. When people drive on them it ruins the final grade and prolongs what it will take to finish the road.

HeyMulegeScott - 3-22-2018 at 09:15 AM

We had shrimp tacos at Alfonsina’s. Pretty good. $10 might seem expensive for Baja but the portions were big. They did let me run out of beer though.

The detours aren't very obvious at some points but it is an active construction zone so you risk getting turned around if you drive too far into the work. There's still a big chunk in the mountains they are digging away and filling in so that section is not a final grade.

gringorio - 9-10-2018 at 06:57 PM

Wow, beautiful photos! Looks like you had a fun time :bounce:
Quote: Originally posted by Three2tango  
We took The Bago down to Gonzaga Bay and stayed for nine days at Rancho Grande. The plan was to scout out Hwy 5 to Hwy 1 in the Jeep to see if wanted to go further south. The trip through the vado/potholes zone south of San Felipe was slow but uneventful. We saw a crew patching some of the worst potholes.

Our spot with a palapa for 250 pesos was pretty nice.

Rancho Grande, Gonzaga Bay

We enjoyed paddling around the bay and out to the island.

Gonzaga Bay

Gonzaga Bay

Gonzaga Bay

Enjoyed some nice quiet nights under the stars.

IMG_4583

We did a day trip up to Catavina in the Jeep. The 22 unpaved miles took us about an hour. Some of the rocky dips in the detours looked pretty scary for a bigger rig so opted not to go any further with the Bago.

Catavina

Catavina was really interesting. I would love to go back here for sunsets out the desert. The road south of Catavina was pretty bad but we did see another crew out patching some of the holes. We did a quick stop at Cocos.

Cocos Corner

The last couple of days were pretty windy but overall it was a great place to hang out.

IMG_4565





[Edited on 3-19-2018 by BajaNomad]

basautter - 9-11-2018 at 04:38 AM

Nice! Still one of my favorite places in Baja! :bounce::bounce: