BajaNomad

HWY1 & 5 Junction Trip

RFClark - 1-28-2021 at 07:56 AM

We drove down to the junction with HWY 1 and went north about 20KM on HWY1 Tuesday (1/26) That was the windy day here north of Puertecitos. We had gusts to 51 mph but no damage except a few tree branches.

We had several inches of rain in the storm last week (2”-4” the rain gauge plugged up with dirt!) and wanted to see how the new road held up.

The wind was blowing hard from the WSW carrying sand and small rocks as far south as we went! The Pemex Station at Puertecitos was closed and out of gas. The old market nearby was also closed. The Pemex station and market at Gonzaga were open there were a fair number of rocks on the road from the wind. It seemed that most of last weeks rain fell north of Puertecitos so no road damage.

The work on the new restaurant at the junction continues! On the way back 16:00 - 18:30 we encountered heavy rain between Gonzaga and a few KM north of the checkpoint.

There is a lot of snow on the high mountains to the west from the front that caused the high winds on the 26th. The wildflowers should be amazing in a few weeks!

David K - 1-28-2021 at 08:56 AM

What new restaurant? Across from the tire shop or on the same side?
No signage for a gas station there, as originally planned?
Thank you for your report!
I was concerned the newly repaired bridges would be washed out again! LOL

RFClark - 1-28-2021 at 11:18 AM

David,

They are building what is claimed to be a restaurant next to the the place south of the tire shop. The exterior is complete and they’re installing solar panels on the roof. I’ll send you a picture next time we’re by. Also a little water in the lake.

AKgringo - 1-28-2021 at 11:49 AM

I wonder if the restaurant is in competition with the existing one, or if it is an upgrade?

I like stopping there. On my last trip I ordered chiliquiles con huevos fritos, but got huevos rancheros instead. Not a problem, they know what they do best, and now I know what to order!

[Edited on 2-14-2021 by AKgringo]

David K - 1-28-2021 at 11:53 AM

OK, thanks!

For brief time, there was a roped-off area on the SE corner of Hwy. 5 & 1... looked to be the site for a Pemex station.

The same thing was done just south of the L.A. Bay junction where there was a Pemex coming soon sign... July 2015:

El Jefe - 1-28-2021 at 01:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I wonder if the restaurant is in competition with the existing one, or if it is an upgrade?

I like stopping there. On my last trip I ordered chiliquiles con huevos fitos, but got huevos rancheros instead. Not a problem, they know what they do best, and now I know what to order!


Yes, Nueva Chapala does indeed know their huevos rancheros. They are my gold standard that I compare to whenever I order them somewhere else. Nobody has beat them yet. I hope they are doing the new building for their sake, but the funky old place with the completed puzzles on the wall will never be forgotten.

Now all we need is a nice little motel there.



David K - 1-28-2021 at 01:51 PM

Nueva Chapala was once famous (on Nomad) for their machaca... about 13 years ago, Baja Angel and I gave it a shot... not good. Maybe it was the chef's day off?

BigBearRider - 1-28-2021 at 03:23 PM

In noted that “new” building had its walls and roof up in Nov 2018 during the Baja 1000. I ate at the old place. Think I had Mexican burritos.

motoged - 1-28-2021 at 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Nueva Chapala was once famous (on Nomad) for their machaca... about 13 years ago, Baja Angel and I gave it a shot... not good. Maybe it was the chef's day off?


Best machaca I have ever had was in San Bartolo....con huevos revueltos....soft and very flavourful.....the roll of the dice with machaca often leads to shoe leather.

JZ - 1-28-2021 at 03:57 PM

Stopped at the tire shop many times. I don't remember seeing a restaurant, is it at the same property?

How far away is the new restaurant being built?

AKgringo - 1-28-2021 at 04:17 PM

Rancho Piedra Blanca between El Arco and San Francisquito is a good stop for machaca! They produce it there, and the queso as well.

I was the only one there the last time I ate there, but they opened up and cooked for me anyway!

AKgringo - 1-28-2021 at 04:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Stopped at the tire shop many times. I don't remember seeing a restaurant, is it at the same property?



It is a pretty popular truck stop, just south of the tire shop. If a couple of trucks were stopped there, it would be hard to even see it!

[Edited on 1-28-2021 by AKgringo]

David K - 1-28-2021 at 04:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Stopped at the tire shop many times. I don't remember seeing a restaurant, is it at the same property?

How far away is the new restaurant being built?



Check out your Google Street View, Nueva Chapala, about 1.5 km south of the Hwy. 5 jcn. west side of highway. Km. 235.

RFClark - 1-29-2021 at 05:27 AM

The Solar panels on the roof of the “possible new restaurant” are a very recent addition! There were several trucks stopped in front of the old place when we went by Tuesday, it makes it hard to tell it’s a restaurant not someone’s home.

JZ - 1-30-2021 at 10:40 PM

Next time through snap some pics.

StuckSucks - 1-31-2021 at 04:04 PM

Restaurant Nva. Chapala

New restaurant

John M - 1-31-2021 at 07:52 PM

When we ate at the current Restaurant Nueva Chapala in October we asked about the new construction next door. The woman said it was to be the "new" Nueva Chapala but the guy they were paying to do the building just walked away. They had hopes of continuing the construction as they could.

Haven't seen it since mid October so I don't know if there is change since then.

John M

David K - 2-1-2021 at 11:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John M  
When we ate at the current Restaurant Nueva Chapala in October we asked about the new construction next door. The woman said it was to be the "new" Nueva Chapala but the guy they were paying to do the building just walked away. They had hopes of continuing the construction as they could.

Haven't seen it since mid October so I don't know if there is change since then.

John M


It's a L O N G drive to Home Depot! :lol::o:wow:

RFClark - 2-13-2021 at 10:53 PM

We’re going to go there tomorrow on our way south in the direction of LA Bay. We’ll take some pictures along the way! The wife loves Huevos Rancheros and it’s Valentines Day plus our anniversary!

RFClark - 2-14-2021 at 09:15 PM

We went as far south as LA Bay today! Just got back! Gas at Puertecitos and Gonzaga. There was lots of north bound traffic! We ate at the restaurant at the HWY1/5 junction. The food was excellent! The new building next door is the new restaurant! They were working on it today! They said open in April. The place is really nice! David K. I have pictures if you can post them, I don’t have an easy way to post them here.

There were high winds from Gonzaga south to LA Bay last night! The power was out at LA Bay today. About 10 power poles blew down at KM 47. CFE was there in force fixing them probably by Monday! Also have pictures!

No problems past the usual rocks on the road and cattle! Check point north of Gonzaga was searching Gringo cars if you had Tats or a beard!

We’re going to Todos Santos next month, so more soon!

David K - 2-14-2021 at 09:45 PM

Send them to me and I will put them up or give you the super easy how to instructions. However you wish.

RFClark - 2-14-2021 at 09:49 PM

If it doesn’t require a picture hosting account I can do it! What are the “super easy instructions“?

David K - 2-15-2021 at 08:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
If it doesn’t require a picture hosting account I can do it! What are the “super easy instructions“?


Well, it does if you want to keep the photos at their high resolution... www.postimages.org is FREE and easy. You only need to set the RESIZE option to 800 pixel or less. If you want to directly upload to Nomad, the file size must be dropped to 342 kb or less if it is greater than that.

Barring those options, email the images to me (info @ vivabaja.com).

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 10:26 AM

OK, I’ll signup and give it a try. Thanks

David K - 2-15-2021 at 11:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
OK, I’ll signup and give it a try. Thanks


I have these instructions at the top of the Nomad Photos forum:


Go to www.Postimages.org, make an album if you want to organize your photos to find them easily in the future (by date or by subject). No cost to use Postimages.org.

Change the upload setting from "Do not resize my image" to 640x480 (recommended for forums) or 800x600 (max. on Nomad). You click on the little arrow to see the size choices.

Click "Choose images" and select the photos you want to put on Nomad from your Pictures folder.

Click on the image you want on Nomad and click on "Share" at the top of the screen.

Choose "Hotlinks for forums" (down next to the last one). You can click the little box at the right end of the link and it is now saved on your mouse.

Go to Nomad and paste that link onto the place where you are typing on Nomad. You can put text in below the photo for a caption or your post and if you double space between photo links (for clarity), you can put several photos and captions in a single post on Nomad. You can click "Preview" on Nomad to check and see how it will look before posting to the board.

If you need to fix a post after it is done, click on "Edit" along the edge of your post, and change or delete your post. If you edit more than once, you can delete the previous Edited on tags so only one edit tag will appear after you edit the post.
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RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 12:08 PM

Yes, I found them this morning. Thanks!

Valentines Day Road Trip

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 12:58 PM

If this picture posts I’ll post pictures of the restaurant next!

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Valentines Day Road Trip

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 01:41 PM

Exterior and interior of the New Restaurant at HWY5 & 1 Junction.

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Interior of existing restaurant



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The food is great, the price is great! The New Restaurant should be open in April!

David K - 2-15-2021 at 01:42 PM

GREAT JOB!!! :bounce::bounce::bounce::light::light::light:

CFE Repairing LA Bay Power Line

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 01:54 PM

CFE repairing downed poles from high winds 2/13 night KM47 on the LA Bay Road.

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AKgringo - 2-15-2021 at 02:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
If this picture posts I’ll post pictures of the restaurant next!



What is that vehicle? Surely you weren't driving a go-cart with a winch on the front!

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 02:52 PM

It’s a ‘91 Daihatsu HiJet 4X4 Mini Truck 660CC 40Mpg! Goes 90kmph, weighs 700Kg, range 400Km has glass windows, heat, AC and cost $5k with all the add ons, springs, lift kit, Bumpers, winch, lights and 2 sets of tires. (Beach tires not shown!) it has a real truck frame and real drive components! (No chains, belts and pulleys!)

It plays nice on narrow Mexican roads. The right side drive let’s you watch the drop off! The soldiers at all the checkpoints love it too! It’s the wife’s she loves it too, I’m just the chauffeur with privileges!

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 03:04 PM

If you’re mechanical inclined buy one from Japan, Daihatsu HiJet is made by Toyota. That one cost $2700. I did the work myself and registered it in SD. That makes it street legal in the US. But generally not Freeway legal as it only goes about 60mph. The bumper is a modified CJ front bumper. A base Gator is $13K!

AKgringo - 2-15-2021 at 03:37 PM

Thanks for the info! I'll bet that guy with larger tires would be a cool beach rig. What size rims and bolt pattern will fit that mini-truck?

Valentines Day Road Trip

RFClark - 2-15-2021 at 03:52 PM

Here’s the truck with the sand tires it runs 4 lug 12” rims! That’s the Boss! The 2nd picture is how it looked when we bought it. It drives into the toy hauler too!



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mx813 - 2-18-2021 at 05:44 PM

I've stopped in at that restaurant, last time 2019 February. Myself and 3 other riders were freezing from the wind and warmed up with some good coffee.

Nice to know they are upgrading. I'll make it a point for my chase crew to swing in there for lunch this April.

Mike

AKgringo - 2-18-2021 at 06:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mx813  
I've stopped in at that restaurant, last time 2019 February. Myself and 3 other riders were freezing from the wind and warmed up with some good coffee.

Nice to know they are upgrading. I'll make it a point for my chase crew to swing in there for lunch this April.

Mike


Was it good coffee? My only complaint the last couple of times I ate there, is that they served me instant coffee!

RFClark - 2-18-2021 at 08:56 PM

When we were there Sunday they had a bi pot of coffee on the wood burning stove!

mx813 - 2-22-2021 at 11:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Quote: Originally posted by mx813  
I've stopped in at that restaurant, last time 2019 February. Myself and 3 other riders were freezing from the wind and warmed up with some good coffee.

Nice to know they are upgrading. I'll make it a point for my chase crew to swing in there for lunch this April.

Mike


Was it good coffee? My only complaint the last couple of times I ate there, is that they served me instant coffee!



It was good. The four of us were frozen and watching the pot perc on the stove while warming up was just the ticket.

RFClark - 2-24-2021 at 11:22 AM

Follow up on our return to “Stalag Joe” the wait at the West Calexico crossing on Saturday at 14:30 was about 35 min and gas was slightly cheaper in Mexico if you pay in cash with dollars. Current best price in SoCal is $3.05 and rising the ARCO at Salton Sea was $4.09!

AKgringo - 2-24-2021 at 11:39 AM

As I have said before, I prefer back roads. On my way back north in November, I passed through Pahrump NV, and found gasoline for $1.85. I went online and checked the price at that station today and it is $2.17!

I could almost hear the ghost of Art Bell coming through the radio!

David K - 2-24-2021 at 11:47 AM

The local Costco has risen from $2.89 (on Jan 20) to $3.25, a month later. I fear that this is only the start of the rise in energy costs... :(

motoged - 2-24-2021 at 12:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  


Was it good coffee? My only complaint the last couple of times I ate there, is that they served me instant coffee!


My travels in Baja and mainland Mexico have quite frequently only offered instant coffee. While my indulgent preference is a good dark roast out of a French press, three or four teaspoons of instant gets my Mexican days going....it's the lack of a decent cream is the let-down I have learned to manage with minimal grumbling.

I always like to see an old cowboy pot with a cotton strainer full of coffee steaming on a stove (woodfire preferred).....new grounds just piled on top of the old stuff and left to simmer with bag of grounds languishing long enough to give the flavour and good-morning kick. :coolup:

I like the decor of this place .....and a good porch with a rail to tie a bike to.....

RFClark - 2-25-2021 at 12:52 AM

We returned to Stalag Joe last Saturday afternoon. The wait at the West crossing was 35 Minutes. We plan to head back south to Todos Santos as soon as the Wife gets her 2nd shot. We would probably go to Australia were it not closed. We’ve been there before and really like it. Some parts are a lot like Baja. The roads are narrow like Baja. The trucks are like something out of Mad Max. They have bumpers made out of 3” steel pipe to guard against Kangaroos that wander on to the roads at night. The kangaroos are often tossed into oncoming traffic. Driving at night is discouraged.
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Driving off road is the National Religion. We drove from Adelaide to Ayers Rock which is a bit further than the drive to Los Cabos in 3 days. All the camp grounds were full of off-roaders. Lots of really nice rigs.
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John Harper - 2-25-2021 at 12:09 PM

OMG. Gas prices have gone up and down for at least the last 50 years. As the world economy moves on from covid, economic activity will increase the demand for energy.

John