While headed east to Palm Springs we saw the worst west bound gridlock in recent memory! Bumper to bumper from Indian Canyon to the Casino, including
the side road! Best gas price $3.29 (up from the $2.70s in January) at the Red Earth Casino. (Thank You Joe!) Peso $19.50 gas around $18/L in
Mexicali. No southbound traffic and no questions at the border.
The northbound traffic was the heaviest we’ve seen in years hundreds of cars all the way to San Felipe.
The checkpoint just north of San Felipe was doing minimal searches of Gringos as usual. No documents or health checks.
Gas in San Felipe $19/L
No road problems past lots of northbounds
“The General” was open great as usual tacos! 17:00 - 24:00 Wed - Sun
Day 2: Clean up after the Great Gray Herons that decided to Nest on the porch and load up the truck to head south!
BigBearRider - 3-8-2021 at 02:02 AM
What an interesting car for Baja!!! Drive safe. Hook - 3-8-2021 at 06:18 AM
Is that a Daihatsu? I used to drive one of those at OCIR when I worked on the maintenance crew.
But I dont believe they were actually street legal back then. Certainly not freeway legal. Has that changed?
Peso taking it in the shorts since the first of the year. Down about 8%. Internet rate up/down to 21.6/USD.
All fuels over here in the Guaymas area are 20+ pesos per liter. Premium 21+.David K - 3-8-2021 at 10:48 AM
Oh boy... a live trip report!!! pacificobob - 3-8-2021 at 05:52 PM
i have a kei truck. a 1991 suzuki carry. cool little thing. i considered bringing it to baja. but decided thar 12 inch wheels and a 55mph top speed
didn't fit the bill.
mine is plated in MT but rarely is on public roads.RFClark - 3-9-2021 at 04:35 AM
Yes, it’s a 1991 Daihatsu HiJet 4X4. It goes 90-100 Km/h which is fine for Mexico. We’ve driven it to LA Bay from our place and over to the HWY5/1
junction a few times. It keeps up with traffic just fine. South Dakota will license anything to drive on the road and people drive all sorts of stuff
on the road in Mexico! We’ll see how it goes!
We’ve both had our shots! Time to see the world again!RFClark - 3-9-2021 at 05:57 PM
Yes, it’s a 1991 Daihatsu HiJet 4X4. It goes 90-100 Km/h which is fine for Mexico. We’ve driven it to LA Bay from our place and over to the HWY5/1
junction a few times. It keeps up with traffic just fine. South Dakota will license anything to drive on the road and people drive all sorts of stuff
on the road in Mexico! We’ll see how it goes!
We’ve both had our shots! Time to see the world again!RFClark - 3-10-2021 at 05:05 AM
Day 3:
San Felipe (South Campos) to San Ignacio. I’ll add the pictures and map later when cell service improves! Telcel has the best data service hands
down. You get better service with a Telcel SIM than ant US Carrier I’ve tried.
Coco is building a new location, there were workers putting up the first building there yesterday. (Coco was at the old place) It’s visible from HWY
5 Just South of KM 178 a little past the turnoff to his old place. (DK the 2 screwed up signs that say 44Km to the junction of HWY 1 are in the same
area! Map with GPS info follows!) The restaurant at the 1/5 junction is moving along with the new building. They say 2 weeks and it will be open!
There were 9/10 customers there for lunch yesterday at noontime.
Gas prices: Gonzaga $19/L, further south $22/L, San Ignacio close to $23/L
Yesterday was a only check northbound traffic day at all the checkpoints (3) before San Ignacio. The much maligned San Ignacio CP wasn’t even
stopping Southbound drivers! There were no checks at all at the 28th past the usual $20 spray job! Bit they did give us a nice printed receipt
There are a lot of people visiting the Whales! Weekends are very busy right now!
The road was generally in good shape BCN has 2 crews out patching the potholes north of the 28th and the new bridge just before San Ignacio is almost
finished, but still just one lane with traffic control.
There are a few odd Km markers on HWY1 including a 185Km marker just south of the 1/5 junction and another odd one just prior to the LA Bay turnoff!
Everything was open and some people were not wearing masks, a survey of visitors at Ignacio Springs indicated most older Gringos were vaccinated!
Pictures here soon! On to Loreto! We couldn’t take the Daihatsu 4X4, it developed a rear suspension issue that will be addressed when we return.
We’re planning on driving it to Scorpion bay in the near future though. RFClark - 3-12-2021 at 02:54 PM
Day 4:
Not much to report Loreto to Cerritos!
Road resurfacing starting about KM 78 out of Loreto SB more road resurfacing out of Constitution. I have a map I’ll post here soon
Gas $20 - $22 depending on where.
Checkpoint before Loreto checking NB only. CP at La Paz not checking north of La Paz and waiving you through at the one south of town!
Maps and pictures soon!
Sunday Brushfire at Pura Playa
RFClark - 3-14-2021 at 05:17 PM
A fire broke out behind the beach bar and burned a couple of acres of brush. The Todos Santos FD responded along with all the locals. Since it was
windy there was a danger to the palapa roofs behind the beach. The fire is currently under control and the power is off.
tiotomasbcs - 3-14-2021 at 06:16 PM
fireworks?! Semana Santa is coming. Good practice runs for our two FD...El Pescadero y Todos Santos. One of the tanks was almost empty upon
arrival but a bucket line quickly formed! Were you the guy in purple shorts and Straw hat?! RFClark - 3-14-2021 at 06:28 PM
No, we’re staying at Windy’s place and driving a Red Nissan Rogue. There were plenty of people with shovels. I’m surprised that no-one had a
tank and pump in a truck with all the thatched roofs. We’re on our own up south of San Felipe so we have water and a couple of hundred feet of 1
1/2” fire hose!
Pictures Finally!
RFClark - 3-16-2021 at 11:52 AM
HWY5 SB around KM62:
The Matomi well is almost working again! They sed 2 weeks we’ll check on the way back.
Coco’s New Corner
RFClark - 3-16-2021 at 12:11 PM
Here are pictures of Coco’s new location around HWY5 KM78 SB
Here’s the progress on the restaurant at the HWY1/5 junction. They say 2 weeks till open too! We’ll check on the way back.
RFClark - 3-16-2021 at 07:13 PM
DK,
My map says 178KM from the Airport turnoff to Coco’s New Turnoff. It’s about a Km south of the old one.
29°32′58.61″N 114°20′29.12″W This is where my iPad says it is! PaulW - 3-16-2021 at 07:45 PM
Your coords are very inaccurate did you make a typing error? RFClark - 3-16-2021 at 08:07 PM
No,
I copied that off the map. Looks like it didn’t update.here’s where i think it is! Around 178 Km south of the Airport turnoff. At the old well.
David K - 3-17-2021 at 06:00 AM
A photo posted on Facebook of the new Coco's Corner confirms it is at Las Arrastras (Km. 179.5)... The hill in the background of the photo is the hill
just southwest of the bridge at Las Arrastras.
RFClark's GPS is spot on:
29°32′58.61″N 114°20′29.12″W is at Las Arrastras
[Edited on 3-17-2021 by David K]PaulW - 3-17-2021 at 06:39 AM
Refer to http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=81948&pag...
Shown are existing roads with old road and new road.
Previously documented 3/9/2020
Coco N Exit 29 32.760, -114 16.206
Coco S exit 29 27.836, -114 20.124
Chapala Km 201? near 29 23.12, -114 22.82
Clark’s coords
29°32′58.61″N 114°20′29.12″W = 29 32.97683, -114 20.48533
Plainly you can see Clarks coords are west of the paved new highway. And not for sure at Coco’s new digs.
I guess I pads suck compared to a proper GPS or a detailed track from Inreach. Probably wrong settings to get a good result?
FYI, my coords for the exit of new Hwy5 were taken on the east shoulder in the middle of the dirt exit.
ON my images the red line is old Hwy5 before the realignment.
Blue is the new road.
David, Clarks coords are not from a GPS.David K - 3-17-2021 at 09:23 AM
In any case, the photo of the new Coco's Corner building from Larry Smith is of the hill overlooking Las Arrastras.
RFClark's GPS seems to be on the new highway by the exit for the new Coco's. Perhaps the southbound side of the highway, as it seems to be just a few
feet to the west if you continued your straight (highway) line north from where you leave the highway?
The New Coco's Corner at Las Arrastras
David K - 3-17-2021 at 09:28 AM
Photo from Larry Smith:
Note Hwy. 5 in background, and the hill... On Google Earth that hill matches the one overlooking the Las Arrastras arroyo crossing at Km. 180.PaulW - 3-17-2021 at 09:50 AM
Ha - I guess I need to look for Los Arrastras? My focus has always been on the highway and exits and markers. I did not know it that place was visible
from the highway? So what are the coords for that place so I can add to my images.RFClark - 3-17-2021 at 09:52 AM
DK,
My 1st picture is looking west from Coco’s new driveway to HWY5. My 3rd picture is the reverse from SB HWY5 north of the entrance looking south.David K - 3-17-2021 at 10:02 AM
Ha - I guess I need to look for Los Arrastras? My focus has always been on the highway and exits and markers. I did not know it that place was visible
from the highway? So what are the coords for that place so I can add to my images.
The center of the round mill (arrastra) at Las Arrastras: 29° 32.915'N, 114° 20.398'W
I’lll repost them larger!PaulW - 3-17-2021 at 03:43 PM
Updated my Coco area images for my own use and am sharing for others
See attached KML
Attachment: CocoCloseby.kml (6kB) This file has been downloaded 250 timesDavid K - 3-17-2021 at 04:39 PM
The final proof set for the new Baja Atlas map book is edited and includes the new Coco's Corner, next to Las Arrastras. It is, of course, up to
Benchmark to decide to use my edits.
So far they have used most of my suggestions, but not all. They (not me) also added 'Shell Island' to the map... I got a big laugh.
Map makers (cartographers) often add unique names to copyright protect their maps. The Auto Club Baja map even has a few mountain peaks named after
cartographer's children!
All in good fun... AKgringo - 3-17-2021 at 05:42 PM
Coco's corner looks like it is going to be a bit cramped for space. Where will he hang the panty collection?
I know the new highway has a whole lot more traffic than the dirt road did, but when crawling by at low speeds the old spot was a welcome
intermission. I don't think he will find near as many people are going to hit the brakes and be pulling into the new digs. RFClark - 3-24-2021 at 05:25 PM
We’re on the way back North! Todos Santos to Loreto today.
Gas in La Paz $20.09 & up/L
Neither Police Check Point was stoping anyone.
Road work around 180km North of La Paz and from 40km - 70Km west of the Loreto turnoff. Watch for workers on the road!
The traffic was light. The first of the Sermana Santo vacationers were heading south.
Light wind temperatures in the 60s - 70s cooler at night.
More tomorrow we’re going up to San Ignacio!
Loreto to San Ignacio, San Ignacio to SF
RFClark - 3-26-2021 at 10:02 PM
Yesterday the Mexican Army was taking names at the NB checkpoint north of Loreto. Looking in glove boxes and passports. SB was being waved through!
There’s a really good Chinese restaurant in Santa Rosella on the right side NB just before the harbor. 2 things, rice and noodles, enough for 2
people $125!
Lots of SB traffic and campers showing up on the beaches.
Gas $20+/L generally.
Water was not a problem. Everyone says CFE only shut it off in Mulege.
Telcel data service in San Ignacio is bad!
Today the much discussed San Ignacio checkpoint waved us through!
The work on the bridge north of town is finished.
There was no checkpoint at the Baja North border.
The checkpoint north of Guerrero Negro searched the truck in front of us and then waved us through! Lots of SB searches too!
More SB traffic the further north we went.
The restaurant at the HWY1/5 junction opened their new location. (pictures soon) The food is great and they have WiFi now!
The building at Coco’s new location is done but no-one was there this afternoon.
Gas at Gonzaga was $22+/L
It rained for about 15 min right after we got home!
End of report!
[Edited on 3-27-2021 by RFClark]RFClark - 3-27-2021 at 12:52 PM
Yes, they (the restaurant) seem to have a point to point link from the north, I'll ask about it when we go there next time. The delay was minimal so
not Satellite!
[Edited on 4-12-2021 by RFClark]
[Edited on 4-12-2021 by RFClark]
[Edited on 4-12-2021 by RFClark]
RFClark - 4-11-2021 at 07:45 PM
I just received the parts to fix the spring sag in the Daihatsu 4X4. Now that the Samana Santa craziness is over for another year. We’ll head back
south. We’ll probably take the Daihatsu for a shakedown run to the 5/1 junction to see if it works. Then it’s back to Cerritos!
I’ll open a new report, soon!David K - 4-11-2021 at 10:41 PM
More photos, including Coco's Corner as seen from the pavement... please!
Now, because kilometer markers have been known to move: Please note or photograph the markers closet to Coco's new corner. We are calling it now, Km.
179.5.
In the past, the big bridge (center) was Km. 180, south of Coco's new Corner, next to Las Arrastras (mill and well in the arroyo by the bridge).RFClark - 4-11-2021 at 11:27 PM
Here’s a picture showing the sign’s location just north of the bridge.
It’s somewhere around KM 180. This is after where the incorrect signs are.
Cerritos to San Felipe return report
RFClark - 6-1-2021 at 06:06 PM
Just returned from Cerritos Beach again.
Lots of people there. Most places have reopened for sit in dining. Not much in the way of road conditions to report.
The floating National Guard roadblock was at KM 185 north of La Paz yesterday. The military checkpoint south of Jesus and Maria was taking names and
car plate numbers. All the rest were wave throughs. The checkpoint north of Gonzaga now has point to point internet, new in the last month.
Coco had visitors and things seemed fine when we drove by.
The road maintenance delays were repaving the bad spots south of the HWY 1 / 5 junction
The well north of Puertecitos around KM 58 is still out of service but they just added 2 - 22KL storage tanks and say just a week more then they’ll
be ready!
David K - 6-1-2021 at 07:34 PM
Thanks for the tank photo!
The well is at Km. 60.5 and west of the highway. Of interest, it was there when I was a kid. My folks and I checked it out in the 60s.RFClark - 6-1-2021 at 10:31 PM
David,
Same location new borehole! The well and house next to the concrete tank from your childhood and that we bought water from for 30 years are gone!David K - 6-2-2021 at 09:31 AM
Thanks RF, interesting!
There was no house or tank when I was a kid, just a deep well we looked down. I thing it had wood lining?
In the 70's, a ranch named San Rafael was established near the well and offering some services, like beer, for sale. In 2017, I noted for the guide
that ranch was renamed 'El Pozo' and was there in 2018, when I was re-checking the road.RFClark - 6-3-2021 at 05:16 AM
David,
The house was old and had a large tree in front of it. The concrete tank was right next to the house. It was about 15’ Sq and 8’ tall. The well
was about 100’ south of the tank. I never realized it was a dug well. Before the flood they had just finished a new tube well. All was lost in the
flood!
I don’t have any pictures of the place!RFClark - 11-9-2021 at 10:03 AM
Gasoline milage update!
We drove our car south again. Gassed in San Felipe, Santa Rosalia and La Paz going south. Had the expected milage 55mpg ish all the way to La Paz.
South of La Paz we gassed at the now not Pemex station north of San Pedro. The milage immediately dropped into the high 40s. Next gas was COSTCO Los
Cabos and the milage went back up to the mid 50s immediately.
First time we gassed at COSTCO price $19.49/L! We’ll try again next month and report back! W e 87 Regular.
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