KMH - 3-31-2024 at 10:09 AM
Hi, I'll be riding down to San Ignacio mid April and was considering the route from BOLA to El Arco. Just wondering what the conditions are like, is
it a good route for a large ADV bike? Deep sand would be my biggest concern.
Thanks!
Kevin-
David K - 3-31-2024 at 10:26 AM
Reports I read are generally very good... Post hurricane, some sand may be experienced in the area just after Rancho Piedra Blanca, where the large
Arroyo Purificación crosses the Baja Divide Route you will be riding on. You just never know if the road grader was employed recently to make this
the typically best graded-dirt road in Baja!
Photo from my June 2017 trip... The mission of Santa Gertrudis, ghost town of Pozo Alemán, and painted cave of Mesa del Carmen are all sites along of
off of this route... https://vivabaja.com/p617/2/
https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/painted_...
The Mesa del Carmen trail begins at the tiny bit of a sideroad, you see, just after the La Unión road.
[Edited on 3-31-2024 by David K]
KMH - 3-31-2024 at 10:30 AM
Thank you for the info, David. Looks like a good route!
Kevin-
David K - 3-31-2024 at 10:36 AM
My pleasure... I hope that others chime in who have ridden or driven it recently. I monitor several Facebook groups to stay up-to-speed, including
RideBaja group.
larryC - 3-31-2024 at 10:37 AM
It is a good route, and there is definitly sand there and south of San Rafael (K70) to about K90 you may find some loose rocks and sand.
KMH - 3-31-2024 at 10:49 AM
Thanks Larry, I appreciate the info!
surfhat - 3-31-2024 at 11:05 AM
The Piedra Blanca Rancho a few years ago was part of a day trip to one of the local cave painting sites that Shari organized for my friends and
myself.
We got to see their whole operation along with their cheese making house and a fine freshly prepared lunch under their large open palapa.
These back country ranchos deserve all the consideration we can send their way in whatever way we can. That afternoon lunch under their large palapa
overlooking the corrals and so much more of their operation was a look into a way of life I hope will survive with the future generations.
Salt of the earth always comes to my mind when referring to the Baja locals. In my experience, they have always gone beyond expectations.
I hope others have come away with the same impression of the locals. Some respect is so easy for us to show and means more than one can imagine to
them.
KMH - 3-31-2024 at 11:22 AM
Thanks surfhat, I was hoping to possibly spend a night at Piedra Blanca. I definitely agree with you regarding the locals...I've always found them to
be kind and generous. One of the goals for this ride will be to slow down and see some of the things I've missed on my past trips...like the cave
paintings 
David K - 3-31-2024 at 02:01 PM
Welcome to Baja Nomad, I hope to see your trip report when you get back from the ride!