BajaNomad - Day trip to Mision San Javier on bicycle

Day trip to Mision San Javier on bicycle

cupcake - 5-3-2024 at 04:46 PM

2 May 2024. Luis, at Loreto Tours & Rentals (Madero #22), let me have a good 21 speed bicycle for a ride up to Mision San Javier. I left Loreto at 10am and was at the mision four hours later. The road is now quite good and paved all the way to the mision. The road winds in a series of ups and downs, as it ascends in 34km to the mision. The day I went, there was a very small amount of traffic from the NORRA race taking place in Baja, most of this had already passed by the time I commenced my late start, and just a few cars heading up to the mision. I felt the danger from traffic to be rather low on this route, a pleasant thing for a cyclist. The greatest potential risk for me was in letting my downhill speed on the return trip get away from me. There are quite a few small loose rocks on the route, as well as some sand and gravel. I quickly realized that I needed to keep my speed down, so that I could change my line as I came upon these hazzards. As well, a cyclist loosing their brakes on this descent could have a catastrophic outcome. I feathered my brakes to keep my speed down for navigating around road hazzards and so that I might be able to stop by dragging my feet in case of a brake failure (rental bikes are not as well known as your own personal bike).

That said, I think this is a classic outing for cyclists, well prepared for the road conditions, sun, heat, and somewhat strenuous ride. There is a well stocked mini super near the mision site, where food and drink can be bought.

The ride back to Loreto took me three hours in the late afternoon, with almost no other traffic on the road at that time. A very nice day in southern Baja.

The Mision San Javier is magnificent, one of the most beautiful surviving stone mision churches in Baja.

[Edited on 5-4-2024 by cupcake]

AKgringo - 5-3-2024 at 05:10 PM

I drove that road last year. I thought at the time that going downhill on a bicycle would be an adrenalin junkie's dream ride!

cupcake - 5-3-2024 at 05:20 PM

It probably is for a younger rider. I have become a frail old man, but happy I can still get out for nice trips like this one to San Javier.

David K - 5-3-2024 at 07:02 PM

Wow, that is quite an uphill ride from Loreto!

San Javier was California's second mission, founded in 1699 where Rancho Viejo now is. About 20 years later, most mission activities had moved the 5 miles south to the mission farm of San Pablo, which became the new San Javier.
The massive church was built between 1744 and 1758... an impressive site, to be sure!
The mission was abandoned in 1817.

cupcake - 5-4-2024 at 11:34 AM

Thanks for this information on San Javier, it helps bring the mision to life that much more.

When visiting Misions San Borja and Santa Gertrudis, I asked Angel, and was told that they both have been ´preasure cleaned´. Their surfaces have a light and warm color, which I like. Mision San Javier, on the other hand, has surfaces that are much darker, black in areas from the ages, which I also like.

I should mention that Loreto Tours & Rentals (cited in the OP) also had an electric bike for rent, at not too much more than the daily price for a nonelectric. I´ve not yet ridden an Ebike, but I´ve been passed by many of them over the years. A well running Ebike should make the trip up to San Javier much faster and easier, as long as the battery power lasts. However, I´ve been advised that they are harder to pedal than a nonEbike when the battery has lost all of its charge (they are heavier).

I also want to mention that hydraulic disk brakes need bleeding and fluid replenishing when the brakes start to get ´mushy´. Something for renters to keep in mind on routes that have some serious downhill sections, as this is maintenance that a renter might not be able to take care of.

[Edited on 5-4-2024 by cupcake]

David K - 5-4-2024 at 06:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cupcake

Thanks for this information on San Javier, it helps bring the mision to life that much more.

There always is "so much more" and why I wrote my book... now in its 14th printing.
Buy from 'the author' (signed) at https://www.oldmissions.com
Otherwise at bookstores, gift shops, or Amazon!

cupcake - 5-6-2024 at 11:47 AM

I have been keeping an eye out for your book during my travels. I tried Sandborns in TJ but they didn´t have it. At this time I am not able to pay for the book online or even receive it in the mail. It is just a matter of time though; I know it is an excellent book from the excerpts I´ve read online. I do love history.

David K - 5-6-2024 at 11:58 AM

La Nave de Lulio in Ensenada and Guerrero Negro have carried it, as well as the Tecate Carem Museum gift shop... My distributor is Sunbelt Publications, in Chula Vista. The Baja locations get their books from Sunbelt.
Ask them for locations: info@sunbeltpub.com

La Nave de Lulio:
Ensenada: https://www.facebook.com/lanavede.lulio
Guerrero Negro: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024086451934

cupcake - 5-6-2024 at 12:19 PM

Thanks David. I just sent an email enquiry to Sunbelt.

I want to make sure I get the one with the latest updates, any printing 2022 or later, I believe.

[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake]

cupcake - 5-6-2024 at 01:01 PM

Received response from Sunbelt. These booksellers have ordered copies:

El Caballo Blanco in Loreto

Allende in La Paz

Bookworm in Los Cabos

Happy Book in Cabo San Lucas

Update:

I was able to buy the book today at El Caballo Blanco in Loreto (Eleventh Printing March 2022). They had two copies on the shelf, now only one. So glad I can now read your book while I am out visiting these misions. Thanks for the help in locating a copy.

[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake]

David K - 5-7-2024 at 11:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by cupcake

Received response from Sunbelt. These booksellers have ordered copies:

El Caballo Blanco in Loreto

Allende in La Paz

Bookworm in Los Cabos

Happy Book in Cabo San Lucas

Update:

I was able to buy the book today at El Caballo Blanco in Loreto (Eleventh Printing March 2022). They had two copies on the shelf, now only one. So glad I can now read your book while I am out visiting these misions. Thanks for the help in locating a copy.

[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake]

Fantastic! The 11th, 12th, and 13th printings all are the same and all say 11th Printing March 2022 (an error by my printers to not edit the two printings in 2023). The 14th printing May 2024 is corrected... but the text in the book is unchanged since 2022.

DannyRT - 6-12-2024 at 10:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

La Nave de Lulio in Ensenada and Guerrero Negro have carried it, as well as the Tecate Carem Museum gift shop... My distributor is Sunbelt Publications, in Chula Vista. The Baja locations get their books from Sunbelt.
Ask them for locations: info@sunbeltpub.com

La Nave de Lulio:
Ensenada: https://www.facebook.com/lanavede.lulio
Guerrero Negro: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024086451934

Good info here, David!

David K - 6-13-2024 at 08:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DannyRT

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Good info here, David!

Gracias! My book also has a Facebook group. We discuss all historic locations in Baja, not just the 27 missions and their visitas. Join us: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions