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thebajarunner
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She also got an airstrip
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
At Santa Ynez, you may be staying in the same room as did Steve McQueen after his Baja racer broke in the 1960's or Presidential candidate Echeverria
when he toured the peninsula and the people along the way told him, 'build us a road'... he kept his promiss and the transpeninsular highway was
finished before his term ended. Josefina of Santa Ynez got a paved driveway out of the deal (she asked for a paved road to Mision Santa Maria and on
to Punta Final, Gonzaga Bay). |
"Back in the day" the story we all told and retold was that the airstrip was compensation for the mis-routing of the new highway across their ranch
without proper permission.
She told them to move the road, they sat down and made a deal.
The highway stayed and the airstrip got installed.
Last time I was up there the strip was closed up tight (supposedly to stop the druggies from using it as a mid-way point headed North) I have not
been up there for a few years, is it still blocked off?
I landed there numerous times in my Cutlass in the 80's.
(No- my stops were not drug related)
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capt. mike
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Ken - sweet! man i miss the good ol' days of baja flyin'.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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David K
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The original Santa Ynez runway was where today's entrance road and campground area is now... Josefina got a paved runway up above on the parallel hill
when they built the highway...
Punta Prieta, Guerrero Negro (north of the eagle monument) and San Ignacio also got paved runways... opening up Baja more. A dirt runway was made near
El Arenoso for highway engineers to get close to the action without driving there.
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durrelllrobert
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Catavina PEMEX?
Do you know if there are any plans to get pumps running at the Mission Catavina hotel?
Bob Durrell
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thebajarunner
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Yes
| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Do you know if there are any plans to get pumps running at the Mission Catavina hotel? |
They will definitely be installed and operational.......
manana
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David K
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Just fill up at El Rosario, 76 miles away. However, independent dealers sell gas from cans at Cataviņa... and you really get a true 5 gallons (19
liters) for the money!
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rts551
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Maybe one of us that stop for breakfast will ask and get you a real answer..plus we can ask if they plan to give a true 5 gallons.
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Bajahowodd
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The chain of hotels known by so many as La Pinta or Desert Inn were originally opened as Presidente. There was a partnership between the Mexican
government and Presidente to ensure that there were decent rest stops along the route that was being paved to Cabo.
As for the Catavina location, kudos to the Los Pinos folks. They have upgraded much of the property inside and out; not the least of which is to keep
the electricity on all day.
That said, folks staying there will note that unlike what they did at the San Quintin property, they have not lowered the rates. That is simply due to
the costs of transportation and the costs of the electricity.
They upgraded the generators with more fuel efficient replacements. Not sure why they didn't opt for at least some solar.
But, that said, it would not appear that they would look to re-open the pumps for the Pemex there. Too small a margin per gallon to be running the
pumps on their generators.
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thebajarunner
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Camping at Catavina
I am quite surprised at all the responses about the wonderful camping at Santa Ynez and holing up back of the gas station, etc.
Catavina has the most awesome natural campsites in all of Baja, no doubt about it.
Some years back we had a UCSantaCruz photo class there, and the prof had us drive down one of the sandy roads north of town and we all camped for a
week.
Our Baja Vida gang has a very special spot (no I will not tell you where) and it is our favorite Baja place-hands down!!
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Ateo
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Catavina is awesome to stay at. The hotel I did a few times and enjoyed bacon wrapped hot dogs across the street by the liquor store/market, and pool
fun afterwards. Option two was camping in the desert off the road and that was also extremely fun - great stars and bright moon. Option three is
next time - Santa Ynez. Drove over there last time and it looked like a great place to stay, or fly into with that wicked air strip!
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
I am quite surprised at all the responses about the wonderful camping at Santa Ynez and holing up back of the gas station, etc.
Catavina has the most awesome natural campsites in all of Baja, no doubt about it.
Some years back we had a UCSantaCruz photo class there, and the prof had us drive down one of the sandy roads north of town and we all camped for a
week.
Our Baja Vida gang has a very special spot (no I will not tell you where) and it is our favorite Baja place-hands down!! |
Any photos you can post?
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Bob H
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In Catavina, we used to just place our cabover camper behind the hotel, go in for a margie or two, and spend the night there for free! They never
bothered us... never.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Alas, that was before digital
| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
I am quite surprised at all the responses about the wonderful camping at Santa Ynez and holing up back of the gas station, etc.
Catavina has the most awesome natural campsites in all of Baja, no doubt about it.
Some years back we had a UCSantaCruz photo class there, and the prof had us drive down one of the sandy roads north of town and we all camped for a
week.
Our Baja Vida gang has a very special spot (no I will not tell you where) and it is our favorite Baja place-hands down!! |
Any photos you can post? |
Ken- if you are asking about photos from the class, it was back in the Kodak days.... sorry.
Our teacher, Steve Crouch, published a number of great photo books, including one centered in Catavina, others in the Monterey, CA area where he
lived.
Steve made us shoot only in the first 30 minutes of sun and the final 30- and always off a tripod....
If you are asking about photos of the campsite- nope, gonna keep that one between us.
Check your U2U
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tripledigitken
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Bajarunner,
I was asking about the class photos. Would have liked to see them.
Ken
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Pompano
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A FEW REASONS TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN CATAVINA
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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tripledigitken
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Just went back and edited this shot from last year.................
just behind the Hotel and 15 minutes before sunset..............
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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NICE!
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Bajahowodd
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As nice as it appears, I'm thinking that Pompano's photos of the pool/ courtyard were taken before the Los Pinos folks took the place over. It looks
even more inviting today.
That said, given they noe keep the electric on all day, it has actually become much more of a destination than an overnight place.
Seriously, for those who wish to explore the desert in the area, including cave paintings, there's all the more reason to stay here now.
Restaurant is open all day, and they installed a new chef. The food is really good.
My long term experience with this hotel was for an overnight, if it was getting late and getting dark as I approached.
The current hotel situation is that it is really worth staying here and exploring the area.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Sounds good... as it should be for US$90 a night. Pompano's two photos have the same date (Nov. 7, 2011) and the second one clearly gives the new
name... Mision Cataviņa.
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