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yakfish
Banned
Posts: 22
Registered: 11-2-2003
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wife and I drove our toyota echo all over East Cape last summer 10 days with two Kayaks on top also drove out to Mag Bay there are alot of dirt roads
that dont need 4x4s to drive on most of the locals dont have 4x4s and they do just fine. we stay away from touristy areas for the most part. we Drive
to Loreto every year stay south of town at Juncilito we have driven down in many differant cars not 4x4s and been to some wonderful places Guerrero
Negro area and Jesus Maria on the pacific side wow!,In Spring time. Also Bay Of L.A. the most beautiful view of the Sea of Cortez is on the road
just before you come down into Bay of L.A. IMO. 
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ferdic1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 12-14-2003
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San Felipe to Mexico Hwy1
My wife and I are in our early 60s and own a new Ford Expedition FX4 (underbody shields, 4x4), and plan on taking the road from San Felipe to Mex 1
Dec. 23 on our way to Loreto. We fell in love with Baja last Christmas, when we drove out 37ft motorhome, towing a Saturn, from Tecate through
Ensanada and on to Mulege. The road was too narrow for our comfort (the motorhome is a widebody), so we thought we'd take the Expedition this time to
scout out Loreto and points south.
Rather than take exactly the same route again, we thought the San Felipe way sounded attractive -- until we read about that 42-mile stretch south of
Puertecitos that AAA says will take 4 hours! That's 10 mph average. Is the road that terrible? What did the summer monsoons do to it? Is there much
traffic on that section?
If we were to break down, what are the chances of getting any help? Should we take a CB, and if so, what channel might there be English-speakers on
(we don't speak Spanish)?
We have done some extreme off-roading in the Arizona desert, so aren't easily intimidated by rocks and sand, but we'd be totally out of our element
down there and alone.
Any advice?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65109
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The road south of Puertecitos was just graded and in great shape... I was on it over Thanksgiving. The nearly 50 miles to Gonzaga took 90 minutes in
my truck... small motorhomes can drive it and we saw one near Huerfanito.
The BAD part is the pot holed pavement for 25 miles just north of Puertecitos... worse than a dirt road.
Gonzaga on to Laguna Chapala on Hwy. 1 is 36 miles and should be fine. Stop and visit with one legged Coco and sign his guest book, halfway between
Gonzaga and Chapala. Coco sells beer and soda and tells stories.
You won't be all alone... busy time of year for Baja travelers. C.B. is probably not very helpful unless you are traveling with others.
At Gonzaga there are restaurants at Papa Fernandez' (see photo of John Wayne and Papa), and Alfonsina's 3 miles south (awesome garlic shrimp and fish
dinners, plus a bar and motel). At the turnoff for Alfonsina's is a closed Pemex and across the street is Rancho Grande (sells gas usually) with tire
repair service and a store/satellite phone.
[Edited on 12-15-2003 by David K]
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academicanarchist
Senior Nomad
Posts: 978
Registered: 9-7-2003
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Driving at Night
I would not drive at night anywhere in Mexico, including Baja. On a quick trip with several friends in 1976, the driver at the time almost ran into a
group of burros crossing on the road in the middle of the Central Desert, and nearly ended the trip.
I have traveled across Mexico many times, including on buses that run at night. I have friends who have been killed driving on Mexican roads. Besides,
you miss the scenery as David K. points out.
Sounds like it was a fun first trip. However, I would not be surprised by the reactions of some Mexicans who have to deal with the occasional "ugly
American."
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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ferdic1,
We came back last Friday (12th) from Punta Bufeo. The winds of a week ago have blown a bit of the sand away in spots around Huerfanito south, so the
washboard is coming back, but it's nothing compared to a couple of months ago.
CBs are used but very few persons monitor them. If you feel like you want to have some kind of communication along, purchase a hand-held marine VHF.
Anywhere from San Felipe down through Gonzaga you should be able to hail someone. We monitor Ch 8 at Pta Bufeo; Gonzaga uses 16 mostly; 9 and 18 can
be useful also. I know the folks in the El Dorado area at San Felipe use 72. In any case you'll be able to make contact if you have an emergency.
We've not had any question about permits for the radio from the military or the police. In fact, a year ago we ran a search-and-rescue from our house
and had all kinds of marine-band radios in use (even a NAVCOM) and the police and navy thanked us. Their attitude seems to be that "Para la
emergencia, cualquier cosa trabaja. "
We'll be in residence by the 27th, but it sounds like you'll precede us a few days.
?Buen viaje!
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Anonymous
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Bufeo, what type radio would you suggest for someone who would be hitching and hiking along Baja? What would be best---a handheld marine VHS or a
handheld C.B. radio? I was thinking that if I carried a handheld C.B, then I could introduce myself through the radio and possibly get a ride. I
know, sounds crazy, eh?..."El Mochilero"
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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from Anon-
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...what type radio would you suggest for someone who would be hitching and hiking along Baja?
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I'm not sure I have a good answer for that. Hitch-hiking is so different from running along in your own vehicle and communication needs would vary.
Travelers moving along in a group of several vehicles may prefer CBs and you will see numerous caravans along Hwy 1 with CB antennas poking out of
vehicle roofs. In that case, you will be better off with a CB.
On the other hand, residents (local and us part-timers) nearly all use marine-band units both permanently mounted in vehicles and homes and portable
hand units. Emergency communication, that which I was implying above, in most cases is more effective with marine-band.
Handhelf marine-band VHF radios can run from $80 to $200 (maybe more, maybe less), whereas a very good CB can be purchased for less than $50.
For hitch-hiking, you'll have to think about carrying extra batteries. If you are "introducing" yourself, i.e. transmitting, you'll use up your power
fast. In a car, a 12V power cord mitigates the need for a lot of extra dry-cells.
Both types of radios require permits in Baja, but in our nearly 40 years of driving down there we have never been asked to show our permits.
One soldier expressed much "admiration" for my NAVCOM and a small Mag-Lite? but he did not press the issue, and I made no attempt to appease his
hankering
Sorry, this is such a long non-answer. Maybe someone else will want to wade in with a recommendation, but I guess in your situation I would suggest a
cheap CB and a bunch of dry cells.
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bigaton
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 3-9-2003
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hitching and hiking......
If you would like to introduce yourself, your best bet would be to start from a PEMEX or one of the check points where tourists are stopped. I got a
ride from the military check point just north of SAN IGNACIO ... earlier this year, all the way to TIJUANA, on an 18 wheeler. It was a 12 hour ride.
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ferdic1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 12-14-2003
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Marine radios
Bufeo,
Thanks for the info on handheld marine radios. What sort of range would we need to have in a unit? Power? Is 5W good?
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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ferdic1,
I think that all hand-held marine-band VHFs are now equipped with 5w/1w capability. There may me some that are 5w only, but I'm not aware of them.
Usually if battery supply is an issue it's a good idea to leave your radio on the 1w since that uses much less power to transmit. Disadvantage is
that you severely reduce your distance.
For all intents and purposes, range even on the max 5w setting is only a couple of miles--or, in the case of having altitude on your side, i.e. being
up on a mountain, line of sight is the factor. Often, using our hand-held on 5w we talk to our neighbors at Pta Bufeo from the southernmost crest of
the "Sisters" near Huerfanito. That's a distance of approximately 15 air miles. On the flip side, we have been blocked by terrain when only ? mile
apart.
As an example, last year we stopped to help a fellow about 10 miles north of Pta Bufeo. He had blown both of his mc tires. I tried to hail anyone
from our beach with a hand-held and standing roadside. No response. I walked about 50 meters over to a little rise that had a better view of the
campo and Bingo! In a few minutes two mc nobby tires were on the way.
Some folks install fixed-mount VHFs in their vehicles, and I think that I'll probably do that also. That way you have the benefit of 25w/1w and with
a good high-gain antenna you get much added distance. With our fixed-mount in our house, we have had conversations with folks at Puertecitos, about
32 air miles. Then, the mountains between us and Papa Fernandez prevents us from directly communicating with friends there. We rely on friends at
Alfonsina's to relay msgs for us. Since it's all much like a party line, it makes having eventual contact easier.
Good antennas make a real difference on the fixed-mount radios. I don't recommend trying to cut corners by getting a good radio and then plugging in
the cheapest antenna.
Of course with hand-held units you are limited to using the antenna supplied, or in the case of a couple of the more expensive models you can get an
adaptor that allows you to utilize a roof-mounted vehicle antenna.
BTW, I'm no expert in any of this stuff. That's probably evident, but all of my information comes from using the equipment.
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ferdic1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 12-14-2003
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Handheld marine radio
Bufeo,
Many thanks for the info. I think we'll purchase the 5W unit and try it out. Maybe we'll contact you that way as we pass through circa Dec 23-24 on
our way to Loreto. It would be good to get together and swap some stories and experiences in Baja!
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ferdic1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 12-14-2003
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Road to Loreto
David Kay:
Will you be in the San Felipe-Puertecito-Loreto environs Dec 23-Jan 1? We'd like to swap stories/experiences.
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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ferdic1,
Check your U2U msg box.
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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El Mochilero, A quick note....
If your going to try and hail autos via Marine or CB radio you'll have to factor in all the channels that are avaialable, you could call all
day and if theyr'e on another channel you might as well yell at them as they pass. Maybe hold a sign up with the channell and band your using?.
CB has 40 different channels and Marine, I think has over 70 channells.
I think you would have better luck talking to people at the Pemex's like Bufeo said. If I were using VHS I'd suggest channels # 6, 16, 21 and 22. CB
probably 11, 19 and 20. And don't forget there is the FRS radios too!! Another 15 or so channels, it's almost staggering to think of the combinatios.
What ever you do...Have a Great time and Merry Christmas!!
Bedman
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65109
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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David Kay?
ferdik1... is it me you want to meet? Sure... I love meeting people crazy about Baja (I don't feel so strange and alone that way). I was going to
Bahia de los Angeles for New Years week, but a recent big problem is probably going to ruin that plan. You are welcome to stop by my Oceanside casita
if the timing is right and a wall full of Baja maps and books doesn't scare you, HA! Email me via my web site... my u2u here is not working.
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Anonymous
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Thanks Bufeo, Bigaton and Bedman for the suggestions. Think I will just check in at the Pemex's whenever possible.. And Happy Holidays to you!..."El
Mochilero"
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Nikon
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 12-11-2003
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Ferdic1
The most ironic Baja road is the one between Puertecitos and Gonzaga. You break down and you feel like the only person on the planet, particularly at
night. But the truth of the matter surfaces when you finally arrive at Rancho Grande or Puertecitos, and discover that the mechanics had been told of
your dilemna by serveral people. I waited 18 hours, from 12 noon till 7 a.m., but when help did arrive it was from Puertecitos and was the deputy in
the police truck who moonlighted as a mechanic. Another time it was fishermen from a nearby camp who took me to their camp and fed me while they
worked on my truck. It ain't the 405 that's fer sure.
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marla
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
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I had a suicidal cow walk right in front of my car on Hwy 1. By slamming on my brakes I was able to avoid hitting it by about 1 inch, because I was
travelling at a safe speed already. That cured me of any desire to EVER drive at night, when I would have been less likely to have seen the stupid
bovine. People who fail to take sage advice from others who have been there in high-risk situations are called "deceased." Or "paraplegics."
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