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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65236
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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David K from the Bay of L.A.! (Part 1)
Happy New Year Baja Nomads y Amigos!
Today (Friday) was the best day here, so far... Perfect sunshine, no wind, and was a great day for my Lost Mission Hunt V (it's still lost!).
WET!!! Yes, it rained on us starting Tuesday night or Wednesday after midnight... then most of the day Wednesday... stopping in time for the big Diaz
fiesta which went over well.
We arrived about 6 pm on Tuesday after driving down via San Felipe and Gonzaga... about 3 hours later than expected due to delays buying fireworks,
lunch (a great taco stand in Puertecitos), and a rock vs. tire encounter that the rock won! We had a nice visit with Coco (who looks real good) and
had a patch put on the tire at Chapala. It was a new tire, but the rip was big (in the center of the tread).
At Camp Gecko were many friends including Marla and her children and friend Laura, The Humfrevilles, 4Baja & Whiskey Girl and her boys, Frank & Katie
O, Bedman & Emma, Bo and daughter Andee, Georock and family, David A & Yvonne, etc. etc. Abraham (Doc), Sylvia and the girls were here.
Paulina and Dern were at their place and we saw Beach Bob, too.
Bedman provided prime rib for the pot luck feast at Gecko, New Year's Eve. It was was tremendous!!!
The drizzle rain stopped before we went into town for the big Diaz fiesta and it went over well.
New Year's Day (Thur.) was overcast and cool, but dry... A day for a drive! We did a excursion to Mision San Borja and the Montevideo pinturas (with
Georock's family in their BIG yellow H2 Hummer and the Humfreville's in their BIG white cow... I mean Suburban! Lots of water in every low spot in the
San Borja road... Boy, are we ever muddy!!! Dinner at Las Hamacas was a great ending of that day.
Today (Friday), the SUN came out and the clouds vanished! Pete and Josh (Georock's hubby and son) went with Sarah and I on my Lost Mission Hunt V
while Chris stayed with the Humfreville's and played around the La Gringa area.
We headed up an arroyo near my previous search areas southwest from Bahia San Rafael... a beautiful white sand wash with lots of big granite boulders.
It looked good and we all hiked out from the point we could drive no further... but no dice (that's why it's called a LOST mission dad!, my son
reminds me). Photos of the site I am trying to relocate from winter '65/'66 are at http://davidksbaja.com/402/page3.html
Anyway.. we just had another meal at Las Hamacas and I ducked into the store with Interet (next door) to give you all an update. I will be back online
Sunday evening, I hope...
Happy New Year again... y Hasta la vista!
Part 2 finishes the trip report and is a seperate post called 'Back from Bay of L.A.' here on the General Baja board. A detailed report on Friday's
'Lost Mission Hunt V' is posted on the Baja Off Roading Board, here at Baja Nomad.
[Edited on 1-5-2004 by David K]
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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Yikes! That road between SF and Gonzaga sounds bad... I'm not going down until April, but am I going to be able to make it with my 2WD F250 and
Lance Camper?
I'm soooo jealous... Wish I was there.
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Debra
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Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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You can probebly make it, but, it will be slow going, and I don't think I'd want to take a camper on that road, especially with 2WD, there is one spot
that is a pretty large hill, and rocky....you might have to take 2 or 3 runs at it to get over. If you do decide to go for it, I hope you have
another rig with you, it could be a long time before another vehical comes by to help if you get into trouble. Good luck, and have fun.
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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Would it be better to go the other way... Hwy 1 south, east to Gonzago at Chapala then North to San Felipe?
I'm gonna have my wife and two kids with me and I don't anyone (else) in the truck to blow a gasket.
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Debra
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Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Tim
I'm not sure I understand? Are you talking about going Mex 1 down and the back way home? If so, I would stick with Mex 1, there are others on the
board I'm sure (the guys) that might advise you to just go for it( (these would be experenced off roaders) , but, personally, if you ever want your
wife to speak to you again, I wouldn't do it....it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in Baja, but, 2WD with camper and no back-up
rig....frankly, I wouldn't go, and I have....in 4WD Van with 15 people along...it was kind of scary, but, friends will tell you that I'm very
cautious, (most Mom's are) for more info. check out David K.a web site, there are pictures there...do yourself a favor, let your wife decide. I wish
I could come down to go with (4WD back up)...I would do it again in a "heart beat" but, not alone the way you are thinking. Debra
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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Debra
I'd like to get to Gonzaga Bay and San Felipe.
I can either go "clockewise" (south on Hwy 5 to SF, then to Gonzaga, then home north on Hwy 1) OR "counter clockwise" (south on Hwy 1 to Gonzaga, then
north to San Felipe and Hwy 5)...
Given my rig, I'm wondering if either of these is possible and if so, which would be easier.
Thanks!
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Debra
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Tim
You are fine doing either, what ever way you choose.......What I was worried about, and advising you against (again JMHO),and keeping your wife not
hating you, LOL!) is not to take the coast "road" between Gonzaga and San Felipe alone in your rig.....let me put it to you this way....it is so
scary, and you will have to go so slow with your rig, that your wife and children will feel better and have no problem walking while you drive. You
can get to Gonzaga much eaiser (what a beautiful place) with no problem......and San F.,also.....on Mex 1......you will have to back track, but well
worth it. (visit Coco, plan on a couple of hours there, he will have to make foot prints of your kids).'
to but in his visitors book.....
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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Just to be clear
So if I understand you correctly, the "counter clockwise" route to Gonzaga is better than the "clockwise" route, right?
And I think you are saying that if I complete the "counter clockwise" route and go North from Gonzaga to Puertocitos and San Felipe along the coast,
I'm doing so at my own risk, right?
Thanks, again, for the advice... I'm trying to get as many opinions as I can before our April trip. A friend of mine has made the clockwise trip
with a 2WD SUV and says I can make it. I'd love to get there, but I don't want to risk it.
Any other opinions are welcome.
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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No.....
I guess I didn't make myself clear.....I apoligize........I WOULD NOT take that road alone with a 2WD and a camper(even a Lance, which I'm told is the
best).....no, either way wouldn't be advised with your rig and family alone.....my HMO advice would be to, go in, go out, visit Coco (as I said
before) and be safe.......Baja is a loving land, but not a forgiving one.
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Sonora Wind
Nomad
Posts: 228
Registered: 9-25-2003
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Not to worry
Go either way!!! Have two spares. Air down the tires to 32 to 28 PSI. Drive slow, and enjoy the trip. 
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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take the trip just take it slow, a car could take it as long as you take it easy. just be cool!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65236
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Lost Mission Hunt V
I just added more details to the Lost Mission Hunt article posted on Baja Nomads 'Off Roading' board. almost 11pm, 1-4-04
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Herb
Nomad
Posts: 202
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: Torrance, CA
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They are all right, Tim...
It's a matter of perspective. I drove the SF to Gonzaga road in the rugged 4-Wheel drive vehicle below stopping to air down as Sonora Wind suggested.
However, my wife stopped speaking to me for a little while just like Debra predicts:
But when we arrived, we found the Hyundai on the right below parked there. that had been driven by another couple down the same road confirming what
4baja said.:
Of course, there are others that will tell you that the types of vehicles parked next to mine either above or below are the only good way to go to
Gonzaga:
So it is all good advice. Your mileage may vary...
[Edited on 1-5-2004 by Herb]
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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F250 w/Lance Camper
Tim, my wife and I took our superduty V-10 F250 4x4 with a 3200 pound loaded Lance cabover on that route from San Felipe to Gonzaga and then on to MX1
via Coco's - not one single problem. You will have a couple of white knuckles in a couple of spots, but just take it slow and stop every 25 miles to
check your tie-downs, etc. I never once had to go into 4-wheel drive. But I did air my tires down a tad. We camped near the boat ramp at Papa
Fernandez. There is also a nice secluded beach at Papas just on the other side of the entrance there. I believe we paid $5 or $8 - can't remember.
Ate at Papa's little cantina there and also at Alfonsinas place to the south. Turnoff at Rancho Grande 7-11 type store. Right where the new (and
never used) Pemex is located.
Go and you will have a trip you will never forget. Start early in San Felipe and go slow. You will love the scenery along the way. email me
bajarover@yahoo.com if you have any other questions. Bob H
[Edited on 1-5-2004 by Bob H]
[Edited on 1-5-2004 by Bob H]
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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David, sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks AGAIN for sharing. Bob H 
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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Thanks, Bob
That really puts my mind at ease... My F250 is the XLT model with the big 7.2 liter engine and the camper is the smallest and lightest that Lance
makes (the 815).
I'll get an extra spare tire and some dramamine for the rest of the family and take it really slow. How long did it take you to get from SF to
Gonzaga?
I'll e-mail you direct with a couple of specific questions.
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Anonymous
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No Big Deal
Some of you are really over doing the issue of the road. If you think this road is bad then you have never crossed the sisters on the old road. And
for God sakes, this is a "road" and it's not off-road.
On the camper, you'll have no problem with the PSD truck. Air down a bit, and check your tie downs and make sure you have front stabilizers.
Lastly, don't ever take a women's comment about Baja roads seriously unless her name is Bekki Freeman-Wik.
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Anonymous
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Tim, another thing that helps isolate the jolts on pickup campers is to place a thick rubber cargo matt between the bottom of the camper and the truck
bed. The thickest ones (up to 1.5 inch thick) are found at Farm Supply places out in the country. Use that with good tie-downs and some Bilstein
5150's and air bags out back and you'll be good to go.
The best Baja Tech board on the planet covering questions and answers just like this is at www.Baja.net. There is a long trip report there right now covering the same road you are concerned about. Check it out.
It's better that you are informed in the end run.
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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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SF to Gonzaga to MX1
Bob H. I made that same trip middle of Oct with my 4X4 3/4 ton Diesel Dodge. I "hacked up" two of the four Toyo ten plys, and didn't know it until I
got home. Have you checked your tires "closely" for razor thin "slits"? I did use 4X4 several times, just to keep from "jumping around" on the hill
climbs. And drove those "hills" very slowly. I'd recommen anyone with "a load" after hitting Hwy 1, stop & closely inspect those tires.
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
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long trip report ?
Where is it? I looked but couldn't find it?
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