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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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There were more than 3 'sisiters'... but that has become a common term for the very steep grades on the pre-1986 road south of Puertecitos. After
1973, when supplies for Gonzaga Bay started coming in from the new highway (Mex 1), to the south... maintenance between Gonzaga and Puertecitos ended
and the road slowly became more and more difficult to travel.
Here is a map from the 1970 Cliff Cross Baja Guide that IDs the grades:
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Three and More
It is impossible to describe adequately that trip to anyone who didn't make it. Bad road is an understatement.
In '73 we drove it in two Baja Bugs and we both had Super 8 cameras. Took a lot of footage, especially on the worst of the Sisters that gringos
called Cement Hill for the slab of concrete that had been poured in one spot that washed out badly. That slab itself became an obstacle when the area
below it washed out and left a "Step" to be climbed going uphill.
Others looking at the spliced films have said "that doesn't look so bad".
You had to be there.
Now, I just want to cruise down the paved road and stop at Arby's along the way.
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Mr Bill
I'm with you. Been there done it many times. My body and truck don't love it anymore. Last few trips to San Quintin, GN, and Cabo, we took the long
way via Ensenada. Bring on the smooth short-cut.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaRob
I'm with you. Been there done it many times. My body and truck don't love it anymore. Last few trips to San Quintin, GN, and Cabo, we took the long
way via Ensenada. Bring on the smooth short-cut. |
Ditto that Rob! it will be great to take the "good truck" down there for a change!
We're heading down this weekend, Friday till Monday and we'll be going to town on Saturday for the Chili Cook Off at Club de Pesca from 1 to 5.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
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Mood: good
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Mr Bill you were a johnie come lately on the road from hell,64 found I and my family and a friend on the last climb,vw bus and no sense,kept getting
hung up on the last step and would have to back down finally made everyone get
out and walk up,just my wife wanted to do in the first place
After I got a big old power-wagon I looked forward to the drive I always felt like Daniel Boone.
Rob
I knew after that first trip what Lewis and Clark must have felt like
[Edited on 4-23-2009 by baitcast]
[Edited on 4-23-2009 by baitcast]
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Better Late Than Never
In '64, at Nineteen, my interests in Baja were mostly in Tijuana with a few fishing trips to Ensenada. I first visited the Gulf side (San Felipe)
Thanksgiving of '66 to ride dirt bikes. I found the town woefully short of the Fun attractions of Tijuana.
No Horse Racing, No Jai Alai and No Chicas. Well, none like Tijuana and I looked in earnest.
It's ironic that I came to spend so much time down there. Moving to Indio in '70 had a lot to do with it.
Still, I'm glad to have experienced the Old Road before it was gone.
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freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
Posts: 625
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
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If the road comes it comes . And it will , but the work sites for the road are a blight on the desert, acres of desert are scraped and temp roads
are built during . and the roads and sites will be barren for years . Just look at hwy 1 the scares are still there 30 years later . And they are
worse for hwy 5 . I hope there is a plan for repare the damage but I doubt it .
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redhilltown
Super Nomad
Posts: 1130
Registered: 1-24-2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
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Gotta say, the concept of the new road as an alternative to Highway 1 for those heading south out of Mexicali sure makes the most sense...not that I
look FORWARD to margaritas at Alfonsina's with big rigs air braking in the background but it seems most people are just DONE WITH the old road and who
is to blame them. An interesting thing mentioned earlier is that there are curbs and berms on the sides (so far) of the road. It looks like it is up
to the developers and builders as to who gets an "off ramp"...not like most of Hwy 1 where you simply pull off anywhere.
David K, that 1970 map is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cool. Thanks.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
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Location: on the bayou
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Yea, the road (HWY 5) had my wife in tears and she doesn't cry easily. Good thing it was dark. No problems running into cattle etc. as we couldn't go over 10 MPH and there was zero traffic. If you haven't been thru there, do it before it's paved. It's an adventure.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by redhilltown
... David K, that 1970 map is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cool. Thanks. |
El gusto es mio!
Here's another (1962 Howard Gulick Map, Lower California Guidebook):
From the 1975 revised Baja California Guidebook:
Now, way before cars... 1788 map:
Welcome to Baja Nomad!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Close up, 1962 map:
Close up, 1975 map:
Close up, 1930 map:
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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| Quote: | Originally posted by redhilltown
...margaritas at Alfonsina's with big rigs air braking in the background.... |
Wash your mouth with soap!
Some of us could never by choice "be done" with that old road.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Salsa
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 2-4-2003
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I went over the hard part in 1980 or so on a motorcycle. There was a 12-16 inch step at the top transition to the paved few feet. I cane back on that
trip with no 2nd gear flying.
A year or two later the road bypassed the good part.
Does anyone know what year the bypass went in?
Don
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The new graded road/'dirt highway' south of Puertecitos was built in '85 & '86... for several years it was like a highway and passenger cars and
motorhomes could easily drive to Gonzaga from Puertecitos. Since then, only after the road graded rescraped the washboard or fixed the washouts...
After the Baja 1000 and the flashfloods of late 2005, it was never repaired... and became a slow, miserable road (once again). The road from Gonzaga
south to Chapala has been maintained, however.
[Edited on 4-25-2009 by David K]
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