ArvadaGeorge
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San Felipe 2004 / 2005 Trip report
Trip to Baja California, Mexico, December 2004/January 2005
ArvadaGeorge
Vehicles: 1995 Tioga RV towing ATV, KDX 200, CR 125 and my Suzuki DRZ 400.
Riders: My lovely wife Louise, my 18 year old nephew John, his friend Tom on his first trip to Baja, our veteran Baja dog Sandy, first time camper
cat Charlie, and me.
Trip took 31 hours from Denver to San Felipe, 24 driving.
Camped at Pete?s Camp, north of San Felipe, 5 days, then tried out Campo Nuevo Mazatlan south of town. At Pete?s Camp we met 3 motorcycle riders from
Germany who had been traveling throughout Canada and the U.S. for 8 months. They planned to continue south until money ran out!
As we have the last few years we brought along some Spanish language children?s books and school supplies to deliver to Bill and Kay Gabbard who
spearhead their Book Buddies program to increase classroom resources in San Felipe. Their needs are endless, see www.inet-toolbox.com/bookbuddies/. We enjoyed visiting with them and a number of their American snowbird friends on Christmas Day (see George?s
tale below).
They can use Spanish kid?s books; school supplies and new and used kid?s clothes.
Take some down to them.
On Dec. 23 we had dinner at Pete?s Camp with Baja Lou whom I met on the Internet. He lives full time at El Dorado and does lots of exploring. We
shared waypoints and computer programs. We parted with a promise to attend his annual New Year?s Eve party.
Riding was great a bit windy-- but that is good--it blows the dust away! We started with Calamity Canyon north of San Felipe. On Christmas Eve day
we rode Baja Lou?s ram?s head canyon out to Valle Chino, returning via Chanate Canyon. The two strokes used all their gas and 1 ? gallons of mine by
the time we were heading back on the old Puertocitos Road. They both ran out and I had to leave them. I was on reserve but that wasn?t enough to get
back to Pete?s. I headed for the gas station but none of us had any money! All I could think of to do was to go to the Gabbards? home and beg!
Fortunately they were home and loaned me 200 pesos, laughing the whole time. I promised I would return the next day to pay them back. This was
enough to buy gas and beers at Rosita?s.
On Christmas Day we headed into town to repay my dept after we had had an early dinner. The Gabbards? had many friends arriving for an outdoor
potluck dinner and invited us to join them. What a feast! Wine, turkey, sides, and yummy desserts. We even left with one of the pretty souvenir
pottery doves which decorated all the tables.
The day after Christmas Mark, Carey and Ian Southwell arrived and we all traveled down to Campo Nuevo Mazatalan, south of San Felipe at the 32 km
marker on the road to Puertocitos. Tom, Cherri, Nick, and Tara Hein joined us 2 days later. The camp was empty when we arrived, but soon after three
California rigs arrived, disappointed that we had taken their choice spot. This camp is unique because of its many Tamarisk trees which shade the
camps and provide a windbreak. It is less congested and quieter than some of the camps closer to town. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. Nuevo
Mazatlan is a promising camp for our large group next year. We gabbed with Mick and his wife 1 night.
On Dec. 27, John, Tom and I rode the trail from the Apache sulphur mine to Matomi, then west to Valle Chino. We returned via Canada El Parral.
On Dec. 28 we all went down to the hot springs at Puertocitos, but it was rather chilly. Nevertheless I enjoyed a good long soak!
On Dec. 29 Nick, Tom Hein, John, friend Tom, and I rode to Huatamote, returning through El Parral again. Baja Lou?s track logs came in handy.
The next day Louise and I took the ATV out to the Apache mine and picked up some of the sulphur rocks The sulphur is a light green layer on white
sort of crumbly rocks. The mine was fully operational in the 1940s. Evidence of several quarries, living quarters, and mine claims are still there.
The rocks sort of melt in the campfire with blue and red flames. A local resident stopped by and entertained us with tales of life living in a beach
house. Later a parade of ATVs & 4wd?s decorated with Christmas lights passed by on the beach.
On Dec. 31 we returned to Pete?s Camp. Louise drove the RV and the boys and I rode the beach. After showers, we headed for Baja Lou?s party at his El
Dorado home. What a feast with six flavors of turkey, many side dishes, and desserts, of course. We visited with some people we met at the Gabbards,
a woman from Louisville, CO, and some guys from Nomads--- TunaEater, El Camote & Mimi. New Year?s eve at Pete?s cantina featured good food,
margaritas, dancing, and, of course, lots of fireworks until late.
On New Year?s Day Louise and I rode across Diablo Lake bed to Diablo Canyon to hike up over the rocks along a fast moving stream toward waterfalls. At
Santa Clara a young boy tried to charge us $5 each to park, but settled for a Snickers bar.
I don?t mind fees but they should be posted and you need to get something for them ?signs , map, instructions etc. We made a wrong turn to Diablito
canyon first but found the right one after a little reconnoitering. We encountered 2 women from Arizona who were also hiking and camping. We hiked to
the waterfall. We saw an animal on the desert on the way that looked like a marmot. ??? Do Marmots live there???? We returned by crossing Diablo and
riding the pavement back. We saw piles of bagged harvested onions on the way. I wonder where they got the water to grow them there, Just east of
Diablo on the North side of the road ????
Summary: we burned over 100 gallons of gas in our bikes and trashed 3 sets of tires, but they were all still running when we finished our last ride
in Calamity Canyon on Jan. 2.
Of course we enjoyed many shrimp tacos in town, jumbo shrimp cooked on the beach and shopping in town. And we got a real introduction to American
life in San Felipe ! Happy but tired we headed for the new U.S. border crossing in Mexicali. We sailed through with no inspection after a 45 minute
wait. With only light rain in Arizona and New Mexico we got back to Denver the night of Jan. 3 to snow and 20 degrees!
ArvadaGeorge
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bajalou
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Great report George. Glad you enjoyed the San Felipe area agand and our party. It was great meeting you and all the group. Really glad the
waypoints and tracks came in handy for you. If you rely on a GPSr these things can make a world of difference in getting thru a new area.
Stop by any time you're down and remember - 6 more turkeys next Dec 31st.
had to fix the typing
[Edited on 1-5-2005 by bajalou]
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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ArvadaGeorge
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Next year S/F
We could have a big group next year 10-15 familes
Do you know any thing about campo Playa
Del Sol? they look like they have hot showers ,a restaurant and nice sites.
Not as many people as Pete's.
this year 1 group got a ATV and a truck stolen from a Pete's camp site.
1 atv got stolen last C/mass too
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great report George... Nuevo Mazatlan is really great for group camps, as we had last February. It is kind of neat that it was the first campo in the
area, established in the mid 1960's and remains nearly unchanged... still a camping campo, not rows of gringo vacation homes.
Sounds like you had some great rides inland, too! Thank you!
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tunaeater
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Location: Chula Vista, CA
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George, It was nice to meet you and your wife at Lou's. I'd like to hook up for some ridding next time you come down. Also thanks for the website
for the helmet cam's. I'm going to look into this. Maybe for next Christmas. Take care Paul
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bajalou
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Playa Del Sol does have a resturante thats pretty good. Not open all the time, but thedeiving range there near the highway is open for biscuits and
gravey several days a week. I'll try to remember to check the camping etc out a bit more and let you know.
10-15 extra families - great - but let us know early enough so we can have enough turkeys. (might have to get another smoker too)
And be nice to have a few more Nomads also.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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ArvadaGeorge
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Camping 2005 2006
we will stay in touch thru the year
Later I will know better how many families I'll have
Xavier was real interested in having us camp at Nuevo Mazatlan
He seams like a nice guy.
Lou What happened at The light House Camp?
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-26-2002
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Mood: Sling time!
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George, do you have any
bike only trips planned for baja in the future? going one end to the other? on motos, maybe w/support veh. etc. - dual sport or other?
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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ArvadaGeorge
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up coming
Maybe Feb 2005 expert only (red eye quick trip)to ride some of the harder stuff in the middle of Baja ??
We are also talking of a dual sport trip to Copper canyon in Oct. Poss. taking the ferry? double with the wife
Utah Feb. Guys
Utah March Family camping
Lots of Colorado rides Spring summer Fall
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bajalou
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El Faro
I talking to the people there, we were told that it was owned by a group and they took all the money out as it came in and ended up with nothing to do
maintence. So as it got worse, they just walked away with the money. Now owned by a guy in Mexico City, but obviously not enough coming in to do any
fix-up. A neighbor, Wes, was here about 20 yrs ago? and said it was a really nice and busy place then. A real shame. It origionally sold the RV
spots, so almost all of the trailers there are owners of thier little plot. With the electricity and water gone it makes it tougher to live there
but some hang on. Water in the showers only (hot and cold) but nowhere else. Don't think I;m going to move there soon.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Location: South of the broder
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www.arvadacycle.com
Checked out your site and some great pictures Thanks George.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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