BigOly
Senior Nomad
Posts: 524
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Los Barriles, Bandon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Birder
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The road we shouldn't have traveled.
Last week, my lovely wife and I decided to take the old road in our Highlander. You know, the one that is just north of San Jose del Cabo that
crosses over the mountains to Todos Santos. We thought we might see some interesting birds to photo. Never been there before. Maybe find a new pond
or spring or something.
Well anyway, 17 kilomaters in, and after seeing nobody for an hour we meet Jose'. In broken spanglish I ask if the road is O.K. ahead for travel. (he
is on a quad) He kinda shrugs and says si. We continue on and the road is really getting narrow and little to no room to turn around. No birds,
nothing especially noteworthy except how steep the canyon is and how skinny the road is getting.
I didn't mention the fact that Debbie is driving. To keep the peace, she drives when she wants to. I don't care if she makes a wrong turn or hits a
bump or dip in the road but it seems like when I drive, roads turn into unforegiveable mine fields. If I take a wrong turn, instead of warning me of
a turn ahead I'm supposed to take, its "where in the he!! are you going"? If I hit a rock the air in the cabin turns blue for an hour and neither of
us smoke. So she drives when she wants to.
We've reached the point of no return on this nasty trail of a road. Up ahead, the road has fallen away on one side and there is a sharp, unmoveable
rock on the other. We have to keep going. No turnaround and backing up miles uphill was not in the cards.
It went something like this(and mind you this is from a gal that was given 6 months to live((stage 4 ovarion cancer)) 6 years ago. "Are we going to
be allright"? I,m looking out the passenger window to see our tire about ready to split on this big, sharp rock and she can't muster up the courage
to look out her window.(straight down 200 meters at least). "Sure baby doll, keep goin'.
Then she gets going too fast after we pass the worst of the road and we are sliding and breaking and this steep corner is approaching...
O.K. so we made it home but, for now, don't take the road less traveled, the one to Todos anyway!
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BigOly
Last week, my lovely wife and I decided to take the old road in our Highlander. You know, the one that is just north of San Jose del Cabo that
crosses over the mountains to Todos Santos. We thought we might see some interesting birds to photo. Never been there before. Maybe find a new pond
or spring or something.
Well anyway, 17 kilomaters in, and after seeing nobody for an hour we meet Jose'. In broken spanglish I ask if the road is O.K. ahead for travel. (he
is on a quad) He kinda shrugs and says si. We continue on and the road is really getting narrow and little to no room to turn around. No birds,
nothing especially noteworthy except how steep the canyon is and how skinny the road is getting.
I didn't mention the fact that Debbie is driving. To keep the peace, she drives when she wants to. I don't care if she makes a wrong turn or hits a
bump or dip in the road but it seems like when I drive, roads turn into unforegiveable mine fields. If I take a wrong turn, instead of warning me of
a turn ahead I'm supposed to take, its "where in the he!! are you going"? If I hit a rock the air in the cabin turns blue for an hour and neither of
us smoke. So she drives when she wants to.
We've reached the point of no return on this nasty trail of a road. Up ahead, the road has fallen away on one side and there is a sharp, unmoveable
rock on the other. We have to keep going. No turnaround and backing up miles uphill was not in the cards.
It went something like this(and mind you this is from a gal that was given 6 months to live((stage 4 ovarion cancer)) 6 years ago. "Are we going to
be allright"? I,m looking out the passenger window to see our tire about ready to split on this big, sharp rock and she can't muster up the courage
to look out her window.(straight down 200 meters at least). "Sure baby doll, keep goin'.
Then she gets going too fast after we pass the worst of the road and we are sliding and breaking and this steep corner is approaching...
O.K. so we made it home but, for now, don't take the road less traveled, the one to Todos anyway! |
A few years ago while on the narrowest portion of that road probably at the point you describe my passenger got out to walk saying "there's no point
in both of us dying here!"
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
Member Is Offline
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"A few years ago while on the narrowest portion of that road probably at the point you describe my passenger got out to walk saying "there's no point
in both of us dying here!" "
We did that drive in our GMC long bed...19 1/2 feet long and I, also, got out to walk, making the same comment.
What a spectacular view of the Pacific though.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65278
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The Narranjas Road isn't 'that' old... but it was reported to be an example of a road building disaster in the waiting.
I would love to take it, never have... well, I was only in the Cabo area once since it was built!
How about some photos?
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3294
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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Me and my sweetie drove over to Todos on it a couple of months ago. The road is a bit "sporty" in that area and best traveled in a smaller vehicle. It
was a "non event" in our FJ Cruiser and is doable in a full size pick up.....don't try it in your motorhome.......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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MikeYounghusband
Nomad
Posts: 213
Registered: 8-27-2008
Location: Loreto, Baja Cal. Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always ready for more
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Not much fun walking thru those mtns either. The most challanging of my whole trip. Tooooo steep.
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The Narranjas Road isn't 'that' old... but it was reported to be an example of a road building disaster in the waiting.
I would love to take it, never have... well, I was only in the Cabo area once since it was built!
How about some photos? |
My Bud and I drove down to Batopilas in Copper canyon last year. I drove down, he drove back, I had the big drop window view both ways. 
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1bobo
Nomad
Posts: 116
Registered: 2-5-2010
Location: Mulege
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Me and my sweetie drove over to Todos on it a couple of months ago. The road is a bit "sporty" in that area and best traveled in a smaller vehicle. It
was a "non event" in our FJ Cruiser and is doable in a full size pick up.....don't try it in your motorhome.......dt |
As a matter of perspective, how does that road compare to say, the Agua Verde road?
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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ahhhh bigoly...that was a classic baja trip report!!! I have so been in that same situation so many times!!! whew...glad you made it out alive but
sure am missin the photos.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3294
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 1bobo
| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Me and my sweetie drove over to Todos on it a couple of months ago. The road is a bit "sporty" in that area and best traveled in a smaller vehicle. It
was a "non event" in our FJ Cruiser and is doable in a full size pick up.....don't try it in your motorhome.......dt |
As a matter of perspective, how does that road compare to say, the Agua Verde road? |
I haven't driven the Agua Verde road yet but it is on my short list. Me and Ged were going to ride through AV to Constitution on our excellent
adventure but decided to save it for a day when ged's leg wasn't broken.
Hopefully there will be a Nomad who has been on them both recently to chime in.....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Whoa, what great trip report Oly, glad you made it home to write about.
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caboguy
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-10-2009
Location: North Idaho
Member Is Offline
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aqua verde
As a matter of fact.... My wife and I made the AV trip a few weeks ago. Not a real good idea in a rental rollerskate with onion skins for tires. Two
hours of white knuckles, we passed only an older fellow on a mule. The view is amazing on the way, problem is only the one not driving can view it.
I have driven over some really hairy roads in the mountains of Idaho, and this one is among the top 5. I don't think I will tackle the todos road in
the near future.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13237
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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what a good story !!! I love the line about - no point in both of us dying here !!!
I also thought about the road to BATOPILAS in the copper canyon as I was reading the original thread ... it is very scary, very narrow, extremely
dangerous after the paved part. we took the 5 hour bus ride and I swear, I have never seen my husband so pale. He used every curse word he ever heard
on that trip down !! My though process went liek this: this bus has been doing this trip, every day, since forever....so it must be safe......
I never saw the fallen vehicles off the side of the road, but someone recently told me that they are there. OMG ... I am so grateful that I never saw
them
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