durrelllrobert
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Santo Tomas to La Bacana
Took the turnoff from MX1 to La Bacana just because I'd never been there. The paved road through Ejido Ajusco made me think this would be a piece of
cake and even the first 6 miles of dirt were not a problem. However, after that it became a real washboard that had all 4 tires of my 6000 lb Yucon
off the ground at the same time in places. The sideways sliding freaked my wife out to the point that once we reached the cattle guard at Rancho Punta
China she insisted on getting out and waiting there while I finished the trip. I went down the road another mile or so and then thaught better about
leaving her ther so I turned around and headed back. The question is:
1 - How far was I from La Bocana and
2 - How close was I to getting divorced?
Bob Durrell
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DanO
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1. If you let her out where the sign points left to a turnoff heading south to Punta China, you were less than two miles from La Bocana. However,
the road gets worse, because it is rarely graded past that turnoff. Bilsteins and BFG TA Radials are highly recommended, but nothing smoothes out
those nasty washboards.
2. Can't help you on this one. My wife likes that road (on her dirt bike).
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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David K
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LA BOCANA, PUNTA CHINA, PUERTO SANTO TOMÁS ON MAPS
1930 Map:
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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For a minute I thought you meant our La Bocana in BCS.
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durrelllrobert
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
For a minute I thought you meant our La Bocana in BCS. |
Naw, this is the place with the road that could lead to divorce.
I hear that your place could lead to marriage for some single guys.
[Edited on 2-25-2014 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I hear that your place could lead to marriage for some single guys.
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Arizona will be sending them down by the truck load.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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durrelllrobert
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
1930 Map:
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Thanks David. Would have been nice to have map with mileage so I would know where I was. Only 13 miles from the highway to La Bocana? Took almost 1
hour to get to where I turned around!
Bob Durrell
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Only 13 miles from the highway to La Bocana? |
Why was I thinking it was closer to twenty miles?
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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Udo
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I have driven the road several times, and I find it (as well as my wife) quite an enjoyable ride. 
Yes, you do have to slow down a little bit, as you get across the wash area, and Punta China may not be doable depending or the creek's running.
The major reward is the drive to the bay, where everyone lives totally off the grid.
Now, if the water trucks can make it, why not you, Bob?
There IS an unmarked path that takes you to an area south of Punta China that leads you to a "shall-we-say-distillery" which sold the hooch. I got a
little concerned when the guys with the AK47's stopped me, but my Spanish and a well known name got me by the guards.
I never went back after that incident...regardless of whose name I used.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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durrelllrobert
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
Now, if the water trucks can make it, why not you, Bob?
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How many water truck drivers have a paranoid wife with them?
Bob Durrell
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DanO
Super Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Only 13 miles from the highway to La Bocana? |
Why was I thinking it was closer to twenty miles? |
It's about 16 miles (a little over 26 km according to the markers), from Mex 1 to the ocean. I usually average about 45 minutes (F150 Supercrew,
YMMV). However, 35 minutes or even less is doable if you don't have full load in the back including stuff that may break, leak and/or explode, have
passengers willing to throw caution to the winds (or no passengers at all), and are comfortable dealing with a little sideways drift now and then.
Just watch those blind corners for slow moving tractors, semis loaded with produce, and oncoming fishermen in beater pickups driving like bats out of
hell (usually on Friday afternoons, when they are heading into town to party).
BTW, the low road in the middle section on the map David posted, which shortened the drive by about a mile and a half and was much straighter and made
the drive doable in 25 minutes (with the pedal to the metal), no longer exists. It was in the river bed and the storms we had a few years back
obliterated it.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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baconjr
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If you ever read "God and Mr. Gomez" Jack and his wife would open a bottle of beer when they turned on this road. We have just finished our home in
Bahia Soledad and drive that road on a regular basis. The fellow who sold us our property told us that half the people who followed him down this road
turned around before getting to the property. If your wife wants a real thrill drive it at night under a full moon.
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redhilltown
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Hate to encourage beer and driving but one or two really takes the edge off of serious washboard! It's a good road all in all...you just gotta watch
your braking and speed as loose rocks don't "grab". After Punta China out to Puerto Santo Tomas the road is much worse but you just drive
slower...just about any car can make it.
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Janzie
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We went out to Bocana for New Year's Eve as well as a day or two before and after this past season in our 23' Skinny Winnie. It's easily done, and
we're still together. He drives, I try to help.
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willardguy
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whats the deal with all the cactus planted in 5 gallon buckets along the road?
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Whale-ista
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| Quote: | Originally posted by redhilltown
Hate to encourage beer and driving but one or two really takes the edge off of serious washboard! It's a good road all in all...you just gotta watch
your braking and speed as loose rocks don't "grab". After Punta China out to Puerto Santo Tomas the road is much worse but you just drive
slower...just about any car can make it. |
Reminds me of our first trip to San Ignacio Lagoon 30 years ago, in a VW van. I seem to recall that beer was used to smooth the ride.
Of course back then it was all dirt road from town to coast. Now that most of it's paved highway, I wait and drink beer after I arrive.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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DanO
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| Quote: | Originally posted by willardguy
whats the deal with all the cactus planted in 5 gallon buckets along the road?
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Good question. I assumed it was some sort of neighborhood beautification project.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Udo
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I thought the same thing!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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