ArvadaGeorge
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Registered: 9-2-2003
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San Felipe 2004// 2005
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!
We are doing another Baja family camping trip this winter (Christmas ? New
Year) With a lot more riders
We are having a planning party 11-12-05 in the Denver area
Call me if for more info. or if you want to gab about it
George Gangler
george@...
www.arvadacycle.com
Arvada Cycle
10940 W 44th Ave
Wheat Ridge Co. 80033
303-422-3957
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64945
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great report George!
I can relate to the Nuevo Mazatlan camping, Sulfur Mine and the Matomi, Ca?ada el Parral, Valle Chico rides... Great country and very interesting
geology! I highly recommend Bruce Barber's new book '... of Sea and Sand'* that details those canyons.
* ordering details in my Baja Notebook (link below)
[Edited on 10-25-2005 by David K]
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Hope you have as great a time as last year 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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Spyderman
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2005
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Great report
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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George,
Wife and I are looking to buy 2 quads. Do you deliver to Baja? Gee...you could even write the trip off as a business expense!!
Actually, we Really are looking to buy 2 quads. Any recommendations?
Thanks for the trip report.
Bedman
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Spyderman
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2005
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anybody got a map showing the campgrounds south of San Felipe?
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ArvadaGeorge
Nomad
Posts: 358
Registered: 9-2-2003
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try http://www.blueroadrunner.com/maps.htm
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64945
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Spyderman
anybody got a map showing the campgrounds south of San Felipe? |
I have posted various ones before... Here is one I made, from 1980 that is in my web site:
Here is a newer one showing a bigger area, but less detail:
[Edited on 10-27-2005 by David K]
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Spyderman
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2005
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Thanks guys, saw what I was looking for.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64945
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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De nada... by the way, I just remembered I posted almost all of my maps I drew of the San Felipe south area (1967 to present) here a while back, to
get a certain person to dry up, who constantly said I copied or stole another map makers work! 
Let me see if I can find them, and I will post a link to the thread with all my maps of the area...
Here is part 1: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=3161
and, here's part 2: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=3163
[Edited on 10-28-2005 by David K]
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