ArvadaGeorge
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Posts: 358
Registered: 9-2-2003
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San Felipe 12-22 to 1-6-06
Baja California, Mexico, Trip Report, Dec. 22, 2005/Jan. 6, 2006
Campo Nuevo Mazatlan, south (KM 32) of San Felipe
Campers: Lee & Chris Carrier & kids (Heather, Lindsey, Nathan); Doug & Teresa Linder plus Christopher & Doug?s nephew Jesse; Brett
& Dina of California and kids (Jacob & Jillian); Dick & Mark Southwell & families along with friends Bill, Karen & daughter
Jeannette.
Campo Nuevo Mazatlan is set back from the beach among many rows of tamarisk trees, providing shade and a windbreak. Picnic tables were handy for
potluck meals. Showers were available, but cold. Gorgeous sunrises & sunsets made up for that. We watched dophins frolicking in the water our
first morning. Mostly we had the camp to ourselves. The weather was mostly sunny and warm, a welcome break from the cold December temperatures in
Colorado.
Our host, Javier, arrived just in time to pull our RV out of deep sand with his 2 wheel drive pickup after our ATV and Lee?s 4 wheel drive truck
failed. After picking a spot of packed sand, we settled in.
Christmas eve was a shrimp dinner; Christmas dinner featured George?s deep fried turkey and side dishes. Dick & Mark Southwell & family
joined us along with friends Bill & Karen & daughter Jeannette. We enjoyed locally caught corvina (sea bass) another night and our own
homemade shrimp tacos for a lunch.
George?s motorcycle trips took the riders (John, Thomas, Lee, Brett, Todd, Darryl, Gene, Doug,Joe) to Sand Canyon, Las Blancas., Matomi and Parral.
Running out of gas in Parral sent Todd Heinz back to camp for gas, with all returning after dark.
Nearby family rides included jaunts to a sulphur mine, scouting Apache tears (obsidian), beachcombing for shells on Shell Island and a visit to the
Puertocitos hot springs. A bucket full of clams found by the Carriers and friends provided a feast of linguini and clams for everyone. The sulphur
rocks, white with lime green streaks (the sulphur) burned blue and melt in the nightly campfires. The boys also enjoyed setting off fireworks. No trip
to San Felipe is complete without trips to town for shrimp and fish tacos and shopping.
Several of us joined the local Parade of Lights the night of Dec. 30. Approximately 30 decorated trucks and ATVs trekked down the beach, waving at
local residents. The float with a large cactus and KM 32 in lights won first prize, followed by the giant green Grinch and sleigh. Dick Southwell
ended up leading the parade with George as drag.
Baja Lou?s New Years Eve fabulous outdoor turkey feast brought together 175 locals and visitors to enjoy several different kinds of smoked turkey and
many side dishes. Notable visitors included David K. & friend Elizabeth (Baja Angel), and other Nomads. Baja Me came up from Campo Nuevo
Mazatlan too.
George and Louise took a day trip to Gonzaga Bay for a shrimp taco lunch at Alfonsina?s. The ocean scenery was gorgeous as we bounced along the wash
boarded gravel road. After lunch we found some friends who recently purchased a new beach house on the sand spur. We enjoyed a nice visit before
returning to Nuevo Mazatlan. We discussed local trails and they told us of playing with whale sharks in the bay in October.
A windy day toward the end of the trip brought several shrimp boats in near the shore to wait for calmer seas. Nomad neighbor Rob told us they were
better predictors of the wind than the weather forecasters.
Sadly, we waved farewell to camp and San Felipe until the next time. Adios! Hasta luego!
Day by Day Chronicles of Our Rides:
12-24-05 ATV?s & M/C up and down the beach
12-25-06 With 4 riders We road up Agua de Chale and I broke the shift lever mounting bolt on my EXC300. We went back to camp and I got my DRZ400;
rode it 2 miles and the electric starter failed (charging part of the stator) so I had to get by the rest of the trip with the kick starter. Good
thing I installed that option. It was a little dicey without a hot start button though. I drilled out the exc bolt that night.
12-26-05 With 6 riders we road up Arroyo Parral with the hope of connecting it with the wash to the south. We didn?t get all the way thru but there
are possibilities. I had hopes of getting back and trying from the south but I didn?t get it done- next time maybe??
PM With 5 atv s we road to Apache sulfur mine.
12-27-05 With 3 ATVs we went out to Shell Island; great shelling -- large shells and lots of large sand dollars. The salt flat was dry and we rode
across it.
12-28-05 With 3 riders we road Hidden Canyon to Rams head and on to San Felipe
12-29-05 All went to Puertocitos for the Hot springs. We got there just after high tide so didn?t have to wait long for the pools to heat up. Most
rode motorcycles and atvs on the beach there and back We did have 2 trucks meet us-- they said the road after 52 km was rough.
12-30-05 With 3 riders we rode sand canyon to Apache tears road and had hopes of finding ?Of Sea And Sand? rt # 47 (on page 224). We didn?t but
found a great wash into Matomi Then rode Matomi out to the Puertocitous road.
12-31-05 Louise and I rode the DRZ to Baja Lou?s party. I?ve been charging the battery on the RV (it works for a few times then). Lou drove me around
his home in a Swiss army vehicle ?neat . Great food!
1-1-06 AM 3 atv s Apache Tears back thru Sand Canyon
Todd & the Boys showed up
PM took 5 riders up Agua de Chale to Apache Tears Back thru Sand Canyon and rode the Beach back to camp .
1-2-06 With 7 riders we road Hidden Valley to Rams Head.& on to San Felipe for tacos.
I stopped by Rob?s house on the way up the beach. Rob and David K were on his patio. I only had time to say Hi & catch up with the Boys .
(I am their leader- which way did they go?)
1-3-06 Louise And I rode the DRZ400 down the road to Gonzaga. Wwe had lunch at Alfonsina?s (shrimp tacos; they were excellent). Some friends recently
bought a house there and although they weren?t home before lunch they were after so we had a nice visit.
The boy?s rode beach to Puertocitos where we saw them at the bar; they were on their way to the hot springs.
1-4-06 With 3 riders we started with Sand canyon; went south still looking for rt# 47. Took Apache tears to Matomi. Went south into Las Blancas (
it?s really washed out; can hardly find the road or get thru) Came back to Matomi. Went west into Valle de Chino; had a hard time finding Canyon
Parral on the West side, Finally did. By then we were low on Gas. 1/3 of the way thru with direction from me Todd left for camp for gas. Darrell and I
went real slow and got ? of the way there before we both ran out of gas. Todd showed up with gas at 5:00 pm and we came in on the head lights(the one
Darrel didn?t have)
ALL?S WELLTHAT ENDS WELL
1-5-06 With 3 riders we road Pumpkin Rock trail from south to north. In the middle we tried to ride over to Canyon Parral; we got within 1/2 mile. I
need to try to come from Parral next time.
PM Louise and I rode the AV over to Rob?s home at Santa Maria. Nice place right on the beach.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Excellent report George.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64946
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great report George as it wets the appetite for future exploring by others!
It was good to meet you and your big group from Colorado... I think we saw you on at least three seperate occaisions the couple days we were in the
area.
Bruce Barber's book sure has details on those desert arroyos around San Felipe! Makes one want to explore them all! I think he should change the title
from "...Of Sea and Sand" , to "...Of Arroyos and Canyons"!
Anyway, was fun meeting you and I hope you can return again soon and continue exploring.... and congratulations to the Denver Broncos today!
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Thaks for the great report George- Glad you could explore so many canyons and trails.
It was good to see you and Louise again at the Turkey Feast
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
Nomad
Posts: 358
Registered: 9-2-2003
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It was nice to explore . We did a lot in 2 weeks
Nuevo Mazatlan works good for that.
They are a lot of new roads west of Pumpkin rock
The are hauling out decorative rocks
I really would like to spend 3 or 4 weeks there; but I do need to make a living.
I have some photos I'll try to post them this week
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Mood: Life is good
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Great report George. It was a pleasure to meet you and Louise. We were impressed that you packed so many interesting trips into a relatively short
time span. You have inspired us to get out there more. Thanks to all in your group for participating in the Parade of Lights. Hope to see you back
down here soon. Rob
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juanroberts
Junior Nomad
Posts: 62
Registered: 9-27-2005
Location: Piedmont, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Born
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Sorry I missed you guys. My group drove back the 31st in the morning, so we were not able to meet all of you at Bajalou's. Thanks for posting about
the light parade, I would not have known that was going on down there. If you can, please post a picture showing your tracks, I would be interested in
seeing where you rode, particularly when you went through Ram's Head.
We went to Mikes with perfect weather.
Thanks again.
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ArvadaGeorge
Nomad
Posts: 358
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Lou, Ron & David.
I did make a DVD of our San Felipe Motorcycle trip. Dec. 05 to Jan06
It?s not a professionally done movie Just barley edited helmet cam?s
If you will send me a US address I?ll send you a copy
Sorry it?s taken so long I have been playing them at the shop I just forgot to the you guys.
Sorry
George Gangler
george@arvadacycle.com
www.arvadacycle.com
Arvada Cycle
10940 W 44th Ave
Wheat Ridge Co. 80033
303-422-3957
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Thanks George, - my address is on the way
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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