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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Don't pave the road, please
Now that we live part of the time in Bahia Asuncion, we really appreciate why the locals are looking forward to a paved road. On our many trips out
to Vizcanino to shop and bank, we often curse the road ---that is unless it has just been graded. But then there was yesterday....
Just north of Guerrero Negro we saw the first part of one of those hugh caravans of monster motorhomes and trailers---the 2000 sq ft luxury homes on
wheels. We had just passed a motorhome that had dropped off the road---they were waiting for a tow truck, and we just wondered how it did not land on
its side---looked like a little push and over it would go.
We flashed our lights at the caravan members, the sign of trouble, and slow down. They waved back a happy hello----it was then that we heard the loud
buzz of generators assualting our dunes---the generators needed for all those creature comforts. Please don't pave that road.
The name of the caravan jarred a rather recent memory. Only a few years ago, with our tiny fiberglass trailer, we were tucked between the slides of
monsters traveling with this caravan company in Rivera's RV Park in Loreto. We grimanced as we remembered these Canadian snowbirds washing their
behemoths and paying little attention as precious water ran carelessly on the ground. We heard the sucking sound of our local resources wasted away.
So, with this in mind, please don't pave our road. Without the road, they won't come.
But once we reuturn to Bahia Asuncion, and after our third 140 mile round trip to the ATM in Vizcaino, we will again long for the paving to continue.
But please don't pave the road.
Diane and John
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vacaenbaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 641
Registered: 4-4-2006
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Unless things have really changed, I do not think that you will have too much to worry about too soon. The thing is that a poorly maintained asphalt
road is almost always worse than most baja dirt roads. Those steep craters wreck front ends when taken at speed, and the sections of broken up road
that looks like a bombed out runway will leave the affected drivers vowing not to return to such a place where the road is not in a smooth 55mph plus
condition. The road in to BOLA was that way for years. Great when just paved but when it was bad you really had to be determined to go there to put up
with it. I used to see many a broken boat trailer left by the roadside on the way in. But alas your right as soon as a good road is made 'sin will
come to Eden' It all depends on how well the road is maintained.Enjoy it while you can.
[Edited on 1-18-2008 by vacaenbaja]
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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As time goes by... more roads will be paved. It's just gonna happen - there's nothing we can do. The road to Gonazga Bay from San Felipe will be
paved soon. What a change that will make........... huh? Paved roads will continue to grow throughout Baja. We must get used to it.
Bob H
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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John and Diane
Road to Abreojos almost finished. And what a change in the last few years. More people, big trailers and motorhomes. Your time is coming
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65302
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Bad Roads = Good People...
Good Roads = ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE 
(Mama Espinoza, El Rosario, 1973)
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Been back in Imperial Beach for less than 24 hours and have started packing for our return. Missed Bahia Asuncion before we left.
But when the first caravan shows up in town, Punta Prieta or San Hipolito here we come!
The part of our road that is newly paved was heavily damaged in a few spots in the big rain---totally washed out in one place. But just this last
week they finished putting a line down the middle and sides, where there are still sides, and signs----one sign already fell down where an edge broke
off a little more.
We heard that the governor is coming maybe next weekend to dedicate the new stadium---wonder if it will be completed. We heard that he will be coming
by car and not helicopter. I wonder what he will think about his new road. Wish we were returning right after his visit---for sure, the dirt will be
nicely graded.
My apologies to all caravan people----
Diane
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
The road to Gonazga Bay from San Felipe will be paved soon. What a change that will make........... huh?
Bob H |
What do you consider "soon"?
I've seen the start at Puertecitos and it looks like it might take a while to finish.
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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pelone
Junior Nomad
Posts: 53
Registered: 12-27-2007
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Elated
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It is unbelievable to me that Northeners feel the need to travel in luxury coaches or pull enormous travel trailers behind them. I spoke with one
fellow last year that swore he would never drive south again because of the narrow escapes he had and that his rear view mirror had been taken off by
a sixteen wheeler going the other direction.
Coupled with the need of these often greedy visitors to crank up thei generators early in the morning or run same late into the evening to power up
their TV's, we would be better off if they stayed on paved roads altogether.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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My motorhome is very sad, because I scolded it for being a motorhome.... 
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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A note to all...please put yourself in the shoes (and cars) of the local people who live here and how a good road will make their lives much
better...less car repairs...safer trips...many only think about how it affects "their" paradise and tourist numbers....forget all that crap and just
for a moment reflect on los mexicanos.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
A note to all...please put yourself in the shoes (and cars) of the local people who live here and how a good road will make their lives much
better...less car repairs...safer trips...many only think about how it affects "their" paradise and tourist numbers....forget all that crap and just
for a moment reflect on los mexicanos. |
SHARI, READ THE POST CAREFULLY----we do very much understand, and as part time locals, we agree---it is an ambiguous feeling. Also, some of the
locals are looking forward to the impending change, and some are not, and some have shared the same ambiguous feelings with us.
Diane and John
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Motor Home Caravans to Asuncion
Mrsfish and I ran into caravans the entire length of Baja. I managed to talk with some of them. This is what the real trip looks like. You get onboard
in south Texas; take the Copper Canyon train, where your 30 footer is loaded on a flat car with up to 30 others exactly like yours.
You then travel down to the ferry where you and your cohorts are loaded on to the ferry. You disembark the ferry and go from one RV Park to the next,
eating and sleeping at the same RV Park. There are side trips available to see the whales etc. "the bus will pick you up and drop you off", "how many
for the Bufadora today?" and off you go. The rest stay and drink in the bar at the RV Park, or an adventurous soul in the group may walk to the local
gift shop. "Honey, can I touch a Mexican", I swear I heard it come from some over dressed, bejeweled Texan with silver/blue hair so tightly sprayed I
thought it would break.
As I talked with these folks, to the person they said, "I hate Mexico and I will never come back", "The roads are too narrow and everything is dirty".
They complained about the food when wonderful places to eat were only doors away. They all said they liked the Copper Canyon. Really they liked being
transported by train in their lovely Coaches as they watched one of nature’s wonders pass by their windows and they did not have to drive! I imagine
it would be like watching the Geographic Channel out your window as you pop you Crystal.
I felt sad for these folks as they had each laid down around $6,000 US to go from one Baja RV park to the next. They all traveled together and stopped
for fuel at the same places, stayed at the same RV parks and were trapped in this rolling hell. They dressed for dinner and many tried to out class
the others with ostentatious displays of expensive jewelry, clothing etc.
The US has amazing RV resorts that cost up to $100 US per night and hot and cold running "Yes sir" and "No sir", "We have rules about that". You can
decide to use one of two or three pools and a number of hot tubs, though most do not avail themselves of these amenities. They would rather set up
their American flags, haul out the awning, put the flowers on the table and drink with their peers. These are the places they are familiar with.
These behemoth motor homes require 50 amp service or else they must use generators. I clearly recall observing a lengthy and heated conversation
between a home builder in the Baja and their electrician about why the house was not grounded and why their friends nearly fried themselves on loose
kilowatts. The reply "We do not connect that third wire here in Mexico. We do not need that here; they do that in the North."
My suggestion would be that if your town makes provisions for these whales that they require 50 amps, grounded service be the standard for any RV
facilities. If you do not do this then you can indeed expect the sound of generators to reverberate through the town. This edict will at least provide
the juice they need, if they are adventurous enough to wander off Hwy 1, and they will be less likely to crank up the generator.
My best to you and my hopes that "progress" does not overtake your life style.
Iflyfish
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livencabo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 43
Registered: 11-18-2007
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I have enjoyed traveling in my Toyota pickup with shell and light camping and staying at motels when they became available. Good road, bad road and
no road. New roads are coming with economic development.
It would be a courtesy to all if land yachts could limit their caravans to two or three vehicles.
Even with arroyos for roads, there were still all kinds of people. Don't fall into the trap of characterising people by their vehicle.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Not ALL Mexicanos strive for a change in their lifestyle... some belie the fact that their simple life is rapidly changing. With change comes a
whole new set of problems.... thats why we need locked gates sometimes.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by livencabo
Even with arroyos for roads, there were still all kinds of people. Don't fall into the trap of characterising people by their vehicle.
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Good statement----totally agree.
We are human and do suffer from biggotry----against those huge caravans --- not against the single motorhome that navigates the road to BA.
Thanks for comment---a clarifying one indeed.
Diane and John
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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very true, not all mexicans want to change their simple lifestyle...but I bet you a billion US dollars that every local person in our village would
vote to pave the road. You have no idea how much of their income goes to car and tire repairs and the number of lives lost as a result from accidents
caused by not being able to afford to get the repairs they need....or the number of people who do not get medical or dental attention because they
don't want to travel that road in their unsafe vehicles...to them, the road is not about worrying about RV's coming or not...it's about better
survival.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
very true, not all mexicans want to change their simple lifestyle...but I bet you a billion US dollars that every local person in our village would
vote to pave the road. You have no idea how much of their income goes to car and tire repairs and the number of lives lost as a result from accidents
caused by not being able to afford to get the repairs they need....or the number of people who do not get medical or dental attention because they
don't want to travel that road in their unsafe vehicles...to them, the road is not about worrying about RV's coming or not...it's about better
survival. |
Still don't think you carefully read the post----and yes, a paved road would be easier on their cars, but I would guess that more accidents are caused
by the style of driving that road way too fast --- see that all the time---have almost been hit by a few, and that is not likely to change paved or
not.
Diane and John
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Diane, Shari and other Asuncion dwellers.
If they pave the road at the same speed as they are doing the streets in Loreto, you won't have anything to worry about for years. 
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BMG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1776
Registered: 6-10-2007
Location: La Paz / Bahia Asunci�n / Away from home
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I must be obtuse.
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
very true, not all mexicans want to change their simple lifestyle...but I bet you a billion US dollars that every local person in our village would
vote to pave the road. You have no idea how much of their income goes to car and tire repairs and the number of lives lost as a result from accidents
caused by not being able to afford to get the repairs they need....or the number of people who do not get medical or dental attention because they
don't want to travel that road in their unsafe vehicles...to them, the road is not about worrying about RV's coming or not...it's about better
survival. |
Still don't think you carefully read the post----and yes, a paved road would be easier on their cars, but I would guess that more accidents are caused
by the style of driving that road way too fast --- see that all the time---have almost been hit by a few, and that is not likely to change paved or
not.
Diane and John |
Diane and John,
I have read and re-read your original post several times and I don't understand what you are trying to tell Shari about reading your post carefully.
It seems to me that you are against paving the road (3x's "don't pave the road"), RV's larger than a tiny trailer and wasteful Canadians. Shari only
addresses the road and points out that most of the locals want the road paved and feel that it will improve their quality of life and disagrees with
your plea not to pave the road. What am I missing?
Steve
I think the world is run by C- students.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BMG
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
very true, not all mexicans want to change their simple lifestyle...but I bet you a billion US dollars that every local person in our village would
vote to pave the road. You have no idea how much of their income goes to car and tire repairs and the number of lives lost as a result from accidents
caused by not being able to afford to get the repairs they need....or the number of people who do not get medical or dental attention because they
don't want to travel that road in their unsafe vehicles...to them, the road is not about worrying about RV's coming or not...it's about better
survival. |
Still don't think you carefully read the post----and yes, a paved road would be easier on their cars, but I would guess that more accidents are caused
by the style of driving that road way too fast --- see that all the time---have almost been hit by a few, and that is not likely to change paved or
not.
Diane and John |
Diane and John,
I have read and re-read your original post several times and I don't understand what you are trying to tell Shari about reading your post carefully.
It seems to me that you are against paving the road (3x's "don't pave the road"), RV's larger than a tiny trailer and wasteful Canadians. Shari only
addresses the road and points out that most of the locals want the road paved and feel that it will improve their quality of life and disagrees with
your plea not to pave the road. What am I missing?
Steve |
In the post we say, don't pave the road, but also talk about how much we look forward to the paving of the road for other reasons ---the same
ambiguios feeling that others have. Yes the road makes like easier, but does not always bring ONLY positive changes---not just for us, but for the
community.
Sorry the caravan people in Loreto were Canadians---you appear to be offended by that comment. We have witnessed that same wasteful behavior with
other caravans in Mexico that were totally people from the US.
Yes, we had a tiny trailer, loved our travels in it, but discovered that that style was not ok for us----please, that is not a statement against
others who love their trailers and mohos---it just was not for us.
Still dread the day the caravans hit Bahia Asuncion----but they will be good for some businesses.
Hope that clarifys it a little.
Diane and John
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