David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65166
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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We Visited Las Animas
You know how I say So Much Baja, So Little Time? Well, it is true... I am big on Baja, but will need many lifetimes to see it 'all'! I have been past
the road to Bahia las Animas several times, but never on it... until last Monday (7-5-04).
I have seen photos, Marv Sherrill's (Baja Calendar) video of his school's famous field trip there, and it stares at me from my many wall maps at Casa
David K, but I needed to see Bahia las Animas for myself.
I also knew that the Erle Stanley Gardner expedition of 1966 went there just before discovering the ruins that MIGHT have been a mission started, but
not completed... called Sant Maria Magdalena on the Jesuit map ( http://community-2.webtv.net/baja4me/1757 ). Using two photos taken at the site, I have traveled the roads south of L.A. Bay trying to 'see' that
same mountain ridge... no luck, yet.
Debra, her son and grand daughter were in her Toyota 4Runner (with a motor twice rebuilt in the last 2 months). My two teenagers, Bo's daughter Andee,
and I were in my Toyota Tacoma.
The following is from my trip book notes:
0.0 L.A. Bay where one leaves the pavement heading south from the Xitlala (yellow) market intersection.
3.35 mi. Access road right to the Santa Marta mine tram line seen going up the mountain (next trip).
4.14 mi. Camp Gecko Driveway, office is 0.2 mi. left.
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0.0 Camp Gecko Driveway (28-53.96', 113-31.85' Map Datum is NAD27 Mexico)
5.7 Las Flores Jail to the west of road here
8.1 Road bends left, a 'Jeep' trail continues straight 3 miles to the end of the railroad line (terminal canyon) and bottom of the cable tram line
from the San Juan mines at the top of the mountains ( http://vivabaja.com/402 page 4)
18.5 Old road south via Valle la Bocana (San Rafael) turns right at No Hunting sign and car door with decals. Continue straight.
22.3 Bahia las Animas road turns left, go left. (28-40.52', 113-21.72')
The 11.3 mile road in is okay for 2WD, but no low body vehicles. At each fork, keep left. Right branches go to the mud flats and may be wet during big
tide periods of the month (full and new moons). Mangroves are in the back bay at the end of the road, a small islet is off the point east of the fish
camp. GPS at the fine beach near the camp is 28-48.57', 113-21.34'
Fish jumping, birds diving, clear water, hundreds of giant squid beached themselves near here. Friendly pelican allowed Sarah to pick it up and pet
it!
Very special Baja place. One family camping on beach. Worth a return and camp. Surf fishing looks promissing.
On the way out, I saw nothing that looked like the photo from 1966... Lost Mission is still lost!
Photos coming soon...
[Edited on 7-8-2004 by David K]
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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ROAD INTO BAHIA LAS ANIMAS
David----I have been going to Las Animas for over 25 years, making probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 week long camping stays there. It is
a magical place, and one of my favorites. The road in has changed radically from year to year. Tho it is always just a desert track, it is often a
piece of cake easily accessed by high clearence 2 wheel drive vehicles, as you say. But sometimes it is a bear. The sand can get really soft in the
wash under certain circumstances, and it will swallow a 2-wheel drive vehicle, even with wide tires and wheels. I have had to pull several 2-wheel
drive vehicles out of there in the past. You can always make it into the bay----it is the coming out that can be tough. The road is in a huge
drainage (wash) that does flood from time to time, changing the character of the road drastically from year to year.
So neat that you finally made it in there. The fishing out beyond the far point at the south end of the bay can be great. I love that place. Also,
lots of neat places to go boating to between there and Bahia de los Angeles, and some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. A car-top 14
foot Gregor or Valco "tin boat" works great here. I would not recommend any trailers, tho. Barry
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy cool
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did you see the faded red pickup with the Viva Baja bumpersticker?
on the east side of the road after you come over the ridge with a view of LA Bay coming from the south
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65166
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Barry A, 'very special' is a good lable for that bay!
BajaVida... Si, we saw it on the way back halfway between the Animas road and Las Flores.
[Edited on 7-9-2004 by Q87]
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FrankO
Nomad
Posts: 301
Registered: 11-10-2002
Location: Ocean Beach
Member Is Offline
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I think the whole sticker thing is overrated. I would like to see them only on the property of those who want them.
*********************************************************************
[Edited on 7-9-2004 by Q87]
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academicanarchist
Senior Nomad
Posts: 978
Registered: 9-7-2003
Member Is Offline
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Lost mission?
Or more likely ruins of a later structure built there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65166
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yup... That was my intention, for folks who love Baja to show that love on their rigs or property.
The only places I put a sticker up is when the owner of the Baja establishment gave me permission or where there already where stickers. I cannot
control where others have put them, but I suggested they use the same guidelines.
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If you want to share that feeling, a Viva Baja sticker will be sent to you. info*at*vivabaja.com is how you request one.
*****************************************
By the way, great photo of you and the babies... I saw it online at the Internet store in Bahia de L.A.!
[Edited on 7-9-2004 by Q87]
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