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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Gonzaga Bay Road 1974-1979
BryanMcKenzie's post on 1993 vs. 2010 Mex. 5 motivated me to pull out the photos from my earlier trips to Gonzaga... before pavement and BEFORE the
graded road of 1986... back when it was a 'Jeep Trail'... and after 1974, no longer maintained as the truck drivers now came to Gonzaga from Hwy. 1
through Calamajue Canyon (until 1983 when the Laguna Chapala-Puerto Calamajue graded road was built).
April 1974 (I was 16) and my friend Pat and I took my dune buggy on a Baja loop trip down the Pacific side and back up the gulf side. Side trips were
made to Mision San Fernando and El Marmol/ El Volcan.
I have two photos between Gonzaga and Puertecitos:
In 1975, I repeated the trip with another friend Mike and two other vehicles joined us. Two photos north of Gonzaga Bay:
Can you see the 2 burros?
In 1979, I was a co-driver in the Baja 1000 and I pre-ran the first section I was to drive (San Matias Pass to El Crucero) in my 4WD Subaru... The
road to Gonzaga was very torn up from lack of care for over 5 years. I made it to Gonzaga that evening, but without an exhaust!
(skinny and shaggy 22 year old me, but having a blast in Baja)
El Huerfanito Island.
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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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David---------Great pictures!!! I tore my motor mounts out of my stick-shift Ford 2x4 pickup on those grades in the late '70's, and the engine tried
to turn over and lay sideways. We had to stop for a 1/2 day, pry the motor back into place, and chain the motor to the frame before we could
continue. What a road!!! Gonzaga was worth it, tho.
When the motor rolled over, the floor mounted stick-shift lever came over and nearly broke my right upper leg bone-------it hurt for months after
that.
Barry
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Isn't it funny how well we remember the 'bad' things... like that... and they turn out to be the great stories of our later life!
I have a lot of photos from my parents and my trips of the 1960's and early 1970's on SLIDES... They would be great to see again... One of these days,
I hope to get one of those scanners that convert slides to photos.
I also have a box of slides that a Nomad (or Amigo de Baja) from Alaska gave me to share anytime I wanted taken from the old days... so that too!
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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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WOW! Great follow-on post, David. The 1974 jeep trail makes 1993 look like an actually road. I'm jealous that you got to start exploring Baja so early
on. And had the cajones of an older,more seasoned traveler so early in your life.
[Edited on 2010-12-10 by bryanmckenzie]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Bryan... I had GREAT parents and they showed me how to just go places and adapt to the conditions with whatever it took. My parents supported
my Baja quests all the way... and when I turned 16 and got a driver's license... they had no worries about me going down into Baja for a week without
them. That trip was Easter Vacation 1974, and my friend and I camped at Mision San Fernando, Gonzaga Bay and Nuevo Mazatlan.
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
Member Is Offline
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I like these photos, David K. They bring back many memories.
Say, on a tech question. Are you scanning these from prints or transparencies?
I'm considering purchasing a digital scanner specifically for transparencies. I have over 3K of these little guys and the best price I've found
commercially is about 29˘/slide.
Allen R.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bufeo
I like these photos, David K. They bring back many memories.
Say, on a tech question. Are you scanning these from prints or transparencies?
I'm considering purchasing a digital scanner specifically for transparencies. I have over 3K of these little guys and the best price I've found
commercially is about 29˘/slide.
Allen R. |
Hi Bufeo... These are scanned from prints out of my photo album... saved to a folder in my PC, then uploaded to Photobucket.com to share here.
I too have a lot of slides from my parents trips to Baja in the 1960's and early 70's... that I am sure would be fun to see again for all of us Baja
freaks on Nomad.
Instead of paying a developer to make prints (and many could be printed in reverse)... I hope to get a new scanner/ copier/ printer that has a SLIDE
reader (or whatever it is called) that scans your slides and makes them into a computer file that we can photoshop to improve the color, etc.
I saw one at FRY's. They also have slide scanners alone that you can hook to your PC... That is the ticket!
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by bufeo
I like these photos, David K. They bring back many memories.
Say, on a tech question. Are you scanning these from prints or transparencies?
I'm considering purchasing a digital scanner specifically for transparencies. I have over 3K of these little guys and the best price I've found
commercially is about 29˘/slide.
Allen R. |
.... I hope to get a new scanner/ copier/ printer that has a SLIDE reader (or whatever it is called) that scans your slides and makes them into a
computer file that we can photoshop to improve the color, etc.
I saw one at FRY's. They also have slide scanners alone that you can hook to your PC... That is the ticket! |
I've looked on-line at a couple of those PC-dedicated transparency-scanners. I'm about to pull the plug and order one. I recently had a dozen
transparencies (both 35mm and 2.25 sq) scanned to see how the color has held up and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality.
Thanks for the reply.
Allen R
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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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Hey guys. I have an older HP 3670 flatbed color scanner, about 7 years old. It came with a little plastic device that you can insert up to 4 slides
(standard cut length) at a time and lay flat on the scanner. Then let 'er rip at 600 d.p.i. for awesome scans. You have to do a bit of post-scan
editing, like cropping, re-size, etc. But it works great. Even with older technology.
The secret is to to have a slide viewer or magnifier to pick the photos you want. Not scan everything. Be selective and cut 80% of what you don't need
(want?) out. It's a bit slow. But forces you to reminisce. A be thankful for those wonderful past moments. Just my humble thots.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bryanmckenzie
WOW! Great follow-on post, David. The 1974 jeep trail makes 1993 look like an actually road. I'm jealous that you got to start exploring Baja so early
on. And had the cajones of an older,more seasoned traveler so early in your life.
[Edited on 2010-12-10 by bryanmckenzie] |
Finding the older roads in Baja and using them where possible is fun, too. Besides the original main Baja road (which I recently covered from El
Rosario to San Ignacio), there are others... such as the original road south of Bahia de los Angeles to San Francisquito that was opened up in 1966 by
the Erle Stanley Gardner party following their discovery of the lost mission/ mystery walls. I have driven it twice all the way through and three
times part way seeking the lost mission location photographed in 1966.
Some photos:
On July 4, 2001 I drove the 4WD Viva Baja Van and Neal Johns was in his Tacoma with El Camote filming our Lost Mission Hunt #1 that took us to the
Tinaja de Santa Maria, just south of Valle la Bocana (home of the largest cactus in the world... the largest cardons in Baja)
GPS DIRECTIONS: L.A. BAY & SOUTH (WGS 84)
Hunfreville's Hut at Las Cuevitas: N29°03.30' W113°32.35'
Casa Diaz, Bahia de los Angeles: N28°56.77' W113°33.55'
Camp Gecko, south of town: N28°54.05' W113°31.73'
Las Flores (jail house): N28°49.10' W113°31.77'
Jcn. with old road south: N28°40.77' W113°25.45'
Arroyo to Las Venecas: N28°39.40' W113°25.86'
Site of Paredones, Jesus' ranch: N28°36.81' W113°24.59'
Road ahead to La Bocana & San Pedro, turn sharp left (east): N28°28.40' W113°23.47'
We turn right, off road here: N28°28.01' W113°20.46'
Tinaja de Santa Maria: N28°26.09' W113°20.02'
In April, 2002, a second drive all the way out to the new road, south of San Rafael:
December 2002:
Once again to the Tinaja de Santa Maria (behind my son on the motorbike)
April, 2003:
Los Paredones at 28°36.70'/ 113°24.82' (NAD27 Mex.)
Rancho La Bocana Gym
Located just inside San Pedro canyon at 28°28.39'/ 113°23.62' (NAD27 Mex.) mislabled San Pedro on topo.
This is looking north, the old and new L.A. Bay to San Francisquito road junction at 28°26.05'/ 113°10.41', south of Bahia San Rafael.
Jan. 2004:
David K in his Toyota is joined by Pete in (GeoRock's) Hummer, traveling up Arroyo la Palma.
Baja is a land of adventure... and, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!
(I was finally able to photograph the lost mission site in 2009, thanks to a Baja Nomad who spotted the walls on Google Earth!: http://vivabaja.com/109 )
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bryanmckenzie
Hey guys. I have an older HP 3670 flatbed color scanner, about 7 years old. It came with a little plastic device that you can insert up to 4 slides
(standard cut length) at a time and lay flat on the scanner. ...The secret is to to have a slide viewer or magnifier to pick the photos you want. Not
scan everything. ... |
Thanks for those suggestions, b-mck.
You're correct about reviewing your photos beforehand. I already have a light table for multiple transparencies and a single slide magnifier/viewer.
I made the decision yesterday to purchase a high-resolution, 5MP 35mm film and slide scanner. It has the capacity to download directly to a computer
or a memory stick.
I'll experiment soon.
Allen R
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Wow, fantastic images David... would love to see your slides from the 60's. A few years ago I had some slides made into paper photos and the quality
was unreal, bringing back memories from the early 60's of a visit with my great-grand parents in North Carolina. Unreal memories brought back to
life.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Bob... those photos are on VivaBaja.com... I have a lot of Baja in there!
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SFLowTide
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Elk Grove, CA/Km 31
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting On The Sun
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Finding the older roads in Baja and using them where possible is fun, too. Besides the original main Baja road (which I recently covered from El
Rosario to San Ignacio), there are others... such as the original road south of Bahia de los Angeles to San Francisquito that was opened up in 1966 by
the Erle Stanley Gardner party following their discovery of the lost mission/ mystery walls. I have driven it twice all the way through and three
times part way seeking the lost mission location photographed in 1966.
David,
Do you have any pictures of the old Huerfanito grade (pre 1985)? Or, even better, before somebody thought it would help by pouring cement on it?
Like you, almost all of my family’s photos are slides and, so far, I cannot locate any pics of that monster...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SFLowTide
Finding the older roads in Baja and using them where possible is fun, too. Besides the original main Baja road (which I recently covered from El
Rosario to San Ignacio), there are others... such as the original road south of Bahia de los Angeles to San Francisquito that was opened up in 1966 by
the Erle Stanley Gardner party following their discovery of the lost mission/ mystery walls. I have driven it twice all the way through and three
times part way seeking the lost mission location photographed in 1966.
David,
Do you have any pictures of the old Huerfanito grade (pre 1985)? Or, even better, before somebody thought it would help by pouring cement on it?
Like you, almost all of my family’s photos are slides and, so far, I cannot locate any pics of that monster... |
I posted all the 'Gonzaga Grades' photos I had handy above... The Huerfanito grade was the southernmost... and was even steeper at the top before theu
made that cut... Crazy steep grades!
Cliff Cross labled them well in his 1970 guide map:
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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The last climb if you made it that far mid 60's there is a road in there
somewhere.
Anyone can catch fish in a boat but only \"El Pescador Grande\" can get them from the beach.
I hope when my time comes the old man will let me bring my rod and the water will be warm and clear.
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SFLowTide
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Elk Grove, CA/Km 31
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting On The Sun
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Thanks David & Baitcast,
Great picture Baitcast. That's exactly what I was looking for. You even caught some of the cement at the bottom. That was fun when it was covered
with gravel...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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What a road... Those were the good old days!!!
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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My first trip up that thing was in 64 in a 64 VW bus,after three tries my wife two kids and buddy walked up while I made one last run up it
Rob
Anyone can catch fish in a boat but only \"El Pescador Grande\" can get them from the beach.
I hope when my time comes the old man will let me bring my rod and the water will be warm and clear.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baitcast
My first trip up that thing was in 64 in a 64 VW bus,after three tries my wife two kids and buddy walked up while I made one last run up it
Rob |
Oh yah... I can remember my mom and me getting out of the Wagoneer and walking as it was way too scary steep and narrow... looking down into the
canyon and seeing the wrecks of vehicles that didn't make it!
The next trip, after witnessing my Dad's four wheel drive ability in '65, we rode with him!
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