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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Just drove the Chapala-Gonzaga-San Felipe-Mexicali road
I took the turnoff yesterday north of Guerrero Negro at Laguna Chapala and headed up the graded dirt road towards Gonzaga Bay, taking a new (for me
since 1986) shortcut towards Phoenix, AZ.
"Graded" is a relative term. I'm sure the road would be much worse if it wasn't maintained at all...
I was driving a 98 Subaru Impreza AWD sedan with new tires, so I drove pretty aggressively.
Well, OK, when I wasn't going walking-speed around pan-breaking rocks and suspension-busting dips.
Anyhow, I measured 39.6 miles of dirt before I hit pavement, with no side trips. It took me 87 minutes including military inspection point before
pavement.
That said, I think 2 hours would be a reasonable time to drive this. I wouldn't tow a trailer of any type, not just because of turn restriction on a
long trailer, but because of the suspension.
Well, it sure made the pavement at Gonzaga seem like heaven! I got about 66 Km from San Felipe before I completely caught air from launching my
vehicle at one of the vados. It seem that you really SHOULD slow down to the speed limit there.
Some short and one medium stretch of dirt-driving through construction, and going to Mexicali overall was a breeze. I crossed the border at San Luis.
Way faster line than Tecate!
I may never drive through the Ensenada corridor again.
Let's see, the things I'll miss by taking this route:
Tecate to Ensenada wine country, and picking up olives and olive oil.
Views of the Pacific.
La Bufadora.
Clam cocteles at Mariscos California south of the San Quintin bridge.
The nice cool weather near the Pacific.
My favorite camping spot and white sage-gathering spots north of Catavina.
The things I won't miss:
Dusty, dirty crowded driving with lots of stops, and that's on pavement!
Ensenada.
Anally-greedy Tecate cops.
More cops.
Traffic.
Twisting hilly roads.
Having to drive through California to get to Tecate.
[Edited on 7-30-2013 by vandy]
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Mood: Weary
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The last one would be the priority!
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Coco's
Was the new bridge open just beyond the military checkpoint at Gonzaga open? Two months ago it was supposed to be ready for traffic about now.
Did you make a stop at Coco's ?
John
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daveB
Nomad
Posts: 244
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: B.C. Canada
Member Is Offline
Mood: wondering about Nomads!
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For an added twist make a right turn instead of heading up to Rio San Luis, and drive the Altair desert road into Rocky Point/ Puerto Penasco. This
would not constitute a shortcut of course but is good road all the way.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandy
I took the turnoff yesterday north of Guerrero Negro at Laguna Chapala
I may never drive through the Ensenada corridor again.
Let's see, the things I'll miss by taking this route:
Tecate to Ensenada wine country, and picking up olives and olive oil.
Views of the Pacific.
La Bufadora.
Clam cocteles at Mariscos California south of the San Quintin bridge.
The nice cool weather near the Pacific.
My favorite camping spot and white sage-gathering spots north of Catavina.
The things I won't miss:
Dusty, dirty crowded driving with lots of stops, and that's on pavement!
Ensenada.
Anally-greedy Tecate cops.
More cops.
Traffic.
Twisting hilly roads.
Having to drive through California to get to Tecate. |
Great report, wow those vados come up fast 
We're liking the slower pace of the drive, beautiful coastline and no pushy drivers. The dirt stretch gives me a chance to view the scenery, drop down
a few gears and chill. Watch out for those wash outs on the dirt section !
I really miss stopping at Dona La La's outside of San Vincente for some of the best artisan cheeses in the world 
See you on the flip flop space travelers 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by John M
Was the new bridge open just beyond the military checkpoint at Gonzaga open? Two months ago it was supposed to be ready for traffic about now...
John |
On July 22, 'willardguy' posted this on TalkBaja.com: "smooth sailing all the way to gonzaga bay, even the bridge at papa's was open 2 weeks ago. I
wouldn't travel any further south in a low profile car though."
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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yup, it was open to traffic the weekend of the 13th. another little piece of news that kind of got buried, the entrance to alfonsinas is now gated
with a full time guard. the gate is just back from the pemex. looks like the same thing on the other side of the runway into rancho grande is coming.
this is the new baja!
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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vandy thanks for the report.
A gate and guard, looks like somebody don't like somebody.
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Bridge is open, yes. No stops this trip.
My car has a little under 6" ground clearance and was OK, although 12" and big soft tires would have been nice...
A low-clearance car would have to take it really slow in places, unless it's a rental.
My 1979 Pinto almost made it in 1986; still down there somewhere.
BTW, I made the trip early in the morning. The sun was low and highlighted the rocks and dips well. At noon I would have beaten my oil pan or
(shudder) have had to slow down.
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msteve1014
Senior Nomad
Posts: 947
Registered: 12-2-2006
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Does not sound like a shortcut to Oxnard, but I may try it in a month. I have ac and jb weld in the truck. What's the worst that can happen?
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I heard this today about the guard for Alfonsina's. Could it be true?
The guard shack is a ploy to get more $$ from the residents. $500 extra per lot per year. Big chunk of cash for Alphonsinas. None of the residents
were happy about it.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
I heard this today about the guard for Alfonsina's. Could it be true?
The guard shack is a ploy to get more $$ from the residents. $500 extra per lot per year. Big chunk of cash for Alphonsinas. None of the residents
were happy about it. |
So, the residents who pay per month are being asked to pay this to have access to their lot that they already pay on?
WOW, that's cold!
[Edited on 7-29-2013 by Hook]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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in 75 hours i'll be dipping my toes in the sand watching the sun go down at Gonzaga!!!
woo-HOOOOOO!
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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You will also be a couple days late for the swell, bummer, Bet you can figure something out. Safe travels, tight lines.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandy
I took the turnoff yesterday north of Guerrero Negro at Laguna Chapala and headed up the graded dirt road towards Gonzaga Bay, taking a new (for me
since 1986) shortcut towards Phoenix, AZ.
"Graded" is a relative term. I'm sure the road would be much worse if it wasn't maintained at all...
I was driving a 98 Subaru Impreza AWD sedan with new tires, so I drove pretty aggressively.
Well, OK, when I wasn't going walking-speed around pan-breaking rocks and suspension-busting dips.
Anyhow, I measured 39.6 miles of dirt before I hit pavement, with no side trips. It took me 87 minutes including military inspection point before
pavement.
That said, I think 2 hours would be a reasonable time to drive this. I wouldn't tow a trailer of any type, not just because of turn restriction on a
long trailer, but because of the suspension.
Well, it sure made the pavement at Gonzaga seem like heaven! I got about 66 Km from San Felipe before I completely caught air from launching my
vehicle at one of the vados. It seem that you really SHOULD slow down to the speed limit there.
Some short and one medium stretch of dirt-driving through construction, and going to Mexicali overall was a breeze. I crossed the border at San Luis.
Way faster line than Tecate!
I may never drive through the Ensenada corridor again.
Let's see, the things I'll miss by taking this route:
Tecate to Ensenada wine country, and picking up olives and olive oil.
Views of the Pacific.
La Bufadora.
Clam cocteles at Mariscos California south of the San Quintin bridge.
The nice cool weather near the Pacific.
My favorite camping spot and white sage-gathering spots north of Catavina.
The things I won't miss:
Dusty, dirty crowded driving with lots of stops, and that's on pavement!
Ensenada.
Anally-greedy Tecate cops.
More cops.
Traffic.
Twisting hilly roads.
Having to drive through California to get to Tecate. |
How about the entire stretch between Colonet and Socorro?
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
I heard this today about the guard for Alfonsina's. Could it be true?
The guard shack is a ploy to get more $$ from the residents. $500 extra per lot per year. Big chunk of cash for Alphonsinas. None of the residents
were happy about it. |
Its my understanding a majority of the homeowners, weary of having their chit stolen,
are totally on board and implemented this. look around alfonsina's these days, an extra 500 bucks a year isnt gonna impact these folks!
another big change, the fish camp is closed, fenced at the main road. fisherman now are using the old fish camp between beluga and rancho grande.
result of a land dispute.
this isnt your fathers gonzaga anymore!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MMc
You will also be a couple days late for the swell, bummer, Bet you can figure something out. Safe travels, tight lines. |
last i looked they're calling chest high over the weekend. BIG YT and some waves and i'm good.
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Home
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we came through last week. Fueled up and made the turn to go down to Alfonsina's, saw the guard, looked to the other side of the landing strip and it
was gated, We just headed on south and did business else where. The gate and guard is going to turn others on down the road. Don't want to guess
the lost business there will be, maybe not enough to worry about!
HO HUM I just hate gates!!!!!!
Happy Trails
Mike
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
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I saw the gate guard and pulled up and was greeted very nicely. He asked where I was going and told him to have lunch, he gave me a pass and we had a
great fish taco lunch, beers, we swam and paddle boarded and decided to spend the night...
Left in the morning and the guard was super nice!
The world changes all the time and all we can do is to adjust or blaze a new trail.
Safe travels!!!
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Baja used to be a land with "hardly any fences"!
As Mama Espinoza is credited for saying: :Bad roads bring good people" and I will modify it to say: a paved Hwy. 5 will bring "all kinds of people"!
[Edited on 7-30-2013 by David K]
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