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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Baja Nomads Searching for a Lost Mission and finding so much more!
One of the great things the Baja Internet does is bring us Baja nuts together on adventures. Baja is a land of mystery and adventure, and it doesn't
take a lot of effort to drive a few hours and be in the middle of it all!
IT'S QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY of Baja trips you can have that makes the best memories.
A little over 3 years ago, with some satellite image hints provided by Baja Nomad member 'elbeau', we had a chance to search for one of the most
famous LOST MISSIONs in Baja California, Santa Isabel!
No official record ever mentions it, but the legend was born following the quick round-up of all the Jesuit priests from the peninsula at the end of
1767 and their forced removal across the Sea of Cortez in February, 1768.
When the Spanish authorities found only impoverished churches and no gold, pearls or silver (other than altar pieces), it was deemed that the Jesuits
received advanced warning of their removal and created one final secret mission to hide the treasures they must have collected in their 72 years on
the California peninsula.... a mission named Santa Isabel.
Nomads dtbushpilot, XRPhlang, BAJACAT, bajalou, David K, El Vergel, TW (and his brother Bill) met up along the way and at the campsite location where
the vehicles could go no further (Arroyo el Volcán, 2 miles from El Mármol, the onyx mine).
Please enjoy a first or repeat look at the many photos and story, and I hope it inspires you to seek an adventure in Baja, or at least dream of one at
home!
SEE: Desert Adventure, Interesting Geology, The Lost Mission site, Barite and Onyx mines, a COLD water geyser, and much more...
PART 1: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52696
PART 2: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52735
PART 3: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52779
PART 4: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52804
PART 5: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52833
PART 6: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52864
This was bajalou's final Baja adventure before he left this world for another, we miss Lou and his great enthusiasm he had for Baja!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The 2011 Lost Mission Hunters
'bajalou' (Lou) and 'BAJACAT' (José)
'XRPhlang' (Phil) and 'dtbushpilot' (David)
'El Vergel' (Vern), Bill W and 'TW' (Tom)
David K
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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That was a fun and exciting trip.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Indeed... and good exercise too!
We have more lost missions (Santa Clara), lost graves (Melchoir Diaz), and many mysteries to solve!
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elfbrewery
Nomad
Posts: 340
Registered: 12-25-2006
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Are there rooms at any of the ranchos on the way to the geyser? Sounds like a real hoot to go see it. Any guesses as to when it goes off?
Great inspirational report. Gotta get out more.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6025
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Thanks for posting the links, it is good to put faces to user names I have seen so often. I can also stop visualizing Indiana Jones type characters
when I read of your exploits, heck, you guys look like me!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Quote: Originally posted by elfbrewery  | Are there rooms at any of the ranchos on the way to the geyser? Sounds like a real hoot to go see it. Any guesses as to when it goes off?
Great inspirational report. Gotta get out more. |
There are no ranchos along the way, except for Rancho (Cafe) Sonora, which is next to the turnoff on Hwy. 1 for food, onyx gifts, etc. The other
nearby ranches are working farms or cattle ranches, along the old main road.
No idea when the geyser erupts other than 'monthly'. One would have to be so lucky to witness an eruption!
Baja Cactus Motel is the Nomad lodge of choice (owned by a Nomad too), if you don't camp. Located in El Rosario, just over an hour on Hwy. 1 away. The
Hotel Mision Cataviña and Cabanas Linda is even closer in Cataviña, maybe less than a half hour away, the other direction.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | Thanks for posting the links, it is good to put faces to user names I have seen so often. I can also stop visualizing Indiana Jones type characters
when I read of your exploits, heck, you guys look like me! |
You got that right!
HERE'S THE STORY...
We are Baja Brothers and Sisters who believe in friendship, exploration, helping each other, helping the people of Baja! Like any big family, there
are spats among us, but for those who want to get along we can respect our differences for a more enjoyable life. I have met, camped, partied, and
worked with so many folks I have met on the Internet first, then in person later.
If you want to see what many Nomads look like, enjoy the photos taken at camping events (BBBB, 2001-2002 and Matomi Gang, 2001-2004), my Viva Baja
parties (2000-2003), The Pyramid Resort Book Signings (2003-2008), Baja Cactus events in Tijuana and El Rosario (2004-2007).
Before we were Baja Nomads (2002+), we were Amigos de Baja members (up to 2003).
Here is the very first get together organized by Timothy Walker and myself to meet each other and anyone else who wanted to... at the San Clemente
Pier in Feb. 2000:
Giesla Van Bree, Mike Humfreville, Mary Ann Humfreville, Graham Mackintosh.
Graham Mackintosh, Michelle (M).
Lorenzo de Baja (LdB) arrives.
El Gato Loco (egl/ Matt) and Baja Barb and Norm of BajaLinks.com
Ferna de Tijuana (FdT)
Jens (Yens) of Baja-Web.com and his guest.
Whistler (Glenn)
Also there was Timothy Walker (TimsBaja.com), Carlos Fiesta (BajaExpo.com), GregN (Baja Fever author), and Dick Van Bree (BajaLinks.com)... sadly, I
didn't get their photos on my little camera.
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Of those who attended, elgatoloco, Whistler, fdt (Ferna de Tijuana), Graham, GregN, and David K are still active on the forums and Dick Van Bree still
is hosting Baja web sites.
I was strongly requested to do another get together, and before the year was over, I hosted Viva Baja (#1)... and that's when I met Doug (Baja Nomad)
and many more web site hosts who accepted my invitation to Baja web site managers, Baja business owners, Baja book authors, and Baja enthusiasts: http://www.vivabaja.com/vivabaja/index.html
We held the even at a restaurant, served dinner and drinks, had door prizes to give away, did a Baja 'show and tell', had some video clips, it was
just a super event.
Viva Baja #2, in 2001 was even bigger, more prizes too: http://www.vivabaja.com/vivabaja2/index.html
Viva Baja #3 had over 100 attendees this time at a restaurant in Oceanside we had for the whole day, also some short films added in: http://www.vivabaja.com/vivabaja3/index.html
Viva Baja #4 was a bit smaller by design, but still a full house in Capistrano Beach: http://www.vivabaja.com/vivabaja4/index.html
In 2006, I helped Antonio (Baja Cactus) promote and host a tour and dinner in Tijuana, we called Viva Baja Cactus: http://www.vivabaja.com/vivabajacactus/index.html
Met many new Nomads and my future co-author, Max Kurillo of 6 years later!
The BBBB and Matomi and Pyramid Resort event photos are all linked on my home page: http://vivabaja.com (the newer web site name came after my first parties, thanks to Doug who secured it...)
[Edited on 12-14-2014 by David K]
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
Member Is Offline
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Currently the mine past El Volcan, La Olividada, has been activated and there is all sorts of activity from Rt. 1 all the way to the onyx mine and
beyond.
The effect of this is that, on one hand, the road beyond the onyx mine may be much improved but, on the other hand, you might get run over by some
giant truck on the way.
As of late October this year they were still at it.
Barbara and I rode to the geyser a few years ago on motorcycles. There were some significant washouts just past El Marmol. She stood back as I looked
down the hole. I'm still here!
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GregN
Nomad
Posts: 100
Registered: 5-13-2004
Location: Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
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David. You forgot me. I was living in San Clemente at the time and suggested the restaurant. I too was there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by GregN | | David. You forgot me. I was living in San Clemente at the time and suggested the restaurant. I too was there. |
OMG yes! I wish I had more photos to help my memory... After the daytime meeting on the pier, we went to the Mexican restaurant. Graham Mackintosh
rode up there with me, and I forgot we had another Baja book author in attendance, you!
After that meeting you went to work on the next book, and even used a story I had heard in Baja later that year, in the new book...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver | Currently the mine past El Volcan, La Olividada, has been activated and there is all sorts of activity from Rt. 1 all the way to the onyx mine and
beyond.
The effect of this is that, on one hand, the road beyond the onyx mine may be much improved but, on the other hand, you might get run over by some
giant truck on the way.
As of late October this year they were still at it.
Barbara and I rode to the geyser a few years ago on motorcycles. There were some significant washouts just past El Marmol. She stood back as I looked
down the hole. I'm still here!
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Correct, the barite mined at La Olvidada is important in the oil drilling business! They had graded the road from El Marmol to La Olvidada just before
our 2011 expedition. In Part 3 of the trip report, we all went to the end of the road at La Olvidada. Great view down to the islands south of
Puertecitos.
We heard that the mine company would build a road down to Hwy. 5, way below... El Huerfanito/ Okie Landing area... that would be a perfect short cut
for autos, if open to the public.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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It is always fun to put a pic to a name.
Great thread!
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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I'm about ready for a new adventure, I've spent all the money I got for my share of the Padre gold....oh wait, was I supposed to keep that a secret?
Never mind.....
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
Member Is Offline
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I wondered what they were mining there. The Almanac has the old mine labelled 'Oro'. Different gold in them thar hills these days.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Almanac error. Barite was originally mentioned in the 1990s. Baja has other barite mines. One used to be near Camalu 50+ years ago.
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elbeau
Nomad
Posts: 256
Registered: 3-2-2011
Location: Austin, TX
Member Is Offline
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DK, after all these years and now that you've spent all the treasure, don't you think it's time to tell everyone the truth about what you found at
Rancho Elbeau?:
All joking aside, the group that actually made the trip based on my overzealous use of Google Earth deserves a special place in Nomad history. While
it taught me how to eat a little humble pie and not place too much credibility on Google Earth's "Zoom" button, it also showed me that there are still
adventurous people in this world. All of you are completely awesome!
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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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----------I heard that David K moved to new digs, but never imagined THIS !!!!!! Your secret is OUT !!!
Barry
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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This is all I need, but thanks!
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elbeau
Nomad
Posts: 256
Registered: 3-2-2011
Location: Austin, TX
Member Is Offline
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