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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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Highway 5 dangers
So, I was reading a book last night and read this:
"The stretch of highway between Mexicali and San Felipe had become notoriously dangerous for tourists with robberies and even murders being
reported more frequently; consequently we were not eager to stay in Mexico after dark."
This is a book that was just published and the author is getting lots of attention for it. The last thing that this area needs is more
sensationalized crap being said. As a long time resident of the area, I have been up and down Highway 5 numerous times without issue. Is my head stuck
in the sand or perhaps up some place where sand sometimes gets stuck? I felt that the author was doing the people of this community a great
disservice and expressed my feelings to her. When I contacted the author and asked for her sources...her proof....numbers?? This was her response:
"I also spent much time in Baja travel blogs such as Baja Nomads and the State Department travel advisories to keep abreast of news from the area."
So, Nomads, am I missing something? I know that there are issues throughout areas of Baja, but is Highway 5 really that "notorious"? Have any of you
had troubles?
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64749
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Drama... she needs drama to sell books, sadly. If she wants to sell to people who avoid Mexico, then keep up the bandito stuff.
I for one have driven Hwy. 5, in the dark, for over 35 years... and NEVER had an issue. This is not a cattle grazing part of Baja, so no worry about
black cows sleeping on the road, like Hwy. 1.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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You can always post truthful reviews on sites that sell the book
Oh, by the way, what is the title, who is the author and how did you contact her???
Anybody who writes a book with bogus information should be called out
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I've been going down to SF since early '80's, I remember an incident or 2, not to me. To suggest nothing has happened is a little naive. Personally, I
consider driving anywhere
in Mex to have an elevated risk, not as being robbed, but
just the act of driving itself. Being a camper and watching Mexicalli
visitors driink all day Sun., then pack up for the drive to Mexicalli, is the part I look upon as risky, most being uninsured, some
vehicles in need of repair, to me that is the risk, not of
assult, etc
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ligui
Senior Nomad
Posts: 833
Registered: 2-9-2008
Location: Fraser co.
Member Is Offline
Mood: love Baja !
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We drove it at night so we didn't have to see anyone . 
Love that road .
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ligui
Senior Nomad
Posts: 833
Registered: 2-9-2008
Location: Fraser co.
Member Is Offline
Mood: love Baja !
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By the way .. what is the name of the book ? We should know who is bad .
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6004
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Thank goodness I have been warned!
I had no idea how much risk I have been taking the past few years! I guess I will just stay home and enjoy Baja from the safety of the internet.
As an added benefit of virtual tourism, I can troll this site and scold people who are still foolish enough to put boots (or tires) on the ground down
there!
Edit; Maybe I should have included a smilie face, which one is for sarcasm?
[Edited on 6-23-2015 by AKgringo]
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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Bajame
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 6-12-2005
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Mood: Baja Dreamin
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Hey I just drove it for the first time 3 weeks ago , thought it was great . Maybe I should of had somebody with me ? Tell me where this doesn't
happen in the states ?
We all want a peaceful world, filled with love and laughter, but we fill ourselves with anger and hate trying to fiqure out how to achive it.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 667
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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Yes, Highway 5 was notorious and dangerous for a period of time. It seems maybe 15 years ago (plus or minus 5 years)? Sorry, couldn't find the
incidents during a quick search. There were multiple highway robberies involving guns and violence on deserted stretches of the highway. The
perpetrators were eventually caught. They were police officers as I recall. There were numerous news articles at the time.
Does anyone recall the details or have a link?
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18125
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  | Yes, Highway 5 was notorious and dangerous for a period of time. It seems maybe 15 years ago (plus or minus 5 years)? Sorry, couldn't find the
incidents during a quick search. There were multiple highway robberies involving guns and violence on deserted stretches of the highway. The
perpetrators were eventually caught. They were police officers as I recall. There were numerous news articles at the time.
Does anyone recall the details or have a link? |
A while back there was a rash of cars attacked at night by rock throwers..
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18125
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K |
I for one have driven Hwy. 5, in the dark, for over 35 years... and NEVER had an issue. This is not a cattle grazing part of Baja, so no worry about
black cows sleeping on the road, like Hwy. 1. |
Black cows are just one of many road hazards,...
Burros
Rocks (on road or missiles)
Bandits
Narrow or missing shoulders
Unlit vehicles
Poorly marked road hazards
Horses
Cows in colors other than black 
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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Black cows are just one of many road hazards,...
those are highlights not hazards you silly
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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So are the Black Crows, if you play 'em loud enough........
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The best I can recall it was the early 90s. There were some guys in a car with a red light that would approach cars on Hwy 5 in the KM60-KM90 area
before La Ventana and acting as cops would pull people over then rob them. This would happen late at night like 1am. After several robberies extra
police were put there and they caught the guys.
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Now thats funny ...
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Still no book title, Grace ?
Don't believe everything you think....
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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The title of the book is "The Accidental Truth" by Lauri Taylor. She wrote the book dealing with the murder of her mother who went missing from
Vista, California in 2006 and was found murdered near Puertecitos about a week later. I remember when it happened as there was some discussion about
it on here back at the time. You can search on here for the name Jane Kling. I had already traveled the highway many times by then and was on this
forum for a couple of years and did not remember any mention of dangers on 5 (other than the narrow roads, vados and other drivers with unsafe cars.)
I'm only reading the book (about her investigation into the murder) at the suggestion of my sister-in-law who is friends with the author from their
sorority days at SMU. So far most of what I am reading is irritating the crap out of me, but I promised the SIL that I would read it.
I was just wanting to hear stories from the Nomads as to their experiences as I was told that some of Lauri's info. came from here. I understand
that she came here under stressful circumstances, but still feel like she is sensationalizing things and being unfair to people from this area. But as
she said when I contacted her....those our my "opinions and perceptions" which they are.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2318
Registered: 10-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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Said book on Amazon
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64749
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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That explains a lot, thank you Grace.
I thought you posted about a new travel book about Baja that said such a thing... and not a story book about the sad murder of someone's mother.
I remember the incident... and it was not between Mexicali and San Felipe, but 40+ miles south of San Felipe.
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2318
Registered: 10-17-2013
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Like others here, I've been up and down that road a million times - sometimes late at night, and never had a problem. I've never even heard
of a problem.
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