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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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BOOK REVIEW: Mexico's Diamond in the Rough, c1959
Inside cover.
This was one of the books from Mike McMahan's library. Mike was the creator of the famous Baja Wall maps of the 60s to 90s. Mike also wrote an
excellent book in 1973, 'There It Is: Baja!, which was republished 10 years later in softback with the title changes to 'Adventures in Baja'.
Mexico's Diamond in the Rough (Lower California Adventure) by O.W. Timberman c1959 was one of many adventure books written by those who traveled by
automobile down Baja when a four-wheel drive was almost mandatory and the high adventure and sport fishing or hunting was just too great to not be
excited over.
The pavement ended 70 some miles south of Ensenada and began again only 24 miles north of La Paz on their trip in the late 50s. La Paz to Cabo was all
dirt roads (in 1966 on my first trip, it was paved only to 10 miles south of town and about 100 miles north).
The book is a well-written account of the couple's no-hurry travel down the peninsula with many interactions with locals at various villages and
ranchos.
I will recount a few passages from the book that stood out about the road or places or people described in follow-up posts.
Baja Highway about 60 years ago...
Famous Beach Palms...
60 years later, they are still at the edge of the sea, and not in it!
[Edited on 4-28-2018 by David K]
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mtgoat666
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Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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bajatrailrider
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Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  |
Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of. |
Hey doofus MT retard tourist
Make America decent again and Baja. Throw your ugly ass out you win Idiot of the year. Nobody wants to hear you retard. Thank you David for great
write up Shame this loser from San Diego. Mt your lower then whale turn that is why global warming. 
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bajatrailrider
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K |
Inside cover.
This was one of the books from Mike McMahan's library. Mike was the creator of the famous Baja Wall maps of the 60s to 90s. Mike also wrote an
excellent book in 1973, 'There It Is: Baja!, which was republished 10 years later in softback with the title changes to 'Adventures in Baja'.
Mexico's Diamond in the Rough (Lower California Adventure) by O.W. Timberman c1959 was one of many adventure books written by those who traveled by
automobile down Baja when a four-wheel drive was almost mandatory and the high adventure and sport fishing or hunting was just too great to not be
excited over.
The pavement ended 70 some miles south of Ensenada and began again only 24 miles north of La Paz on their trip in the late 50s. La Paz to Cabo was all
dirt roads (in 1966 on my first trip, it was paved only to 10 miles south of town and about 100 miles north).
The book is a well-written account of the couple's no-hurry travel down the peninsula with many interactions with locals at various villages and
ranchos.
I will recount a few passages from the book that stood out about the road or places or people described in follow-up posts.
Baja Highway about 60 years ago...
Famous Beach Palms...
60 years later, they are still at the edge of the sea, and not in it!
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Thank you David great write up and pictures. Sorry that loser Mt from San Diego has to write his wroth less crap. That is his
job Baja Blow Hard loser
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of. |
He goated you with that troll, that's a scientific fact.
[Edited on 4-15-2018 by JZ]
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bajatrailrider
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JAAAAAA good one
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Paco Facullo
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So David, your slipping, I'm surprised you don't have a picture of the same palms of recent vintage ?
You probably do, just haven't found them as of yet >
Oh and also, the OP was REALLY interesting, thanks !
[Edited on 4-14-2018 by Paco Facullo]
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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mtgoat666
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Posts: 18433
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of. |
Hey doofus MT retard tourist
Make America decent again and Baja. Throw your ugly ass out you win Idiot of the year. Nobody wants to hear you retard. Thank you David for great
write up Shame this loser from San Diego. Mt your lower then whale turn that is why global warming. |
Did you get kicked in the head? I’m struggling to figure out why your writing is so much gibberish. I see kernels of corn in your chit,... but the
syntax appears to reflect mental defect or brain damage.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2433
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of. |
Hey doofus MT retard tourist
Make America decent again and Baja. Throw your ugly ass out you win Idiot of the year. Nobody wants to hear you retard. Thank you David for great
write up Shame this loser from San Diego. Mt your lower then whale turn that is why global warming. |
Did you get kicked in the head? I’m struggling to figure out why your writing is so much gibberish. I see kernels of corn in your chit,... but the
syntax appears to reflect mental defect or brain damage. |
Poor nature N-zi troll loser Zip it every time David writes
a good story. Your brainless rants your chit for brains. Besides a scared little rat didn't Moma feed you tonight. MAKE AMERICA DECENT THROW OUT STPIUD GOAT.
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David K
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Posts: 64864
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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I was going to add some more quotes and observations from this 1950s Baja adventure story... but if there is no interest, I will move along to the
next Baja project!
I wonder how many here remember the days of pavement ending before Colonet or if your first Baja road trip was after 1973?
It was a serious wild west adventure. You stopped at ranchos for meals, beer, gasoline south of El Rosario. The only villages north of San Ignacio (on
the peninsular main road) were Punta Prieta and El Arco. There was a collection of ranch homes at Rosarito (Nuevo Rosarito today) but not much else.
You could drive about 100 miles a day if there were no problems! On our 1966 Jeep Wagoneer trip, the first night was San Quintin (by the old mill
ruin), the next was at Agua Dulce.
The worst part of the entire drive came the third day south and was at Laguna Chapala where the silt beds engulfed our Wagoneer, north of the Grosso
ranch. The dry lake bed just south was the best part, where for a couple of miles you could drive highway speeds and blow some of that dust off.
Just some great memories from when I was 8 1/2! I remember all the places because my dad gave me the job of navigator! I read from the Lower
California Guidebook as we drove along to know which fork to take or what was the next point-of-interest!
What a nice cover photo 
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Paco Facullo
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David,
Back in the 70's all I knew was Tijuana and Ensenada in the 80's along with fishing out of San Quintin.
But I for one am seriously interested in this topic ....
Hopefully there are others that will chime in......
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64864
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mexico's Diamond in the Rough, 1959, page 39
Halfway up the steep Aguajito grade you come to a small mining operation of manganite ore which looks promising. ...
Still further up the grade, not far from the summit, is a turquoise mine that has been in operation for several years. ...
The few children living at the mine always benefit with gifts of candy and gum.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Quick Quiz
So, where is the location of the photo of the "motor home" sitting in the rocks?
I recognized it right away from a trek through there in 1972.
Any others know that spot?
And David, your input is always appreciated.
You bring life to a great place (Baja) whilst others seem to only view this forum as a place to act stupid. Maybe they need to "get a life."
OK, back to my question
Where is that spot???
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
Global sea level on avarage has risen 4+ inches in past 60 years. Some places have seen more or less sea level change.
The scientists that study this use accurat guages (not inebriated observations of palm trees). Many parties have observed damage of
infrastructure/property due to sea level rise.
The link between greenhouse gas and global warming is real.
You have to be a doofus to ignore the science, spend your energy monitoring palm trees and base your arguement on one palm tree you happen to be fond
of. |
Hey doofus MT retard tourist
Make America decent again and Baja. Throw your ugly ass out you win Idiot of the year. Nobody wants to hear you retard. Thank you David for great
write up Shame this loser from San Diego. Mt your lower then whale turn that is why global warming. |
Very tactful and informative post...thank you
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64864
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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How about back to the book? Page 40-41...
Not far beyond we came to a road junction and turned right for a side trip of about two miles to the ruins of the old adobe mission of San
Fernando...
A pity it was to view the wanton destruction of these beautiful old missions, so much of it caused by humans in their lust for something for nothing.
Baja California lacks the funds to protect these edifices. The ones built of rock are in a better state of preservation, but here again in some
instances the foundations have felt the hand of the vandal...
In the close proximity to the mission were two ranch houses, many palms and excellent water. Everything was green in a land of drought--a desert oasis
with friendly people, far from civilization. We camped here for the night under brilliant stars in a tropical setting.
Here is a map from three years after this book was published of the roads around San Fernando...
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David K
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Page 42...
From Rancho San Augustín there was a choice of roads.On previous trips we had taken the short-cut by-passing the village of El Mármol (Spanish
for marble). It was eight miles farther this way, but we had never been there, so decided to go this trip. Marble is not quarried here, onyx is, which
is more valuable, and El Mármol has been referred to as the onyx center of the world.
From another book, how El Mármol appeared in the 1950s:
The world's only schoolhouse made of onyx!
In 2011:
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David K
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Page 48-49
Stops were made at Rancho Santa Inés and Rancho Jaraguay where the same friendliness prevailed. At one ranch we were asked for matches, and at
another for some sugar, which we gladly gave. Payment was offered in both cases, which we refused. Running out of staple supplies on Baja California
is a catastrophe, and we are always ready to divide or share what we have.
After another steep climb we came into an extensive valley in which lay Laguna Seca Chapala, a broad dry lake that we were to cross, and the only
place since leaving the improved roads where we could attain a speed over fifty miles per hour. The lake itself was a dry, hard, smooth stretch
without a ripple or bump. It was an exhilarating ride after being held down to twenty miles per hour and less; but the catch was that the distance
across was only three and a half miles and the ride ended almost as quickly as it had begun.
Approaching the lake from the north the road entered deep, flour-fine dust, and as a result many roads had branched off. As soon as one became bad,
each car or truck had circled farther out trying to find a smoother roadbed.As many as forty to sixty roads were spread across the next two miles,
crossing and recrossing each other, and finally all of them merging at the same point at the ranch of Arturo Grosso, situated on the edge of Laguna
Seca Chapala. Whichever road you might have chosen to cross the deep dust, you will invariably wish you had chosen one of the others.
Arturo Grosso, brother to Señora Espinoza of El Rosario, welcomed us...
The area of the Main Road traveled (Santa Ines to Chapala):
The Chapala Valley Dust. Photo was taken in July 1973 on the detour road along the closed/new highway route. I stood up on the elevated new roadbed to
get this photo of my dad driving his station wagon through the dust (silt). We had quite the memory of this dust from our 1966 trip.
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David K
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Shall I continue with this review of driving down the peninsula when it was mostly an unpaved, ungraded road to Cabo?
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TMW
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Yes
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thebajarunner
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Absolutely! ANd answer my quiz question too
| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Shall I continue with this review of driving down the peninsula when it was mostly an unpaved, ungraded road to Cabo? |
No one wants to reach for an answer?
Or doesn't anyone know....
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