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TLBaja79
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Registered: 10-17-2013
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Road Condition ??? San Javier to Comondu to La Purisima
Does anybody know the condition of the road from San Javier to Comondu? and then on to La Purisima?
We will be coming from Loreto, 4x4 truck.
How long does it take from San Javier to Comondu? Distance?
How long from Comondu to La Purisima? Distance?
Not sure details of if we'll do a day trip there and back or possibly come back around through Insurgentes...
Anybody with info, much appreciated!
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JZ
Select Nomad
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Registered: 10-3-2003
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We went in November. Very easy drive San Javier to Comondu. A couple easy grades. We were going to go on La Purisima, but it got late and we got
drunk.
Loaded the bikes up on the truck and drove the pavement up to Scorpion Bay.
[Edited on 7-31-2018 by JZ]
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JZ
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It's about 26 miles San Javier to Comondu and 18 miles Comondu to La Purisima.
I wouldn't do it in one day personally. There is a hotel in Comondu.
[Edited on 7-30-2018 by JZ]
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TMW
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Take your time and enjoy the trip. Beautiful views along the way. North of the Comondu's is a lookout tower worth checking out and C. Pabellon also
worth checking out if the road up is OK. There is a radio tower on top and a road that circles around the mountain going up. There are always a few
rough spots along the way but that's Baja. There is a nice Motel in La Purisima near the church if you wish to stay there, $20-25 per night.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Drove it last year with lots of photos and details: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85756
See trips #1-7 in the Nomad Trip Reports forum for other areas of interest... I drove 12,000 miles in Baja last year recording roads and taking
photos, for a new road guide!
The San Javier to Comondú road has a steep up and a long steep down grade that was best done in 4WD low range, but the rest of the drive was 2WD
easy. They worked the 4WD part after I drove it (Feb 2017) but the dozer wrecked... not sure if it was replaced... no Nomad reports.
Comondú to San Isidro (near La Purísima) was great and fast once you climbed out of the Comondú valley.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Always beware of old trip reports in this area. Summer storms can change it dramatically. The locals will know the conditions. And have a great
trip...it is beautiful country.
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 693
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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Quote: Originally posted by rts551  | | Always beware of old trip reports in this area. Summer storms can change it dramatically. The locals will know the conditions. And have a great
trip...it is beautiful country. |
Yes, the section from La Purisima to Comondu had suffered some washouts between the time David drove it and I took it in April 2018. The flat
sections were still OK but the ups and downs had significant erosion that had been filled in and roughly smoothed. The work had the look of a
front-end loader type of repair, fill and backblade with the bucket. Easily passible but slow, it was about two hours with a couple stops. And there
is a lookout tower along the way. If you are going to do this in the very near future, conditions probably haven't changed much. If you're going in
six months, try to get an current update after the rainy season.
You can easily spend a couple hours wandering around both towns and spending the night on one or the other lets you soak in the sights, smells, and
sounds. The motel in La Purisima is nice and the owner can provide kayak and possibly mt. bike tours. A trail leads to the river below the motel and
they've built a nature/history trail that crosses the river on a rickety footbridge. A signboard at the start gives the details and it seems it was
under two miles.
You can make a loop by heading south to Santo Domingo then cut back to the NE to Loreto via San Javier. Lots of neat ranchos along that road and
watch out for goats. It was in better shape than the road I described above. It follows a river and parts had been washed out but the repairs were
better.
[Edited on 7-31-2018 by bkbend]
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Thank BK, my 2017 report and photos are more to provide an idea of the terrain and sites along the way.
A road can change overnight and though most everyone who uses them has only 2WD pickups, a 4WD will provide more security and comfort on ANY unpaved
road... and you may never go out of 2WD.
They say it is better to HAVE IT and not need it than to NEED IT and not have it!
The first view nearing Comondú from San Javier/Loreto:
My map:
[Edited on 7-31-2018 by David K]
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
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Drove it last year in Tundra 4X4. No problem but I would check conditions before. Nice hotel in Comondu.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Thanks Marc...
The little boutique Inn in San Miguel Comondú is interesting indeed.
Hacienda Don Mario: https://www.facebook.com/Hacienda-Don-Mario-Hotel-8345537033...
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Howard
Super Nomad
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Slightly off subject
Does anyone know the elevation of Mission San Javier and the elevations along the road to San Jose Comondu and La Purisima?
Thanks
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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When Ged, Dave and I showed up there Nov 2016, there was no room at the inn! They did some running around and calling, and found room for us in the
church annex.
For me and my large dog, that worked out better since she had an enclosed courtyard to run loose in!
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: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Howard | Does anyone know the elevation of Mission San Javier and the elevations along the road to San Jose Comondu and La Purisima?
Thanks |
Go to Google Earth and put your mouse anywhere in the world and see the elevation and GPS location. I was just about to head out, otherwise, I would
be happy to help if you don't use Google Earth much. I also have map tracks from last year and elevations from that, too.
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Howard
Super Nomad
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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David, any information would be appreciated especially your map tracks showing elevations.
By the way, where are you heading out to that is more important than a Baja Nomad post? 
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Howard | David, any information would be appreciated especially your map tracks showing elevations.
By the way, where are you heading out to that is more important than a Baja Nomad post? |
Trying to make some money... Baja Nomad gets all my attention but doesn't pay the rent! LOL
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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San Javier: Elevation: 1,332.02 ft
Palo Chino: Elevation: 1,227.10 ft.
Top of mesa: Elevation: 2,219.13 ft.
El Horno: Elevation: 1,213.42 ft.
Mission San José de Comondú: Elevation: 928.48 ft
Midway to San Isidro/La Purísima: Elevation: 1,598.16 ft.
Mission La Purísima: Elevation: 311.68 ft.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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David, thank you. Is there a tin cup I can throw a few centavos in for your time?  )
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Sure, do you have the book, 'Baja California Land of Missions'? If you order one from www.oldmissions.com it comes from me and I will sign and date your copy... free shipping, no sales tax. 
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motoged
Elite Nomad
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo |
When Ged, Dave and I showed up there Nov 2016, there was no room at the inn! They did some running around and calling, and found room for us in the
church annex.
For me and my large dog, that worked out better since she had an enclosed courtyard to run loose in! |
Yep...no room at the inn....only fitting we slept in the church annex....the manger might have been better
We were hot and dirty after riding all day and waited over an hour to see if they could find accommodation as the hotel was full with reservations it
was late afternoon....and the ride to La Purisma was a gamble as the motel there could have been full....
The rooms in the annex smelled AWFUL as the guy who prepped the place used some nuclear toxic chemistry to mop the floors....the beds were handmade
cots and fairly comfortable....their strength was in their history and craftsmanship.
The bathroom facilities.: ...a water faucet outside in courtyard under the pomegranate tree and a 5 gallon pail....and soup pot from kitchen served as
the shower head....and I loved it...
The other bathroom business was undertaken at the hotel before dinner....
Dinner was offered at the hotel and we chose the comida tipica... it was a chicken soup/stew and tortillas...again, I loved it....poor David looked at
the meal with a wary eye and wouldn't eat it....I guess he didn't like soup with bones in it....and the less than 4 star ratings....but he has a story
to tell his grandchildren...
We appreciated the efforts they put into offering us a place to eat and sleep....and it kept us in the mode of adventure.
We were not equipped to camp.....the downside to being gnarly hotel adventurers....but I have slept on the ground in my ride gear before without
anything to eat....so Comondu served us well.
We found a guy who sold us gas and a store that sold us beer....sounds like it all worked out rather well 
Don't believe everything you think....
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tehag
Super Nomad
Posts: 1248
Registered: 1-8-2005
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3 Weeks ago. 4wd maybe 10 minutes out of 3 hours.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
http://bcsbirds.com |
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