cupcake
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Day trip to Mision San Javier on bicycle
2 May 2024. Luis, at Loreto Tours & Rentals (Madero #22), let me have a good 21 speed bicycle for a ride up to Mision San Javier. I left Loreto at
10am and was at the mision four hours later. The road is now quite good and paved all the way to the mision. The road winds in a series of ups and
downs, as it ascends in 34km to the mision. The day I went, there was a very small amount of traffic from the NORRA race taking place in Baja, most of
this had already passed by the time I commenced my late start, and just a few cars heading up to the mision. I felt the danger from traffic to be
rather low on this route, a pleasant thing for a cyclist. The greatest potential risk for me was in letting my downhill speed on the return trip get
away from me. There are quite a few small loose rocks on the route, as well as some sand and gravel. I quickly realized that I needed to keep my speed
down, so that I could change my line as I came upon these hazzards. As well, a cyclist loosing their brakes on this descent could have a catastrophic
outcome. I feathered my brakes to keep my speed down for navigating around road hazzards and so that I might be able to stop by dragging my feet in
case of a brake failure (rental bikes are not as well known as your own personal bike).
That said, I think this is a classic outing for cyclists, well prepared for the road conditions, sun, heat, and somewhat strenuous ride. There is a
well stocked mini super near the mision site, where food and drink can be bought.
The ride back to Loreto took me three hours in the late afternoon, with almost no other traffic on the road at that time. A very nice day in southern
Baja.
The Mision San Javier is magnificent, one of the most beautiful surviving stone mision churches in Baja.
[Edited on 5-4-2024 by cupcake]
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AKgringo
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I drove that road last year. I thought at the time that going downhill on a bicycle would be an adrenalin junkie's dream ride!
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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cupcake
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It probably is for a younger rider. I have become a frail old man, but happy I can still get out for nice trips like this one to San Javier.
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David K
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Wow, that is quite an uphill ride from Loreto!
San Javier was California's second mission, founded in 1699 where Rancho Viejo now is. About 20 years later, most mission activities had moved the 5
miles south to the mission farm of San Pablo, which became the new San Javier.
The massive church was built between 1744 and 1758... an impressive site, to be sure!
The mission was abandoned in 1817.
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cupcake
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Thanks for this information on San Javier, it helps bring the mision to life that much more.
When visiting Misions San Borja and Santa Gertrudis, I asked Angel, and was told that they both have been ´preasure cleaned´. Their surfaces have a
light and warm color, which I like. Mision San Javier, on the other hand, has surfaces that are much darker, black in areas from the ages, which I
also like.
I should mention that Loreto Tours & Rentals (cited in the OP) also had an electric bike for rent, at not too much more than the daily price for a
nonelectric. I´ve not yet ridden an Ebike, but I´ve been passed by many of them over the years. A well running Ebike should make the trip up to San
Javier much faster and easier, as long as the battery power lasts. However, I´ve been advised that they are harder to pedal than a nonEbike when the
battery has lost all of its charge (they are heavier).
I also want to mention that hydraulic disk brakes need bleeding and fluid replenishing when the brakes start to get ´mushy´. Something for renters
to keep in mind on routes that have some serious downhill sections, as this is maintenance that a renter might not be able to take care of.
[Edited on 5-4-2024 by cupcake]
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David K
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There always is "so much more" and why I wrote my book... now in its 14th printing.
Buy from 'the author' (signed) at https://www.oldmissions.com
Otherwise at bookstores, gift shops, or Amazon!
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cupcake
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I have been keeping an eye out for your book during my travels. I tried Sandborns in TJ but they didn´t have it. At this time I am not able to pay
for the book online or even receive it in the mail. It is just a matter of time though; I know it is an excellent book from the excerpts I´ve read
online. I do love history.
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David K
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La Nave de Lulio in Ensenada and Guerrero Negro have carried it, as well as the Tecate Carem Museum gift shop... My distributor is Sunbelt
Publications, in Chula Vista. The Baja locations get their books from Sunbelt.
Ask them for locations: info@sunbeltpub.com
La Nave de Lulio:
Ensenada: https://www.facebook.com/lanavede.lulio
Guerrero Negro: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024086451934
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cupcake
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Thanks David. I just sent an email enquiry to Sunbelt.
I want to make sure I get the one with the latest updates, any printing 2022 or later, I believe.
[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake]
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cupcake
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Received response from Sunbelt. These booksellers have ordered copies:
El Caballo Blanco in Loreto
Allende in La Paz
Bookworm in Los Cabos
Happy Book in Cabo San Lucas
Update:
I was able to buy the book today at El Caballo Blanco in Loreto (Eleventh Printing March 2022). They had two copies on the shelf, now only one. So
glad I can now read your book while I am out visiting these misions. Thanks for the help in locating a copy.
[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake]
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by cupcake  | Received response from Sunbelt. These booksellers have ordered copies:
El Caballo Blanco in Loreto
Allende in La Paz
Bookworm in Los Cabos
Happy Book in Cabo San Lucas
Update:
I was able to buy the book today at El Caballo Blanco in Loreto (Eleventh Printing March 2022). They had two copies on the shelf, now only one. So
glad I can now read your book while I am out visiting these misions. Thanks for the help in locating a copy.
[Edited on 5-6-2024 by cupcake] |
Fantastic! The 11th, 12th, and 13th printings all are the same and all say 11th Printing March 2022 (an error by my printers to not edit the two
printings in 2023). The 14th printing May 2024 is corrected... but the text in the book is unchanged since 2022.
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DannyRT
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Good info here, David!
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David K
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Gracias! My book also has a Facebook group. We discuss all historic locations in Baja, not just the 27 missions and their visitas. Join us: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions
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