Baja May 2021 - Baja Virgin's Exploration

Added to the post.
You guys think its best to keep updating that first post, versus reply each update?

 

Reply insures we read newly added posts or at least reply each time you add a new segment. Thanks! Now, I need to see what you added! I love reading Baja trip reports. They are almost as good as being there!

 

We head off to a new spot, Playa El Requeson! Once again, my images will not do justice, just go and google it, see what the professional photographers have. I might add some drone footage here later.

 

El Requesón is sometimes called the "two-sided beach" since it is a sand spit that reaches to a small island in Bahía Concepción. It is greatly photographed and shown on the Internet as it is so perfect. I first camped there as a kid in 1966 during the family Jeep trip down the peninsula (before paved roads) later, in 1976, 1985, and 2007. The last few trips found it pretty busy, so we camped just south at the next beach, Playa la Perla, and fell in live with it! Camped there in 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2017.

 

"As we drove down the 5, we ran into Coco's corner. Of course we got some beers and signed the book. Unfortunately, this was at the new building he is in, and the inside decorations were not there. I am unsure why the original is no longer in use."

When Highway 5 was constructed a couple years ago in this area and paved last year, it bypassed Coco's Corner (the original one, 4 miles south, on the old road). Coco got almost no visitors after the highway was opened... and without people stopping to buy a beer or a shirt, he had no income. A guy's gotta eat, legs or no legs! With a lot of help from Americans, a new Coco's Corner was built for the 83 year old Baja legend. It is just a lot smaller and no panties on the ceiling, yet!

 

I almost wish Baja was like in 1966, it was prob much harder to drive down and even less developed. So cool you got to see it in 1966.
Yup, I remember Playa Perla! There are also a few pull offs onto small beaches with no one, but the group had decided on this so I just tagged along.
That first image is a good shot, shows the exposed sand. I think because we were in late May , it was pretty dead in general. There were some people camping but mostly locals.
I believe this is considered the "off season". Personally, I'd go back but in the winter-ish. A little too hot for my blood during the day.

 

Thank you! Was wondering why. Did the 5 go through my yellow highlight before? Man, there is so much to see. The whole Calamajue area I didnt get to.

 

Yes, the yellow line was the route south... call it old Hwy. 5, if you like. The original Coco's is on your map, and the new location for Coco's Corner is the place called 'Las Arrastras' (on the map).

The road Coco's was on, originally was built in 1983 from Laguna Chapala to Puerto Calamajué, then, a big fishing operation. Coco made his corner where the road north to Gonzaga and San Felipe intersected it. It was graded in 1986... prior, it was a pretty rugged 4x4 road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga.

Main traffic south of Gonzaga (prior to 1983) went through Calamajué Canyon, with it's year-round mineral stream, that you drove in. A Jesuit mission was built in 1766 on the bank, above the stream... They learned the water was too mineralized to grow crops (or even drink) an so they abandoned that mission less than a year later.

There was an old road from Chapala to the Gonzaga-Calamajué road, but it was really tough and 4x4 only... It was the route of the early Baja 500 races (1969-1973). The Baja 500 stays further north with a series of loops, since then... This Saturday is the 2021 Baja 500!

In the gully, just past the new Coco's is Las Arrastras, a gold ore mill and deep water well. You can see it from the highway bridge (Km. 179.8)...




The gold ore was smashed in this circular mill with a large stone pulled by a burro or mule.

Here is my article on Las Arrastras from 2015 (the highway was under construction at the time, and I was concerned they might destroy the ruins)...
https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/las_arrastras

 

Playa la Perla:

 

Here is Baja in 1952:
https://youtu.be/LaiBWGc8PM8

 

Looks like an amazing trip! Looking forward to the rest.