BAJA!: TO MISION SANTA MARIA MEMORIAL DAY. LOCKERS and A-TRAC only!

Nice pictures, awesome adventure. been there. Does any one knows any trails like this further down in Baja. like San Javier or by Los Cabos area ??? going down there and will like to explore down south

 

We don't get to Baja Sur as often or for as much time as we like...

What comes to mind for your quest are:

The roads from Mulege across the sierra to Scorpion Bay (Mision Guadalupe del Sur is back in there).

The roads between San Javier and Comondu and on to La Purisima are reported in bad shape...

The back road out of Bahia Agua Verde to Constitucion...

Mision San Luis Gonzaga to La Pasion to San Evaristo and down to La Paz...

The Naranjos road from just above the Los Cabos airport across the sierra to near Todos Santos...

Pick up a new Baja Almanac and start exploring... Join the forums at BajaNomad.com and get LOT'S of ideas there, too!

David

 

See the photos, read the details: HERE: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tra...-part-1-a.html

 

Great photos and recount of day 2 DK.

Now folks, standby for Part 4 of DK's report, when things start falling apart!

 

Thanks Art... Your 4WD motorhome is AWESOME!!

 

Great pics! Hope we have more - I didn't take many on that 2nd day... we were all pretty busy!

 

Understandable... But until it was dark, I took pics and the VIDEO of your igniting the gasoline on Art's tire... Classic off road Baja repair 101... It only worked for me doing it because you had done the 'research' first (wink, wink)!

I can't wait to go do some serious 4 wheeling AGAIN!

Remember, Shell Island awaits with its 'bottomless' sand that can swallow the biggest and baddest four wheelers!!!

 

Hmmmm that video would be interesting.... any youtube yet? I have another video of everyone coming down the widow maker but it has been failing during the upload.

 

Just got back from Baja-500
Congrat's to Andy Mcmillin, his kicking ass to the living legends of Baja.

Thanks for your info David. will check the bajanomad.com for sure.
will be in Mulege , loreto, la paz, santiago and cabo, so have many options but, you said the road to San Javier and la purisima is in bad shape... sounds like a good option, altough last year was in pretty good shape (before the hurricane). have some pic's from last year to hsare.
share.

 

Thanks for the day 3 pics they're great.

 

We follow Art’s motorhome over the ridge to the oasis that contains ‘The Bog’ where the road and the water are one.



Just before the bog begins we find Neal Johns’ camper with a serious problem, no rear wheel drive after the ring and pinion in the distributor has shattered.



Without four wheel drive, Neal will not be able to drive out on his own power. The weight of the camper compounds matters. Chris’ Dodge is powerful and he hooks up Neal to help him pull through the bog.




My Tacoma brings up the rear of our desert caravan.


The water is deep!








Steve brings the tow strap back for his 4Runner that needs a pull, as it doesn’t have a rear locker or off road tires. He did so well staying dry until the last palm tree ‘pushed him’ in!








Art’s 4WD motorhome is a beast!

Once we were all out of the bog and on level ground with room, we got to work trying to get Art’s tire reinflated. It had popped off the bead and presented quite the problem. Unfortunately, Kurt was suffering with a bad respiratory infection that orange juice alone couldn’t cure. Baja Bucko (Teddi) was also very anxious to get going, so Steve and Suly made room in their 4Runner for Kurt, Teddi and Teddi’s dog and headed on out.


Paul goes to work figured the best course of action. A volume of air is needed, but we only had air pumps and no large tank of compressed air. I suggested the method used in such emergencies in Mexico, which is to pour a small amount of gasoline into the tire and ignite it! The expanding gasses (i.e. ‘explosion’) can pop the tire back on the rim. This was one attempt I caught on film, click on image with volume up:



Neal suggested removing the valve stem and igniting there, and I volunteered to ‘light the wick’ this time… By gosh, it worked!

It is all about teamwork, and we had the greatest team on this trip! The next event was the Widowmaker climb. That alone was hard enough, but someone needed to pull Neal’s camper up it… and the rest of the way out. That someone would be Art and his monster four wheeler!







Paul took some good videos of Art climbing the Widowmaker, and then pulling Neal up. There are posted on YouTube and Baja Nomad.

Further up the mountain climb, things got more difficult because of the sharp turns and the length of the tow strap. It was getting dark and Neal was getting tired. I don’t know why, he is only 80 years old!







Paul and I followed Art and Neal. Chris was just ahead of Art. Neal’s front steering goes out and Paul quickly sees that the tie rod ends are bent, but can be adjusted so Neal’s tires both point the same direction, again.







At this point, boulder was in Art’s way as he repositioned to pull Neal up. The solution was for Paul to winch it away.





Night is upon us and there is still more mountain to climb. On the one sharp turn, Chris’ Dakota is used to get Neal around. Once that is negotiated, the motorhome is reattached. It is a long struggle as we continue on over the highpoint and beyond. Sometime after 1 am, the caravan comes to a stop. Neal’s tie rod ends are shot and steering is no longer possible. We are 8 miles from Rancho Santa Ynez, and this would be where we would ‘crash’ for the night. I have not previously slept in the front seat of my truck, so another first for my Tacoma!

The next morning (Monday) it was decided to go find the parts if the could be found in Baja, otherwise bring them from California. Neal had a satellite phone, but it wouldn’t connect. Neal stayed with his truck and was happy to do so while we headed for El Rosario. Some photos taken along the way to Santa Ynez:








Boojum fell during rain storms of January, perhaps?

Baja Angel and a boojum.

Once back in El Rosario, I called Neal’s home and two of his friends with messages for Marian as to Neal’s status. Antonio (the owner of Baja Cactus Motel) went into action for us via phone as he was in Tijuana and provided a member of his staff to go with Chris to find parts. The parts were found in San Quintin and arrived later that day. We later learned that Neal got his satellite phone to work and he spoke with Marian the next morning. Paul and Zoom had to return home and we stayed with them to make sure they found the way safely. Chris returned to Neal the next day with new tie rod ends installed and Neal was able to drive back to El Rosario.

In El Rosario Neal would have his differential repaired. Here is what it looked like:



It was replaced and Neal returned home on Saturday, a week after this adventure started. What we experienced I don’t wish upon anyone… but what we experienced was also something I will always treasure… A super group of amazing, talented, friendly, adventure seeking Baja Nomads … the kind of people that make memories and friendships last a lifetime!

 

Okay, who's ready to go back for more of what BAJA has to offer?

 

I'm almost ready to go again, as early as 4th of July weekend, late July or mid-August?

Art

 

You must be part Klingon! Do you love pain?

Shell Island is in my plans for this summer!

Mision Santa Maria will be after a few years or when I get another new Tacoma to make it 'Baja-Proven'!

 

Not sure if it's on my end or what... but this page refuses to open without a lot of delay... maybe too many photo links? Perhaps I will post the trip report in a seperate thread...?

 

It most definitely is the quantity of the photos in a single post. Next time just post 3-5 photos per post and space them out so the thread will have more pages and it will be easier to load each page.

 

amazing pics! looks like an awesome trip! oh, did i mention im so jealous its not even funny?

 

Amazing pictures!

 

Okay, I will do that as it is a pain to view/ read this thread with so many pages of photos. Shall I just start a new thread in this (Off Roading) forum and call it "TRIP REPORT: BAJA ..." or place it in the Southern California forum (the closest region to Baja)?

 

Paul, I had my differential oil was changed today it it contained water and dirt (they said). Breather tube mod on the list!!!