Shell Island in October, 2009
Our May and July weekends on Shell Island were so nice this year that when we had a three day weekend in October, we had to go just one more time! The place where we get onto the island is 2 miles south of where we like to camp on the 4 mile long barrier […]
3 Days in Baja 10/05
1) Hector’s Monument on Hwy. 1 2) Casa Humfreville, Bahia de los Angeles 3) La Lobera Sea Lion Crater 4) Mision Santo Domingo, 1775-1836 Mexico Highway 1, east of El Rosario. Monument to Hector (Km. 116-117) 41 mile highway to Bahia de los Angeles New paved turnouts along the highway are about 3 miles apart. […]
Nuevo Mazatlan
Nuevo Mazatlán, Baja California 30°43.31′, -114°42.32′ (WGS 84) Nuevo Mazatlan was originally known as Agua de Chale, named after a well and ‘Charley the China Man’, from almost 100 years ago. Some maps still show the name as Agua de Chale even though the name was changed about 35 years ago. Developed into a beautiful […]
Neal and Marian Johns Exploring Baja in February, 2003
Join these two Desert Explorers* as they find palm filled arroyos, the El Camino Real, odd rock formations, springs and water holes in the central Baja Norte desert. GPS directions at the end. Enjoy the magic and beauty of Baja California, Mexico! LATE ADDITION: At the end, after the GPS list, see what happens on […]
Neal Johns Explores Baja, September 2002
Neal Johns (aridologist) explores Baja with friends John Perko and Alan Romspert, 9-02. All Baja photos taken by Neal Johns, the aridologist. Read Neal’s travels and exploits at http://froums,bajanomad.com as well as his contributions at http://www.desertexplorers.org/ Such beautiful, isolated country… a desert explorer’s paradise. The rock tower is Pico San Juan. Photo looking NW towards […]
Misión Santa Maria 2010
Memorial Day Weekend in May of 2010 six vehicles made their way to the last mission founded in the New World by the Jesuit Order. Santa Maria de los Angeles was established in 1767 in a remote, oasis canyon. Even today the location is still difficult to reach. Only the few brave adventurers with equipment […]
To Mission Santa María, 2007
To Misión Santa Maria de los Angeles In May of 2007, Elizabeth and I (in a 2005 Toyota Tacoma) made the trip to the last mission founded by the Jesuits. Joining us (in a Land Rover LR3) was Roy and Blanche. Both Roy and I have been to the mission before, but it was our […]
Mission Santa María, 1999
May 1999: Mur and Dave to Santa María and Gonzaga Bay This adventure took us to the ruins of last Jesuit mission established in Baja, before their expulsion from the peninsula by royal order. The only ‘road’ in is 15 miles of what could easily be the toughest in all Baja! It begins at Rancho […]
Part 4: Mission Locations from Space & GPS
EL DESCANSO 32°12’19.62″ -116°54’19.24″ Located behind a church that can be seen from the Ensenada toll road. An exit just north once was signed for the mission, but has been renamed ‘Rancho Descanso’. Access from the free road along the lagoon/ arroyo, under the toll road bridge (south of the Cantamar sand dunes). The original […]
Part 3: Mission Visitas
As are the missions themselves, many visitas are in danger of being lost to careless acts or apathy such as these ruins at San Juan de Dios destroyed by a farmer in 2006, 3 years after this photo was taken by Jack Swords (copyright). Baja California Mission Visitas Visitas (also known as ‘estancias’) were visiting […]
The Spanish Missions of Baja California, Part 2: The Franciscan and Dominican Missions 1769-1849
El Camino Real links at bottom of page… Depending on the source, there were either 8 or 10 more missions established in Baja California after the Jesuits were removed from New Spain in 1768. The first post-Jesuit mission was the only one founded in Baja California by the Franciscan Order, San Fernando Velicatá, in 1769. […]
The Spanish Missions of Baja California, Part 1: The Jesuit Missions 1697-1767
Jesuit founded missions: This page PART 2 The Franciscan and Dominican missions PART 3 The Mission Visitas The Mission Road: El Camino Real PART 4: Mission’s GPS and Mission Sites viewed from Space Santa María de los Angeles: the northern-most Jesuit founded mission in California. Photography by Jack Swords (copyright) Photographs at each mission site […]
Climbing Baja’s El Matomí ’95 Also: Mesa El Avion in 2003 & Matomí Canyon in 2004
Matomí Peak (Pico Matomi or Cerro el Matomi) is a desert mountain in the center of Baja California, between San Quintin and Puertecitos. Approx. GPS is N30°22′, W115°07.5′ and an elevation near 5,000 feet. Located several miles from any road, requiring much difficult hiking before the climb begins. Baja Nomad ‘Mexitron’ and his cousin (Hudson) […]
To El Matomí, Sun. Feb. 18, 2001
A group of old and new friends met up at the desert home of El Camote (Mike), near San Felipe. Mike invited all who wished to make the journey. David K planned the two days tour, and everyone had a part in making it a fantastic weekend. The following photos from David’s camera were put […]
El Mármol & El Volcán
On January 21, 2006 Elizabeth and I took a day trip from El Rosario to the abandoned onyx mine of El Mármol and the active soda springs of El Volcán, 4 miles beyond. El Volcán is the site of a cold water geyser which erupts monthly. Mexico Highway #1 South of San Quintín, Highway One […]