July 2016: Shell Island and Mission San Fernando
JULY 2016: Shell Island and Mission San Fernando DAY 1 (Thursday, July 7, 2016) We had some vacation time and love camping on the beach when the weather (and water) is warm! June or July is never too hot for us on the gulf coast of Baja! Our favorite beach that is only a day’s […]
Ken’s Baja
Baja Vehicles for Adventure Ford Ranger (Ken’s), Jeep CJ-7 (Andrew’s), Chevy S-10 Blazer (Gretchen’s). Thanks to Ken for sharing his trip with us! Questions? Ask Ken: kencooke@pe.net HILLCLIMB Andrew’s ’86 CJ-7 easily made it up the telegraph service road, as did Ken’s Ranger! Getting ready to take on the Tasajera Road TASAJERA ROAD, San Pedro […]
A Hidden Desert Railroad
When one visits Bahía de los Angeles for the first time, a little locomotive engine on display in the town plaza may seem an odd attraction for a fishing town. Before commercial fishing began, around 1930, the local industry was gold and silver mining which started in 1889. Behind the Las Flores train engine is […]
Saturday, 9-18-10, My Birthday in Baja: Exploring las Pintas Fossil Grotto
A trip to Baja for my birthday weekend was possible, so we packed up and headed south! We slept well at the Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario and were in no rush, so we casually got motivated and went 2 miles down the highway to Baja’s Best (Bed and Breakfast) Restaurant… across the highway […]
Close-up of Central Baja, 1941, Enlarged
Click on the map to return
Davidk’s Baja
[Click to Enter]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]