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Got an email from Wayno of BB Bait.... posted this on Nomad, but in case anyone here doesn't read Baja Nomad regularly, but is interested in the Hwy. 5 southbound progress...


Hi David! Mike S. and I went from our camp (Cristina) to Alfonsina's Sunday morning for breakfast.

It is 43 miles door to door.

The new pavement is right at the turn in to "El Faro", which is just over the hump from the entrance to Papa Fernandez's. So it's three miles out from Rancho Grande (& Gonzaga's Pemex) now.

We have some fresh photos I will send to you soon, probably tomorrow. Go ahead and post them if you wish.

The breakfast was as good as it gets down there, Shrimp Omelet, Juevos Rancheros, were enjoyed. It was very windy out to sea, but the bay was very calm... Wayno

January 6, 2013:


End of Pavement almost at Papa Fernandez'


Bridge over Arroyo San Luis Alfredo

That sounds almost too good to be true? We haven't been over that way in a while and it definitely sounds like we need to be making some plans for a return visit.

Soon there will be pavement all the way down to BOLA along the Sea of Cortez.

Originally Posted by beachbum

That sounds almost too good to be true? We haven't been over that way in a while and it definitely sounds like we need to be making some plans for a return visit.

Soon there will be pavement all the way down to BOLA along the Sea of Cortez.

Things will change, that's for sure... I am glad I knew Gonzaga before the average automobile could esily drive there.

The highway between Gonzaga and L.A. Bay will not follow the coastline, as the terrain is way too difficult and there is no economic attractions along most of that coast. From Gonzaga it will follow over or near the existing graded road to Laguna Chapala where you would then use the existing paved roads to L.A. Bay.

We did hear that the route will bypass Coco's Corner, going about a mile to the west... which is on the padre's El Camino Real route between the missions of San Borja and Santa Maria, via Calamajue.

Wow!

And where are all the naysayers now who just a few years ago said that would never happen???

Here is another photo from Wayno showing the end of pavement and Gonzaga Bay in the background! 1-6-13:

I know there are some Baja "purests" that roll their eyes at such news but the truth is that such progress opens up such areas to folks who never would have gone before.

I suppose it's a glass half full/empty thing...

As of Feb 2013 how far south past San Felipe can a "normal" compact car (think honda civic) easily drive? Are there any pemex stations between San Felipe and the end of the paved road?

Originally Posted by Uzun

As of Feb 2013 how far south past San Felipe can a "normal" compact car (think honda civic) easily drive? Are there any pemex stations between San Felipe and the end of the paved road?

You could drive all the way to Hwy. 1 (132 miles from San Felipe) in a Honda, but south of Gonzaga Bay you would drive slow (35 dirt road miles) The pavement goes to 1/2 mile of Papa Fernandez' (where they are building a big bridge) 3 miles of the Gonzaga Pemex at Alfonsina's road. The other Pemex south of San Felipe is in the village of Puertecitos (52 miles south of San Felipe)... you take the side road into Puertecitos off the highway. Being open for business at Puertecitos or Gonzaga Pemex is not guaranteed. Gas is sold at Rancho Grande, across the road when the Gonzaga Pemex is out.

So to make it from San Felipe to the Pemex station near Gonzaga or to Alphonsinas in a Honda Civic or Toyota Prius, you would have run out of pavement towards the end and have to take a dirt road?

Or is the road completely paved from San Felipe down to the Pemex near Gonzaga/Alphonsinas now?

-Roger

Originally Posted by Uzun

So to make it from San Felipe to the Pemex station near Gonzaga or to Alphonsinas in a Honda Civic or Toyota Prius, you would have run out of pavement towards the end and have to take a dirt road?

Or is the road completely paved from San Felipe down to the Pemex near Gonzaga/Alphonsinas now?

-Roger

The pavement ends 3 miles NORTH of (before) the Pemex... This is Alfonsina's Pemex and it is located at the driveway to her resort. It is 2 miles from the Pemex to the Alfonsina's Motel/ Restaurant/ Bar, at the end of the road/ runway (look for approaching planes as you drive the last mile to Alfonsina's, parallel to the dozens of beach homes). So, you have a total of 5 unpaved, but 2WD graded dirt miles to the motel. Piece of cake (unless it is a big high tide, at which time the runway goes underwater, and mud or sand may make getting to the end of the road a bit tough).

Gonzaga Pemex and road south to Hwy. 1


Runway and road at high lunar tide, at motel backside


Beach from restaurant/ bar


Motel, bay side

Does Alfonsina's have a website that shows their rates? With all the reports of violence my wife is really turned off to weekends in Baja. Is San Felipe still pretty safe or has it suffered, I haven't been there in several years?

Originally Posted by Uzun

Does Alfonsina's have a website that shows their rates? With all the reports of violence my wife is really turned off to weekends in Baja. Is San Felipe still pretty safe or has it suffered, I haven't been there in several years?

Their web site shows some room photos and many area photos: Alfonsina's Resort last anyone posted their rates, it was something like $60...?
She shouldn't go (people are killed in the USA every day, too)
That's an opinion you will need to form, we are less afraid camping in Baja than anywhere else

Alfonsina's looks beautiful, thanks so much for the link!