Driving North in Baja After the Mil

The race is over, fun is through, and now’s the time to drive north to where it’s dark and cold.

But we first have to take a detour to Bahia Agua Verde – a popular and safe anchorage only a day’s sail north of La Paz. The road starts out paved, but then turns to dirt – OK for any high-clearance, two wheel drive vehicle. The road is steep and rocky in places, so the trip takes some time. For a reason, Agua Verde is popular among sailors, but not so much by drivers.

Near the top of the road to Bahia Agua Verde where it crosses a shallow dam over Arroyo Santa Cruz.
Near the top of the road to Bahia Agua Verde where it crosses a shallow dam over Arroyo Santa Cruz.
Looking southeast from the Agua Verde Road to Punta San Cosme.
Looking southeast from the Agua Verde Road to Punta San Cosme.
The water on the left is standing water, left by recent hurricane Odile.
The water on the left is standing water, left by recent hurricane Odile.
Looking north of Estero San Cosme along the Sea of Cortez. Taken from right about here.
Looking north of Estero San Cosme along the Sea of Cortez. Taken from right about here.
Not much happening at Bahia Agua Verde. Click to embiggen the panorama.
A quite friendly Agua Verde local. To show that we are sophisticated Americans, we moo'd at him.
A quite friendly Agua Verde local. To show that we are sophisticated Americans, we moo’d at him.
An early-morning vulture spreads its wings to serve as drying the wings, warming the body, or baking off bacteria.
An early-morning vulture spreads its wings to serve as drying the wings, warming the body, or baking off bacteria.
Driving along the Sea of Cortez - lush mangroves in the background.
Driving along the Sea of Cortez – lush mangroves in the background.
Mission San Ignacio at sunset. I Photoshopped power lines out of the photo. Apparently Mexican law dictates placing telephone poles and wires in front of every historic mission.
Mission San Ignacio at sunset. I Photoshopped power lines out of the photo. Apparently Mexican law dictates placing telephone poles and wires in front of every historic mission.

[sphere 3617]

Take a look around inside Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán with this photo sphere.

The north/side door of the mission.
The north/side door of the mission.
I had some killer chicken tacos Sunday night at the San Ignacio zócalo.
I had some killer chicken tacos Sunday night at the San Ignacio zócalo.
Cardón cactus silhouetted in the Baja sunset, south of San Ignacio.
Cardón cactus silhouetted in the Baja sunset, south of San Ignacio.
Cardón cactus and Boojum Trees near Punta Prieta.
Cardón cactus and Boojum Trees near Punta Prieta.
The desert blanketed with yellow flowers.
The desert blanketed with yellow flowers.
Looking north toward Gonzaga Bay on the newly graded right-of-way. Soon, this will be covered in an oily black substance.
Looking north toward Gonzaga Bay on the newly graded Highway 5 right-of-way. Soon, this clean dirt will be covered in an oily black substance.
A stop at Alfonsina's for tacos pescado. And maybe just one beer.
A stop at Alfonsina’s for tacos pescado. And maybe just one beer.

3 thoughts on “Driving North in Baja After the Mil

  • June 18, 2015 at 9:57 am
    Permalink

    awesome pics. Add one more trip to the must do list.

    Do you get disoriented taking the circular photos? How do you do that – whats the app

    Reply
    • June 19, 2015 at 3:30 pm
      Permalink

      I’m disoriented most the time, period.

      The app is called Photo Sphere Camera and it’s a free app from Google, available for Android and iOS.

      “Create beautiful, 360º panoramas, and publish them to Google Maps. Explore a global map of other public photo spheres too. At up to 50 megapixels, these high resolution photo spheres let you to look up, down, and all around to revisit the amazing places you and others have visited. Note: the iPhone 4 cannot create photo spheres.”

      Reply

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