Baja 2016 Day 6 -
Mulege to Scorpian Bay via Arroyo San Raymundo
The five of us previously mentioned head off over the Mtns going directly west from Mulege. This is easily one of the most scenic routes in all of Baja.... and lots of water this year. Hopefully others from the other two groups fill in the spaces on their routes this day.
I had heard that after Hurricane Odile much of the climb out of the valley to the west of Mulege was washed out, so havent been on it in a number of years. Based on the great feedback from Baja Nomad, seemed like the route was easily doable again. Taking the only paved street west off the highway, it quickly gives way to gravel, then sand. It was nice to have Gullivers notes as it made navigating the forks a no brainer.
Once on the old the road out of the valley you pass the turn off to the Trinidad Cave paintings and start gaining elevation. I took some photos, and will add tonight. Jagged shear Mtns rise vertical from the coast, the fauna changes significantly, and there are the signs of water everywhere. The climb out is uneventful. As a matter a fact, better condition than I remember it prior to Odile. Where there were two rock face step ups, there is a short section of cement keeping everything in place. Almost like at an OHV park.
We cross over and through a number of high mtn valleys before starting our decent down the other side. The new route actually takes you directly through the families ranch that one year drove me over the same mtns. I waived and said Hola.
Into the arroyo the route gives way to long sections of sand or long sections rocks. Neither that technical, just lots of it. And water crossings. Lots of water crossings. Again, nothing tank deep. 1-3 feet deep, most the 1 foot variety. There are easily 15-20 of these crossings. No pavement under them, the true river bottom rock crossing variety. The crossings are usually preceded and followed by either a steep section of sand or rock. Again, nothing terrible technical, but LOTS of them.
We start the days water crossings with a lots of aplomb and end the day duck paddling the last few.
I've got pictures of the former.
With Leo out front he finds the deepest hole of the day and takes a swim with his bike. Perhaps not more than 3-4 feet deep, but it does its job on the XR. Tom and I both note that the river is deep enough to support fish, even large fish we can visually identify.
All bikes stopped, we need to push Leos bike to the other side. Its wasnt just the quick tipover where a few kicks were going to clear the motor (though Tom and Leo did try). This was going to take a bit more.
We werent far from the Pacific, maybe 15-20 miles at most. It was early in the day, perhaps not much past noon. So there was no urgency. We unpacked food and began to formulate a plan as Dr Jensen jumped right in and began working with Leo.
They drained the bowl, airbox, and tipped the bike on its end to drain the pipes too. Pulled the plug to dry too.
Daniel asked dryly with a smile if we are going to be here for awhile, the answer obvious. The next time I look over he is out of his riding gear and into his flip flops, trunks, and lounge shirt ready for vacation in Hawaii eating lunch.
After their first attempt at drying out the motor and what seemed like hundreds of kicks, the bike fired and immediately died. Time to push the bike into the shade and reassess. I'm pretty sure some where before this I had suggested pulling the tank and seat to flip upside down to properly dry out. But Dr Jensen and Leo were fast at and I wasnt having to tire myself out kicking the water logged XR. I ate some lunch, had my hat on, took a piss a reported my progress to the Dr.
There were a few more ideas batted around. Towing the bike to bump start (difficult on the rocks or in the sand), pulling it up the hill trying to bump coming down, and Norcalslowpokes idea he saw on youtube.
I mount the XR and ride the side trail up the hill to investigate as does Tom. Upon returning neither of us thinks it a good idea. I believe it was about this time I ask Leo if we can now flip his bike upside down and properly dry it out.
But we still had something else to try. The youtube method. Norcalslowpoke went to great detail describing how you back both bikes up rear tire to rear tire and with both on their sides stands you lift the rear tires free of the ground and use the running bike to bump start the bike. I envisioned lost digits and mangled limbs.
But hey.... its Baja. If we had any tequila left, this definitely would be one of those "here, hold my tequila" ideas. No digits were lost, nor limbs mangled. But we also didnt get the bike started. Plug still wet.
In the end, we did flip the bike over with the plug removed, pulled the carb, and ensured the tank was free of gas. Poured a little gas into the into and pumped through to ensure everything was dry. After assembling, Leo had it going in 3 or 4 kicks.
It was time for Daniel to break from his pool side lounge wear and gear up again. We had plenty of daylight left and some great riding in front of us.
I took a few pictures, but I know none will do the scene justice. Sheer steep walls on either sides of the valley, river rocks bleached white from the sun, aqua blue water in the river. Truly magical.
As alluded to early, our water crossings took on a different attitude. No one wanted to dry another bike out, so caution was the name of the game for the rest of todays ride.
Nearing the coast within maybe 8-10 miles I remember hearing about a shortcut over a mesa to the south. As we were getting tired of riding on rocks, and more rocks..... I found what I thought was it. It entailed a loose rocky climb out of the valley, but the group was ready for a change of terrain. It may have been a shortcut, but instead of nice soft loamy dirt on top... we were greeted by lots of rocks. Oh well..... grab another gear and a little throttle for pace makes them less of an issue.
Other than the group loosing me and sure that some alien had abducted me and my bike eliminating any tracks on the trail... the last section was uneventful. I back tracked and found them discussing where I could have gone. Time to get everyone to Scorpian Bay!
We arrive with plenty of light left in the day and go directly to the gas pump located in the side of a garage. Some in the group arrange for a motel room, I am going to sleep on the beach tonight. I find Dmitriy at the restaurant with the good wifi. He shares the recon on the dirt route he took (will incorporate next year) and the two of us head to the beach where we pick a prime Palapa as base camp for the night just down the cliff wall from a........... BAR
Eventually all join us at the bar above our camp on the beach and we begin to discuss what is delaying the group of four (Eric, Ian, Merlin, and Josh). While longer, its an easy route. They should have arrived this afternoon.
We send someone back to the restaurant with wifi to check on Merlins spot track. His last check was at noon in San Javier and they now seemed stationary just outside of Comondu. They should have checked out of San Javier by 9:30am. Comondu is only an hour away and its 8pm, dark obviously. Well, hopefully what ever it is, they decide to camp down there. Its a safe, small, little village. We can head out there in the am to investigate.
Some time later Merlin, Eric, and Ian arrive without Josh. We learn that his bike has given up the ghost. Daniel and Eric arrange for the restaurants co owner Manuel to pick him up in his pick up. Eric goes along so they can find the spot faster. I'll let Josh, Eric, Merlin, and Ian tell their story.
They arrive back on the beach around Midnight. Josh joins Dmitriy and I on the beach as the motel office is now closed. But all are safe in Scorpian Bay!
Big thanks to Eric for taking the time after a very long day to go back with Manuel to retrieve Josh and his KTM. And to Dmitry for the great fire he made that night. Kept my toes warm.
Dr Jensen for being Dr Jensen and stepping in with anything mechanical or medical. And Leo's bike earned its baja nickname the red snapper... "Huachinango" Of course I cant forget Norcalslowpoke, aka Fabioso and his italian super model of a bike or the power of youtube.
)
