We were welcome to the Hotel Hacienda del Sal right on the beach on the Pacific Ocean. It’s a truely beautiful spot here in Cabo San Lucas. A very modern city from what one can gather when driving through. Blue skies, palm trees, pleasure craft on the blue water.
The marina in LaPaz. A neat sight. Betty’s ready for the last day. Sight of the sea en route. Good to catch a glimpse of. But it’s getting hot already. It’s definitely greener after the recent storm. Washouts even on the primary roads. Big houses being built here on the western coastline. New hotels. Then……..The finish!!
We were so hot when we arrived.
From the hotel we’re staying at.
There is a diner tonight or the final time for this event.
Stephen and I will leave this establishment at around 5am tomorrow morning to beat the heat of the day. We will be followed by the mechanics and sweep teams who will leave around 9 am. Just in case we have a problem there will be some expertise if we should need it. This is going to be a two night trip back up the peninsula, one in Loreto and one in San Felipe. Then on through the border at Mexicali into the USA.
Then for me back home and Stephen intends to stay for an indefinite time.
We’ll , that’s all folks!!
Thanks for following our adventures. Hope it was interesting for you as it was for us.
We were again allocated place as tail end Charlie. I don’t know what they’re trying to tell us!
The morning sun rising over the gulf of California. terrible photo but that’s a sign the day is going to get hot. Looks like the Mediterranean. Cars lined up in the morningBeautiful water. Changing scenery. Very green here. The courses were changed due to the recent cyclone which washed out the chosen tracks. Was supposed to cut back the distance but we travelled some 440kms on the searing sun. Water left over after the recent storms.
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Changing scenery. Not much else to show that’s all that much different in surroundings as we travel. It’s hot. water inviting. It’s very green after the recent rains. Yesterdays blown out tyre. We arrived in La Paz at the Hilton hotel. Boy was it hot. It’s our second to last day today. Some 300 kms to Cabo San Lucas. We are buggered by the heat of the day.
Our travels take us from Guerrero Negro to Loretto via Benito Juarez, the Mulege Brew Company to Hotel La Mision in Loreto.
It was a cool morning, in fact it was cooler outside than it was inside with the aircon going. Clear skies, it was going to be a scorcher.
Betty checked out and ready to go. No oil leaks and all working well. Like bees around the honey pot. Competitors waiting to check out. Our first and only regularity for the day. It was squeezed in as otherwise it would have been an uneventful day.
Not long after leaving this enemy some 55kms from the start, we blew the left rear tire. What a mess. No fixing this one. Steve had only just commented that the steering was a little sloppy. It was the tire that we had to just pump up every morning to the correct pressure. There was obviously more to it than a slow leak. A quick change and back on the road. 283 kms of it!! We were supposed to arrive at the next time check at 13.48 hours. This was at the Mulege Brew Company. Lunch was served here in the form of fast food. It was very hot and dry. 45degrees Celsius.
The Brew Company.
Beautiful beaches, usually spoiled by commercial activity and broken Dow batches on the shore. There’s no tide and the houses sit only 3/4 meters from the water. A disused steel mill right on the foreshore. A correction facility. I would not like to be an inmate here. The ever changing scenery. Great to see the sea. It’s the gulf of California, not the Pacific Ocean. So the temperature is hot all the way.
This last leg was 129 kms. The landscape is that of wasteland. No one lives here and there’s no animal or much bird life.
This temperature really sucks the life out of you. We drink lots of water on the way.
Our hotel at Loreto is almost on the water save for the road that separates us.
Our position in this competition has steadily improved over time and as at yesterday we were 22 in the category B Classic. In classic 4 large early classics we’re 3rd. We’ve climbed the ladder by attrition. There were 50 cars to begin with. We need to keep Betty going and look after her. Another car withdrew today with water in the oil. You know what that means.
We’re cooling off now. Diner at 7.00.
Another long day tomorrow of 382kms with three time checks and a regularity included. It’ll be the second to last day of this adventure.
Not a good way to begin the day. A burst hydraulic pipe on the other end of the ram that gave us trouble yesterday. Just general scenery on the way south. More. The dreams of so many that went sour. Abandoned building. More dreams that went awry. These sites overlook the water and beautiful views out to sea. Done and dusted. More of the same. So many projects that just didn’t make it. But it’s a long way to come on the roads that we’ve traversed so far. Not really a place to visit and to stay or have a holiday home. Good place to disappear into. Changing landscapes on the way south. Not all that expensive. At a tea stop. The temperature is high. Three locals that own the cafe. At the test track at San Juan del Mar. cars stacked up awaiting their turn after a competitor became bogged in very loose sand. We had a good ride during this test. Having watched all of the other cars do their thing on this event we sort of knew what to do. Two extremely sharp hairpins in 400 mm deep loose hot sand. Many cars got stuck and had to be towed out. Steve kept his cool and his foot down on the accelerator to keep them wheels turning. We didn’t do many straight lines but unconventionally kept us going and achieve the result of finishing. Great fun and a lot of laughs throughout. At the end of the High Tide regularity. Always checking competitors are accounted for. Changing scenery. ChangingNot a windblown forest. A cactus forest. A lunch stop. Note. All the other cars have left. We were “tail end Charlie” once again. But we were in the shade. It’s hot!Villages. Very poor areas. The only bright colours on the track for many a day. Barrenness. This country is useless for anything. No one lives here. No animals, just small bushes hanging on to dear life. The army out on manoeuvres. Wasteland. Welcome!!An agriculture station. The attendant asked for money and Steve gave him a coin. A peso? Maybe less. He gratefully waved us through. It’s a mess. , that’s how they live. It’s normal. Our hotel Terra Sal Betty being checked over. The brake sender unit still playing up.
This is the best way that can describe the country that we’ve driven through. It’s hot tedious and dry. It’s a very long way to travel and we’ve got three more days of it. Mostly now on tarmac.
We could feel the change in the atmosphere as we approach the Pacific Ocean. Dropped the temperature down considerably. Most welcome.
There are drinks here at 5pm but we’ll not attend since we both don’t drink. Competitors are requested to supply their own juice and water is not free here. We’ll get to the first diner sitting.
An evening shot of the beach at Peñasco del so. Part of our designer diner.
Due to the weather conditions in Mexico some 5 weeks ago the planned routes for the tall needed to be amended to allow for the roads that were washed away. Accordingly the routes were substantially amended. We were too begin at 7am but it was changed to 9am. So a late start. At the precise moment arriving at the first regularity, the power steering failed.
On checking, the hydraulic pipe from the ram had cracked and let go. and as usual, Steve had brought along a spare, just in case!!
Oil leak.
With some advice from Andy Inskip, one of the mechanics, who removed the drive belt and we carried on to the next event without the power steering.
The roads were full of large dangerous pot holes, that probably caused to hydraulic pipe to fail. These pot holes are huge and sharp edged. And they are spread all over the Highway.
On we drove to Ventana some 250 kms away. The roads and surrounding countryside is desolate desert. Dry and un friendly. It’s a wonder plants grow there.
Ventana. Rubbish everywhere.
A couple of military stops on the way.
What a shambles.
On we drove for another 88km. The scenery was depressing to some degree. But contrasts like this just highlight how well we have it.
Abandoned buildings litter the roadside. So much wasted time and money, just discarded. Salt flats as far as the eye can see. The beach from our accomodation at San Felipe. Line up of the cars at the hotel.
The roads are long and arduous to drive. Very hot and dry. Drinking lots of water.
At the hotel Andy (Skippy) volunteered to assist Steve with replacing the broken hydraulic pipe under the car. Steve dreaded the thought of getting under to make the repair. Thanks Andy. Much appreciated. And he did it so quickly and efficiently. Even fixed the old pipe in case this happens again.
Tomorrows schedule has changed also due to the road conditions here.
Diner is served around the pool on the beach. It’s cooling off now and it’s more comfortable. Adios.
Day 24 was a rest day, in Tucson Arizona. A time to do work on the car and rest.
As reported Stephen had a shit of a job to replace the exhaust manifold gasket on the left side of the motor. At around 2 pm he reported the job complete. But he was a bit worse for wear, with cut and bruised hands and somewhat greased up.
Getting the work done. It’s really hot.
However, job done. Then r and r but mostly rest.
The setting sun at the hotel in Tucson.
And we were asked to join Sonya and Anty Verloop for diner at the hotel. A very enjoyable evening.
This missive comes from the hotel Penasco del Sol in Penasco, Mexico.
The day began with team 22, Graveltravel scheduled to leave at 7.01 am an route to Mexico.
We began ok but some 20kms from the hotel Steve was having trouble with the brakes. There was a wiring issue some days ago too but this time the issue was more serious. It wasn’t in the wiring it was the sender unit that was faulty. As has been the case many times, Steve had a spare. So we stopped roadside, before we hit the motorway system. It was t long and we were back on the road and headed to the first event for the day.
On the way out of Tucson we passed by the aircraft boneyard just south of Tucson. A huge numbers of redundant aircraft.
Then onto the Musselman Honda circuit for a couple of round the track and across the road to the NASCAR Tucson raceway for a couple of rounds.
The organisation had found some gravel roads, as they always do, to a passage control.
The countryside has changed dramatically as these photos attest.
Put a hat on it and call it Pedro. That’s not Mt Maunganui.
Then onto a place called Why. And Why Knot. we had a bite to eat there before heading off to the Mexican Border.
The border crossing wasn’t all that easy. Some of us hadn’t received the relevant paperwork so had to reapply at the small two man office where the entrance and exit visa’s are issued. And pay again.
It took at least a hour but we’re all done and in Mexico.
It’s a barren entry into this country. It’s dry and hot. The buildings are either abandoned or collapsing. It’s a mess really. Not wishing to be negative. but not anything like across the border in the US.
At the hotel which is quite respectable, the first thing Steve did was to jump into the pool. I had a wee nap. Dinner is at the poolside now so I’ll sign off. It’s another day tomorrow.
“Arizona take off your rainbow shades Arizona hey won’t you go my way” not quite how the song goes but ……,
Quite a few changes to the road schedule today as there have been washouts on roads further south. There were to be three events on a 480km road trip. Two regularities and one Time control. This was reduced to one regularity and accordingly fewer kms. It’s cool this morning but said to be a hot one as we travel south.
You can see the change of landscape from desert and canyons to greenery and trees en route to our first event at Fire control road, some 133kms from the hotel.
Tarmac roads up to the first regularity which of course is on gravel. 50kms ave speed for 4.5k, 45kph for .6kms and 55kph for the balance of the course of 8.23 kms. It was a rough dry corrugated winding with sharp turns on hills and gulleys. The speeds were such that the car, Betty, was badly shaking so we slowed for safety and possible damage. Not fair to hammer the car for a few minutes of glory. We continued the balance of this leg of 264kms to Globe, at an old vacated train depot and small museum and cafe for lunch.
The Time Controller/marshal, Sarah, checking the cars out after lunch.
The cars are checked and despatched on the final event of the day, a Time Check event to the destination at Hacienda Del Sol, some 160kms south at Tucson where will have our rest day. All of this road was tarmac, good roads, but the test is to arrive at the destination at a given time, 160kms in180 minutes. Sounds easy but one can’t arrive early or late without receiving a penalty. You have to arrive on time. Most cars arrived early as getting to the hotel as quickly as possible means that one doesn’t perish in the very hot sun. The thought of taking it easy just means longer on the road even forfeiting the points at the control is better than sitting in the car to arrive on time. When saying it’s hot, it’s hot!!
The strata of the lands is different. The angles are steep. Cacti beginning to appear.
Stephen has suspected for many days that there was a issue with the gaskets on the exhaust manifold, and had arranged for new ones to be delivered to the motel in Tucson. En route, however, we stopped at a Napa automotive parts store to buy some gaskets just in case the ones ordered didn’t arrive. We purchased one that was purported to be the correct ones for the job, and they only had one, for $5. We should have suspected something. It was not the correct gasket for this engine.
When we arrived at the motel, Steve got to work immediately removing the parts that needed removing, understanding that it was very hot and the motor was hot too after the rlly event. None the less it had to be done. And in the morning at 6am he discovered the problem of the incorrect gasket and the ones that were ordered hadn’t arrived. Not to be deterred, although very pissed off, the master commenced the modification process. No option. The manifolds and the old gasket had been removed and couldn’t be put back. This is an arduous task requiring patience, perseverance and accuracy in a confined hot space in the engine compartment. And installation a further onerous job. Lots of verbal “pressure release”.
On your back on the hard seal and the temperature rising doesn’t deter from getting the job done.
This is a rest day so that the cars can be repaired or modified after the las run. But it’s “ no rest for the wicked”
Tomorrow our car is the first car off the rank at 7.01am. Three events, race courses and a border crossing into Mexico. Should be an exciting day!!
Start time was 7.15 am. We were again allocated a leave time in position 41, at 7.56am.
The first run was out a regularity at Sheep Bridge some 24kms and had to arrive and start the regularity at 8.31am.
This regularity, as is normal, is run on gravel and extends 6.86 kms back onto tarmac.
What?
119 kms later at Warm Springs Canyon another regularity of 12.46kms on gravel of course. The surface was too rough for Betty. So many corrugations, and hard rough surfaces, we took it easy rather than beat the clock and end up with a broken car. As at the end of the day there were many broken cars for various reasons.
We drive on to Cliff Dwellers Lodge for lunch
It was getting very warm and this was a welcome break in the day.
After lunch a 67 km a Time Check run, 67kms to be covered in 70 minutes. Long straight tarmac roads and a wish to get to the end of this one led us to the destination very quickly, some 30 minutes early. All the other competitors were there early also waiting processing by the marshals. That went ok, we just sat and waited for our official time to be up and then get the sign off in time.
Navajo Country.
This stop however was at the entrance to Navajo nation lands. Permission had been gained but there was some disagreement that cars should be racing through their property. Much discussion was had but we were requested to be respectful and Stephen, in his usual manner calmed the locals and the president of the local people. Made them laugh, got them to sit in the car and take photos. They were happy that we could traverse their lands with respect. He cunningly also procured a Navajo people’s flag for his collection!
Due to the time to settle matters the last Time Checks were combined into one. Ending at 1.54 for us, but again we elected to take it easy so as not to damage the car.
There was more rough travel to com over the next 29 odd kms. So, other than to aim to arrive at the passage control on time we just took it easy. The tarmac roads are long and hot.
After another 120 kms we arrived at he hotel via a loop road to Flagstaff. Interesting at the Sunset Crater volcano
Lava flows covering huge tracts of land. I’m
It was a long day 500kms. Stephen is cleaning out the air filters and replacing the spark plugs.
It’s now one hour earlier in the time zone in Arizona.
gravel travel 