BajaNomad - New Years '06 with Nomads, a Blue Palm Filled Canyon, and more! (part 1 of 2)

New Years '06 with Nomads, a Blue Palm Filled Canyon, and more! (part 1 of 2)

David K - 1-3-2006 at 03:36 PM

Baja Angel and I were able to leave San Diego about midday Friday (Dec. 30, 2005) and decided to get to San Felipe via Hwy. 3 from Ensenada as she has not traveled the entire route from Ensenada east...

The highway was excellent other than slow going behind trucks, the first 20 miles (Ensenada to Ojos Negros)...

Here is a view towards Diablo Mountain as the sun was getting low, behind us...

[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]

David K - 1-3-2006 at 03:45 PM

Dinner was excellent at George's in San Felipe (just south of the El Cortez Hotel)... then on to a night camping on Shell Island.

Very dark and a moonless night we pull off the pavement at Km. 26 and about a half mile from the pavement we come to a motorhome, hopelessly stuck in the sand road and no way around!

The plates were from Washington...

Greg pops out and I tell him I am 'Dave, Baja Tripple A'!

Frankly, I did not hold much hope of extracting the heavy beast, but with a new tow strap in my storage compartment just begging to be tried... well, why not?

I was just as shocked as Greg, but my Tacoma pulled the beast out! Who knows how long it would take for Greg to get help and he was thrilled!!!

With the road clear, we went onto the island and set up an easy camp and nice campfire...

The next morning was glorious...

To Be Continued...

David K - 1-3-2006 at 03:47 PM

Interesting that the beach had 'sand cliffs' from recent storm waves!

Cincodemayo - 1-3-2006 at 04:04 PM

Dave....That shadow looks like a giant you know what.:moon:

David------

Barry A. - 1-3-2006 at 04:34 PM

-----and the "blue-palm filled canyon" is where???? or is this under the "to be continued" heading?

Now I understand why the "experts" always say to not include your own shadow in a photo. Bazaar!!! (-:

That camp spot on "shell island" looks very familiar-----do you always camp in the same great place?

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:08 PM

Gee guys, are some of you lonely or what?

I have a lot to show... mostly the palms, which I know a few of you really appreciate... so be patient!

Barry, we camp almost always on the same spot, but this time we set up about 1/4 mile south of my usual 'dune'. You can see the water in Laguna (Estero) Percebu past my truck... what makes this Shell Island on not just Shell Beach!

Now, let me continue (and I will let you know when I am through)... :lol:

[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]

woody with a view - 1-3-2006 at 05:12 PM

on the subject of blue palms;

does anyone know how to germinate palm seeds? i'd love to have my own blue palms from baja......

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:17 PM

We pack up after a nice morning and finish burning the wood as it was cold! Elizabeth and I take a nice long walk along the beach and out the sand bars to see what goodies are laying about...

Driving into camp the previous night was easily done at 20 psi. However, this morning the tires needed even more let out to leave... 13 psi front and 11 psi rear worked. Originally I was going to drive slowly back to town and top off the air easily, but lowering them to less than 20 psi meant we had to fill them when we reached the pavement.

So, between the extra effort to get off Shell Island and the 30 minutes to refill them, it delayed our arrival at Bajalou's fiesta.

Here is the view from my position behind the wheel, driving on Shell Island (the tide is still low, but coming in)...

jerry - 1-3-2006 at 05:19 PM

i know how to get a date palm seed to grow :lol:

first you need a beach dog that is starvin feed him the dates and the rest will take care of itself now feed the pup something good to eat hes gona do a job for you its been happening in junkaleto for eons have a good one jerry

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:23 PM

What a great time at Bajalou's (and Teina's) turkey fiesta. We met more Nomad's and other Baja folk's and filled our tummies with great fixin's!

I didn't take any photos, but saw that someone posted a link to pictures taken their in another thread...

Our next destination was Bahia Santa Maria (just south of Shell Island) where we were invited to spend some time with Baja Rob and his wife Connie...

On the way there, near Punta Estrella, we stopped to capture a great Baja sunset 12-31-05...

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:25 PM

Here is Baja Rob's and Connie's home, on the beach... and I mean ON THE BEACH!

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:29 PM

The view looking south from in front of their Bahia Santa Maria area home... in the distance is Campo El Vergel with its lighthouse. Rob took us for a dune buggy ride and we stopped there to meet Baja Nomad 'El Vergel'... which we did, and had a pleasant visit.

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:32 PM

Here's Rob's buggy just being driven around to the beach while the rest of us were sitting in the back porch.

jerry - 1-3-2006 at 05:34 PM

great pic david k thanks

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:34 PM

Karen, Mike, Mary, Connie, Rob, and Baja Angel enjoying the late afternoon on New Year's Day...

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:36 PM

This was the sky while we were sitting on the beach... Baja has the best sunsets!!!

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:37 PM

You can see why I got up from drinking and talking to take some photos!

[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:38 PM

more...

latortugaguera - 1-3-2006 at 05:39 PM

WOW!!!! nice pics David

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:39 PM

more...

Woo Hoo!!! Nice houses-------

Barry A. - 1-3-2006 at 05:41 PM

------and being so close to the water is not a problem during the occasional storms???

Apparently not-----------what a fabulous location!!!!

Thanks, David------keep them coming-----I will bug you again after dinner. :yes:

bajalou - 1-3-2006 at 05:46 PM

Occasionally a BIG storm is a problem but not most of the time. Nice spot

David K - 1-3-2006 at 05:47 PM

Okay, one last one of the first sunset of the new year!

By the way, we had a great breakfast that morning at 'Marino's' in Ejido Delicias... it is a block or two west of Hwy. 5 (Km. 35)... in from Chelo's restaurant and the doctor's office... Excellent!!!

For dinner, we discover Baja Rob is a gourmet cook and he made us a fabulous shrimp bisque... wowswers!!!

The next day (Jan. 2) we must leave, but do so in a round about manner that includes a tour of the sulfur mine and El Berrendo Canyon which is a blue palm tree treasure!

Go to Part 2... for more photos and travel details of the Sulfur Mine, Canada el Parral, El Berrendo palm canyon, and more!: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=14976

[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]

David K - 1-3-2006 at 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
------and being so close to the water is not a problem during the occasional storms???

Apparently not-----------what a fabulous location!!!!

Thanks, David------keep them coming-----I will bug you again after dinner. :yes:

In fact Barry it is a problem for some!

Just a half mile south of Baja Rob's (which enjoys an extra wide beach), the beach has scalloped in front of a couple homes which lost their porches and are trying to protect thier homes.

I saw the same thing happen and destroy homes in 1977 at Bahia Santa Maria (on the bay) and Laguna Percebu. They are building homes on sand dunes and not solid ground. The coastine is dynamic. It is great to have an ocean view, but don't build on the high tide line or on sand!