BajaNomad

Nuevo Mazatlan Weekend (8-12-06)

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:33 AM

We like to go to the upper Sea of Cortez at least once in August and wanted to camp on Shell Island with friends Steve and Val ('Hotschott' on Nomad). My wonderful girlfriend Elizabeth ('Baja Angel') and my daughter Sarah were with me.

We got out of town on Friday afternoon and headed for Tijuana to pick up an order of 'got baja?' hats that I recently began to sell after getting many requests... Antonio Mu?oz ('BajaCactus') made the design when he printed the bumper stickers I requested, so the hat would match that 'logo'.

The hats were waiting for me in Tijuana, then we were off for Ensenada and on to San Felipe!

In Ensenada, we stopped for dinner at a taco stand. The mariachi band added more wonderful atmosphere...

PHOTOS AT http://community-2.webtv.net/thebaja/806

[Edited on 12-5-2006 by David K]

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:34 AM

Tummies full, we were on our way...

Here is that giant flag in Ensenada...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:42 AM

We arrived at Km. 26, south of San Felipe about 10:30pm Friday night (the access road to Shell Island) to find Hotschott waiting there for us... already with lots of mud on his Chevy truck...

It seems that the tide was so high, Shell Island was actually a total island (usually one can drive onto it at one spot along its four mile length).

Backup camping site would be Nuevo Mazatlan at Km. 32, about 4 miles away.

That turned out to be a great choice as the hundreds of shade trees make desert camping very nice.

The beach is great too!

My Cooper Discoverer STT tires did very well (this time) and I was able to drive over the dry sand onto the wet and along the coast without letting any air out!

Here is my quick set up sun shade on the beach at Nuevo Mazatlan...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:43 AM

The tree filled campground, as seen from the beach...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:45 AM

Sarah snaps a photo of Baja Angel and I ...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:46 AM

We drove up the beach to Bahia Santa Maria... Here is Baja Rob's beautiful home... Notice the very high tide came closer than usual to these houses.

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:49 AM

The high tide came TOO CLOSE to this home!

This was between Baja Rob's and Nuevo Mazatlan, where the dynamic shoreline has been encroaching on a few homes built on the sand, a bit too close to the sea... very sad.

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:51 AM

We drove about 10 miles south on the beach to this tidepool...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:52 AM

I thought it made a great publicity photo spot for my hats!

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:54 AM

Back at Nuevo Mazatlan, the incoming tide permitted some fine bathing and fun without needing to walk a great distance to get wet... at low tide the water is really 'out there'!

David K - 8-15-2006 at 07:55 AM

Here's a photo from earlier when the tide was low... looking south towards La Roca and El Vergel...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:00 AM

Just north of the campground (see trees in background), is a coyote spring... The founder of Nuevo Mazatlan, Luis Castellanos Moreno used to get his drinking water here...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:01 AM

Note the wet sand... coyotes dig to get a drink... water trickles into the hole made.

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:03 AM

Here's Hotschott at the old well of Agua de Chale. The current owner of Nuevo Mazatlan (Javier) added the bricks and sealed the top, for safety...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:04 AM

Sarah likes her picture taken!

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:06 AM

The new toll road that keeps you out of Mexicali if you are traveling between Tecate and San Felipe.

This is looking south on Hwy. 5, about 13 miles south of the border/ 113 miles north of San Felipe.

You go past the new road's bridge, then make a U turn to get on it if you are coming north from San Felipe...

bajawife - 8-15-2006 at 08:07 AM

LOVE this place! We were there last March...can't wait to go back!
;)

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:08 AM

The toll booth... was 45 pesos. The new concrete road is just two lanes wide (for now)...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:09 AM

Some bridges were not finished!

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:11 AM

We stop on the grade above Laguna Salada...

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:14 AM

Got to the Tecate border line at 3:08 pm Sunday... It took 2 1/2 hours to get into the U.S. today!

Baja is still worth the wait!!!

Have fun, enjoy life...

Nuevo Mazatlan web page: http://vivabaja.com/nm

Baja Nomad group camp at Nuevo Mazatlan in 2004: http://vivabaja.com/204

Roberto - 8-15-2006 at 08:30 AM

Why not cross at Mexicali?

bajalou - 8-15-2006 at 08:53 AM

Thanks for the report on the new toll road. Been wondering when it would open. 45 pesos is a bit to get to the bottom of the Cantu Grade I think. From reports, Tecate is getting too popular on Sundays - I think I'll stick with Mexicali East unless I'm heading up at mid-day. I like the drive to Tecate from Mexicali but that kind of border wait really turns me off.

David K - 8-15-2006 at 05:14 PM

Long lines at 85 degrees (Tecate) is better than long lines at 105 degrees (Mexicali), was my thinking... Plus, I wanted to check out the new toll road.

The Cantu grade toll was just $1.25 US... El Hongo was $4.60...

bancoduo - 8-15-2006 at 05:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Got to the Tecate border line at 3:08 pm Sunday... It took 2 1/2 hours to get into the U.S. today!

Baja is still worth the wait!!!

Have fun, enjoy life...

Nuevo Mazatlan web page: http://vivabaja.com/nm

Baja Nomad group camp at Nuevo Mazatlan in 2004: http://vivabaja.com/204
It looks to me that you are on hwy.3 before you crest over the hill into Tacate. I can't believe it if I am right. Is this ensenada weekend traffic?:?::o:o

David K - 8-15-2006 at 08:01 PM

No, that last photo is the Tecate border wait right where the road meets the wall and turns left...

Thanks David

BajaRob - 8-16-2006 at 08:43 AM

For the photo of our casa. We can access the interior camera via the internet but it does not show how close the ocean gets. Unfortunately some of our friends and neighbors were not so fortunate. As you have observed over the years, the shape of the beach has changed substantially @ BSM as more homes were built to the north of the earlier ones in Playa Hermosa.

David K - 8-16-2006 at 09:00 AM

Hi Rob and Connie, I thought you might like to see that. The beach remains the widest in front of your home... it was just a real big tide last weekend. It has to be to keep me from accessing Shell Island, afterall!

A thought: Put a web cam on your roof and share the link so we all can have a look at the beautiful coast at Bahia Santa Maria, anytime?

viabaja - 8-16-2006 at 01:09 PM

Dave, great photos! I'm getting Percebu/Shell Island fever! However, August is too warm & humid even for me. It's just too hard to sleep at night. Days are fine, but it's the nights that get you (humidity! Since there was 18.8' high on the 9th, I was curious if you would have tried crossing? You wisley decided not to. After 30+ years of going there, 2 years ago I broke my own rule and tried crossing with my CJ5. Stalled it right in the middle heading to the raised section behind the bridge! Had to be yanked out. Wife mad. Had to supply beer for rescuers. Had to drink beer! Most unpleasant (with exception of beer part).

Web cam in BSM good idea. I'm trying to get one for Percebu.

David K - 8-16-2006 at 02:42 PM

Thanks Chris...

It wasn't all that hot (95 max) and while tent sleeping on air mattresses was a bit sticky, I would think a home with a real bed wouldn't be too bad. The gulf was not as warm either... pleasantly warm/cool to bathe in.

I would really like you to consider making your web site viewable to all of us, again... You have wonderful photos and history of that entire area: Percebu, Shell Island, Bahia Santa Maria, Nuevo Mazatlan... But, all that is locked behind an access code. We promiss to be nice!:saint:

When I posted the photo of the shrimp boat from 1967's chubasco, I thought about your web site...

David

BajaRob - 8-16-2006 at 03:53 PM

Please check your U2U.
Will check into camera when we return. Not sure if another camera would help cure or worsen the homesickness.


[Edited on 8-17-2006 by BajaRob]

Cypress - 8-16-2006 at 04:01 PM

Story and Pics, Thanks David K. Can't wait to head down and get a dose of Baja.

Roberto - 8-16-2006 at 05:50 PM

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if that damage was caused by a high tide, there is the possibility that you will be found to be encroaching on the Federal Zone. Just a word of warning.

David K - 8-16-2006 at 06:16 PM

Well, it was caused by 'tidal erosion' ... In front of several houses the beach is many feet lower than before.. ie. the large sand frontage has moved somewhere else.

The Madue?a family did make an ejido of their campos, and the lots were probably behind the average mean high tide line when established...

It's just that when you build on sand instead of something more solid, water and wind quickly move the land below your home!

In 1977 more round homes along the bay at Bahia Santa Maria were lost as the sand bay changed shape for whatever reason.

It is sad to see the destruction, but not totally unusual.

[Edited on 8-17-2006 by David K]

Roberto - 8-16-2006 at 06:19 PM

David, my point was simple that, erosion or not, the Federal Zone moves with the moving shoreline to include everything up to the high tide mark.

David K - 8-16-2006 at 06:20 PM

Yes indeed... all the more reason to not hug the beach with any structure... move it back!

BajaRob - 8-16-2006 at 07:51 PM

Most of the homes in Playa Hermosa are in the Federal Zone. The owners of the camp, Dave and Rich have a concession from the Mexican Government that allows them to rent the lots adjacent to their land which had previously been part of Ejido Delicias.

Roberto - 8-16-2006 at 08:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaRob
Most of the homes in Playa Hermosa are in the Federal Zone. The owners of the camp, Dave and Rich have a concession from the Mexican Government that allows them to rent the lots adjacent to their land which had previously been part of Ejido Delicias.


Interesting ... what's the duration of the concession? My understanding is that these have a maximum duration of 50 years. Is this correct?

[Edited on 8-17-2006 by Roberto]

Roberto

BajaRob - 8-17-2006 at 07:56 AM

I am not aware of any time limit on the land concession.
There is a 50 year time period on a Fideicomiso, the bank trust created in 1993 by a change in the foreign investment laws. It provides for foreign ownership of previously restricted land and is perpetually renewable and transferable.

capt. mike - 8-17-2006 at 05:05 PM

yeah......but a rent is only good max 9 or ten years i thunked??

any building within the prohibited zone seems like a risky and stupid (careless except for the rich?) use of dinero?:lol::lol::lol::?:

Capt Mike

BajaRob - 8-17-2006 at 07:41 PM

I'm not sure of your experience, but mine is that reward is directly proportional to risk. Fortunately in our case our casa is not in the Federal zone but that would not be a deterent. All of us that live in Baja take risks to differing degrees and I believe that is one of the common threads thats makes most of us so close. It's obviously not for everyone, which is cool, otherwise we would have to add another 0 at the end of the property values.

[Edited on 8-18-2006 by BajaRob]

Ken Cooke - 8-27-2006 at 09:10 PM

I liked the hat. Bring one to the Cactus Party, and I'll be sure to buy one!

David K - 8-28-2006 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I liked the hat. Bring one to the Cactus Party, and I'll be sure to buy one!


Ken, I have just nine left from the first run of 60... Order one now! Details on how to order are on the Miscl. Baja Classified Forum...

Ken Cooke - 8-28-2006 at 04:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I liked the hat. Bring one to the Cactus Party, and I'll be sure to buy one!


Ken, I have just nine left from the first run of 60... Order one now! Details on how to order are on the Miscl. Baja Classified Forum...


Thanks for the 411. Will do...

David K - 12-4-2006 at 11:35 PM

Photos of this trip are now at http://community-2.webtv.net/thebaja/806