Orchard Vacation Village in Mulege?

To answer your "about the flood" question-

howat...... Here is a photo I took in the Orchard two days after hurricane John in 2006. If you look closely you can see the high water line across the second story window of what remains of the house in the center. Somebody posted on this forum a couple of weeks ago that high water in the river from tropical storm Julio last month was ony 3' shy of that of John. If you are thinking of buying property in the Orchard, I'm sure you will find plenty of willing sellers

Thanks for the replies. That picture is sure worth a 1000 words. I'm heading down to Mulege 3/09 for my LAST annual baja vacation. After that I'm on a permanent vacation. Spent the last two years checking out at either BOLA or Puerto Marina La Salinas areas. However, Mulege is pulling on me more than all the areas both north & south of there cuz of its local ombiance, friendly people and excellent fishing. I live in San Diego, moor my trailerable boat in SD Bay and fish or lobster 1-2 times a week.

Definately will do a more through research of the Mulege area this time around including the river. Sure would be nice to have a mooring spot for my boat next to the house. Getting spoiled in my old age. Might even buy Bruce a beer for some info.

howat, Agree with your thoughts of Mulege with one exception. The fishing isn't worth hauling a boat down there for, you'll ignore my advice, but you'll remember it.

Mulege is wonderful but check out San Lucas / San Bruno/ Chivato area.
If you're coming to fish, you'll probably end up that-a-ways anyway.

Nice boat for Baja !
Maybe add a T-top for the heat !?
I like the bait tank and twin beer coolers with spill washer !
And those padded rails make leaning over the side for "relief" much more comfy !

that IS a NICE boat...
it sure won't look like that long if you move it to mexico

mine does but it sleeps in the garage

you really should get at least bimini tops for the sun
the more shade you have the better...for your "old age"

santa rosalia is the only local place that has slips but you won't want to live there... IMHO

"San Lucas / San Bruno/ Chivato " are only minutes from mulege in that boat
well...maybe "60 minutes"

if you launch and retrive you'll sleep better...no wind worries

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress howat, Agree with your thoughts of Mulege with one exception. The fishing isn't worth hauling a boat down there for, you'll ignore my advice, but you'll remember it.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H Quote: Originally posted by Cypress howat, Agree with your thoughts of Mulege with one exception. The fishing isn't worth hauling a boat down there for, you'll ignore my advice, but you'll remember it. Don't they hold a Dorado tournament there? Is the fishing that bad? I didn't know that. Bob H

how does one spell, "sarcastic?"

edit: i'm sure Pompano can show him around......

[Edited on 9-13-2008 by woody in ob]

Howat,

There will always be the naysayers.
No, the fishing is not that bad. It is not like the old timers remember, but there are lots of us fishing and it is good.

Regarding the photo of the damaged house on the river, that house has been completely restored. That photo was taken just after the devastating flood from John and was the absolute worst time any of us had ever experienced. The photo is sensational, which is the intent, I think, by the poster. The whole park got cleaned up beautifully. By the way we, the homeowners, are in complete control of the HOA as of this year.

Julio flooded us again, but not as bad as John; not the surge, lower waterline and less damage. The river is filled with silt and will probably flood again with lots of rain over the mountains. You won't be able to keep your boat on the river. Some local fishermen do get their pangas up that far, but they have to pole much of the way, when the tide is higher.

If you are renting, flooding or damage shouldn't be a concern. Last year there was no flood. During hurricane season, be ready with a plan. If a hurricane/tropical storm is headed toward Mulege, you will have time to evacuate. The house is the owners concern. Just put all the furniture upstairs for them and then leave. Check into a hotel. I'm sure you could come back after a flood and direct cleanup for a reduced rate. The rest of the year you are comfortably in your home.

Some people on the BajaNomad speak as though they know it all. Most of them don't. Some have some kind of personal agenda or vendetta. For this reason, I do not post here anymore except to defend my personal piece of Baja, and to help others. Usually you can trace their attitude back to some malfeasance they created and have left behind.

Howat, you will do the right thing for yourself. Go to The Orchard. Talk to people. Observe. See it for yourself. Make up your own mind. The Orchard is in better shape because of the cooperative spirit and consensus rule of the homeowners. By all means check out other places. I think you will still see The Orchard as you remembered it, only better. See who is in control and read between the lines.

Nice boat. You will want to launch and then bring it back and keep it on your trailer. Better security. By the way, our Orchard security is hired and directed by us, and they have been magnificent. In recent past there were a couple of burglaries in houses right on the river road, but during and since Julio there have been none. The river road is patrolled by security but it is more vulnerable than houses inside the park.


If this string goes south the way some malcontents tend to take them, I will not respond to them. I am trying to contribute to your queries. My casita is NOT for rent so I have nothing to gain other than trying to help you. You can U2U me if you have any more specific questions.


Tony

Appreciate the kind words and honest replies for the info on the Orchard and my boat, 1987 Cabo 216. It has been moored outside for most of its 21 year life. The reason I do not have a t-top is cuz it has a full canvas cover to protect it from the elements. I also clean it after every trip, wax it a couple times an year and paint the deck with Epifanes 1-part non-skid paint yearly. I looks in person as good as it does in a pic. It's my baby. In fact its 4 am now and I'm getting ready to leave the house to fish for tuna, YT and bottom dwellers around the Coronado Islands in the Chuck Byron Commemoritive Fishing Tournament with my wife.

I've been fishing the Mulege/San Lucas area for 25 years. I love fishing the areas from south of Concepcion Bay all the way up to Santa Rosy. I'm mainly a bottom fishermen that loves to explore the coves and reefs along that long coastline. With a 450 mile range and the seaworthiness of my boat there are not too many places I can not go. I've pulled my boat to Concepcion Bay and BOLA with my 2003 v8 Tundra. It's a pain on those narrow roads but well worth it to me cuz of all the fishing features my boat has. In fact I slept in it at Daggetts in BOLA for 10 days. it has a Yammie F150 on the back which gets over 4 mpg at 25 mph. WOT = 40 mpg. The boat is all orginal including the padding except for the 65 gal Offshore bait tank. I covered the two former 20 gal built-in bait tanks with the 36 qt coolers and enclosed the motorwell with Starboard. Has 4 batteries, 2 bilge pumps and two bait pumps with washdown. This was the 1st year that Cabos were manufactured. I met the owner at the 1987 Boat Show in Del Mar, CA. His co-owner a marine architect who loved to fish designed the boat for the elements of the Sea of Cortez encluding the widest walk-around of any 22' cuddy. Unfortunately he died just before the boat show and never had the opportunity to see what a great boat he designed. The remaining owner a non-fisherman ran the company into the ground due to lawsuits from poor wiring and other things on the later models. He sold the name to the current luxury sportfisher Cabo in 1994. My boat #14 was baby sat thru the production line by the marine architect.

Even though my boat has a very shallow draft it does not look likely from your honest replies that I'll be able to moor it on the river. However, a rented house with storage for my boat and a used 26' Safari motorhome (looking for) with boat launch closeby sounds like heaven to me. I grew up in florida and really want to live on a water oasis. Just a dream I've had for 40 years. I'm coming down in March 09 without my boat to mainly look at Mulege and the areas both north and south of there. My best buddy whose also coming down has a buddy who lives part time in San Bruno. Also want to check out Bob & Susans place. Saw it a few years ago being constructed while staying at EcoMundo.

Oh by the way it has Sirius radio!

Thanks again,
Dennis



[Edited on 9-13-2008 by howat]

[Edited on 9-13-2008 by howat]

[Edited on 9-13-2008 by howat]