BajaNomad

San Felipe ?

alafrontera - 11-5-2009 at 11:17 PM

I live in San Diego and have easy access to TJ, Rosarito, Ensenada... these can simply be day trips or as a lone traveler I am fine with budget hotels. In fact I go to TJ every week.

So... I have this friend who owns a (vacant) house on the beach "a bit South" of San Felipe. Not sure what "a bit" means yet but let's say it's close. He is constantly offering it to me; he wants it occupied and I have skills, he knows I will help maintain the place. I drove there once a few years back with a buddy, it's a hike. Free lodging is not all that huge of an incentive. All I remember about the place is dirt beaches and muddy brown water. Oh and a lot of "desert toy" people :rolleyes:

So my question is; is there anything to do there other than 4-wheeling and relaxing? I'm single; I enjoy good food, fun bars, live music, dancing, "gentlemens clubs", etc. I didn't get the impression it was a very lively town.

Any thoughts?

BajaWarrior - 11-6-2009 at 05:23 AM

Your right, SF is a backwards dusty dirty water town overrun with 65 year olds racing their ATV's but in bed by 8pm.

Try Revolucion Ave for real fun.

grace59 - 11-6-2009 at 07:01 AM

Well, I don't agree with the mud beaches remark. San Felipe has some very nice beaches, but other than that San Felipe is a quiet (usually), small town without fast food chains etc. That is exactly why we go there. As a single guy from San Diego, I don't think you'll find much excitement there. Plus, "a bit south of town" can end up being a long way out. Maybe you should go and try it out for a couple of weeks before making such a major decision..who knows, you might actually like the quiet and desert and relaxation.

David K - 11-6-2009 at 07:36 AM

grace59 has the right info... You need to go have a new look. It is a 4-5 hour drive from San Diego (I-8 east, via Calexico fastest).

If you want lot's of adult entertainment, stay in Tijuana. If you want to enjoy life with tons of open air and endless outdoor recreation (fishing, swimming, hiking, exploring, rock hounding, photography, and yes off roading too) then San Felipe can't be beat.

Here is what the beach looks like a 'bit south' of San Felipe... and also in front of town (no dirt, it's sand):


sancho - 11-6-2009 at 11:14 AM

As Bajawarrior said, those El Dorado Ranch
residents tear up the town on those
atv's, except the 'event weekends',
like desert race events, 3 day US holidays,
Hobie Cat event, winter is a little quiet,
and a bit cooler than most expect,
your preception is close,
if you're young and single,
you may find yourself in, whats that phrase
Cougar Town,
Heck free lodging sounds good
anywhere in Baja

alafrontera - 11-6-2009 at 11:45 AM

Thanks all, this is pretty much what I expected to hear. Oh and sorry about the "mud beaches" comment, now that you've jogged my memory I do recall sand ;D

I'm going down to check out the house in a couple weeks anyway, sounds like a great place to spend a quiet weekend with a g/f if I ever settle on one :rolleyes:

Oh and BW, it's Calle Coahuila, Avenida Revolution is for tourists :cool:

meme - 11-6-2009 at 03:40 PM

It is NOT EDR residents that tear up & down the beaches. It is Renters both at EDR & the other campos on the beaches. The week enders & tourists are the big offenders of beaches not the residents!

David K - 11-6-2009 at 03:51 PM

Meme, I think sancho was just continuing the 'joke' that Warrior started...

meme - 11-7-2009 at 09:40 AM

Well I somehow failed to see the humor of it. The beaches are a very touchy subject here at times & residents here do not find much humor in remarks being made that they are the ones making a mess of the beaches.
Most everyone that lives here try their best to look after the beaches but people who come here just to camp & party destry them by tearing up 7 down them driving their \trucks on them and leaving all their grabage for others to look at & clean up after them. Most will not even clean up after their dogs so they think its ok for others to walk I their dogs crap. So sad that many of these people think some of these kids of things are acceptable because"It's Mexico"!!

David K - 11-7-2009 at 09:50 AM

The humor is saying the EDR residents are the ones tearing up the place...

The campers who have no respect, leave trash behind (including diapers) are most always 'locals' from my observations of the past years. I think they are trying to improve, however.

We who come further to enjoy the place, appreciate and value it... always take out what we bring in. Of course there are exceptions, but rare. The same is true of the graffiti 'artists'... the only rock painting I could see for certain was American came from SCORE or off road race people... painting arrows on rocks and once some comments to Sal Fish, near Cataviña along the old road.

TMW - 11-7-2009 at 10:33 AM

Leaving trash is an interesting subject. I for years did not understand why there was so much trash along Baja hwys and towns etc. compared to the US. But over the years I come to realize the US would be just as bad if we didn't have the prisoners picking it up. On my way to work I see the side of the hwy get worse and worse each day until the guys in orange are out there picking it up. Then it starts all over again. It really is educating people on not throwing it to begin with and putting it in a trash can on both sides of the border. I think where Mexico comes up short is the lack of trash cans and/or the system to empty them on a regular basis.

grace59 - 11-7-2009 at 10:36 AM

Meme, I too took Sancho's comment as "tongue in cheek". I mean how much of a "Cougar Town" is San Felipe? As a EDR resident, I didn't take offense, but I could see how it might be easy to be offended. Especially when we are passionate about something. When we are in the midst of a sensitive issue, it is sometimes difficult to see the humor in things. We know that most residents there respect both the desert and the beaches and are good about cleaning up after ourselves and taking care of our community. But really, only Sancho knows if he were joking. Well Sancho, what do you have to say for yourself? :?:

bajaguy - 11-7-2009 at 10:41 AM

"Cougar Town"??????....is that the high school mascot in San Felipe????...I would think mountain lions or an occasional feral cat.......Am I missing something here????

grace59 - 11-7-2009 at 10:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
"Cougar Town"??????....is that the high school mascot in San Felipe????...I would think mountain lions or an occasional feral cat.......Am I missing something here????


Yes, in Sancho's post he told alafrontera that as a single guy in San Felipe, he might find himself in "Cougar Town". That is why I assumed his post was made in a joking manner.

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 10:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by grace59
Yes, in Sancho's post he told alafrontera that as a single guy in San Felipe, he might find himself in "Cougar Town".


What's that mean, Grace. Will you tell us what that means? :spingrin:

grace59 - 11-7-2009 at 10:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by grace59
Yes, in Sancho's post he told alafrontera that as a single guy in San Felipe, he might find himself in "Cougar Town".


What's that mean, Grace. Will you tell us what that means? :spingrin:


Oh come on Dennis, I've read enough of your post to think you know EXACTLY what that means!;D:lol:

Abundance of MILFs in San Felipe ?

MrBillM - 11-7-2009 at 10:51 AM

BOY, have things changed from back when I was Young and Single roaming San Felipe looking for Wildlife.

Just my luck.

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 11:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by grace59
Oh come on Dennis, I've read enough of your post to think you know EXACTLY what that means!;D:lol:


I know I know what I mean but, I wanna know what you.....oh, never mind. I think I know what you mean, :lol:

Lindalou - 11-7-2009 at 11:58 AM

I don't seem to know what either one of you mean!:?:;);)

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 12:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RichnLinda
I don't seem to know what either one of you mean!:?:;);)


Maybe this will help:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar

grace59 - 11-7-2009 at 12:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by RichnLinda
I don't seem to know what either one of you mean!:?:;);)


Maybe this will help:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar


Oh Thank-you, Dennis. Now I know what MrBill meant when he said MILF! :lol:

Lindalou - 11-7-2009 at 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by RichnLinda
I don't seem to know what either one of you mean!:?:;);)


Maybe this will help:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar
Holy crap, I'm almost 64 and learning something new all the time. I'm kinda sad though these 30 or 40 year old women (seems really young to me) are considered cougars:(

alafrontera - 11-7-2009 at 12:50 PM

Hmm ... not the direction I was expecting this thread to go but interesting none the less. The problem is I'm 52, the cougars don't want me, I'm too old :(

On the trash topic, while working on Anguilla I used to go to St Martin for the weekends. The port town is Marigot (French). You will not find one spec of trash anywhere even if you search for it, not even a cigarette butt. You can't help but notice, it's that clean. Yes, it's a tourist town. The amazing thing is you also can't find a public trash can, they don't exist. You quickly learn to carry your trash around with you until you visit a shop or restaurant and then politely ask them to dispose of it for you, they are happy to oblidge.

I've traveled quite a bit but never seen anything like that anywhere else, ever. On St Thomas, where I lived at the time, the locals constantly blame the trash problem on the tourists. Right, they junk cars on their way back to the cruiseship ? :?:

grace59 - 11-7-2009 at 12:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
Hmm ... not the direction I was expecting this thread to go but interesting none the less.

That's because you are new to the forum. Over the years I've seen many a thread go off in an interesting direction. That's what makes things so fun here!

Lindalou - 11-7-2009 at 12:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
Hmm ... not the direction I was expecting this thread to go but interesting none the less. The problem is I'm 52, the cougars don't want me, I'm too old :(

On the trash topic, while working on Anguilla I used to go to St Martin for the weekends. The port town is Marigot (French). You will not find one spec of trash anywhere even if you search for it, not even a cigarette butt. You can't help but notice, it's that clean. Yes, it's a tourist town. The amazing thing is you also can't find a public trash can, they don't exist. You quickly learn to carry your trash around with you until you visit a shop or restaurant and then politely ask them to dispose of it for you, they are happy to oblidge.

I've traveled quite a bit but never seen anything like that anywhere else, ever. On St Thomas, where I lived at the time, the locals constantly blame the trash problem on the tourists. Right, they junk cars on their way back to the cruiseship ? :?:
stick around, you will find nothing and I mean nothing on this board goes the way you expect it too. That is why it's so much fun!

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 01:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera

On the trash topic, while working on Anguilla I used to go to St Martin for the weekends. The port town is Marigot (French). You will not find one spec of trash anywhere even if you search for it, not even a cigarette butt. You can't help but notice, it's that clean.


There must be a sign at the airport, "Québécois..stay out." It would boggle your mind to see what tourists from Quebec will do to a town. I lived in Maine for a while and they would come down in droves to the beach communities. I was convinced they brought all their stored up winter trash with them and made a vow never to use a trash can.
It's my understanding that they do the same thing down in mainland Mexico.

Just reporting what I saw, folks. Don't yell at me, yell at them.

alafrontera - 11-7-2009 at 01:10 PM

Oh I plan to stick around, I may be new here but not new to travel or Mexico ;D You'll probably be sick of me in a month's time. I came from a TJ forum that is pretty inactive, someone there sent me here for more "lively" discussion :rolleyes: I can already see he wasn't joking :)

I post as Shimano Penn on the TJ and Puerto Vallarta sites but that user name was "reserved" here :(

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 01:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
Hmm ... not the direction I was expecting this thread to go


Fun...huh. Nomads tend to be independent thinkers. If you want to talk baseball, start a thread about football. :lol:

Try this

bajaguy - 11-7-2009 at 01:14 PM

www.cougars.net

DENNIS - 11-7-2009 at 01:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera

I post as Shimano Penn on the TJ and Puerto Vallarta sites but that user name was "reserved" here :(


Try it all CAPS. That's why my name is CAPS. Dennis was taken.

norte - 11-7-2009 at 02:18 PM

Quote:
Has someone been driving on this beach?


arrowhead - 11-7-2009 at 05:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by meme
Most will not even clean up after their dogs so they think its ok for others to walk I their dogs crap.


Ah ha! So that would explain this sign.


David K - 11-7-2009 at 05:19 PM

You really can't see all those tire tracks?... I know the following won't have any meaning to you as you have never been there, but for the other Nomads who are new:

High tide erases them twice a day... wind erases the tracks above the tide line. Oh, and those aren't mine, as this photo was when arrived and are heading towards our camp. Why on the beach? Well, there are no roads to our camp, so this is how we humans get around there. It's a tradition in Baja started over 40 years ago... and there are no turtles or eggs this far north.

Yes, tech. illegal to drive any vehicle on the federal zone... so is driving over 50 mph on most of Baja's desert highways... Call it free will and chance taking.

Trash and Speed

MrBillM - 11-8-2009 at 10:10 AM

Last Month when I headed North, I noticed that the HUGE trash Dumpster (complete with "donated" wooden staircase for dumpers) placed on the North Side of the Hwy 5 - Airport Road intersection had been moved to a clearing south of the intersection where the Army used to be.

BUT, no problem. Since the Dumpster "HAD" been at the Intersection, locals and tourists had apparently decided that's where the trash should go. There was a substantial pile located EXACTLY where the Dumpster was no longer and, as I took some pics, a local pulled up and brought out his Green bags to add to the collection.

Had to Laugh.

Speaking of SPEEDING, I've now found that I am following the Speed Limit more carefully during my drive.

Not because I've changed speed, BUT the NEW Limit signs on the highway expansion North of town now say 110 KM. First ever I've seen on Baja Highways. Guess I was just ahead of the times.

grace59 - 11-8-2009 at 11:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM

Speaking of SPEEDING, I've now found that I am following the Speed Limit more carefully during my drive.

Not because I've changed speed, BUT the NEW Limit signs on the highway expansion North of town now say 110 KM. First ever I've seen on Baja Highways. Guess I was just ahead of the times.

Is this the new road going North from San Felipe to Mexicali? I hope so since I always worry that my husband will get pulled over for speeding...he drives at 80, but not in kilometers.

Si, Pero ............

MrBillM - 11-8-2009 at 11:29 AM

So far, it's a fairly short distance. At present, it ends where the new divided highway construction ends at the El Chinero Checkpoint. The area where the NEW limit is in effect has never been one where you had to worry IF you were paying attention.

But, anything's an improvement.

grace59 - 11-8-2009 at 02:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
So far, it's a fairly short distance. At present, it ends where the new divided highway construction ends at the El Chinero Checkpoint. The area where the NEW limit is in effect has never been one where you had to worry IF you were paying attention.

But, anything's an improvement.

Thanks Mrbill! We are going to SF later this month. We were last down in August and the new signs weren't posted and they were still working on the road near the Military Check Point so we still had a way to go on that dirt road detour.

David K - 11-9-2009 at 12:36 PM

I posted photos and details of the new road finished north of San Felipe in my last trip report... It is not a divided/ 4 lane highway the entire way to El Chinero... much is just two lanes wide... but very wide with wide paved shoulders... elevated... very nice, and well done. I was surprised that they didn't keep it 4 lanes wide for all the work they did. The elevated overpass interchange with Hwy. 3 is pretty strange!

Here is part of the road log I posted last month:


0.0 Okay, these notes are northbound from San Felipe, starting opposite the El Dorado Pemex (near the big Rockadile sign):

11.8 miles (km. 160) 4 lanes down to new 2 lanes wide.

22.2 miles end of new road, construction work continues north.

23.6 military checkpoint.

23.7 Hwy. 3 Jcn. (new bridge u.c.).
Divided Hwy near San Felipe:



Wider 2 lane north of San Felipe:



Hwy. 3 interchange:



viabaja - 11-11-2009 at 09:16 AM

I'll echo BajaWarrior - SF is a dusty small town with 95% seniors living there! Up by 6am and in bed by 7pm! Our big excitement is gossiping. Very boring. Stay on TJ and party!!