Baja Beach Weekends are the best! Memorial Day 2011 (Parts 1, 2 & 3) Done!

In a nutshell, a great weekend on Shell Island for Memorial Day 2011!

It would be the first trip there with Baja Angel's daughter Kristi... Her son Josh and his girlfriend Jonna would also caravan with us.

Jonna and Josh were last on the island this past Labor Day (Sept. 2010) and the four wheel drive wouldn't engage so they were stuck were the road reaches the beach, then.

This trip, the Ford transfer case engaged and they were able to keep up with my Tacoma for the trek up to our favorite camping spot, a couple miles away.

We left the San Diego area Friday evening around 7:30 (after dinner) and headed east on I-8 to Hwy. 111 to Calexico/Mexicali, which is the fastest route to San Felipe. Coming home, we prefer the Tecate border (and it was a doozy last night with almost a 3 hour wait.. and we heard the other borders were almost a 6 hour wait).

There were several dusty miles of detours in the Rio Hardy/ El Mayor area and again at Laguna Salada by the old canal location... On the way home, I recorded about 7 miles of dirt detours. Our vehicles were searched at the military checkpoint southbound (but not northbound, 3 days later).

We arrived in San Felipe about 1:30 am, topped off the gas tanks at the station in El Dorado Ranch and headed right for Shell Island. We were concerned for the Ford Ranger and expected to maybe need to pull it if air pressure alone couldn't help if the four wheel drive again failed. There was no need to worry, as the Ford did fine!

We got camp set up, and a fire started to kick back... enjoy the Tecate Lights we bought in Mexicali... and realized that the glow in the sky was the approaching sunrise! Man, was I sleepy! I think I got (maybe) 3 hours of sleep before the warming sun got me up... The day was beautiful, the water was smooth, and we were in paradise!

Now, some photos... and more of the trip report will follow:

I hear the rumble of ATVs approaching...



BajaRob and Connie come with two bottles of champagne and champagne glasses to toast our arrival!





Good Baja friends... what fun!

Later, a pair of Jet Skis arrive and land on the island in front of our camp, it is Chuck and Chris (Baja Warrior) to say hello.
(Coming home on I-5 late last night, we pass them)


High tide was at midday and then the water goes back out again to expose new treasures to photograph...

Saturday, was a pretty mellow day with a nap or two. We did drive to Bahia Santa Maria to show off Rob and Connie's house to Kristi. We then drove down the beach to El Vergel to look for 'El Vergel' (Vern)... found his Jeep, but not him... left my card on his widshield wiper. We then went to Delicias for lunch at Aniceto's and it was very good. A return to Shell Island for a relaxing afternoon.

Low tide Sunday Morning...











We drive up to the north tip of Shell Island to see what has changed there, across the lagoon from Rancho Percebu.







A careful look for Tern eggs...







Mama or Papa Tern.


Much more photos and fun to come, stay tuned!

[Edited on 6-2-2011 by David K]

LOL. I can see my campsite in your Percebu pic We saw the same tern egg nest also

[Edited on 6-1-2011 by mrfatboy]

Nice fotos DK...as always.

However..."we arrived at San Felipe at 1:30 a.m...."

What's with the night driving?

The Border line was brutal, and this was only the second half!

Can you say HIGH Tide!!?!

Compared with the time I was at Shell Island in late April, the tide appears much deeper! The tides can really fluctuate!!

Shell Island (Rancho Percebu in background)

Chuck, what time did you get into line and how long? We dropped Kristi off in San Diego then headed north to our place when I spotted my 'got baja?' sticker on back of a white truck! I said that's Chuck and Chris... what a small world!

We arrived at the end of the line (at the Pemex station) at 7:18 pm and got inside the 'ol USA at 10:07 pm. The border gaurd had a helper who told us there will be a lot of unhappy people behind us when they shut the gate promptly at 11:00 pm!

It was about a 15 foot high tide the day I took the photos, but it can get over 20 feet. It was enough to fill the lagoon as far back as our camp for some soaking in calm water... and then a couple of Jet Skis even zoomed up and down past us from Percebu. I call it an 'island' for a good reason!

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo Nice fotos DK...as always. However..."we arrived at San Felipe at 1:30 a.m...." What's with the night driving?

Life is short, so much Baja... so little time!

Have you seen my lights? Night?.. I don't see no stinkin' night!

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy LOL. I can see my campsite in your Percebu pic We saw the same tern egg nest also [Edited on 6-1-2011 by mrfatboy]

Very cool...
So, who had the surf board that was drug around the beach behind a quad with someone on it!?

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by BajaWarrior The Border line was brutal, and this was only the second half! Chuck, what time did you get into line and how long? We dropped Kristi off in San Diego then headed north to our place when I spotted my 'got baja?' sticker on back of a white truck! I said that's Chuck and Chris... what a small world! We arrived at the end of the line (at the Pemex station) at 7:18 pm and got inside the 'ol USA at 10:07 pm. The border gaurd had a helper who told us there will be a lot of unhappy people behind us when they shut the gate promptly at 11:00 pm!

Next time, drive up alongside us... and I will 'stall' my truck long enough for you to cut in front! Baja Nomad brotherhood, afterall!

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by mrfatboy LOL. I can see my campsite in your Percebu pic We saw the same tern egg nest also [Edited on 6-1-2011 by mrfatboy] Very cool... So, who had the surf board that was drug around the beach behind a quad with someone on it!?

I didn't see that guy. But I sure was peeed about the 6am wake call every morning by the same quad guy. For some reason he had to gun the damn thing right in front of everybody's tents every single morning.

Also, some huge group came in on Sat morning 3am. He turned on a generator to pump up his 30 mattresses. Unbelievable. Some people just don't have any class

On with the show!

The purpose of the trip was pure rest and relaxation, but also to introduce the place to Kristi... who studied marine biology and worked on a research paper for Scripps Institute of Oceanography (was published)... so she has a fascination with the sea, already!

Here are some photos I took walking around our camp area...



























He curled his tail like a scorpion when he ran!






Our camp as seen from Ken Cooke's campsite of July 4, 2011

Okay, 18 more photos to post... Stay tuned!!

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy Quote: Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by mrfatboy LOL. I can see my campsite in your Percebu pic We saw the same tern egg nest also [Edited on 6-1-2011 by mrfatboy] Very cool... So, who had the surf board that was drug around the beach behind a quad with someone on it!? I didn't see that guy. But I sure was peeed about the 6am wake call every morning by the same quad guy. For some reason he had to gun the damn thing right in front of everybody's tents every single morning. Also, some huge group came in on Sat morning 3am. He turned on a generator to pump up his 30 mattresses. Unbelievable. Some people just don't have any class

That's why we camp elsewhere... alone or with family and fellow Baja Nomads when possible! We go to Baja to get AWAY from noise and civilization most trips! Even when camping ion Shell Island with Nomad friends, we all give each other some space after sharing time together around the campfire...

Here is my camp, edm-1 (Art's) camp and beyond is Ken Cooke's camp last July 4th:

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy Also, some huge group came in on Sat morning 3am. He turned on a generator to pump up his 30 mattresses. Unbelievable. Some people just don't have any class

Quote:

Originally posted by David K The purpose of the trip was pure rest and relaxation, but also to introduce the place to Kristi... who studied marine biology and worked on a research paper for Scripps Institute of Oceanography (was published)... so she has a fascination with the sea, already! Here are some photos I took walking around our camp area... He curled his tail like a scorpion when he ran! Our camp as seen from Ken Cooke's campsite of July 4, 2011 Okay, 18 more photos to post... Stay tuned!!

Hey DK--Glad you had a great trip....looks like fun weekend. Just curious if you and Kristi had any conversations about rising sea levels or climate change.....

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy Quote: Originally posted by David K The purpose of the trip was pure rest and relaxation, but also to introduce the place to Kristi... who studied marine biology and worked on a research paper for Scripps Institute of Oceanography (was published)... so she has a fascination with the sea, already! Hey DK--Glad you had a great trip....looks like fun weekend. Just curious if you and Kristi had any conversations about rising sea levels or climate change.....

Sure we did... once even she believed that hogwash they force into their young minds! Seeing is believing, and when I can point to a spot just feet above high tide that I camped at 33 years ago... that still is 'just feet' above sea level... and a salt flat that sometimes gets flooded by high tide... and still only sometimes gets flooded by high tide... it kind of speaks for itself. This also was the coolest Memorial Day in San Felipe I remember... in the 70's along the beach.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy Quote: Originally posted by David K The purpose of the trip was pure rest and relaxation, but also to introduce the place to Kristi... who studied marine biology and worked on a research paper for Scripps Institute of Oceanography (was published)... so she has a fascination with the sea, already! Hey DK--Glad you had a great trip....looks like fun weekend. Just curious if you and Kristi had any conversations about rising sea levels or climate change..... Sure we did... once even she believed that hogwash they force into their young minds! Seeing is believing, and when I can point to a spot just feet above high tide that I camped at 33 years ago... that still is 'just feet' above sea level... and a salt flat that sometimes gets flooded by high tide... and still only sometimes gets flooded by high tide... it kind of speaks for itself. This also was the coolest Memorial Day in San Felipe I remember... in the 70's along the beach.

did you teach her about dynamic sedimentary environment of beaches and estuaries? how the elevation of beach face changes with each storm event?

still waiting for you to present your survey data with elevation control!

The salt flat I drive across to the island doesn't move up and down like Algore's graph does... it still gets flooded at 17 to 18 foot high tides+, just as it did before you were born. The old road (in rock) along Concepcion Bay, as well. Ignore your eyes if you want to, I know what I see... the sea levels may have risen, but not enough to be noticed... What was the figure, 50 mm? (half the length of a cigarette). In a place where the sea level rises 20 feet twice a day, 50 millameters doesn't get me worked up

Quote:

Originally posted by David K The salt flat I drive across to the island doesn't move up and down like Algore's graph does... it still gets flooded at 17 to 18 foot high tides+, just as it did before you were born. The old road (in rock) along Concepcion Bay, as well. Ignore your eyes if you want to, I know what I see... the sea levels may have risen, but not enough to be noticed... What was the figure, 50 mm? (half the length of a cigarette). In a place where the sea level rises 20 feet twice a day, 50 millameters doesn't get me worked up

now i have heard everything....concern about harming beach critters by driving. hahahaha.

Seriously... every time someone boils water, millions of creatures are killed! I guess grading a roadbed and pouring asphalt over a desert is okay and doesn't disturb any creatures!

More photos of beach driving and creature killing coming tonight...

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Seriously... every time someone boils water, millions of creatures are killed! I guess grading a roadbed and pouring asphalt over a desert is okay and doesn't disturb any creatures! More photos of beach driving and creature killing coming tonight...

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666 Quote: Originally posted by David K Seriously... every time someone boils water, millions of creatures are killed! I guess grading a roadbed and pouring asphalt over a desert is okay and doesn't disturb any creatures! More photos of beach driving and creature killing coming tonight... how many turn nests did you destroy driving, walking and camping above tidal zone?

It will be great to have you camp with us again Art! See you on Shell ISLAND on July 4th weekend!
('Shell Beach' is near Mulege at Punta Chivato, where Russ lives)

PART 3 (PHOTOS and the trip home)

Sunday Afternoon at low tide, I took the kids to the far south end of the island (which is the north point of Bahia Santa Maria) for some goodie searching (shell collecting, photos, discovery)...

Of course I love my Tacoma and any chance to drive it in four wheel drive is a thrill. Last February, the stock BFG tires (265/70-16) that came with the new truck got replaced with Hankook Dynapro ATM tires... also 1" taller (265/75-16) as that increases my ground clearance 1/2"... all without needing any lift or changes. The Dynapros were very quiet on the highway, amazing in snow and mud, as well as desert sand at Ocotillo Wells. This was the first test on Baja's bottomless beach sand... which is the most difficult of all sands to drive on. Probably due to the high per-centage of crushed shells and slighly coarser grain...

When we arrived on the beach 2 am Saturday morning, I dropped them to 14 psi all around and had no issues getting to our camp. With the truck unloaded, I dropped the rear tires to 12 psi. What you want is a wider 'foot' in order to 'float' on top of the sand and not dig in. Once over the dry sand and onto the wet sand between the high and low tide lines of the day, it is possible to drive in 2WD even... but getting to the wet sand requires crossing the dry, deep stuff where most people will have trouble without 4WD and without deflating their tires.






Kristi


Jonna


Tacoma


I love my lights... Maybe it was the scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind that makes having good lighting fun for me? I mean, I rarely drive at night off road... but, it is nice to see everything! I have a pair of 7" HID driving beams and a pair of 8" Halogen pencil beams (in addition to the stock headlights and fog lights).


Picacho del Diablo, 10,154 feet (more or less depending on the rising sea level )

We all take photos of each other on Monday morning before we leave... and we all hate to have to go!


Kristi


Josh




Baja Angel (Elizabeth) and I


Josh and Jonna with Elizabeth and I


Kristi and her mom... She sure loved Baja last weekend... and this first trip to the San Felipe side won't be the last... Her Facebook page is filled with the photos she took and you can tell how much she enjoyed the place.

On the way out, Jonna wanted a close look at the giant fish she saw the last time we drove past it...




Back in the day seeing 'small' totuavas like this was very common. Let's hope for their comeback so we may enjoy them once again!



We are off the island and tires re-inflated before noon. The drive into San Felipe was easy. We filled our tanks... it was just under 9 pesos per liter in San Felipe and just over 9 pesos in Tecate. The exchange rate was 11.50 pesos per dollar making the cost of 87 octane gas just under $3 a gallon south of the border zone and just over $3 in the Pemex special border zone... a dollar or more cheaper than in California!

We enjoyed fish, shrimp and carne asada tacos in San Felipe, we bought some tourist stuff (t shirt, silver jewelry, friendship bracelets) and were northbound before 3 pm. San Felipe looked almost dead for Memorial Day (compared to past years... well I mean 5 or more years ago).

The military checkpoint by the Hwy. 3 junction (31 miles north) just asked us some questions and waved us through.

The road widening detours totalled about 7 miles and are at the north side of the Laguna Salada crossing (by the failed canal) and again in the Rio Hardy area.

We took the Libramiento Mexicali (2-D) toll road west for Tecate (55 pesos). The military check at the bottom of the Rumorosa Grade also waved us through. We stopped for some snacking and leg stretching up on the grade and saw quite an interesting (state and federal) police escort of plain white vans... Maybe going to the El Hongo prison?

Toll Gate at La Rumorosa was 18 pesos and the toll gate at El Hongo 55 pesos.

When we arrived at the Pemex coming into Tecate, we saw that there was a line of cars from there on ahead... this would be the longest border line I have ever seen at Tecate! We learned that Tijuana and Mexicali both had 5-6 hour waits, so many people detoured to Tecate... and many lost out because Tecate border is closed from 11 pm to 5 am. We got into line at 7:18 pm and crossed in at 10:07 pm. There was a mile of cars behind us!

Despite the border wait (the only negative part of the vacation), the trip was wonderful... even the wind of Sunday night was no big deal. The kids and us had a great time... it was really nice to get visits from BajaRob, Connie, Baja Warrior and Chris, as well!

The Baja 500 is this Saturday and July 4th weekend is a month away... we can't wait to go back again!

ALSO, a special thank you to Baja Geoff and the gang at BajaBound.com for providing excellent and easy to buy Mexican Auto Insurance for Josh's Ford Ranger and my Tacoma. I appreciate BajaBound.com's support of BajaNomad.com.

I hope you enjoyed a small look into our 3 days on the beach as much we did. I have been camping on Shell island since 1978, and it is still as wonderful (and above sea level) today!

Here is the same fish in a little better shape one month ago on our previous trip.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by Udo Nice fotos DK...as always. However..."we arrived at San Felipe at 1:30 a.m...." What's with the night driving? Life is short, so much Baja... so little time! Have you seen my lights? Night?.. I don't see no stinkin' night!

O 2 B n Baja!

Thanks for the killer Trip Report David! Awesome pics! Sorry I missed you guys. I bolted for the US after the Fiesta on Sunday night. Only an hour at the Border and got home around midnight. But you say it best....Baja Beach Weekends RULE!!!!!
Regards to All, Cya soon!

Pic is of a local gentleman with his beautiful steed negotiating the road to Mexicali at one of the construction detours.

[Edited on 6-2-2011 by El Vergel]

[Edited on 6-2-2011 by El Vergel]

[Edited on 6-2-2011 by El Vergel]

A lot of visitors came for the dead fish and beer at Percebu's Poker Run this year also. This was earlier in the day. It was much more crowded later.

You were luck to have your home with you, in line!

with a few tecates in me ... i'd just about hit that.

Yah, that's a nice looking horse

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by Udo Nice fotos DK...as always. However..."we arrived at San Felipe at 1:30 a.m...." What's with the night driving? Life is short, so much Baja... so little time! Have you seen my lights? Night?.. I don't see no stinkin' night! Works for me... nice set up... must "light it up" just fine...

Here are a couple photos from Jonna showing our camp, the beach, and my truck ahead of Josh's heading home...

Fortunetly, Shell Island is only 300 miles (6 hours) from here and while we normally wouldn't drive at night, we wanted the kids (Kristi's first time there) to have as much time on the beach as possible. I was pretty zonked on Saturday (as Baja Warrior and BajaRob could testify to)... but an afternoon nap made it all good.



Kristi and her mom 'Baja Angel' on Shell Island