ROCKY POINT CRUISE SHIP PORT

I post in Mexico Internet Time

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone

I wish Puerto Penasco all the best, but I believe their numbers and analysis is wrong and this will not be as big a deal as they think. Why do you think San Diego, a city of 3 million people, cannot get itself on more cruise line ports of call? Because the cruise lines for the west coast are home ported in Long Beach and San Pedro. There are many facilities available to service cruise ships in Southern California. To be home ported, you need staffing, food and available transit for incoming/ougoing passengers from all over. Cruise ships ae filled with people from all ovr the world. I can see where a cruise ship port would be helpful for new cruise routes along the eastern coast of Mexico, but whether 3,000 passengers a week will be visiting Pto. Penasco is a stretch. Also, they expect this to be a departure point for passengers living in Arizona (California is just as close ??), yet passengers won't be swarming through town spending money - they will be boarding and leaving town. And definitely not a good thing to have an adverse impact on the environment (one person relocating a reef?). And to add a port of call waaay up there at Pto Penasco after, say, Mazatlan? that's more than 1 day at sea, and return as well, which adds to the cost of any cruise. And to state that "80 percent of cruise goers choose land vacations based on the destinations they visit on a cruise trip." Highly doubtful. The people who will be taking this cruise is doing so because they don't want to do it by land, or drive in Mexico, or really want to see much of Mexico - they want a getaway on a US cruise ship that offers 3 meals a day, shopping, dancing, entertainment, gambling. They say they are working on contracts with cruise lines - will be interesting to see what develops.

I foresee another tripling of the ATV rental shops and Sand Mountain eventually becoming solid rock, all loose dirt and vegetation blown north and eastward. I'm sure the cruis-ies will love the sound of wasps and mosquitos non-stop for their shore leave.

Shak's 5th Avenue downtown and on the west road will do well, and JJ's will be standing-room-only, for a few hours. Hope they lay over long enough for a round of sand-golf.

Too bad they'll never get to witness Arturo's Bar after 11 pm.

OMFG!!!

DK isn't a top authority on something.... well my fine feathered friend, "Rocky Point" IS Puerto Peñasco; where the 'old town' is and the old shrimping harbor, it's a volcanic flow of basalt that reaches the sea. Sand Mountain is 5 miles of Sandy Beach (used to be) to the west. Now Sandy Beach is mostly condos and hotels, with a very elaborately made golf course (huge sand traps, of course) out to where the now-smaller camping area is on the west end. The gringolandia you visited is La Jolla (or 'La Joya", can't remember the exact spelling, and no, it doesn't have to be proper Español) that used to be simple shanties and of course the infamous JJ's Cantina, of which I still have a t-shirt (in my mothball collection) and my license plate that says "NO SNIVELLING" hanging behind my bar here at mi casa with a string around it for those who deserve to wear it....

As you left "Rocky Point" towards JJ's (a 5 mile sandy drive with at least 4 dirt tracks to choose from) there was a solid line of shanty-shacks of hawkers selling all the usual trinkets and segundos, and was called "Shak's 5th Avenue" locally.

El Picacho Del Diablo, the peak above San Felipe is visible from PP and sandy beach at 60 miles away because it's over 11,000 feet tall; PP has the absolute best and most spectacular sunsets in Mexico that I've seen.

Last time there, about 6 years ago, we stayed at the old hotel (forgot the name) that's right at the end of the old Malecon and built into the basalt that gives the town the name. Rumor was it was its' last year; was going to be torn down for a bigger hotel or condo. Haven't been back.

As Arizona has grown, so has Rocky Point. RIP. There was an article today on the web about Organ Pipe Nat. Mon., and how it's now a graveyard of those trying to come north. It's one of the 'hotspots' now of not only illegal immigration, but cartel traffic as well; the drug coyotes offer help of passage if the campesinos will be mules for them. There are Americans who, with sympathy go into the deserts and stash water bottles on known routes (that aught to get a good rise going here). The whole area, including the El Pinacate Vocanic Park just south of the border used to be one of my favorite stomping grounds; like most things and most sacred places, it's gone the Way Of The Wind now.

Far's seeing PP's lights from San Felipe, I kinda doubt it; earth's curve only lets you see about 15 miles of horizon. You can see El Picacho from PP, but it's two miles high. I've never seen San Flip's lights from PP, so .... you were probably seeing shrimping boats out from PP looking for their catch. BTW, the earth DOES curve, you know.... ain't flat any more.

ADDENDUM:
The gringolandia is "Cholla Bay". JJ's had (prolly still does have) hundreds of framed pictures of fishing tourneys and huge trophy pesca, black bass, blah-blah, you name 'em....... now the area's pretty much a wet desert. Been that way when I started there in '83.

Jeeeeez-o, maybe that's where I saw you !!!

[Edited on 10-16-2015 by bajabuddha]

Thank you.
Yes, Cholla Bay sounds familiar... There were so many references to 'Rocky Point', that is why I wondered.

1983, huh?

Oh, and the glow in the sky is for sure Puerto Peñasco lights. You can see it from Shell Island which is far from San Felipe city glare. Constant over the years, same compass direction, looks like from 100 miles away, over the curve of the earth.

Here's a 1941 Map close up...

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

El Picacho Del Diablo, the peak above San Felipe is visible from PP and sandy beach at 60 miles away because it's over 11,000 feet tall [Edited on 10-16-2015 by bajabuddha]

That is feet above sea level, correct?
Can you tell where I am going with this line of thought???

In 1967's Camping and Climbing in Baja, John W. Robinson gives the north peak as being 10,154' and the south peak as 10,152'. The Devil's horns are almost equal in height.

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

Not sure if it is even possible but the rumor I hear is a route like this-RP to Guaymas to Mazatlan to Pv to cabo then back. May not be exact but you get the idea.

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

Far's seeing PP's lights from San Felipe, I kinda doubt it; earth's curve only lets you see about 15 miles of horizon. You can see El Picacho from PP, but it's two miles high. I've never seen San Flip's lights from PP, so .... you were probably seeing shrimping boats out from PP looking for their catch. BTW, the earth DOES curve, you know.... ain't flat any more. [Edited on 10-16-2015 by bajabuddha]

Quote: Originally posted by ncampion

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha   Far's seeing PP's lights from San Felipe, I kinda doubt it; earth's curve only lets you see about 15 miles of horizon. You can see El Picacho from PP, but it's two miles high. I've never seen San Flip's lights from PP, so .... you were probably seeing shrimping boats out from PP looking for their catch. BTW, the earth DOES curve, you know.... ain't flat any more. [Edited on 10-16-2015 by bajabuddha] Yes the earth does curve smart guy, but you can see the glow of lights far beyond the earth's curve as the lights are reflected off the atmosphere at night.