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HotSchott
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: Sandy Eggo
Member Is Offline
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[Edited on 10-13-2004 by HotSchott]
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Experts
"When the waves are crashing against the barrier island in the distance
on the worst windy day, the lagoon can be almost perfectly flat. The wind
may push the tide higher, but there are only man-made waves in that lagoon
bigger than a few inches."
The above quote is amazing to those of us who have lived there for over 20
years. I've seen some REALLY rough water in that lagoon, especially during
the Fall-Winter-Spring when the wind is from the North. I once left my 14'
sailboat anchored out on the beach in February and the wind came up during
the night. The wind and waves the next day were such that it might have
been suicidal to try to move it. Luckily, it didn't suffer any damage other
than a mast FILLED with sand when the tide went out and the wind pushed the
boat over.
The depth of water where the truck is parked on that kind of tide is 7-10 feet
just 25 feet or so to the South. That's why it's a favorite spot of mine.
Even on mediocre tides, there is swimming depth.
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HotSchott
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: Sandy Eggo
Member Is Offline
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I guess I should have just stayed in my hole and written nothing. For those of you that have lived at Percebu for 20 years there is probably very
little that you don't know. Given all the time you would have had to contemplate nothing at all, you have probably forgotten more than I will ever
know about the area. I was not trying to obtain EXPERT status in yours or anyone elses eyes.
I should somehow more humbly offered up that due to the natural protection afforded the lagoon by the barrier island, it is not uncommon, in my novice
opinion, to have somewhat nasty conditions on the windward side and be quite pleasant on the leeward side.
Since most of my recent experiences at Percebu, albeit meaningless compared to the vast knowledge of most locals, are while camping on the island on
the windward side, I can relate to recent foul weather. The water may be churning on the Cortez side and yet very near the shore on the lee side it
is perfectly calm. The conditions on the opposite side of the lagoon might be more like the windward side of the barrier island since that shore is
not in the shadow of the island. I might also add that I don't make a habbit of camping on Shell island during a gale, although I have been there and
endured weather that cleared the beach of most other campers. It was still calm on the lagoon side by comparison.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65215
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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HotSchott descibes Shell Island just the way I have experienced it... having camped there dozens of times since 1977.
The choppy (from wind) Cortez side of the island is as different from the lagoon side, which has always been smooth as glass, as night and day. This
is about a mile south of the lagoon's mouth at Percebu, mind you.
Last time I camped there with both my kids, a gale to hurricane force wind came up about 3:30 am and had us do an emergency break down of camp and get
off the island! HotScott was camping just over the dune from us and he later told me the wind died as quickly as it had came up... just a short time
after we left!
Again, this is roughing it, camping in the open, just tents and sun shade... it's part of what makes my Baja experience great! If you want safe and
predictable, STAY HOME!
Here is a happy David K with his first Subaru on Shell Island, March, 1978...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65215
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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When we would stay on Shell Island for a week, our camp was more substantial for sun protection. Can you believe all THAT fit in a Subaru!!??
I am standing on the sand dune to take this photo... from early 1980's The Subaru here was my second... the first was so great as a super sand bug,
and this was as good! Just a 1600cc four banger and 13" tires... Four wheel drive and dropping the little tires to 10 psi made this unstoppable on
that bottomless sand. I wish my Tacoma drove as easily in the sand... I guess it's the weight?
[Edited on 10-13-2004 by David K]
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Never question a tourists ideas
As they will probably be writing a guidebook about it.
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HotSchott
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: Sandy Eggo
Member Is Offline
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JR - are you writing a book?
Lemme guess: Berkshires to Baja - A cacophony of intellect and perspective.
[Edited on 10-13-2004 by HotSchott]
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synch
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 9-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: wandering...
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David K - I can'tr see those 2 images, just a red X like the link is bad
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Actually
I'm more into pictures but nope, no books in the plans. Way too many already!
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Different Conditions
It is true that the conditions in the Estero vary according to how
far South you are. At the North end, where Rancho Percebu is located,
It is fully exposed to wind conditions from the North to Northeast
quadrant and tends to get pretty rough when the wind gets up, especially
since 1997 (Nora) when the Estero became much shallower. To the South,
it will remain calm so both estimates of conditions are correct at one
time or another.
I'm reminded of the first book that Earl Stanley Gardner wrote on his
trip to La Paz (1947 ?). He had written about a particularly bad curve
that he called the "point of the picture of Death". Years after the
book's publication, he received numerous letters from people who were
critical of his description because they found it nowhere near as bad
as described. He added a note to later additions that the reason was
the area had been widened and made less dangerous so it no longer
represented what he had written so his description AND those critical
were both correct.
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Bajagato
Nomad
Posts: 129
Registered: 4-19-2004
Location: Laguna Hills
Member Is Offline
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Shell Beach/Island
Well that one picture really tells it all! I have never posted pictures on this site so I am going to try, here is bajaddict fishing in the same spot
as that guy was on the tiny island..lets see if this works....
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viabaja
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-6-2003
Location: Georgia
Member Is Offline
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Shell Beach/Island
Hey all,
Why don't we all just take out a front page ad in the L.A. Times and tell everyone what a great spot this is! This way, we can have 120 girl scouts,
more trash, everyone with a 4X4, more people fishing, & hopefully houses built!!
By the way, it isn't the Mexican shark fisherman with the trash problem (granted they do leave some by their campsites & usually it's fish
carcass's), but the Americanos. Go visit a campsite after everyone's left and you'll get the point! July 4th was the ultimate! I lost count of the
Budweiser beer cans. Granted, there are people who cool and remove their trash when they leave.
For those who say it's never crowded, I disagree. But then again, I still remember it from 70's!
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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From that picture,
I don't think an ad in the newspaper is necessary
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65215
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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RELAX!!
This is not the L.A. Times, it is Baja Nomad! You are sharing with Baja loving people, not the roudy hords from Semana Santa week (mostly from
Mexicali) and some form San Diego and Tijuana.
The people who are seeing this are the people who love Baja, respect Baja, don't leave trash on the beach... or drink Budweiser!!!
Anyway, in my 27 years camping on Shell Island it still looks the same (to me), man-made Global Warming hasn't raised the sea level (otherwise we
would never get out there anymore). The coming of pavement and a new road onto the island, bulldozed in, didn't end the island's life.
The worst campers I have witnessed who leave trash (and dirty diapers) are mostly Mexican nationals... sorry, but true. Perhaps it is because they are
not 'guests' like we are, in this land. Or it is just the time thing... we were pretty trashy before the 1960's (give a hoot don't pollute...)
I have hauled out more than I hauled in on Shell Island (and other places)... trash is gross and ugly and I love a clean Baja!
--------------------------------------------------------
BajaGato... that is a great photo (on the north end of the island looking across the mouth of the lagoon at Percebu. Good seeing you posting here!
Synch, try refreshing the page or returning another time to see the photos... Or go to where they are in my Baja Album and Nuevo Mazatlan web pages
(listed in my Index at http://community-2.webtv.net/drdrip/index )
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HotSchott
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: Sandy Eggo
Member Is Offline
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I have to agree with David K on the Shell Island thing. I have been visiting percebu since 1985 and have been camping on the island regularly for the
last five years. You gotta wanna be there to get there and if you are simply an idiot looking for a place to trash - it is a hell of a long way out
of the way. We always take a couple of full bags of trash home with us - some of it is ours. It will be a major undertaking to construct anything
out there bigger than a pile of rocks and the location is completely in the Federal Zone.
I met a guy from San Felipe that owns one of the hotels and he claims that he has title to the land. Who knows...Given the rate of development in the
area, I suspect that some burro will find a way to restrict access to the campers and it will become off limits in the next five to ten years. Or
not.
What I do know is that it takes balls to camp out there for more than a couple of days. Your basic idiot gets stuck before they get there and the
rest usually can't handle more than a day or two in the elements.
Its a cool spot and with the right kind of people going there it will stay pretty much what it is now - I hope. Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to
catch 30# Tutuava and big Corbina from the shore (like the 60's) and cook them up right on the beach?
This forum is how people get interested in places and learn to care about resources. Stewardship works. Rather than b-tch about the trash and
people, confront the problem. Pick up the trash if it bugs you (My wife and I do). Bring some extra hefty bags and ask the campers next to you to
use them. Whats the worst that can happen? They give you the finger and leave their trash anyway? For those of you fortunate enough to live down
there, why not take a few minutes out of your busy day watching the tide come in and become proactive and reverse the degradation? I would rather
have 120 girl scouts than one drug-running panga.
End of rant.
Steve
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65215
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Right on HotSchott!
HotScott is serious about his love of Baja and his Chevy 4X4!
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viabaja
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-6-2003
Location: Georgia
Member Is Offline
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All right all right!!!
You guys have put me straight (isn't this great)!!
But seriously, the majority of the trash on that beach is from people camping who are 99% American. I'm down there usually twice a month and very few
Mexicans will stay on that beach with the exception of the fishermen. They prefer the campgrounds as in Percebu
I agree also, they much don't care about the environment. But they are getting better about it.
According to Sr. Lopez, Percebu's patron, the gov't holds title to that area and have made it a marine preserve. I know the El Dorado Co. tried to
hold on to it. That empty concrete house in the mud flats & old well on the way in was theirs. I met some yahoo from L.A 3-4 years ago who claimed he
has a portion of it too. However, if some corporation came in and spent millions (jetty rocks & culvert for the road), power, water, etc., I'm sure
Fox & Co. would change their minds. I heard some Japanese Co. looked at that and determined it would have been to cost prohibitive for the return on
their money. This was several years ago.
Also, I commend everyone who takes more trash out than is brought in! Fantastic!
Mas tarde.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65215
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thank you Chris for starting this thread so we could talk about our favorite Baja beach (that's within 6 hours drive from home)!
Folks, I highly recommend you view ViaBaja's web site if this area is of interest to you. He also has GREAT historic photos of San Felipe,
Puertecitos, as well as Percebu, Shell Island, and Bahia Santa Maria over the years. http://www.viabaja.com 
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viabaja
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-6-2003
Location: Georgia
Member Is Offline
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California Rancho Adventours!
If anyone has missed this, check the link. This has been on-going for over a year now. It's being funded by the Italians. Quite the affair!!
I still can't fiqure out on how the Feds will permit the marina to be dug to ocean. It's an environmental impact issue. There is giant plan in place
to develope & upgrade current harbors (SF is part of this plan). It's on the net somewhere.
http://www.xdreamrancho.com/
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bajapablo
Nomad
Posts: 226
Registered: 1-27-2004
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bajagato, way cool photo!
\"changes it lattitudes, changes in attitudes\"
J.Buffet
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