surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
Member Is Offline
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X-mas trip.....
Leave Orange County 6 A.M. Wednesday 22....never get up that early but was packed the night before and couldn't get back to sleep after briefly
getting up and decided to hit the 405 south...gas up at Shell station on Dairy Mart Road...6.8 gallons (16.4 mpg) and head across...lots of northbound
traffic at this hour (got to remember this for future trips)...pass through Ensenada and checkpoint and finally feel like I am in BAJA....green...lots
of green on the hills everywhere result of past rains...different than the typical Baja Brown we usually see...next stop is El Rosario for gas...230
miles 50 liters 17.7 MPG...two uniformed attendents working the pumps-windows cleaned-pumps honest-exchange rate honest-gave him a nice tip and told
him Merry X-mas and we both left happy...traffic light both N and S ...no close encounters especially with the "crooked cops of Catavina" which I
didn't see ...late afternoon and I now believe I can make my campsight before
nightfall (it shall remain secret-thanks 4baja)...accually is a well known spot in the SISTERS area...find Santa Rosalitta turnoff...sun getting low
as it is past 4 P.M....but still time...have GPS cordinates with me for the turnoff as it is hard to see if it is dark...but don't want to use it if I
can help it...finding a camp at night is not my favorite thing...wanted to lower air pressure for the dirt but no time now...will go as is...hard
pack dirt/gravel all weather road and mostly in good shape...decide to "baja-it"and race the setting sun...road empty...I'm off-35-40-45-50-52 maxed
out at 55 once or twice but held steady 50 mostly...Surfer Jim = Ironman...find my beach just after sunset but still good light and get my favorite
spot @ 5 P.M....11 hour drive but I am here now and discover a flat front tire...must just happened...lucky day I guess...will fix in the morning...
Thurs-Fri-Sat....came to surf...started knee high-waist high (2-3 feet) Thursday...just rideable....big Santa Ana winds hit that night and blow all
the way until sunset Friday when it backed down...steady 20-25 with gusts to 40+ by my guess...Friday surf picked up to head high plus (4-8
feet)...lots of wind-too much- but still great rides...Sat . winds return to normal "onshore" ...surf holds at 4-8 but wind keeps it less than great
conditions...will feast on SPAM and yellow rice for X-mas dinner....
1070 AM radio from LA forecasts clouds/rain Sun-Tuesday in LA...Sunday A.M. brings clouds and south wind which is a curse for surf so I decide to
leave early and go to BOLA...see lots of surfers heading my as I leave so it was a good choice...easy 3 hour drive to La Gringa...get $30 dollars gas
= 42 L in town....late lunch is leftover X-mas dinner...off to fish- no luck- even my new mirrolure fails me...cool steady light breeze chops water
and overcast gray sky with a few raindrops greats me in the morning and still no fish means...time to leave....
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by surfer jim]
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by surfer jim]
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by surfer jim]
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by surfer jim]
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by surfer jim]
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
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Been camping and surfing the sisters the last three New Year's but went to Oregon to see my family this year. Yah, those Santa Anas really kick in
down there, eh? Two years ago, at 5AM, everything that wasn't tied down blew off the point into the surf, including the sunshade! You gotta love
it......
Thanks for the post, sounds like an excellent Xmas!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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hey jim-
was right up the road from ya during first part of your trip. unfortunately, we never got anything but those "howling" santa ana's. made it damn near
impossible to surf-1 go-out in four days. probably could have made a go once or twice more but the "locals" were a great distraction from the waves.
[Edited on 1-2-2005 by woody in ob]
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pappy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 679
Registered: 12-10-2003
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just got back from same area-had been there since x-mas. got to meet up with 4baja at the usual spot.we were treated to rain and southwind every day ,
with one day of sun.no fish bitin'(heck if 4baja can't get any then you know it's bad fishin')only reason we ever got in the water(2 times) was to
"clean-up" more than anything.basically, we spent a week hunkered down in my screen room, with a constant fire going, reading and playing
yahtzee-definitely a good time!!
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
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Mood: Adventurous
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Thanks Jim! Nice report.
I guess the East wind never did die down. It was howling while we were there just before you. You made it in 11 hours.... good time! Nothing like a
winter solstice trip to baja!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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hey pappy, how hard did it rain on you ? it barely peeed in BOLA. good to see you again and we had a great time in bola with all my buddys. ran into
packoderm and downed a few beers with him so life was good. on the way home i lost my hitch on the ventura freeway and had to limp into oxnard with
just a strap holding it. fixed it with in 45 minutes and was on my way. way to much fun and may head down again in a month. let me know if you want to
make a trip with me to my place for a long weekend of rideing queds and downing beers. say your truck jim but on my return you were gone allready. i
missed all the wind this time.
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pappy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 679
Registered: 12-10-2003
Member Is Offline
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4baja-rained more or less continually, with one night pounding for hours.we kept thinking"ah, just one more day and it will clear up..." should have
rolled over to join in on the fun at bola
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