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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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| 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.....
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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Looks like you had a great trip to Shell Island. Very nice photos
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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David, so no problem with the wind?..it was pretty bad in Gonzaga.
We did 1-1/2 hr border wait in Tecate @ 3:00 pm on Monday
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| 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!
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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. 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJACAT
David, so no problem with the wind?..it was pretty bad in Gonzaga.
We did 1-1/2 hr border wait in Tecate @ 3:00 pm on Monday |
No wind problem during the day, and only a strong wind Sunday night...
Saturday was flat... see the water behind BajaRob's quads. Then just a 'normal daytime breeze Sunday and Monday. We did have a strong blow Sunday
night... very strong, but we slept through it and the sun canopy or tables didn't blow over.
Looking forward to your trip report Jose!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18102
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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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
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norte
Super Nomad
Posts: 1163
Registered: 10-8-2008
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| 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
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Keep smoking those cigs David...and driving on the beach where I am sure nothing lives.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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now i have heard everything....concern about harming beach critters by driving. hahahaha.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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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... 
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18102
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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...
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how many turn nests did you destroy driving, walking and camping above tidal zone?
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18102
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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... |
that is interesting! you found the only estuary in the world that has no deposition, no compaction subsidence, and absolute zero elevation change.
you have discovered a static estuary, frozen in perpetuity. congratulations!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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| 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...
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how many turn nests did you destroy driving, walking and camping above tidal zone? |
This is why I mainly drive below the tidal line. The nesting turns are very difficult to see, especially at ~30 m.p.h. (and in 2WD if you drive a
Rubicon w/full-time Limited slip).
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
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Heck, some in our group almost stepped on the eggs in David K's picture when we walked across the lagoon to the open water. Before we saw the nest,
the terns were going crazy. I didn't make the connection. One tern flew down and almost attacked my buddies wife.
At that time, the baby terns just hatched within the hour.
On our way back we couldn't find the nest because it was so camouflaged.
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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David, that pic from last year brings back memories of the bad tequila that we drank the night before :-).
I'm happy you and your family and friends had a trouble-free and enjoyable memorial weekend, though I really feel bad I missed it. I'm working real
hard to get my $4000 windshield job done in time for the 4th of July weekend at Shell Beach!!!
[Edited on 6-2-2011 by edm1]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by edm1
David, that pic from last year brings back memories of the bad tequila that we drank the night before :-).
I'm happy you and your family and friends had a trouble-free and enjoyable memorial weekend, though I really feel bad I missed it. I'm working real
hard to get my $4000 windshield job done in time for the 4th of July weekend at Shell Beach!!!
[Edited on 6-2-2011 by edm1] |
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)
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64742
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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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! 
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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Here is the same fish in a little better shape one month ago on our previous trip.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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| 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!
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Works for me... nice set up... must "light it up" just fine...
Thanks for the pictures... and tidal movement has always amazed me... that it could change that much... very quickly... too, in some cases...
[Edited on 6-2-2011 by wessongroup]
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2107
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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Thanks for the report and photos! I can`t even imagine the horror of having the gate close after waiting 3 hours!!! Could have been a few angry
customers!!
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