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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
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Many moons ago (1986) while on a kayak trip from San Philepe to La Paz, with a small group, we had hoped to overnight in Conception Bay, somewhere
near Santispac. Fill up our water supply go to eat at Anna's and celebrate x-mas. To our suprise Santispac was wall to wall with trailers and campers
and people. Hardly room to even walk around. The Mex. Navy was present and was trying to get rid of some of the campers. We were told many of the
trailer people that had been living there for years were dumping raw sewage into the stagnet water lagoon on the south west side of the property
there. And consequently this was the second year in a row, that there had been an ecoli and hepatitus outbreak due to the poluted water that was
affecting birdlife and fishlife and was spreading to humans. We got out of there quick. Even then, it seemed if you added up all the population say
from Santa Rosalilla, San Lucas, San Bruno and Mulege during the winter months it would add up to alot more than 3100 people. Raw sewage stinks!!!!
++C++
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slimshady
Nomad
Posts: 291
Registered: 9-3-2008
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Yea it sucks for the average citizens of mexico. But as a visitor one has to take advantage of the exchange rate, less traffic, and discounts all over
the los cabos areas for example. If there ever was a time to visit, this is it.
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ecomujeres
Nomad
Posts: 299
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Mulege, BCS & Oakland, CA
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Bob & Sue:
When we first came to Mulege in 1990, the population sign read 3111. While the sign has not changed, the population has in the last 19 years! 
About 4 years ago, Mario at the Post Office estimated the population at just over 5000 (last census in 2000) locals.
Don't know how this difference would affect the ability to have a sewage treatment plant. The valley as it is has way too many septic tanks per acre
than it should for leaching without polluting the ground water and the river. That's not even taking into account the illegal dumping into the river
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muleg%C3%A9
Mulegé is a town in…Baja California Sur, situated at the mouth of the Mulege' River.
It had a population of 3,317 in the 2005 census.
Find out the size of your town of Okland CA...then...
today ask your mailman what he thinks the number is...
he WON'T know and won't even be close.
(your number is 420,183 )
In the winter there may be 5000 here but
from may to nov the number is 3000.
[Edited on 8-24-2009 by Bob and Susan]
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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That population sign has not changed since it was first erected when the highway went in back in '73.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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MulegeAL
Nomad
Posts: 299
Registered: 8-25-2009
Location: PDX/Mulege
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In my experience last year, raw sewage in the river is not the main source of the smells, ag practices upstream contribute a heavy load of organics to
the river, which is really a poorly flushing estuary.
I went to a town hall meeting with one of the local farmers to listen in and got an education. Farmers have been burning the slash in the oasis &
their fields since Spanish occupation (probably way longer than that.) That is no longer allowed, and organics accumulate, rot and that leads to
anerobic water conditions (the stink.) In addition, modern-era ag practices have resulted in loads of nitrate fertilizer that contribute to
bacterial/algae growth.
I thought the river had a busted sewer main in it, turns out it wasn't so. Water flow is low, and the lower river doesn't flush too good sometimes.
That combined with wind/tide conditions makes some days better, some worse.
I walked/rode the sewer line that goes north over the hill from the pump stations. Do most people know that the city sewer goes over the hill past
the soccer field and into a pair of lagoons, one of which is in use but usually dry? That area is a good natural drainfield of gradiated rock/sand
running north all the way to the beach.
After I looked into all this I felt like a noisy gringo for a while but that was part of the education for me.
I don't think it is as bad as it used to be based on the fishing I witnessed last winter; nice corvina and some big bass of some type from up by the
bridge. Those wouldn't be there if the river was getting much worse.
Can't wait to get back!
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Under normal conditions there's only a trickle of water flowing into the river from upstream, a trickle. The major water movement in the river is
tidal. The area near the bridge is sort of a dead end.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Not that it would be any consolation, but the sewage stench has been a chronic problem in San Jose del Cabo for years. It also unfortunately is right
next to businesses hotels and homes, including some of the best restaurants in town. And yes, their treatment plant releases product into a slow
moving estuary.
Or for that matter, in Ensendada, there is a treatment plant across from the navy base. It abuts several hotels and restaurants. I've been at the
Palmas Al Paraiso hotel, when we actually had to check out, for the stench. There appears to be an overall lack of planning for growth.
[Edited on 8-25-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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OLIGUACOMOLE
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 4-16-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Not that it would be any consolation, but the sewage stench has been a chronic problem in San Jose del Cabo for years. It also unfortunately is right
next to businesses hotels and homes, including some of the best restaurants in town. And yes, their treatment plant releases product into a slow
moving estuary.
Or for that matter, in Ensendada, there is a treatment plant across from the navy base. It abuts several hotels and restaurants. I've been at the
Palmas Al Paraiso hotel, when we actually had to check out, for the stench. There appears to be an overall lack of planning for growth.
[Edited on 8-25-2009 by Bajahowodd] |
I think the sewer outlet used to be (20 Years ago) just outside the Ensenada harbor entrance. Will never forget the time I came into Ensenada from San
Diego and one of the people aboard puucked when the stench spot was reached.
In Mexico I do not consider it a stink....it is the smell of success!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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for mulege...
remember there are ONLY 3000 permanent residents...
most of Mulege residences use a septic systems.
ONLY the downtown area is served by the city sewer system.
after the sewage reaches the gravitational tank
it is pumped to an oxidation area
approximately 1 ˝ miles from the beach.
if the system fills and overflows,
it is treated with chlorine and dumped into the river.
the sewer pump system has been in service since 1984
and is in need upgrading.
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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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Good take
| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
| Quote: | Originally posted by ElFaro
Reasons for not going to Baja...
#1 - Economic...people are not spending extra $s in Baja. I just came from Ensenada Tuesday 8/11...there's no gringo tourists to be found. Only ones
I saw were what looked like 3 veteran fisherman coming up who stopped for lunch.
#2 - Long lines at the border both directions and inspection hassles...I can't say enough about this but it may be tied for #1. I towed a trailer
down last week and stayed in Ensenada for a few days. Counting the toll booths I have to stop now at a combined 5 toll stations and 6 inspections for
going down and coming up. Heading south DHS stopped me just B4 the line at San Ysidro, made me stop, shut off the engine, and proceeded to inspect
the inside of my trailer. Then as I went through the TJ crossing I was directed to Mex. secondary for the same inspection only add checking our
paperwork. Coming back we were inspected by the Mex. army at the San Miguel toll and then again by the Mex. marines at the Blvd. 2000 "T" intersction
at Fox Studios. Then the inspection at the Tecate border by DHS and then again by the Border Patrol checkpoint on Hwy. 94. This kind of Govt. red
tape is a turnoff to those who infrequently travel to Baja.
#3 - U.S. Passport and Mex. visa requirements...I think people don't feel it's worth the hassle or cost to get them for maybe going to Baja a few
times per year.
#4 - Bad Press of killings, etc...goes w/o saying already been dealt with here and other threads.
#5 - Investment Horror stories...already dealt with in other threads.
The only foreigners I see now in Baja are the veteran travelers who have always structured their lives to include Baja, those who have permanent homes
that will necessarily have to go down, and those Canadians that feel they need Baja as a 2nd home in the winter. |
I have found that these circumstances have created an improvement. Only the people who really like Baja come. These are of course, wonderful people
like Baja Nomads.
The nice hotels and restaurants are in full operation. I know many of my friends who run travel facilities and trips are already heavily booked for
winter.
When I visit/speak to friends in California for example at recent surf and kitesurf competitions, the first thing everyone asks is about schedules and
trips and everyone I know is going to Baja this winter and absolutely can't wait to visit BCS, again.
Yeah its a shakeout, but the result is an improvement in overall quality experience.
Party at Jesse's
Wahoooo Baja! |
Thanks, exactly correct.... 
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
One positive is there are fewer caravans to deal with on Mex 1!
Ken |
Yah, and several millions fewer tourist dollars going to feed Mexican families. Caravans leave a ton of money in Mexico!!!
OUR caravan business is down 75% at this time, which will probably lose just those nice beach vendors in Concepcion maybe $3,000 in revenues!
Don't be so self centered, Ken.
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OLIGUACOMOLE
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 4-16-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
One positive is there are fewer caravans to deal with on Mex 1!
Ken |
Yah, and several millions fewer tourist dollars going to feed Mexican families. Caravans leave a ton of money in Mexico!!!
OUR caravan business is down 75% at this time, which will probably lose just those nice beach vendors in Concepcion maybe $3,000 in revenues!
Don't be so self centered, Ken. |
Barry in my opinion you are one of the good guys! I hope things do pick up for you...and they will. Our caravan business was less than 10%. We had 6
days of the usual 60 scheduled last year.
I know when the busiess is good for the vendors because they will come in and play pool and drink discount beers and cokes when they make money....not
this year! Poor guys!
We hope to see you and Vanda every year.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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Ah, the good old days are back!!!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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OLIGUACOMOLE
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 4-16-2009
Member Is Offline
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When in Mulege today all the city hall employees have plastic chairs out front. This happened yesterday as well. From what I was told they are on
strike for not getting their pay.
I wanted to go make sandwiches for them as a show of support, but other Mexicans from Mulege foohey the idea claiming most drive newer cars and have
better benifits than most.
I get the feeling that the Mexican general population has no pity on the govt.
Anybody want a baloney sandwich????
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
One positive is there are fewer caravans to deal with on Mex 1!
Ken |
Yah, and several millions fewer tourist dollars going to feed Mexican families. Caravans leave a ton of money in Mexico!!!
OUR caravan business is down 75% at this time, which will probably lose just those nice beach vendors in Concepcion maybe $3,000 in revenues!
Don't be so self centered, Ken. |
Barry and Vanda,
Not been selfcentered at all, it was a bit of dark humor, not intended to ruffle any feathers. All of the negatives of the current situation in Baja
have been discused here often, including this thread. I am sensitive to the plight of the locals trying to get by every bit as much as you.
I am sure you run a first class operation.
Many here have discussed the situation of trying to pass caravans that don't have the sense to space out so they can be safely overtaken. I am not the
first to bring this up.
I'm sorry your business is being hurt along with many others, including some other Nomads.
Hoping for a better year for your business in 2010!
Ken
[Edited on 8-26-2009 by tripledigitken]
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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I'll take one! Thanks!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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i tried to pass one of barry and vands caravans last year south of ensenada...
i honked...FINALLY
those guys were doing 70 mph WOW!!!
that caravan was moving
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Jeez,
Another problem to worry about, being passed by caravans!
Ken
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Mark & Olivia: Thanks for the nice words! We felt bad for all the beach vendors last year & have piles of blankets & pots @ home to show
for it. I hate to think how bad business will be for them this coming winter.
Ken: OK, sorry for blowing up. Guess I am a little sensitive to years of caravan bashing. You're generally a pretty  guy on the forum.
BTW: any Nomads finding themselves held up behind our caravans, just honk & wave at the tailgunner. He will get on the CB & make everyone else
help you get by ASAP. If you see us camped, come by for a Dos Equis
Stay thirsty my friends!
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