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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Punta Baja = Real Baja
Well, my mini-trip went to the plan for the most part.
The main mission was to drop my FM-3 in Ensenada to be registered and I did that no problem. If you need to register there and want to use an agent
try Aida. She is very nice and no BS.
Cleared the border Wens around noon and stopped at Migration to get my FM stamped. 1st time I've stopped there and now probably last. It was easy but
I did overshoot it a little and had to turn back from the secondary inspection lane. It an immediate right after the red/green lights.
Cruised on down to Ensenada and got lost for a while looking for Aida at 1855 Sixth Street. Finally found it and she was closed from 2-4pm. Was hungry
so drove a little and found a restuarant full of locals so I tried it. I don't remember the name but it was across for the big church on sixth. It was
okay but not my style of cooking. Greasy stringy shredded beef. Oh well. Back to Aida's and dropped my FM3.
Over to Motel Colon. Nice little place $27/night. Clean enough and nice little courtyard to park in. Rooms have a little kitchenette but I didn't use
it.
Got cleaned up and walked down Lopez Mateos to the nightclub area. Never had been there so was interesting. Went to a fish taco stand by the
fishmarket. Two tacos 80 cents each. Pretty good.
Went to Perris night club and watched a couple of dancers. Fell in love with one beauty and decided to get the heck out before she got ALL my pesos.
Back to the Colon for a good night's sleep and reasonably early departure in the manana.
Stopped on my way out of town at a little mercado by the base for some fresh fruit. Cheap and tasty.
Stopped at home depot to price building materials. 1) 4 x 8 x 16 cement block 90 pesos. Bag of cement between 50 and 100 pesos. I don't know if
that's a good price but now I have a baseline.
Back on the road. Stopped at the new Pemex in San Vincente for coffee. Clean and nice. Noticed the wind was picking up
As I approach Colonet I can see a sahara type sand storm ahead. Never seen that before.
I stop in Camalu to look at some beachfront lots forsale. Wind incredible. Nothing too impressive but it's the beach so I'm sure someone will buy them
eventually. Too windy so don't stay long.
On into the sand storm to SQ. Fish tacos at a roadside stand. $1 apiece. Much tastier than Ensenada.
Out to my fish camp(that's what I'm calling my patch of dirt now). Pull up and flush about 30 quail out of the bushes on my lot. See a few friends who
live there and notice black brant geese still in the bay. Stragglers I guess.
Getting late and near dusk so on to El Roserio. Gets dark as I head into the hills and the hardest part is the truck headlights I can't see the edge
of the road as they approach. Note to self: don't do that again!
Baja Cactus: very nice. Normally I stay at Valle San Quintin hotel but make the extra drive because to Nomads have liked Cactus some much. Not
disappointed.
Quick shower and over to Mama Espanosa's. Best halibut fillet ever. Not to be missed. Super friendly. Eva, Mama's daughter, very nice to me.
Back to Cactus. Up early and drive out to Punta Baja. Doubt my sanity for a while as I wonder if I've made a wrong turn. Finally see the light and
know I'm there. Totally unglamorous fish camp. I love it! Very windy so not much activity. Two boats haul up as I'm there. One loaded with big
halibut. The other has about a 4 foot long white seabass. I'm in baja heaven. No english from the pangeros and not much patiences for my poor spanish
but friendly to me. Fish cleaned and retreat from the wind to their shackes and I'm alone on Punta Baja with a strong wind in my face. I don't want to
leave. I want to be a mexican pangero and forget about the rest of the world. Run away from home and join the baja fishing circus.
Back in the truck and baja 1000 my way back to the pavement. I need to get to the book signing at the Pyramind and I'm about 175 miles away. Stop at
the Pemex but no air hose to fill my tires back up. Wander in town and find a little mechanic shop and they fix me up.
Back to Ensenada and pick up my passport and land documents from Aida. 3-4 weeks and my FM3 will be ready at migration. Why so long? I don't even ask.
Back to Colon. Drive down to the clubs this time and park by El Rey Sol. Two carne asada tacos at Tacos De Sol $1 each. Delicious.
Walk around a little. Friday night and the place is hopping. No Perris night club this night. Back to Colon. On my way home on Sat and stop at book
signing. Was going to stay for 1-2 hours and stayed 4 hours. Much fun. Didn't meet everyone but they'll be a next time. Back to Costa Mesa, Ca. my
home.
Must get back to Punta Baja...
can't get that place out of my mind...my soul...don't want to.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Slowmad
Nomad
Posts: 243
Registered: 3-24-2005
Location: Alta California
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Excellent vibe...can utterly relate to wanting to drop out and be a panguero.
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Quote: | Originally posted by grover
Quote: | Originally posted by Slowmad
Excellent vibe...can utterly relate to wanting to drop out and be a panguero. | I bet there is considerably
less romance when trying to survive on their level of income.
There is also a certain level of danger they face(going so far out with a single engine.) |
Hey Grover, you killing my buzz with all your reality talk!
But I know what you're saying.
I asked them to take me out but I got the impression that it was dangerous enough without an inexperienced gringo on board. They didn't say that but
they didn't need to either. I could tell. But I'm going to ask again!
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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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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Great trip report Mike, thanks for making the extra effort to come to the Book Signing this weekend!
C-ya in Baja sometime...
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Great trip report Mike, thanks for making the extra effort to come to the Book Signing this weekend!
C-ya in Baja sometime... |
Yeah it was great talking to you and your wife. That book signing was a great way to cap the trip.
I wanted every book but limited myself to one. Graham Machintosh, "Into a desert place". It's making me even more Bajaloco!
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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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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Ya, I bought God and Mr. Gomez 10 years ago and ended up building a house because of it, at the actual location of the book's story.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64946
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It was very nice meeting you fishbuck (Mike)!
[Edited on 5-8-2007 by David K]
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Same here Fishbuck I really enjoy your flying stories,it was a pleasure meeting you
Books that I bought,All three from Bernie+(free Bouncing around Baja sticker)
One from graham
In the shadow of a volcano by the late Mike H..
[Edited on 5-8-2007 by BAJACAT]
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Slowmad
Nomad
Posts: 243
Registered: 3-24-2005
Location: Alta California
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Quote: | Originally posted by grover
Quote: | Originally posted by Slowmad
Excellent vibe...can utterly relate to wanting to drop out and be a panguero. | I bet there is considerably
less romance when trying to survive on their level of income.
There is also a certain level of danger they face(going so far out with a single engine.) Quite a few years ago a real nice guy named Chago(Santiago)
went out from Punta San Carlos(south of Punta Baja about 30 miles) and was never heard from again. |
Thanks for sucking out the aloha, Grover.
I'd also like to continue my Misery Tourist trip by working as a Bombay shipbreaker.
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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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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Punta Baja.... A pretty cool place. Spent some good times out there in the past couple of years. I'd like to take my tin boat out there and launch
it.
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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Slowmad
Nomad
Posts: 243
Registered: 3-24-2005
Location: Alta California
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That stretch has the old school grit.
The blown-out fish camp a couple of hours south has been referred to as Fecal Point.
You KNOW there're some mondo WSB finning around that zone.
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Quote: | Originally posted by Slowmad
That stretch has the old school grit.
The blown-out fish camp a couple of hours south has been referred to as Fecal Point.
You KNOW there're some mondo WSB finning around that zone. |
Fecal Point? That doesn't sound good. Can you explain that a little better.
I took a picture of the big sea bass and will try to post it eventually.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Slowmad
Nomad
Posts: 243
Registered: 3-24-2005
Location: Alta California
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Just a gag (pun intended) name for Fernando.
The arroyo camp spot is filled with broken glass, rusted nails, and flash-dried growlers.
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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SteveU
Newbie
Posts: 13
Registered: 3-9-2004
Location: Palm Desert
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Anyone seen decent surf at Punta Baja?
I've checked it out just a couple of times, spent the night a little up the bay once, but have never seen "surfable" waves. The point itself looks
like it would pick up a south swell perfectly!
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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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Quote: | Originally posted by SteveU
I've checked it out just a couple of times, spent the night a little up the bay once, but have never seen "surfable" waves. The point itself looks
like it would pick up a south swell perfectly! |
I know what you mean about the point itself... looks like it would break nice on the right swell. Never seen it do that yet.
South of the point there are a few places that break nice. I've only ridden it knee-waist high, but you could ride it for a LONG way. Again, looks
like it would be killer on the right swell. That whole area south of the point is one big long shelf/reef. It breaks shallow with the occasional
rock or two, but the wave has a nice shape.
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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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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Mood: Tengo Flojera
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Quote: | Originally posted by Slowmad
Just a gag (pun intended) name for Fernando.
The arroyo camp spot is filled with broken glass, rusted nails, and flash-dried growlers. |
and a burned out Panga...needs a good cleaning, a good rain would help...
Cool report..heading for that zone next month...can't wait.
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Slowmad
Nomad
Posts: 243
Registered: 3-24-2005
Location: Alta California
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Was talking about Newcamp proper...yours looks positively pristine!
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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"God and Mr. Gomez"
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Bobbuzz
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 5-22-2007
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Is it possible to tow a 15' tin boat out to Punta Baja with 4WD? And launch?
Would launching require taking boat off of trailer and sliding down to water.
By looking at Google earth it looks to be pretty protected on the south side of point. It appears as if the vehicle tracks go right to the waters
edge.
Any help? Any pics?
Thanks in advance.
Bajabuzz
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64946
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Punta Baja and beyond, road log & photos: http://vivabaja.com/1205
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