I have a problem. Well, maybe many of us share in this problem. The peninsula directly to the south of Sin Diego hosts some of my finest memories of surf sessions. It holds the potential to fill every one of my vacation days for the rest of my life with right hand point break surf. I like to camp. I like to get dirty. I like to speak in mangled Spanish. I like to surf without a crowd. I like to set a fishy on the high line in conditions that suit it completely. I like to drive past where the gringo masses are "adventuring" and actually go on a little adventure.
However, I am not tough. I am not intimidating. I am, yes, well, er, umm...scared. Maybe saddened is the right term. Between the exploding development down to Ensenada and the growing crime problems a question emerges- is California Sur a risk/reward scenario that makes sense?
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8 comments:
we went down to las gaviotas a couple weeks back. may as well have been in OC or SD with all of the people. i was really concerned all the way there and back to the border.
from what i've seen i'd rather buy a 4/3 and take my chances with the central coast than deal with new wild west that is baja.....
just my two cents.
jp
At least you guys have the luxury of "wondering" about whether or not to make the drive past the shit for the goods in BCN. As a surfer in Seattle who also loves Mex, I have to fly to San Diego just to get the adventure started! However, this burden has led us to choose to fly into BCS and drive northward to some wonderful, warm, yet totally dirty and realtively gringo-free spots, all within 100 km north of Cabo.
I've so been so busy raising kids since I moved down here I've never surfed down there. I started researching it this year to take a maiden voyage and I wasn't thrilled with what I read and heard. Like JP suggests, maybe points way north with a new Patagonia wetsuit is the new Baja (sorry PNWer's). I was going to blog about that UT article and asks folks what they think is the real deal - separate media hype/scare tactics from reality - but JP's response isn't encouraging.
I was down Labor day and once since. I didn't notice anything really different besides the increasing development. These stories have me spooked. Still, I think there are good scenarios for visiting Baja- san jacinto, cuatros, known gringo spots should be okay. My question is whether the classic points are too sketchy. It certainly has lost some of its allure. Bummed.
I fight with this alot. If it were just me, I'd still be all over it. Now with 3 kids, I'm not sure I can risk it. Either with the family or without, not sure about taking the chance. Wife says it's over for a while and she hates to fly. I was OK with just waiting until sunrise and cruising down during the day, but since Pat Weber got held up in his Motorhome at Quatro Quasas, thats changed things a bit. We've known him for years, so it hits a little closer. I couldn't imagine going through that, especially what they did to his girlfriend. My heart goes out to them. I'm now thinking a straight daytime shot at least past El Rosario, then it should be safe.
Understand the lure, but over it for now. As brown said, wife and daughter change things for sure. Not worth the risk.
I like the plan to head down to el rosario area. Have you heard of anything truly sketchy down at Rosalalita, Alejandros, The Wall...?
My wife is sketchy on Baja at the best of times. I think it'll be on hold for a while.
Did Pat Weber get assaulted at quatros near Richard's place? Was he farther south closer to Camalu? Details?
Sorry to say that bad things have happened down there too, though not yet this year (that I know of). There was a rape/murder near Ale's in 99. An ugly attempted carjack occurred three winters ago on the coastal road too.
The new pavement and graded road are bringing in Mama Espinoza's proverbial "all kinds of people."
Meth problems in San Q and Jesus Maria are leaking north and south.
Keep your wits about you.
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