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Postcard No 11 - Baja Mexico
29.06.05
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| The Baja Desert - looks like rain coming, yeah right! |
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Leland logging some airtime at the chilli bowl
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Will Thorp carving up the point |
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Photo credits: Carmen Sulzberger
Just a quick update from us as we head north from Mexico to Oregon. Camping on the Californian coast is luxurious compared to the frigid, wind blasted desert of Punta San Carlos in Baja, Mexico. Driving down through Baja we were all a little uncertain what to expect, we knew we needed
Tourist Cards but where from exactly, we had heard the stories off the military stealing from you at the various check points, boarder crossing dramas, needing to carry some cash but not too much in orrder to pay-off the Mexican Policeman should we be pulled over and then there is the witching hours of darkness. Luckily, we drove down and back with no dramas.
The road into Punta San Carlos was not as bad as we had imagined; however, you do need a 4 wheel drive and as for taking in a 24' RV - what a mission that looks like! It takes about 2 hours from the main road (M1) across the desert to reach Punta San Carlos - or 1 1/2 hours if Will is driving!
For those folks who are not familiar with Punta San Carlos, it comprises 3 separate breaks, the Bombora, the Point and the Chilli Bowl. When a south swell rolls through (generally from a NZ storm) the 3 breaks link up, forming one long wave and it is this famous long right-hander that we wanted to experience. There was quite a bit of kelp in the water, which
none of us expected, causing a bit of jip on the first day. But we soon realised that the old windsurf adage 'speed is your friend' was the best way in dealing to the kelp. We managed to sail for only 50% of the time in shoulder to head high waves with the odd logo set coming though. The famous super long waves didn't happen for us as the swell was too small. But we did get some great rides from the Point into the Chilli Bowl. For us it was small waveboards (69 - 74 ltr) and mainly 5.3 sails for the days there was wind; however, most folks had larger boards than this.
The wind is really offshore, which was good for learning airs but made picking up waves difficult and top turns super windy. It seems that we were there at the best time to get swell and wind but we just lucked out on catching an epic session.
Two weeks was along time camping in such primitive conditions and coping with the cold winds, cold water and unrelenting dust, which coated everything in its path. Mexico is totally cool and so cheap, with great tasting tacos. We all really enjoyed trying somewhere different - Punta San Carlos is a real adventure.
Will is now back in Plimmerton and we are currently at Jalama Beach, checking out the famous wave sailing spots on the Cali coast as we head to The Gorge.
Rock on, Carmen and Leland.
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