PHOTO: This is Old School. Keeping it simple...blue water...a panga boat...some beer...some sunshine and a fish on the end of the line.


THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING


Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of February 24, 2009



Well, it finally happened. After many false starts, they opened a golf course here in La Paz. Well, they opened the driving range part but the rest of the big green park is supposed to be open in a few months.

They also broke ground on two other courses here in town. I have to admit to mixed emotions.

Let me say that I’m not a golfer. I learned long ago that I have no aptitude for it and given the fanaticism I see among my golfing buddies, that’s probably a good thing. I have enough vices and toys to fill my garage…fishing and fishing gear being among them. I’m just not into spending my day chasing a little white ball all over.

But, I do have a world of admiration for anyone who can do it. It’s a helluva skill. I can lay claim to once shooting a 68 and I’d have done even better if my ball hadn’t hit the windmill before bouncing through the castle and missing the clown’s mouth. But that’s as good as it gets.

But, a lot of folks like golf and so do a lot of my fishing friends and clients. Power to them, I’m glad we can now offer that service and another vacation activity…just like Loreto. Just like East Cape and just like Cabo!

Yes, just like Cabo. That’s where it kinda gets caught in my throat. Just like Cabo. Hmmmm…

I like Cabo San Lucas a lot. For a lot of reasons. But having a golf course just seems to smack of all the things that people came to Baja to escape and things that I hear on a daily basis about why folks are looking for other Baja destinations. Golf is an icon that changes the landscape geographically, socially, and culturally like no other. Think about that.

In and of itself, it’s not the problem. But play free-form-association with the word “golf” and you get related words like clubhouse, estates, tennis clubs, exclusive country clubs, traffic, restaurants, boutique mall, parking lot, blah blah blah. You get the point. Take it further and you come up with marinas, yachts, booze cruise, para-gliding, beach rentals, noise…sound familiar?

Man, wha’ happened? Que paso?
Tell ya what. We brought it with us and I’m as guilty as the next person. And I understand the phenomenon that strikes us all who find a piece of paradise and

(a) Don’t want it to ever change and/or
(b) Don’t want anyone else to move in after us

I’m being very selfish. And God bless progress and I can only hope it’s done right. I’m sure I’ll go give it another try!

Still, I had to cringe over a conversation I heard when I ducked into a local taco stand for a quick lunch. Four new “transplants” were having a conversation that pretty much centered on:

Not being able to find a decent gardner who would work for less than 10 dollars a day.
How slow the service was at the new Burger King and how locals did not understand the concept of “fast service.”

Where the ladies yacht club would hold it’s “high tea luncheon.”

How much gas their Humvee was using these days.

Exhale...Cringe...Shake my head...

In contrast it was so refreshing to get a call today from some guys who wanted to go fishing next month.

“We don’t need fancy. We’re jus’ some good old boys who want a room that has some hot water. We need some beer and a boat that goes forward and won’t sink and do some fishing. Simple as that!”

I’m gonna miss that old school. It’s a dwindling breed. But I’d better learn to play golf or at least get my ball past the windmill.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

PHOTO 1: Heavy afternoon traffic on the Baja freeway...

PHOTO 2: If the phone doesn't ring it's me...

PHOTO 3: Shoveling snow can wait. The only ice you see will be inside a margarita glass!

MORE THAN IT EVER WAS...STILL A GREAT VALUE

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News Week of Feb. 12, 2009

By the time you’re reading this, I’m not sure where we’ll be but since the first week of January, we’ve been on the road criss-crossing the western U.S. This is the time of year when we hit the major fishing/hunting outdoor shows held in most major metros.

This is the one time of year when we come out’ve Baja and get to actually set up our booth and meet so many of our old amigos and clients and hopefully meet new ones. It’s nice to be in the U.S. for awhile! (I sure miss In-N-Out Burgers!)

Moreso, it’s a great time to see what’s been happening in the rest of the industry and catch up with other friends who run similar operations, not just in Baja or Mexico, but other parts of the U.S., North America and the world.

By the time you read this, we’ll have finished appearances in San Francisco, Sacramento, Denver and Portland. Still to come are Phoenix, Salt Lake, and of course the Fred Hall Fishing Show in Long Beach.

It’s a lot like being a modern day carnival worker as we all travel with each other from show to show. The Alaska salmon guys…the Costa Rica outfitters…the Canadian guides…the S.African bowhunters…the Himalayan trekkers…the Baja charter services…all bouncing down the road from show to show. It’s usually the only time we have to catch up with each other after busy seasons.

Invariably, we all talk about the economy. As goes the U.S. economy, so goes the travel biz. With less disposable income these days, it’s not easy to go on vacation and most of us entered the trade show season wondering with trepidation. We see those booths that are empty. We hear hear horror stories about those outfitters and guides that are struggline. For many of us 2008 was a tougher year. What about 2009?

Well, from what I’m hearing at ground zero, 2009 may not be so gloomy. There’s no denying that things are tight, but after speaking to thousands of people during the last month as well as to a number of Baja operators, projections are good and just support things many of us have known for ages about Baja.

People are still travelling to Baja. Not just Baja veterans, but first-timers are coming to Baja as well. It’s being “discovered” by a whole new flock of vistors. With airline rates decreasing and the dollar going strong against the peso, it’s still one of the best values for the buck.

Think about it. Name a single place where you can still get world-class fishing just a few hours flight from the U.S. border. Where else can you find incredible scuba, kayaking, whale watching, windsurfing, spearfishing, and off-road running and other activities for which Baja is known. There aren’t many with that combination.

And certainly, if you can think of a place, you certainly can’t do it for the price of a Mexican vacation.

For me and Joe Average, it’s still possible to take a great vacation and not dip into the rent money. For the cost of one day in Vegas or one day in Canada or Hawaii, you can stay for almost a whole week in Mexico. And bring the wife or kids too if you wanted. Also, being so close, you can do it over a long weekend and spend more time enjoying and less time traveling.

A quick survey of a number of Baja operators showed me that they’re holding the line on prices; adding more amenties; beefing up services and doing their best to remain attractive to vacationers.

As one Baja operator told me, “People still have to go on vacation. Money is tough, but Baja fills a nice niche. You get world class quality adventure without paying world-class prices and for many Americans, it’s just a short plane ride away.”

Is it safe? We hear that a lot too.

“Unfortunately, there’s problems near the border cities. There’s no denying that the druggies are fighting each other, “ said one fishing operator. “But that’s up around the border and it’s between the drug dealers going after each other, not necessarily tourists.”

“It’s all perception,” added the owner of a scuba operation from Cabo. “I have friends who don’t go to California anymore because they think they will get killed in a drive-by shootings in Los Angeles. We know that gangs don’t roam Los Angeles looking for tourists.”

“Thousands of people cross the border everyday for work and play. Plane after plane unloads in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Loreto filled with families and tourists. Banditos don’t jump out from behind the rocks. Nothing happens. People have a great time,” he added.

Just across the border. Still a great value. More than it ever was.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.