Cat 3 hurricane hits La Ventana and Los Barriles

[windfind]

Hi Gang,

Hurricane Odile made landfall Sunday night as a Category 3 storm near Baja Sur's Cabo San Lucas with an estimated intensity of 125 mph. Initial reports of extensive damage to some resorts but no loss of life.

No reports yet from La Ventana and Los Barriles on Baja's East Cape. Initial reports have the hurricane going inland as it approached the East Cape which typically means weaker winds.

Here are reports about previous Baja Hurricanes at San Carlos, La Ventana and Los Barriles:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/travel.iws?genID=5

With the heavy rains the population of BoBo's will be high near the beaches in the mornings if you arrive very early season in Oct. or early November.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com

[windfind]

Huricana Odile Aftermath from Ventana View

Hi to all, Jimena here, I'm stuck in mazatlan and I have been able to talk to my family in la paz and la ventana. Everyone is sound and safe. cell phone service, internet and power are down and no one knows when it will be restored. The damage is too big on all power lines, cell and radio towers all over baja. Only land line phones work. La ventana was lucky and only minor structures where lost, little shacks and roofs. Palapas ventana is sound and safe. La paz and cabo are a different story. But no human losses. Airports are closed and until power is restored . there will be no flights until further notice. do not worry!! Everyone is ok! Thank you for checking in. Love to all. - jimena-
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Still no other specific reports from our area but here is some extensive info thanks to Baja Pony Express & Baja Western Onion, especially the TalkBaja Facebook postings.

++ http://www.eebmike.com/ for updates on the next event ... Tropical Storm Polo. Roberta

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~~Bridge at Cuaduano is out. No crossing the arroyo as yet. From: Rancho LaVenta. Km 144.5 Tran Pen Hwy 1, B.C.S. Mx.

~~Cabo news site: http://www.itravel-cabo.com/

~~ FaceBook: TalkBaja or https://www.facebook.com/groups/TalkBaja/

~~http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/2014/turistas-traslado-varados-bcs-1038595.html
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~~Via the www.BajaWesterOnion.com note from the US Consulate.

Hurricane Odile in Baja California Sur

Tijuana, BC, September 16, 2014.- American Officers are closely monitoring Hurricane Odile and its effects on Mexico. The welfare and safety of American citizens outside the United States is the number one priority of the Department of State. Although Baja California Sur is a popular destination for American tourists, the American Consulate in Tijuana has not received any report that any American citizen has died or been injured in Baja California Sur.

Information about evacuations
The Mexican Army is in the process of transporting American citizens stranded at three airports in Baja California Sur (Airport Cabo San Lucas, the International Airport of San Jose del Cabo, and the Manuel Márquez de León International Airport in La Paz.) Military Forces are advising that any American citizen wishing to be evacuated, should go to the nearest airport and as soon as possible. For more information on these flights, please contact local authorities. Flights have been arriving in Tijuana, Mazatlan, Guadalajara and Mexico City. American government officials at these airports are offering additional assistance to their fellow citizens.

For American citizens affected by Hurricane Odile or their families:
The Department of State has established a hotline to answer any questions about current conditions and their loved ones in the disaster area. If you require personal assistance, or desire information about a friend or loved one, please use the following contact information:
From the United States & Canada: 1-888-407-4747
From Abroad: 1 202-501-4444
Email: OdileEmergencyUSC@state.gov
For security alerts concerning American citizens affected by the storm, including yourself, you can also visit this website https://tfa.state.gov/ccd and select "2014 Hurricane Odile," to provide as much information as possible.

We also confirmed that, due to the damage that the storm has caused, the airport in Los Cabos is temporarily closed to commercial flights. Commercial flights will become available once the airport is reopened. If you have air tickets, you need to confirm the status of your flight with your airline before heading to the airport.

Please read the message on the website of the Emergency American Consulate in Tijuana (tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html) to link to the various websites that provide information on the progress of the storm and information to contact the American Consulate and the Department of State.

Lorena Blanco
Coordinadora de Medios/Information Specialist
Consulado General de los Estados Unidos en Tijuana, México / US Consulate General | Tijuana, BC
( (664) 977 - 2425 | * blanco@state.gov
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[biffmalibu]

[windfind]

Hi biffmailbu,

Bobos are tiny gnats that appear some years for a couple of weeks to a month or two after Baja Sur gets heavy rain from Hurricanes. In the early windsurfing season, Nov. and Dec., they come out at dawn along the beach and typically disappear later in the morning or as soon as there is a faint breeze. By the time the main windsurfing season arrives they are mostly gone except on dead calm day or if you are in an area really protected from the wind.

For most people Bobos are just obnoxious since they love ears and other nooks and crannies about your body. But they make a painless bite on some people and if you have sensitive skin you can get a reaction that looks and feels like a spot of poison oak. For some reasons Bobos totally ignore some people yet make life miserable for others in the early morning especially kids.

Years ago when I was still in the La Ventana campground there was a European family in a tiny tent next to our RV. Each morning the parents and kids huddled behind the netting of the tent baking until 9AM since the Bobos would drive them crazy. Meanwhile I basked in the sun in a recliner reading untouched by the flies. Each day I could hear them muttering about something and finally one day they yelled out in a heavy accent "You damn Lord of the Flies"

The moral is that if you have kids or sensitive skin and it is a hurricane year on Baja's East Cape you should either arrive mid season when the Bobo's are mostly gone and when most days are windy or bring one of those wall tents with mosquito netting walls.

There is a lot more detail in the iwindsurf.com free Baja Guide:

http://blog.weatherflow.com/baja-guide-by-mike-godsey/

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com