Olaf heads north; we will too

"As of 4:00 a.m. PDT the center of Tropical Storm Olaf was located near 22.5 north, 117.8 west or about 530 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Olaf was moving due north at 12 mph. The minimum central pressure was estimated at 1002 millibars or 29.59 inches. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the storm's center mostly on the east side of the storm."

Photo credit: NOAA

The waves are much bigger than yesterday, and now are coming on the beach more from the NW and directly west as they were yesterday. In seeing just this much increase in wave action from a small tropical storm, it is easy to see how the rocks have gotten all dark from continuing waves hitting them higher and higher from other, larger storms.

Our last trip to the end of the Baja yesterday was glorious and the ride was rough. I didn't mind, but the other passengers weren't happy, Jey-hu excluded. Two of the men who were supposed to come with us to see Lover's Beach with their wives bailed at the last minute because they had been out on a fishing boat the day before. One of the wives said "We couldn't figure out why it was so cheap to go fishing... when they got back we heard that it was pretty uncomfortable for them." Of course it was the day the storm was passing by. This first view is from the beach side, looking back at Cabo. The marina, unable to be seen here, is located to the left.

Here are some pictures of the waves breaking on the Pacific side of the beach. Jey-hu is in the foreground also taking pictures.

It has been an incredible adventure being here, seeing all the typical tourist attractions, but it is always moderated by the levels of poverty that drive the people who live here to walk the hot sands of the beach every day to try and sell their wares.

Most of the time we are driven on routes that avoid showing us the reality of the living conditions here. But once in awhile we get a glimpse... very depressing to think that there is really enough for all, but education and control limit acquisition to certain groups. There were three cruise ships in yesterday, and on Tuesday there were five... the streets were being controlled by the 'federales,' men and women carrying glocks for sidearms and M-16's for those in military garb. One of the taxi owners said his business was slower, even with all the cruise travelers in town because people were being scared off of the downtown seeing all the guns.