That's My Story

PUBLISHED IN WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS Week of Aug. 7, 2006

Photos: In a land that’s not accustomed to much rain and a where year’s total can easily fall in a short period of time, even an hour of solid water and wind can wreak havoc and it’s time to seek some cover until the sun comes back out! “Toritos” are basically violent little storms that can literally pop out of nowhere and quickly blow away. They are well named. “Torito” means “baby bull.”

TORITO SEASON

It was still dark outside as I padded around my office in my shorts and flip flops. Not quite 4 a.m., but I was already up and getting ready to get things set for our fishing clients most of whom were still fast asleep or sleeping it off. Let them sleep a while longer before we roust ‘em. But I had to get the breakfasts and lunches ready. Set out the ice chests. Check on ice. Get the coffee going.

All of a sudden, WHAM! Then WHAM again! It sounded like someone had dropped my dark quiet morning in a kettle drum and set off a nuclear explosion! People came running out’ve their rooms. I heard some kids crying and people running down the halls . It was the biggest explosion I had ever heard. Windows shook and things fell of my desk. I started to run towards the door myself and then I heard it…the white noise of water…Rain in torrents followed by smaller anvils of thunder, incredible lightning that torched the morning, and then the wind! Water was already getting pushed by the wind under my door and through the crack of my window.

What in the world? Where did this come from? Lightning in the distance over the water gave the appearance of a huge artillery barrage as I tried to look out my window through the sheets of rain now falling.

The sky had been clear and the moon had been out only several hour earlier! Not a hint that this was going to happen, but I knew it for what it was, a “torito.” (little bull) No, not some new corn chip snack. These are violent little storms that aren’t too different from hurricanes.

They can come up with little warning. They can lash and thrash with the violence of a full “chubasco” (hurricane) then leave as stealthily as they came. This one dropped 5 inches of rain in an hour, then simply blew away. The moon and stars came out to show flooded streets; knocked over trees; and debris everywhere.

People tell me all the time that they are afraid to come to Baja in the fall because it’s “hurricane season.” You can see their eyes bug out and hear the nervousness in their voices as if someone had told them the Night Stalker was hiding under their bed.

My response is usually, yes, a hurricane can happen. But, it’s about as likely as you getting shot by a drive-by in Los Angeles. Too much TV! Thousands of people come to Baja every fall and the only moisture they run into is rimmed with salt on a margarita glass. The fall is one of the most popular times to be in Baja.

However, that being said, there’s no telling when a torito might hit. I’ve been in a number of them and they come up fast. The clouds build to blackness. The waters change colors and start to roll. Wind suddenly whips up and it’s time to get off the water and back to the beach to sit it out. If you’re land bound already, duck into a sports bar and order another round. Watch Mother Nature do the Baja shimmy. It’ll blow over but best head for cover for a bit.

AERO CAL FLIES AGAIN

That’s the good news. The bad news is they only have a handful of planes. The other part of the bad news is that (for now) they are only flying over Mexican airspace. No planes at Los Angeles International. Check out: www.aerocalifornia.com or toll free 800-0237-6225.

According to airline reps, they will know sometime after Aug. 11th or 15th (that’s what they said!) if they will be able to add Los Angeles to their destinations. For those still holding tickets there are several options:

1. Fly out’ve Tijuana the nearest destination to the border. I’ve done it many times and it’s easy. Aero Cal will trade tickets straight across.
2. Contact the airline and obtain a voucher good for 1 year to use your ticket
3. Transfer your ticket to a friend or family member.

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