CABIN FEVER OBSERVATIONS
Originally published the week of January 28, 2007 in Western Outdoor News
OK, judging from the e-mails lately, I can tell cabin fever has set in. I’m currently writing this from my motel room in Denver CO. We’re in a Motel 8 (I guess that’s supposed to be two notches up from Motel 6 or something).
It took two days driving over from California through Nevada, Utah and Wyoming and it was pretty much snow the whole way. At one point it was minus 4 degrees and the snow gusts were blowing so hard we figured it was time to pull off the road and wait it out in a motel room. Dangit, I thought Baja was COLD right now. But nothing like this!
We’re setting up for the International Sportsmen’s Expo at the Denver Convention Center but along the way, we passed so many little snowed-in little bergs and villes. I know when I’m in Baja and and I’m housebound for more than a day, I get pretty nuts. What do folks do out here when they’re snowed in for weeks at a time? Yikes!
Anyway, from the e-mails, I think everyone is getting kinda crabby because they need to get outside. Lack of sunshine is unhealthy for the psyche. It’s not that the Baja e-mails are from folks directly mad at me. It’s just that a lot of folks have their shorts bunched up and they’re finding the smallest thing to grumble about.
I’ve had pissy e-mails from folks asking how come there’s no caffeine free diet Coke more readily available in Mexico or why “they” make it too windy during winter to go fishing in Baja. (Who is “they?”) I even got one from someone ticked off because they no one in Mexico seems to make good French fries (too soggy and greasy) . There was even one from a guy in San Diego who was grumbling because his Mexican gardner only speaks Spanish. (What does that have to do with Baja?) As if I had something to do with any of this or could do anything about it! Sheesh. Sir, step away from the television and computer before someone gets hurt.
Anyway, quite a few folks fretting about how cold it is in Baja right now. (It was a frigid 55 degrees in S. Baja last week!) I hear it all the times at these fishing trade shows we’ve been attending the last few weeks. Folks, weather cyclical like everywhere else! Believe it or not, there’s something called “seasons.”
Them: “How come every time we go to Baja it’s never like in the brochures with blue water and warm sunshine? We go to Cabo San Lucas and catch fish, but it’s always chilly and the winds are blowing like hell!”
Me: “When do you usually go to Cabo?”
Them: “December or January.”
Me: “Well, that’s winter. It’s ALWAYS winter in December and January. Why don’t you go in August or September.”
Them: Can’t. That’s hunting season.
Me: “Oh…”
From speaking to so many amigos, I think they forget that like everywhere else, the Baja is not on a separate planet in a vacuum. It’s subject to colder weather, winds and rain just like everywhere else, albeit Gracias a Dios, it’s not as cold as Wyoming! Therefore, if you’re looking for better conditions, come in the spring, summer or fall months. It is what it is in January.
One last comment at these fishing and outdoor shows. Especially at places like Colorado, Northern California, Oregon and Utah where we do shows, it seems everyone dresses in camouflage! Now, God bless all our outdoor brothers and sisters. They are great, but shirts, jackets, hats, belts, shoes, and backpacks are all made of camouflage patterns. They even dress the babies in camo.
If it can be made , it can be be made in camo. Boats, cars, tents, rifle stocks, even babies …you name it! Looking out on the show floor it’s a sea of moving mottled leaves and grass. I guess I can understand that. These are hunting regions and you don’t want your quarry to spot you, right? I get it.
The funny thing is that these fun folks then come to Baja and still wear the camo when they go fishing. Like the fish won’t see you?
That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.
That's My Story 
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