In a recent column I focused on the many ways Marysville citizens deal with PNW winters, like snuggling up to the fireplace, challenging the out-of-doors or fleeing southward. After building a case for toughing it out in the Northwests winters wonderland, my wife and I cashed in our Northwest Airlines flight-miles to fly south to join the escapists for eight days.
Those fortunate enough to travel south appear to do so in flocks. One flock settles in Greater Phoenix, another near Palm Springs, others take up winter residence near Hemmet or Yuma. Wherever they land, they do so in little concentrations of home-town friends, enough to fill golf foursomes or meet at special places for bridge or cocktails. Birds of a feather.
Our flight over-flew those places to reach beyond what I thought to be the migratory limits of Snohomish County snowbirds. No pocket populations of Silvertip fans where we were headed, the tip of Baja California Cabo San Lucas. That notion took a hit on the first day of our stay when a shout rang out from a street-side watering hole called Tanga Tanga. Hey Bob! There sat Jim and Audrey from Machias, along with Larry from Lake Stevens and John from Smokey Point.
Later, we had a balcony-to-balcony chat with sixth floor neighbors who had flown in from Edmonds, met Lyle and his wife from Monroe at poolside along with members of a big wedding party from Snohomish. Jack, from Arlington, knew Cabo backwards and forwards, having wintered there for 18 years.
A white SUV with Washington plates wrapped in Dwayne Lane frames parked outside our hotel. I never met the owner who took the hard way to get there. Over 1,300 miles to get to Mexico and 1,050 more from the border to Cabo. Four days of pedal-to-the-metal driving. Dont even think of driving it. Piloting a rental car around town is challenging enough.
By the pool that afternoon, a sunburned woman from Camano spotted my book, Ehrenrichs Bait and Switch, and raved about how it was really, really on target.
Chats with visitors from other chilly points of origin proved that much of Americas snow-belt had sent representatives. Pittsburgh, Calgary, Kelowna, Buffalo and St. Paul but few Alaskans, due to Alaska Airlines super air-hotel-car packages for Hawaii.
Much of Cabo is going up-scale. A fullpage ad in a tourist newspaper showed an attractive couple, drinks in hand, basking in a palm-shaded infinity pool, a gorgeous seascape spread before them. The caption read, For those who never learned to share and choose not to. Hmmm. Units in some of those posh developments run into millions and nightly condo rentals may be as high as $3,000.
We found Snohomish County visitors booked into Cabos more modest lodgings and with good reason. Larry and John had an apartment at Siesta Suites which offers no-frills bed/bath/kitchen/sitting room apartments for $440 per week. The furnishings were of distressed wood, that practice of making new wood look hard-used. To achieve the effect, Siesta Suites furniture appeared to have been randomly defaced by axe-wielding vandals. Our one-night stay proved it to be long on necessities and short on polish. A good choice for unpretentious visitors.
Even better is the beautifully landscaped Mar de Cortez where a double room rents for $50 per night. The large pool, restaurant and bar are truly outstanding for a budget hotel. A bonus is its location in a restaurant district where food and drink equals the quality of the harbor-side eateries at little more than half the cost. Add the possibility of getting to know some people youll bump into when shopping at Marysvilles Haggens or Safeway.
A few tidbits about Cabo. If you enjoy swimming in the briny, Cabo is a poor choice. Situated at the clash of the warm Sea of Cortez and the cool Pacific, the mixing waters stir unfriendly currents that keep red warning-flags flying on most beaches. It doesnt help that the temperature of the Pacific at the cape is almost as bone-chilling as along Californias beaches. Travel northward along the sea of Cortez to San Jose and beyond to find swim-able waters.
If swimming is not your thing, the Sea of Cortez is a hot spot for sport-fishing sailing scuba diving, snorkeling and whale watching. While enduring a condo salesmans pitch (his back was to the sea), we were totally distracted by whales spouting, breaching, jumping and generally putting on a great show. Though February was the off-season for fishing, a glass-bottom boat ride to the Capes marine sanctuary showed waters swirling with pompano and other species, many sized 15-20 pounds.
Cabo San Lucas is pelican country. Ogden Nash immortalized the bird with his verse, A marvelous bird is the pelican. Its beak can hold more than its belly-can. Beyond pelicans, the Baja is a popular destination for birders, March being one of the better months.
It seems that a dream of Snohomish Countys retirees and vacationers is escape to far places where days are sunny and the sea laps at nearby shores. Enough of them are living out that dream that it shouldnt have come as a big surprise that diners at the next table in Cabos Crazy Lobster hailed from three blocks down our street in Marysville.

Comments may be addressed to: rgraef@verizon.net.