Hiding in Escondido

We have been continuing to get strange weather. After a storm with southerly winds and rain came through, there was a forecast for strong northerlies (Santa Anas again). Since the winds were forecast to reach up to 40k we decided to go into Puerto Escondido, as it has the best protection in this area.

Time to put on the curmudgeon hat and complain about what is going on in Escondido. Unfortunately this great harbor has been taken over by a Singlar (a Federal government agency) marina installation, so we have to pay to be here. Puerto Escondido is one of the best hurricane holes in the Baja, and the only one in this area. They have a small dock (2 large boats or maybe 4 small ones), and they installed mooring balls throughout the harbor. Using the dock is expensive and using the mooring balls costs
about what other places charge for a dock slip. If you would rather anchor than use a mooring ball, it still costs the same. We did not want to spend the money, but thought we wanted the protected bay, and that we could splurge for the cost, because we could take advantage of the hot showers, hot tub, and internet access. After we had tied up the boat and paid for a few days we found that they hot tub was not working, and that there was no hot water for the showers. We also found out that the facilities
are all shut down and locked outside of office hours, so no bathrooms or even cold showers or internet before 9 or after 5.
We had heard stories about the poor quality of the moorings. Several boats sank here when hurricane Henriette passed nearby, because the moorings failed and the boats blew ashore. We asked around and got a recommendation for a repaired mooring, which made us feel a bit better. However this morning the boat next to us broke loose and drifted down the bay, The boat was still attached to the mooring ball but the mooring was no longer attached to it's anchor. No harm was done to the boat as other cruisers
noticed and rescued the boat. The only good thing they have done is build a fuel dock in an area of the coast where there are few; however they add a 20% surcharge to the cost of fuel to use there dock!

I know that this is a bit of a whine, but it is frustrating to see what is happening here. The facilities are so overpriced that there is over a 90% vacancy rate. In addition the facilities are not working or unavailable, and the moorings are unsafe. The bay has moorings for over a hundred boats, but even with the bad weather there are less than 10 boats here. By overcharging and creating an unsafe anchoring area, they have essentially removed the bay as a safe haven for us sailors. If they had foresight
they could probably drop the anchoring charge to a dollar or two a night, and make far more money than they are now.

We are now off and heading further south, having left the bay as soon as we could.