April 2007
BAJA BOOK BEAT

THE HAPPIEST MAN in the WORLD – An Account of THE LIFE OF POPPA NEUTRINO – Author-Alec Wilkinson.

For the many of us here in San Felipe who were introduced to Poppa N. in one way or another….some as only observers others who offered their own unique skills to his ‘BAJA PROJECT’ i.e. the ISLAND ROOSTER this book offers us all a keen observation of a man who has lived a life few of us have known……it is safe to say that in the world we live in today many of us can only dream about a simple way of life….crossing the Atlantic in a raft is something we only read and dream about and yet this man who darted in and out of our life here lives his dreams…….

“Mr. Wilkinson has built us a marvelous raft of a book in which we float along listening to an amiable Christian hobo and champion bullshitter expound on the inexplicable. Through him we can hear that stubborn, restless voice of the hardcrabble pilgrim that runs through American life, the voice crying in the wilderness. The writing is elegant, and the book, I think, is a masterpiece. GARRISON KEILLOR (PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION)

“Wilkinson’s writing is so flawless and engaging that I’d read him on a packed subway at rush hours. It’s not often that a person as inspiring and deeply outrageous as Poppa Neutrino is described by an author as immensely gifted as Wilkinson. Here is a life in the largest, most courageous sense of the word, a life that most of us-if we’re honest—will feel a pang of regret as not having lived. And here is a writer who can mesmerize us with the smallest details while clobbering us with the largest truths.” SEBASTIAN JUNGER

I have been in contact with Poppa N. off and on since his departure from San Felipe…..New Orleans-St Paul-Portland Or and at this point in time he is putting the final touches on his latest raft in Stockton Ca…

This wonderful book is available here at the Title Co.

Richard Stephen Felger and Bill Broyles have edited a fine resource book on the Sonoran Desert—DRY BORDERS—The authors consider the Sonoran Desert from six general aspects.

THE PLACE—delves into the geography and geology of the region, giving shape to its rivers and ranges.

PEOPLE OF THE PLACE—introduces those who make the desert their home, including both native peoples and visiting scientists.

THE DESERT—discusses birds, bugs, and botany, all the things that live and grow in the borderlands.

THE GULF—examines the waters and the aquatic life of the region from the Colorado River to the Sea of Cortez.

CONSERVATION—focuses on protecting and preserving the desert and its increasingly endangered species into the future.

PLACE-NAMES—includes a geographic dictionary.

For those of you who have requested a more detailed description of the Geology of our immediate surroundings-PLIOCENE CARBONATES and RELATED FACIES FLANKING THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Edited by Markes E. Johnson and Jorge Ledesma-Vazquez – just might be the book you’re looking for……..

THE BIG BLUE BOOK RACK—On the balcony is a landmark of sorts…BIG BLUE---on its shelves are many fine new books which have been discounted from the original cover price….you will find our discounted price on a little sticker inside the front cover……and inside the store we have a many more titles at huge discounts….

As the season winds down we have 5 new travel related Baja books which are on sale at ½ the cover price.

Lonely planet-“healthy travel’ $5.95 sale price $3.00----World Food Mexico $11.95 sale price $5.00----Baja Camping by Fred and Gloria Jones –$16.95 sale price $8.00---Mexico A Hiker’s Guide To Mexico’s Natural History by Jim Conrad - $16.95 sale price $8.00----Traveler’s Guide To Mexican Camping by Mike & Terri Church $19.95 sale price $10.00….AAA MEXICO ESSENTIAL GUIDE….$10.95 sale price $5.00 .this applies to our stock on hand and no rain checks offered……..

Three titles which you might find very interesting are related to John Steinbeck’s Baja-Sea of Cortez trip in 1940….The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck- In 1940, Steinbeck and biologist Edward F. Ricketts ventured aboard the Western Flyer, a sardine boat out of Monterey, Calif., on a 4,000-mile voyage around the Baja peninsula into the Sea of Cortez. This exciting, day-to-day account of their expedition wonderfully combines science, philosophy, and high-spirited adventure, and provides a much fuller picture of Steinbeck-and his beliefs about man and the world.

WITH STEINBECK in the SEA of CORTEZ – by Sparky Enea as told to Audry Lynch- Dr. Lynch has helped Sparky to reconstruct the ambience of the Steinbeck/Ricketts Expedition to the Sea of Cortez, with all its fascinating color and detail.

SEARCHING for STEINBECK’S SEA OF CORTEZ – by ANDROMEDA Romano-Lax…With her husband and two children in tow, Andromeda sets out to explore Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. In a twenty-four foot sailboat, she traces the barren coastline of the Baja peninsula following in the wake of John Steinbeck’s 1940 expedition described in his classic travelogue…

UPCOMMING EVENT-For the past ten years the Las Amigas Club has hosted a ‘LUAU” and this year it will be held on SUNDAY APRIL 22 from 1:30 to 6:00PM….call Denise at 577-2938 for details….one cannot say enough about the great work these civic minded ladies have done over the years…Funds benefit students of San Felipe Schools through their scholarship program……. Let’s make this their most successful event ever……

My hat is off to all the folks who made the 1st Blues and Art festival a reality…..countless hours of hard work and planning were put into this venture……and from a musical standpoint it was a resounding success. The two local groups – THE THIRD GENERATION and TRES VATOS….were absolutely great and both showed just how far the local music scene has come in the last few years…..We have not experienced two great Blues groups here since the 2000 Jazz festival…..the FULL MOON BLUES BAND from Reno and Michele Lundeen and her BLUE STREAK BLUES BAND were fantastic. Many of us who attended only hope this was the first of many music festivals in the future…..

Look no further than the book store for a great selection of unique Greeting and Post Cards…..

We also carry two very distinct satellite maps/images of the Baja….one is of the entire Baja Peninsula and includes the Sea of Cortez and the other one is a detailed photograph of the immediate San Felipe area.

Up-to-date city maps of both MEXICALI and ENSENADA are in stock as well as a fine road map of the entire Baja.

Please note this will be the last published Baja Book for the season….but there will be available on our WEB SITE a book beat for the month of MAY and JUNE…….www.sanfelipetitleco.com

The San Felipe Title Co is location on the balcony overlooking the Sea of Cortez – we are ‘sandwich-ed’ between the world famous BAJA JAVA (GREAT COFFEE AND FOOD) and RANDY’S BLUEROADRUNNER Internet/Computer/WebPage Design offices……

We are open from 9AM till 4PM everyday except Monday…Phone number for both the Title Co and Blueroadrunner is 577-0471.