La Bocana

Sleeping Lady in a Bed of Fog

2011-11-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Blast from the past - great photos!

2011-08-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Jack and Marlene Birdsall, for sharing these photos!

Most are from 1969 with a few from 1992. Enjoy!

1. The van and tent enclave is us on the wide meadow.

2. Jack and Marlene camping near the river. Note the reeds..

3. Marlene and friend preparing potatoes for baking on the grassy meadow.

4. This is the outhouse that sat above the ocean where the upper camp spot is today. The concrete pillars are still there! You’ll see them if you walk on the lava rocks.

5. Our son in an abandoned boat.

6. Our son and daughter and friend.

7. La Bocana in 1969!

8. Where the river and ocean meet.

9. Where the river and ocean meet.

10. Kids in the river – La Bocana 1969!

11. The “Lydon” house in 1969.

12. The old Bocana store. Sergio is the 2^nd kid from left. Jack is enjoying a cerveza.

13. Picnic at the tide pools south of the beach.

14. Picnic near the tide pools to the south of the beach. Jack in center, Marlene on far right.

15. Jack, Senor Gomez, Sergio in 1992.

16. Sergio presents the key to our casa to Jack in 1992.

17. Senor Romulo Gomez signing our copy of God and Mr. Gomez--1992

18. Tres hermanos: Pepe, Sergio, Romulo in 1992

As seen on the dirt road

2011-07-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you have time on your hands and access to a video camera...

2011-05-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

Last summer, a few of us had an afternoon without any pressing La Bocana type of projects (such as rewiring the house, fixing a broken water pipe, patching a hole in the side of the house, or chasing a cow out of the yard) so we spent the afternoon making a commercial. Believe it or not, it took many hours to create this short video.

Beautiful - any way you look at it

2011-03-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

360 degree video taken near the Lydon house.

Sunrise, January 1, 2011

2011-01-02T20:32:00.001-08:00

Not only did I wake up to this beautiful sunrise (note the crescent moon), I also saw whales (the first of the season for me). This is the third year that I saw whales for the first time on January 1. What a beautiful day to start off a new year.

We rang it in right this year!

2011-01-02T18:48:00.001-08:00

,OK, we rang in the new year at 9pm, with a mini shot glass of champagne. However, that was after a huge potluck dinner, a spectacular firework show, and homemade desserts all with a great group of folks.

Happy New Year La Bocana! Hope to see you all in 2011!

Thanks to Cy for the photos.

The Eve of New Years Eve

2011-01-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

Menu of the evening

Emily and Susan

Dallas and Jerry shucking oysters - brought up that day from San Quintin!

Carrie in the kitchen

There could not have been a better way to celebrate the eve of New Year's Eve than at the home of Carrie and Dan. We had a tremendous time eating gourmet food and enjoying each other's company.

Thank you Carrie and Dan!!

PS. That giant tree became part of the firework show the next day

Amazing Secret Low Tide Garden

2010-08-02T23:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the beach looked like this

2010-03-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Photos by Carol.

The foot bridge used to be here

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

The beach has been reconfigured

2010-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

Dallas says that at high tide, the waves wash all the way back to where the bridge used to be (yes, the foot bridge was washed out)

Take the High Road

2010-02-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

Photo: view of the where the low road used to be taken from the new road.

This rainy season pretty much erased the low road out of existence so if you go to La Bocana anytime soon, take the high road. At the cow gate, veer right instead of left. It's beautiful now (it is so green) so it is well worth the trip!

Here's to another great year!

2010-01-03T20:13:00.001-08:00

I think we got everyone in the photo this year. Let me know if any of the names are wrong or misspelled. Click on the photo to make it larger.

Thanks to Art and Jen for hosting the party and fireworks.

Happy New Year, everyone. It was great seeing you.

Orcas in Puerto Santa Tomas!

2010-01-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, we jumped with excitement when we saw whale spouts from our front porch. My brother ran and got his camera and took pictures.

Imagine our surprise when he zoomed in on the photos and saw dorsal fins on the whales! These were not California Grey Whales but they were Orcas, also known as Killer Whales.

I remembered that the news in San Diego had recently talked of a pod of Orcas in the waters of San Diego so this must be the same group.

Click on the photo to enlarge and see the fin.

Read the article: http://www.10news.com/news/22048250/detail.html

Photo by Tom Kennedy

New Year's Eve

2010-01-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

Happier New Year

Happiest New Year!

Romulo the Patriarch

2009-12-29T20:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of Romulo Gomez, the patriarch of La Bocana. I never met him but I wish I did. I only hear good things about the man and he's the one that brought us all together on this piece of paradise. Enjoy:

If you have photos or stories about Mr. Gomez, send them and I'll post them.

Happy New Year to all!

I've been thinking about the Great Egret

2009-10-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, a few of us decided that the Pelican was the Official Bird of La Bocana. It was a unanimous vote and seemed like the obvious choice. The pelicans are spectacular and I remember one awesome afternoon when somewhere near 1,000 pelicans flew by in 30 minutes. My jaw was open the whole while I tired to keep count. Even if I never saw another pelican again in La Bocana, that one incident would have led me to give the pelicans the vote.

However, I am now older and perhaps wiser, or maybe not wiser though I am definitely older, and I've been thinking about that beautiful white long necked creature that stalks the lagoon and flies so gracefully through the valley. I sometimes see one on the kelp just off shore - standing very still while waiting for an opportunity to grab something to eat.

A few weekends ago, I watched one walk awkwardly yet beautifully through the lagoon, contorting its long neck for the best view into the shallow water and every so often jabbing its beak into the water and coming up with a little fish to eat. I could have watched it for hours. And that is when I thought that I, and all of us, should take a good look at the Great Egret.

Here is some information from the book Birds of North America:

The Great Egret has white plumage, a yellow bill, and black feet and legs. Adults birds stand up to 41 inches with a 55 inch wingspan and incredibly, weigh about 2 pounds. They prefer to feed in open areas from salt marshes to freshwater habitats and fly to communal nests in trees at night. They feed on a wide variety of small aqautic animals and other animals found in wetlands including fish, frogs, snakes, crayfish, and large insects. They are monogamous and live in colonies, usually with other species of herons, egrets, and similar species.

The incubation period is 23 to 26 days and the young stay in the nest for 21 days. Both Ma and Pa feed the young. Only one brood per year and they have 1 to 6 pale blue-green eggs per brood. The nests are in trees or shrubs, usally 10 to 40 feet above ground.

In the US, they are a protected species. In the late 1800s, they were decimated as they were hunted for their plumage. The book says that they should "winter" in northern Baja but I seemed to see them year round.

Let's look at some photos:

Great Weekend in La Bocana

2009-10-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

The weather was fantastic. Wish you all could have been there!

Cathy, this is for you

2009-10-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

This is for Cathy and everyone who lives in Northern La Bocana - I drove by the new water tank today and is was nearly full!

The Lt. Commander's Daughter Reports In

2009-09-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Divina, daughter of Dallas and Emily, visited La Bocana with some friends and she sent this report:

We visited the first week of April and actually arrived on April Fools Day, Ibelieve. It was me and three of my friends ( Mandy Fessler, Brad Fessler,and Carrie Ragland). They are all from Ohio and had never been to the west coast.

Upon arriving in La Bocana we were immediately met by the official greeting committee of Mike,Tank and Rocco (three dogs). They all wanted to know who the four strangers were invading the commanders house.

We had many nights sitting around the fire,watching the sunset while giggling (due to the Berringer that my parents had supplied). We visited many of the beaches, took long walks on the trails, had the pleasure of meeting Canaro, and ate some fresh lobster.

I also had the pleasure of falling in the water while exploring the rocks......my camera took a dive with me and all my dad could do was laugh. That wasn't the only time I fell either.....I also slipped when coming back up the bank with my body board...we just had to laugh and compare myself toBella from the Twilight books....quite clumsy....now if I could only find my Edward shimmering in the sunlight I would be all set!

La Boufadora, shopping, wild horses.....mountains behind and the ocean ahead. I have never seen anything like it. So now I understand why my parents sold the house I grew up in and persued this dream house in this place in the middle of Mexico. We miss it already and are planning to all come back next year.

If Brad and Mandy had their way, they would own the house two down from my parents already.

Here are some photos from our adventure:

Article on Baja Norte

2009-07-24T17:12:00.001-07:00

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-07-23/lifestyle/adam-behar-the-changing-face-of-baja-norte

New York Times article about our beloved whales

2009-07-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12whales-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

House for Sale in La Bocana

2009-02-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Two bedroom 900' casita plus a covered porch and 600' work shop/garage right on the Pacific Ocean in La Bocana, Mexico. Large, eat in kitchen with range and oven, microwave and reverse osmosis water filter. Hot water heater, wind generator, solar panel, 8 batteries, and a back up Onan 4000 kw propane generator. The house sits high looking down on a secluded beach. Lot is 60' from the ocean. Home only is for sale; the land is leased. The buyer will need to sign a new lease with the landowner. La Bocana is very secluded, 14 miles down a gravel road (well traveled). Other Americans homeownders are near by, some full time and some part time residents. Directions: Hwy 1 South from Ensenada, turn right when you see the Santo Tomas winery on your left. Go west until you see the ocean - the house is the first one on the left. For more information, e-mail: ecbjbb@msn.com

Asking Price: $69,500.

For more photos and more information: http://www.viviun.com/AD-82994/

Agave or Century Plant

2009-01-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

Joe's mom would wait for years to see one of the century plants bloom in her garden. So lucky are we to take our morning walk in La Bocana and see literally hundreds of these regal plants in bloom.

Here is some information about the Century or Agave plant:

The name agave comes from the Greek word agavos, meaning noble or admirable, and this group of plants has lived up to its name. There is archeological evidence that humans have used agaves for at least 9,000 years, baking the leaves in pits for food and using the fibers and stalks to make everything from rope to clothing to weapons.

The Agave americana is often called the century plant because was reputed to bloom only once in 100 years, but that's an exaggeration. It does only bloom once in its lifetime, but usually between 7 and 20 years. The main plant then dies, but most species produce shoots that will take over and grow to maturity. Beautiful flower spikes reach for the sky in many, including the Century Plant Agave americana which can have a bloom spike up to 40 feet (12 meters) high!

Perhaps one of the best known uses for agave is the production of tequila, which has long been a vital industry in Mexico. Tequila is made from the fermented and distilled juices, called aquamiel or "honey water," produced by the agave just before it flowers. In 1999, Mexico exported some 21 million gallons (80 million liters) of tequila to the United States, and the current annual value of these exports is about 200 million dollars. In fact, the agave plants grown on plantations are so valuable that they must be protected from agave rustlers!

The excerpt is from: www.sandiegozoo.org/CF/plants/species_detail.cfm?ID=3

Photo taken by Joe Darrough

Caption Contest

2009-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

If a highfalutin magazine like The New Yorker can have a caption contest, so can we. Joe took this photo over by Dallas and Emily's house. Maggie is our little dog and Mikey, Rocko, and Chuckita are the dogs that hang out (and are cared for) by Dallas and Emily. I thought it was a funny photo. If you think of a funny caption, click on comments (below) and share it with us.

My suggestion is:

"Red Rover Red Rover, send Maggie right over"

Society Page - New Year's Eve Gala Extravaganza

2009-01-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Eve, the finest of La Bocana society gathered together for their annual reapas partage'.

Hosted at the Darrough residence (a classic example of early La Bocana charmant cabine architecture designed by former owner Chuck Schmuck and built by the late Romulo Gomez), the high society of La Bocana sent food from their executive chefs to create a wonderful meal of beans and rice.

Emily Smith, wife of Lt. Commander Dallas Smith, served as the honorary chair of the Gala Extravaganza. In addition to the Smiths and the Darroughs, in attendance were: Cathy and Paula of Albuquerque, Jerry and Susan of Ventura, Kevin and Margery of Maine, John (JB) and Elaine of Arizona, Carol of San Diego, her sister Linda of San Diego and Washington, Kiko and his son Omar of La Bocana, and Ben and Brenda of San Diego.

The women made this magical evening glow with the glistening of their sequins, diamonds, pearls, fleece, denim, and Ugg boots, while the men looked dapper in their black formal wear from L.L. Frijole of Maneadero.

This marvelous portion of the evening ended with a champagne toast, the opening of British Party Crackers (thank you Cathy and Paula) (those Party Crackers explain the funny hats in the photos posted earlier) (in case anyone was wondering), and a multimedia presentation highlighting life at the Poussiéreux* et Venteux** Resort of La Bocana.

*Dusty **Windy

Society Page - New Year's Eve Grand Finale

2009-01-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

The guests of the Gala Extravaganza adjourned at midnight (La Bocana time) for the Grand Finale at the Casa de Artura, the beautiful home of Art and Jennifer Smith (no relation to the Lt. Commander and his wife). There, the guests joined Art, Jennifer, Tristan and Tanyon of Fallbrook, Carrie, Dan, Max, and Dillon of Santa Monica, Merlinda, Ernie, Vincent, and Andrew of Fullerton, and Mark, Edie, Cameron, and Kylie of California.

The finale opened with the traditional igniting of a Christmas tree down at the cove followed by a spectacular, awe inspiring series of fireworks, surpassing the shows at Disneyland and Times Square.

A good time was had by all and 2009 received a proper welcome!

Society Page - New Year's Day Male Retreat Especial

2009-01-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Day, a special retreat for the men of La Bocana took place at the Lt. Commander's house where loyal Trojan fans watched USC triumph over Penn State. In attendance were Lt. Commander Smith, Ernie, Vincent, and Andrew of Fullerton, John (JB) of Arizona, and Joe of Poway.

Fight On.

The women of La Bocana had better things to do.

New Year's Eve Grand Finale

2009-01-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks Art and Jennifer for inviting us all over to enjoy your hospitality and the firework show.

Let me know if I got any names wrong. We looked and looked but were not able to find Linda and Kiko in this photo. I think they were out of frame or behind a tall person. We're sorry. We'll get you next year!

Click on photo to enlarge.

La Bocana New Year's Eve Gala Extravaganza!

2009-01-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who showed up at the Kennedy-Darrough house and enjoyed a wonderful New Year's Eve in La Bocana. Report from the society page editor to follow in a few days.

Click on photo to make larger.

Happy New Year to One and All

2009-01-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you Art and Mark for a spectacular welcome to 2009!
(click on photo to make larger)

Sentri Lane Info

2008-12-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sentri Lane Directions and Info: http://www.sentripasslane.blogspot.com/

La Bocana Society Page

2008-09-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, La Bocana residents were fortunate to be invited to an enchanted evening of a gourmet sushi dinner hosted by the distinguished Lt. Commander Dallas Smith and his lovely wife, Sushi Master Chef Emily Smith. The guest list included long time residents Jack and Marlene Birdsall, Cathy Lydon and Paula Crawford who were summering in La Bocana, and Joseph Darrough without his better half, Sharon.

The evening started with a surprise announcement that Emily Smith had been trained as a Sushi Master Chef during her multitude of visits to Japan. She proceeded to enlighten her guests with a skillful display of the preparation of a variety of tantalizing delights using snapper, shrimp, mackerel, and salmon. Then, the guests were all invited to learn the craft of sushi making. Jack and Marlene learned with skill and depth. Cathy and Paula, after struggling with following directions, picked up the craft after the third round of Saki. Unfortunately, Mr Darrough had no chance of becoming successful and just mooched off the other guests.

The Commander was stunningly dressed in a designer outfit from the exclusive men's clothier Magasin D'économie in San Diego. Emily was appropriately dressed in Master Sushi chef attire accented with a manolo blahniks. Mr. Darrough was dressed in such a casual way that guests commented that he looked bon marché.

Bon appetit!

Photos by Paula Crawford

This Beautiful Bird

2008-07-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard, the pelican has been voted the Official Bird of La Bocana*.

Many pelicans have been landing and taking a breather at the lagoon lately. They are a sight to see, with their awkward landings. I tried to get a picture of a splayed legged pelican making his final descent, but there were no incoming pelicans the day I brought my camera. I did stalk this guy for a while and watched him preen himself.

Let's get to know our official bird the Brown Pelican:

Size: 39-54 inches
Wingspan: 6 - 8 feet
Weight: 70.6-176.5 ounces (roughly 4 to 11 pounds)
Official Name: Pelecanus occidentalis

Unique among the world's eight species of pelicans, the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food.

The nest location varies from a simple scrape on the ground on an island to a bulky stick nest in a low tree. These birds nest in colonies, usually on islands.

After nesting, the birds move in flocks further north along the coasts, returning to warmer waters for winter. Their young are hatched in broods of about 3, and eat around 150 lbs. of fish in the 8-10 month period they are cared for.

Unlike most birds, which warm their eggs with the skin of their breasts, pelicans incubate their eggs with their feet. They hold the eggs under the webs that stretch from the front toes to the hind toe, essentially standing on the eggs to warm them. This peculiar incubation method made them vulnerable to the effects of the pesticide DDT. The DDT made the eggshells thin, and the incubating parents frequently cracked their eggs.

Normal pelicans can live more than 30 years.

*I'm sorry if you weren't there for the vote - it was kind of an impromptu election held on the bluff above rock beach. If you have another bird to nominate, please submit it for the next round of elections to be held... well, I'm not sure when but I'm pretty sure the polling place will remain the same.

It's not too late

2008-03-21T08:42:00.001-07:00

The flowers are still in bloom - it's incredibly beautiful. And I didn't think it could get any more beautiful there.

Photos by Lucy Holman.

Miss these guys?

2008-02-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

2008-02-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Imagine this sunset with some whale spouts and then you will know what it was like in La Bocana this past week!

Photo submitted by Carol

Senor Tortilla and Lisa Marie

2008-02-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Two friends visited La Bocana with us last weekend. Before leaving San Diego, we looked at this blog and I showed them Margery's beautiful photo of the wild horses. Lisa Marie was immediately taken by the idea of seeing the wild horses while we were in La Bocana. Joe and I explained that we have only seen them few times over the years and each of those times, they were far up on a ridge.

We arrived on a Saturday and talk of seeing the wild horses persisted all weekend. On Sunday evening, Lisa Marie and Nancy decided that the next morning, they would hike up the road over the hill behind the fishing village (where there is often a guard) as that was where Joe and I saw the horses in December. We stressed that the horses could be anywhere in the valley and it would probably be a fruitless endeavor. And we planned to leave on Monday morning. I suggested that we all think positive thoughts and encourage the horses to come to us so we don't have to go on a wild horse chase.

Sunday night, we didn't shut the gate to our property since we hadn't seen any cows around and we were planning to leave the next morning. And, well, we were feeling a little lazy.

Monday am, Joe woke up early to take photos of the blooming flowers and what did he see?

A horse in our yard! Joe ran in to get us and we all went out to see the horse. Was it a wild horse? We didn't know.

Lisa Marie grew up with horses and she decided to investigate. Armed with a head of romaine lettuce, she proceeded to inch closer and closer to the horse.

This took more than an hour. She saw that the horse was un-shoed, unbrushed, and the tail/mane was not trimmed. There was no brand or tag on the horse. Eventually, Lisa Marie was able to pet the horse.

He even seemed to like it. Note the white dot on his forehead. She coaxed him out of the yard and shut the gate. We named him Senor Tortilla.

After cleaning and packing up, we had about 45 minutes until we had to hit the road. We decided to drive over to the port and perhaps take a short hike up the hill to see the view. On the way there, Lisa Marie shouted, "Look! There's Senor Tortilla!" Sure enough, there was a horse up on the ridge.

We parked the truck and went up the hill with Lisa Marie running ahead of us.

As she neared the top, she saw several horses. She waited for the rest of us to catch up. We turned the corner and what do we see? 10 beautiful animals, including Senor Tortilla. Nine horses and one burro.

The horses wouldn't let us get close but Senor Tortilla stayed at the tail end of the group, often looking back at his new friend Lisa Marie. Eventually, they all went over the hill.

Could Disney have written a better horse story?

And yes, we did call Lisa Marie the Horse Whisperer.

Kayaking in the river

2008-02-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen it this green?

2008-02-21T19:51:00.001-08:00

January Showers Bring February Flowers

2008-02-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

Bocana is GREEN and full of FLOWERS! If you can get down there any time soon, you will be amazed at the transformation our little piece of paradise has made. Here are some photos to give you an idea:

Click on a photo to make it larger.

Photos taken by Nancy O'Brien, Lisa Marie Bader, Joe Darrough, and Sharon Darrough

New Year's Eve Party

2008-01-03T15:20:00.001-08:00

And, so we will remember each other when we meet again, here's a guide to our names:

Thank you Art, Jennifer, and friends for the wonderful firework display on New Year's Eve - it was a great way to welcome in 2008!

The New Year's Eve Dinner Gang at Cathy and Paula's. Thank you Cathy, Paula, Doug, and Rhonda for a wonderful evening!

Happy New Year to one and all! Hope to see you in La Bocana!

(click on photos to make larger)

2007-12-23T23:38:00.000-08:00

Bus from Tijuana to Ensenada

2007-12-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Taking one of the ABC buses to Ensenada is easy and inexpensive (currently about $10 one way). They leave the bus terminal every half hour from early morning to 9:30pm at night. After walking across the border you will pass through the first border turnstiles, take a right at the intersection and walk through a second set of turnstiles. Cross the street, turn left, and walk past all the yellow taxis and the McDonald's towards the Plaza Viva sign. The station is easy to find, it's on the street to the right just past the Taxi Libre pickup behind the large building with mirrored windows.

TIP 1: Don´t let anyone direct you to other buses, which may not be as nice and may take longer with frequent stops. ABC is the bus line you want. These buses are nice and comfortable with plenty of room and they usually show a movie on the way. If the bus is full you should take your assigned seat.

TIP 2: You can request to sit on the right side of the bus, which will give you a better view of the coastline.

TIP 3: The bus usually makes a stop before getting to the bus terminal near Ave. Juarez which is about four blocks from the main tourist street, which can save you several blocks if you are walking. You can ask the driver to identify the stop close to Ave Juarez. The ABC Bus terminal in Ensenada is located at the corner of Riveroll and Decima (10th street). A taxi ride between the tourist zone (Lopez Mateos/1st. street) and the terminal is currently $5, however if you don't have much luggage it isn't too long of a walk.

Thanks Margery.

The Road

2007-12-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

Since many of us will be venturing down to our favorite spot over the next week or so, Dallas sent a report on the road. He says that the lower road is passable though muddy in some spots.

There is more rain predicted in the upcoming week, though, so be sure to drive carefully and don't go into uncharted muddy waters!

A Bit of Bocana History

2007-12-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

Gordon and Opal (first American residents of La Bocana) recount finding La Bocana in the early 1960's:

At a party in Pasadena, we met Art Luczynski and casually mentioned our quest. He suggested looking at Puerto Santo Thomas, where he often camped. One sparkling April morning, Opal and I drove south on the San Diego freeway, bound for Baja and Puerto Santo Tomas.

Lightheaded, we breathed spring air and anticipated four days in new territory. The euphoria intensified as we passed Maneadero, ten miles south of Ensenada, into traffic-free country beyond the border influence. Only an occasional Mexican pick-up or aging sedan shared the two-lane road which turns off the highway and follows a fertile valley for seventeen miles
to the sea.

We were soon in an oak forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in dusty gossamer beams. Russet leaves were dappled with light. In a clearing, we passed the farm of our future friends Arturo, Maria, and Amalia. Their simple home appeared to have been built around an arched Window facing the road, as though the window had been there first and later the house had been built around it.

We left the oaks and bumped along the washboard road through green, yellow, and brown farm country in the valleys basin. The rich color was in sharp contrast to our preconception of a barren Baja. Small farms, corrals, and low farm houses complemented the rustic landscape. Overhead was blue sky and thick clouds.

In an hour or so, sea air cut through the road dust. From a knoll, we glimpsed ultramarine water and off-white sand The underground river running through the valley emerged to the surface, passing through the tulles to empty into the sea at La Bocana. Dense riverside growth ended on the brink of a sandy beach. Here, also, the road seemed to end. A road side sign in Spanish announced that this was Gomez country. Across the road from the sign was a small, unoccupied building which later was rebuilt to become Romulo’s store. Ahead, a hint of a road climbed straight up a steep, rocky hill. It looked formidable, if not impossible.

But where was Puerto Santo Tomas? Had we driven seventeen miles on the wrong bumpy road? After coming this far, we decided to chance the hill to see what lay beyond. A narrow
road at the summit followed the side of a precipitous mountain overlooking the sea. Further on, the road rose and disappeared over a mound.

"I'm not going over that hump without knowing what's on the other side,” I told Opal. "It might hide a drop-off to the ocean". I walked to the top of the mound. Ahead, near the tip of a distant point projecting far into the sea, were several buildings like rectangular, pallet-knife dabs of bright paint.

In between was a wide bay rimmed high cliff. "I think we've found our Port," I told Opal. In ten minutes we were there. As we drove in, two fishermen were repairing lobster traps and dogs dozed in the sun. An exuberant, weather smeared sign on the outside of the cantina read: "GOGE! GOGE! GOGE!" in elaborate letters bordered with giant musical notes. Loosely translated, they meant: "FUN! FUN! FUN!”

From the journals of Gordon and Opal - submitted by Marge. Thanks Marge!

How to take the bus

2007-12-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

This site has some helpful information if you or your guests want to take a bus to Santo Tomas (or anywhere else in Baja):

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mexico-82/Bus-Cabo-San-Lucas.htm

There are four buses per day going down the peninsula from Tijuana. Just ask to get off at Santa Tomas and be sure to arrange a ride to La Bocana. This is also a nice way to send someone back to San Diego if they are going back before you.

Thanks Margery.

Directions to the San Ysidro Sentri Lane

2007-12-12T10:03:00.001-08:00

These are from Carol and her friend Marie. Unlike the previous directions, they have actually used these directions successfully to cross the border:

Take the toll road north all the way to the light at Benito Juarez.

There are three lanes. Get in the far right lane labeled Colonial Federal (it used to be the carpool lane). All three lanes turn left and you want to stay to the right so go on the right–hand side of the K-rail divider.

Follow this lane past all the folks waiting in the border line and keep going over the hill to the traffic circle. You want to be in the far left lane.

Make a U-turn onto Avenida Frontera.

Go one block to the huge speed bump and stop sign. Turn right and take the second left onto Paseo Centenario. Follow it to the first stop sign.

If you look over your left shoulder you will see the big green Sentri sign. Make a U-turn.

Congratulations, you have made it to the Sentri lane. There are currently two lanes that expand to four lanes as you proceed.

Occasionally, when you look back and see the Sentri lane you will notice that there is a long line of cars past where you want to do the U-turn. These people are already in line and you do not want to cut in line. Instead, make a left turn and go one block. Turn right and go one block. (Sometimes this is closed off, so make the first available right). Turn right again and you will return to Paseo de Tijuana (traffic circle). Turn right onto Paseo de Tijuana and you are at the end of the Sentri lane. Even if the Sentri lane is this long, you will still get to the border in less than 30 minutes.

Here is a link to a map showing both border crossings
http://www.tijuanaonline.org/english/maps/tj_otay.htm

Thanks Carol and Marie!

PS. I won't guarantee it, but this just might be the last post on the Sentri lanes.

There's been rain and there will be more

2007-12-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

Dallas sent this report about the recent storm and the condition of the road:

First the rains came. We have a real mess with mass erosion, mudslides, and changes in the road out of here. Emily and I went to Ensenada today and found that twenty-two areas of the road were flooded out of existence or or made impassable by the mud. There are three sections of new road which bypass impassable sections. The next time you drive the road will be a new learning experience.

Today, it was the high surf. We are seeing eight to ten foot waves and some even larger. The surf washed all the way to the fresh water pond, hit Romulo's store and moved all the kelp to under the footbridge. I suspect that we will have brackish water for awhile. I have attached pictures of the surf.

Thanks Dallas - keep us posted.

Directions

2007-11-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks,

I put a new link to the right titled Directions. These are driving directions with some photos to La Bocana from the border. I made them to give a visitor coming for the first tme. Our friend made it just fine so I hope these directions also work for your guests.

Share them and if you have any suggestions for clearer directions, let me know. Please double check the directions before you send someone and have them bring a map as well - I'm not responsible for any lost guests! You'll have to direct them to your house.

Photo from the fire in the valley

2007-11-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

Thank you Marge for sending this photo of a burned area in the valley. I know we are all anxious about the conditions of that lovely valley.

(You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.)

Spectacular Sunset

2007-11-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

The fires in Baja did a lot of damage - an estimated 50 houses were burned. I suspect that our beautiful valley from the paved road to the coast will have a different look next time you drive down.

However, the smoke and the ash in the air did create some spectacular sunsets.

This was submitted by Marge.

Update on the Fires near La Bocana

2007-10-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

This just in from Dallas:

San Diego isn't the only place burning; I suspect that Baja has as much land burning as California, if not more. The hills on both sides of the valley on the way in to La Bocana are burning or have burned. We saw at least one of the houses burned to the ground, and most disturbing of all,many of the old Oak trees are gone.

Although we feel safe where we are located, we are watching the advance of the fire. Perhaps, from our prospective, the smoke and falling ash are the worst at this time. We have to keep the house closed up.

Update 10/28/07: Dallas reported that the fires are mostly out and stayed about 2 miles from the coast (east of the dump).

Fires - So Cal and Baja

2007-10-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

The Santa Ana winds and recent drought have joined forces to create terrible fires across Southern California and Baja California.

Our best wishes to all who live in the fire areas and who have been evacuated. We hope you, your families, your pets, and your homes are safe.

Dan Sedor, who owns the beautiful house with the octagon, reported that there are fires south of Maneadero. He found this map which shows lots of fire activity, perhaps near the road to La Bocana.

The two blue dots in the south represent La Bocana and the port.

If anyone has any information, please post on the comments section below and share with us.

Stay safe everyone.

Directions to San Ysidro Sentri Lane:

2007-10-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

I know people would rather go to the San Ysidro Sentri lane than to the Otay Mesa crossing if it was easy to get there. I found these directions on another website - I have not tried them out myself. The written directions do not have street names. I'll try to find them on my Tijuana map and add them in. If you try these dirctions, let us know how it worked!

Directions:

Because you are dealing with round-abouts, a primmer may be necessary: a right turn is 1/4 of the way around, straight ahead is 1/2 way around and a left is 3/4th of the way around.

I suggest getting off the toll road in Rosarito Beach (Norte) and proceeding north on the Free Road. At the first round about in Tijuana, go three quarters of the way around (you are, in essence, making a left).

Go a block. At the next roundabout, make a right (that's a quarter of the way around). GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE!

At the next round about, go 3/4th of the way around (essentially a left turn).

At the next round about, go 1/2 way around (or straight ahead). Right after you get beyond the roundabout, you'll see a sign straight ahead that says "SENTRI."

I found these maps, too: San Ysidro Sentri lane from the free road:

And here's one from the toll road:

Note: the blog editor is not resonsible for anyone who attempts to follow these directions and gets hopelessly lost in Tijuana, adding hours to their journey or inches to their waistline (due to the necessity of buying churros to stave off starvation)

Transportation to Rosarito from San Diego

2007-09-26T10:10:00.001-07:00

If you ever have friends or family who want to visit you in La Bocana and you don't have time or just plain don't want to drive across the border to pick them up, here is a very reasonable alternative:

Your guest(s) can take MexiCoach from Old Town in San Diego or the US side of the San Ysidro border to the Rosarito Beach Hotel. You can drive to Rosarito to meet them and drop them back there after their visit. I know it won't save oodles of time since Rosarito is only about 30 minutes south of the border but it does save the border crossing hassle and (bonus!) you have an excuse to have lunch in Rosarito.

The price for round trip transport from Old Town to Rosarito is $36. From the border to Rosarito, the round trip price is $24.

Here's the link for the details:
http://www.mexicoach.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=36

If anyone tries it, let us know if everything worked out ok. I haven't done it but it is nice to have this option.

Great spot to overlook the lagoon

2007-09-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Jennifer Smith

The Old Runway Gets Some Use

2007-09-14T06:33:00.001-07:00

Now that there are mounds of dirt preventing planes from landing, the runway has a new use - as a motorcycle track.

Photo: Father and son ride their motorbikes.

Submitted by Jennifer Smith.

Fishing in La Bocana - for all ages

2007-09-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

And if you are wondering, yes, this fish

did weigh more than young Tristan!

Submitted by Jennifer Smith

Sunset Labor Day

2007-09-13T17:45:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Jennifer Smith of the Casa de Arturo or the Casa with Seven Arches

Kika (or Daisy or Chewy) has been adopted!

2007-09-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

If you were in La Bocana this summer, you probably met this beautiful, well behaved, friendly dog. Some called her Daisy, we called her Chewy (for her ability to smile and talk in a way that reminded of us Chewbaca of Star Wars) and others called her Kika (yes, named after Kiko). The guess is that she got lost from her original owners.

Every time we visited La Bocana, Kika would inevitably show up to say hi and hang out around our back door. She was so easy going and friendly. We tried to figure out if there was a way we could adopt her as I know other people did.

Well, Jerry and Susan stepped up and are now the proud parents of Kika. They have had her registered and made sure she has all her shots. Lucky for the rest of us, Kika will be visiting La Bocana with Jerry and Susan so we'll get many chances to see her again.

Thanks Jerry and Susan!

How Hot was It?

2007-09-03T19:36:00.001-07:00

Hot enough to convince some of our fine friends to go in the water:

But in the big picture of heat, La Bocana was a great place to be this past weekend.

It was 111 degrees at the check point. These poor guys had it pretty tough:

The guy inspecting us stuck his head in our air-conditioned window and just chit-chatted so he could cool off for a moment. He said in perfect English, "I'm melting."

Pelican Appreciation Council Ad

2007-07-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Your Turn to Write Something:

2007-07-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

How did you first hear of La Bocana?

What (or who) led you here?

Please answer in the comments section. Click on "comments" just below this entry and that will lead you to a place where you can write a comments. Anonymous is fine or you may give your name.

In case you need a pelican fix:

2007-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

there's a little wind in there, too, to bring you right back...

A big night in La Bocana

2007-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

includes a mean game of dominoes

and a nice group of people!

The Newest Full Time Resident

2007-06-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

This little guy hangs with the big dogs. I forgot his name but he sure is cute. Does anyone know the name of this dog?

New Friendly Neighbors Needed

2007-05-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

HOUSE FOR SALE

Elaine and JB are selling their place - help spread the word.

Asking Price: $$69,500.

For more photos and more information: http://www.viviun.com/AD-82994/

What was the weather like in La Bocana this weekend?

2007-05-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you were sitting in the states, thinking about La Bocana and wishing you were there, here's some info on recent conditions:

Foggy most of the day
Not too much wind
Cool but not cold
Calm seas
Pelicans are starting to head north again in the evenings
2 dolphins were seen by this reporter

In other words, pretty darn nice!

Has Anyone Seen These Around La Bocana?

2007-05-28T20:09:00.001-07:00

Special prize to the person who tells us who made this fish and why.

Write your answer in the comments.

Web Site is up and running again

2007-05-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

Dear La Bocana Residents,

The web site was temporarily down for a few days. The technology staff which is my friend Bob, me, myself, and I had to be called in to fix a server routing problem.

It is fixed and up and running. Sorry for the inconvenience - you can post to your heart's content. Send us your photos and stories!

Joe Darrough

Report on the New Road from Rosarito to Tijuana

2007-03-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

If you have seen that beautiful new road heading east from the Foxploration area just south of Rosarito and been tempted to take it, here's a little report. Indeed, it is a beautiful 4 lane divided highway that winds its way through farmland and scenic hills. No tolls, little traffic. But where does it go?

It meets up with the toll road to Tecate in the eastern part of Tijuana. We were hoping it was a faster way to the Otay Mesa border crossing but it actually takes much longer than either the toll road or the other free road out of Rosarito (described in the post about the Sentri pass in the comments). The distance is 31 miles. We do not recommend this road if you are going to San Ysidro or Otay Mesa. If you are planning to cross at Tecate, this might be a good way to get there. I think it is about 20 miles on the toll road to Tecate and this road is certainly easier driving than the free road from Ensenada to Tecate.

And speaking of going from here to there, the AM/PM near the Rosarito toll booth sells a great map of Tijuana. I highly recommend it. If anyone has any comments or suggestions about the road, please share!

How cold was it?

2007-03-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's SNOW! This photo was taken from the car on the road leaving Ensenada on January 13, 2007. Rumor has it there was also snow at Jorge Kemal's place that week.

Spring in La Bocana

2007-02-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

After the rains. La Bocana has many faces, and of course, the local face that we all love!

These beautiful photos were submitted by Margery Buck. Please send your beautiful photos, too!

THE KALEIDOSCOPIC SEA

2007-02-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

From the journal of Gordon, first American resident of La Bocana. 1963

In Baja the sea was our theatre.

Recurrent inbound fog engulfed the bay, rising over cliffs and up the mountain side. Sea and merged indistinguishable. Fog cascaded over the mountain back of the Port like a massive waterfall. Wind-blown clouds cast moving shadows at sea. Shafts
of light, pouring through breaks in the clouds, illumined strips
of water near the horizon.

The bay reflected the rosy colors of dawn. At twilight, the sun, setting in mist, cast a pale-orange, Monet light on the water. On fog-free days, boats, rocks and whitecaps were as sharply defined as a Winslow Homer.

Violent winter storms drove waves against the rocks.

The outer sea was an opaque green with whitecap highlights.
Close to the rocks the bay was seething foam. In the summer,
the bay sparkled and the surf was quiet. Late one summer after noon, the setting sun struck widespread kelp beds. The kelp leaves in the wind and the ocean flashed with golden light. Rainbow spectrums appeared in spray blown laterally along the wave tops by a north wind.

V-shaped formations of pelican flew over the point at twilight hovering over the schools of anchovy below. Their dive was comical hodge-podge of wings, feet and joints spread in all directions. They hit the water with a splash that stunned the fish. Their dive was comical hodge-podge of wings, feet and joints spread in all directions. They hit the water with a splash that stunned the fish.

Submitted by Margery Buck.

La Bocana circa 1960

2007-02-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken in 1960 by Opal and Gordon, the first American residents of La Bocana.

Submitted by Margery Buck.

More Photos

2007-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

If you have some photos you would like to share, send them to Sharon at Sharon.Darrough@gmail.com. Click on any photo to make it larger.

Fright Night?

2007-02-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

I want to share my frightening New Years Eve experience with you. After our wonderful first annual New Years Eve party I said Good Night to Dallas and Emily and snuggled down in my trailer to read a little. I dozed off and was rudely awakened about 10:30 pm by someone pounding on the front of my trailer and shaking it violently back and forth. Needless to say, I was terrified. I was alone and had nothing to defend myself with except a small pepper spray canister. The closest house is Romulo and he was in town. I knew if I screamed, Dallas and Emily couldn’t hear me. All I could think of was the horror stories I had heard from all of my “do good” friends warning me to stay out of Mexico. I knew I would have to face my attacker or I would never get out alive.

So…armed with a flashlight and my little can of pepper spray and my heart pounding, I stepped out of my door and there HE was… a big cow scratching her back on the front of the trailer. After I regained my composure I chased her so far down the road screaming and yelling that I thought she would never return. Well…return she did. In the morning she had mowed down most of my flowers and some of Emily’s too! Dallas chased her through the gate about 5:30 am on New Years Day.

Submitted by Carol Snyder

Only in La Bocana

2007-01-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

Please share any entertaining/interesting stories! If you have a photo to go with it, send it to Joe or Sharon and we'll post it.

Read below about the cow in the septic tank...

How did the cow get into the septic tank? It fell through the aging roof of the unused third stage of our tank.

When did it fall in? We're not sure but we didn't notice it until the second day we were there (you can't see it from inside the house and it was quite cold and rainy and we didn't go out much). I thought I heard a cow moo the first day but when I looked out the window, I didn't see one.

How did we get the cow out? Good question. Joe and I considered several scenarios, all of which ended with either one of us or the cow in the hospital. In the meanwhile, we fed the cow all of the cow-type food we had - lettuce, cabbage, grapes - and gave it some water. We lowered a beam with cleats and hoped the cow could walk up it. This did not work. We told Romulo and he agreed to spread the word throughout the valley - we hoped that the rightful owner would step in and help solve this problem. By late afternoon, worried that the cow would spend another night in the tank, we consulted some friendly neighbors. After a thorough inspection, it was decided that the only safe way to get the cow out was to break part of the wall of the tank.

No sooner had we made that decision did some relatives of the rightful cow owner show up. They proceded to help with the breaking of one corner of the tank and within minutes, the cow was free. Hungry, but free. At the least after 30+ years, this portion of the septic tank got some use.

The New Year's Eve party

2007-01-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Photographs of Life at La Bocana

2007-01-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

Send us your photos!

Cathy's Page

2007-01-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

Cathy knows everyone - this is her page to answer who what when and where of La Bocana.

Dallas and Emily Question Page

2007-01-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Dallas and Emily live at La Bocana full time and they are the experts on everything that makes life wonderful there.

Directions to the Sentri Lane at Otay Mesa

2007-01-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

To get to the SENTRI Line at Otay Mesa:

From Ensenada, take the toll road to Rosarito and go through the first two tolls

Exit onto the free road just after the Commerical Mexicana (an orange pelican on your right) - the sign will say "Rosarito Norte". Follow that road - you will soon see a sign that says Tijuana Libre. There will be several traffic lights in the first little bit and then it opens up into a two lane highway.

Follow that until you see a Pemez on your right immediately followed by a Dico furniture store - you will then veer to the right. The sign will say "Mexicali".

Follow that road toward the airport. You will go through a lot of city traffic but just keep going on the main road following any signs that lead to the airport or Garita Otay. You'll wind up the hill to the plateau. DO NOT TURN where it says San Diego or the border or something like that. This is for the regular lanes - keep going.

Turn right at the large sign that says "Vehiculos Pesados" which is also Belles Artes.

Go a few blocks and then turn left into the SENTRI lane.

Good luck.

We did this on New Years Day and crossed the border almost exactly 3 hours after leaving the house in La Bocana.

Does any one have direction to the San Ysidro Sentri Lane?

The Sentri Frequent Border Crossing Program

2007-01-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

Sharon and I have finish our extensive testing of the new express border crossing system, the Sentri program. We highty recommend it! $129 for a five year pass - the best value in the Dept of Homeland Security. There is a link to the Sentri system in the links section.

Directions to the Sentri Office - thanks to Carol Snyder:
805 south to the 905. Take the Siempre Viva off ramp and head East of the freeway and take the road between the Shell station and the Chevron station South. Go past the Carl's and the Burger King and go through the "Road Closed" sign and park in the second lot on your right - it says Sentri parking or something like that. The building is just a little bit south of the parking lot. Basically, the Sentri office is just east of the Otay Mesa Border crossing on the US side. Leave extra time to get there because it is a little confusing and mapquest won't lead you there.

Good luck!