John M
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Location: California High Desert
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Santo Tomas/La Bocana/Erendira??
On page 7 of the Baja Almanac (newer version)
About two miles before the ocean is reached on the Santa Tomas to La Bocana road another road is shown going to the south. This "jeep road" appears to
connect to a better road following the coast south toward Erendira. Anyone have recent knowledge of this connecting route? I seem to recall a number
of years ago being told that soon as you leave the main route to La Bocana you encounter a locked gate on this road I'm asking about.
John M
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Neal Johns
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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John,
There was no locked gate 28 years ago. Does that help?
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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paul r
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Location: San Luis Obispo/ La Mision
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the gates are not locked, but must be opened and closed!...
it's a beautiful drive through the ranchos and oat fields... be respectful....
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DanO
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Location: Not far from the Pacific
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I think it's a bit more than two miles in from the coast. Last time I took that trip (a number of years ago), there were gates, but none locked, as
paul r notes. It was beautiful, except for one ravine crossing that would be a real mother in a long wheelbase vehicle and a steep crumbly downhill
section where the road drops off the coastal plateau down to Punta San Jose and the road south to Erendira. I can't vouch for current conditions,
especially given the recent heavy rains down there, but if you go, please post a report.
The Punta San Jose turnoff is pretty easy to miss, but when I drove by it on the way home yesterday, I noticed that someone had flagged it with
dayglow pink markers. It peels off to the left at a point where the main Bocana road sits right next to the Rio Santo Tomas riverbed, bisects a
little farming operation in the valley, and then winds steeply up onto the coastal plateau (sorry, I have neither the inclination or the patience to
operate a GPS).
If you get to the Punta China turnoff on the main Bocana road, you've missed the unta San Jose turnoff -- the Punta China road takes you only as far
as the secured gates of the limestone quarry at Punta China and there is no passable route from the quarry to Punta San Jose.
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John M
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Location: California High Desert
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Route - DanO?
Thanks Paul R
DanO - I believe I was recalling the road closer to the sea, the one that went to a quarry - now that you mentioned it. That may have given me the
idea that the road was blocked by a locked gate.
So, I got the map out again and took a better look. I do note the road to Punta China - and that was the one I had thought about using. Now we won't.
I do also see the earlier turnoff, in the Baja Almanac near a place shown as Los Alisitos - this would indeed be more than the couple of miles - more
like 3 to 4 from the ocean. I've marked what I think you've described as the proper turn.
We'll report when we get home - it'll be awhile, leaving here May 3
Thanks for the info.
Neal - Wow, son, I'm amazed that you can still remember that it WAS 28 years ago!!
John
[Edited on 4-15-2006 by John M]
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DanO
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Location: Not far from the Pacific
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Yeah, that's the one -- going due south and ending up east of Punta San Jose. I did not take the one that goes south and then west and appears to
drop you onto the coast north of the point. I looked for it, but a ranchero on horseback directed me back to the north-south route. The interesting
thing about it was that he appeared seemingly out of nowhere on a wide-open mesa. Spooky.
The map also confirms that the Punta China road ends short of hooking up with the trail going north out of Punta San Jose. I've seen other maps which
inaccurately show that as a continuous route. The reason it isn't is a very large canyon. I discovered this shortly before a buddy and I were
courteously escorted from the quarry grounds by management, who were uh, curious about how we'd gotten past the guard at the gate.
[Edited on 4-15-2006 by DanO]
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wilderone
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You can reach that coastal road from Santo Tomas. Turn at the corner market and go up the hill. There are many roads that branch off the main
north-south road which eventually goes to Erendira, and can be confusing, but it is continuous. There's continuing cultivation of sections of land in
the area, but is otherwise natural chaparral, high cliffs and great views.
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John M
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Location: California High Desert
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Thanks Wilderone
We had thought about taking in the beach at La Bocana hence the idea to go that way. Heading south toward Erendira I suppose there are some nice
isolated spots along the ocean for the night, or two?? Is it a developed coast line of sorts?
John
[Edited on 4-17-2006 by John M]
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wilderone
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Yes, there are plenty of spots along the cliffs. As I mentioned, they're high cliffs - not beach. But it's a great walk along the cliffs which
meanders close to the water and fabulous views, with cruising dolphin. It's not developed, but more sections are being plowed and fenced - they seem
to be more inland though, allowing a thoroughfare along the coast.
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