BajaNomad

La Bocana West of Santo Tomas, Questions

SFandH - 8-18-2014 at 01:29 PM

We haven't been there in about 10 years and are thinking about spending a few nights there for a quick Baja fix.

Anybody been there recently?
Is the store still open?
Is the grassy area for camping still there?
How is the road?

redhilltown - 8-18-2014 at 11:26 PM

The store has been closed for quite a while now so bring in whatever you may need/want. I think you mean the grassy area near the estuary? Not sure as to camping but often on weekends the locals use it. We are usually on our way to Puerto Santo Tomas and stay at one of Sam's houses and go out fishing. He also has places to camp right on the water but since the places to stay are so reasonable and nice it is tough to camp! And all the churros/mussels you can eat...plus with the local fishing community right there you can buy fresh fish/lobster from the them and feast...and if uni is your thing (as it is mine), I think this is the season. As you enter La Bocana you simply turn right and in about 15 minutes enter the fishing village and continue on to Sam's gate.

Here is his email

realbaja@gmail.com (Samuel Saenz)

He lives in Maneadero and will meet you there or have his crew ready for you.

The road is the best it has been in years...the farming valley that you travel in on is really doing well so the road seems to follow...it degrades a bit after the turn off to Punta China just before La Bocana. Feel free to U2U me if you need more info...I really enjoy this little slice of Baja that is as real and as close as you can get to the border.

[Edited on 8-19-2014 by redhilltown]

David K - 8-18-2014 at 11:48 PM

Great Nomad-like answer!!!:cool:

SFandH - 8-19-2014 at 06:55 AM

Thanks for the reply redhilltown. I've always liked driving through that valley and I've noticed from the highway that at least the eastern part is thriving. The grassy area by the estuary is where we used to stay overnight in our camper. I've driven north along the coast to Puerto Santo Tomas before. Very scenic, pristine area.

We'll go mid-week to avoid the weekend barbeque crowd and check out Puerto Santo Tomas again. Possibly contact Sam next time.

David K - 8-19-2014 at 08:14 AM

The road to the coast from Hwy. 1 passes right by two mission site ruins... The first two sites for Mission Santo Tomas. The padres traded with ships from the 'port' of Santo Tomas, as well... when Mexico and Spain were fighting and the missions were cut off from their typical sources for supplies.

Photos at the three Santo Tomás mission sites: http://vivabaja.com/missions2/page8.html

More historic details and mileages to the sites from Hwy. 1: http://www.discoverbaja.com/2014/07/17/spanish-missions-cali...

durrelllrobert - 8-19-2014 at 08:23 AM

When I drove that road earlier this summer the washboard surface past the turn off to Punta China was so bad that my 6000 + pound Yukon had all 4 wheels of the ground at times and it kept drifting towards the drop off on the left. This scared the sh*t out of my wife who wanted me to stop and let her out. So I had to turn around and head back to the highway.

[Edited on 8-19-2014 by durrelllrobert]

desertcpl - 8-19-2014 at 08:35 AM

DK

could you post some maps of the area's so we can get an idea

of where all this is

David K - 8-19-2014 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
DK

could you post some maps of the area's so we can get an idea

of where all this is


Sure... here is a look back in time too... 1974... the area in question is in the bottom left corner:



More recent maps...






redhilltown - 8-19-2014 at 11:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
When I drove that road earlier this summer the washboard surface past the turn off to Punta China was so bad that my 6000 + pound Yukon had all 4 wheels of the ground at times and it kept drifting towards the drop off on the left. This scared the sh*t out of my wife who wanted me to stop and let her out. So I had to turn around and head back to the highway.

[Edited on 8-19-2014 by durrelllrobert]


Wow...it's been bad before but that is pretty bad! I have a stock Toyota Tacoma and rarely air down...but it certainly would help if you have a way to air back up. The locals go down to about...oh, say, 2 psi and rip along that road! But I wouldn't recommend it!

I am just now getting around to reading "God and Mr. Gomez" by Jack Smith and it really is amazing how little has changed since he wrote the book.

[Edited on 8-20-2014 by redhilltown]

David K - 8-20-2014 at 09:50 AM

An electric air pump for tires is pretty much a must have item for anyone who travels in Baja, I would think? To deflate for better ride, for better traction or for better flotation would be the prime reasons, as you need to air back up for highway driving... Also, if you get a flat that you can repair with a plug kit, and thus air back up. This is handy to not have to use the spare tire.

Air pumps start out about $25, plug into a cigarette lighter socket... but the fast ones clip directly onto the battery and start out at $50 and are three times faster than the cigarette lighter power ones.

In the 'old days' we had air pumps that were powered by engine compression... You removed one spark plug, screwed in the pump device, and started your engine. Fast, but the plug and device were hot to handle.

Mexitron - 8-20-2014 at 10:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by redhilltown


I am just now getting around to reading "God and Mr. Gomez" by Jack Smith and it really is amazing how little has changed since he wrote the book.

[Edited on 8-20-2014 by redhilltown]


The only time I camped there we drove in at night (1986 or so) and found a wide spot in the road to set up. Woke in the morning by a van pulling up. Some guys came up and started asking questions.....turns out we were camped right next to Jack Smith's place and someone had robbed it during the night! Man did we look like sitting ducks. One of the men was Gomez's son and after I explained my fondness for his father via Jack's book and that I had a signed copy he lightened up....also, he said the thieves took a washing machine, which was pretty hard to hide:lol:

Always wanted to go back there, glad to hear its still relatively undeveloped....Mr. Smith and Mr. Gomez would be happy.

BajaBlanca - 8-20-2014 at 11:12 AM

We have never been there and one day, we must. The book was funny ! However, every so often we get a phone call or email like this:

"Good morning, we are headed to your hotel, leaving San Diego early and we will be there at lunchtime."


Uhhhhhhhhh not likely!

[Edited on 8-20-2014 by BajaBlanca]

David K - 8-20-2014 at 11:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
We have never been there and one day, we must. The book was funny ! However, every so often we get a phone call or email like this:

"Good morning, we are headed to your hotel, leaving San Diego early and we will be there at lunchtime."


Uhhhhhhhhh not likely!



So many La Bocanas... So little time! :lol:

desertcpl - 8-20-2014 at 11:18 AM

Thanks Dk

never been either,,, read the book last year

fun read

David K - 8-20-2014 at 04:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
Thanks Dk

never been either,,, read the book last year

fun read


I have not been further west on that road than the first mission site. I have been on the high road between Santo Tomas and Punta Cabras, however. Flew over some of it a couple months ago in a copter, east of the weirdo temple at San Juan de las Pulgas.

redhilltown - 8-21-2014 at 12:14 AM

Yeah...if you are going to do much off roading in Baja you pretty much have to have the "clip on the battery" style...I can't imagine going back to the cigarette lighter types...takes for-frickin-ever!!! It can literally mean a difference of 45 minutes and that is time much better served having cervezas at Alphonsinas...or take your pick.

[Edited on 8-21-2014 by redhilltown]

DENNIS - 8-21-2014 at 06:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl

read the book last year

fun read


It was that, and more. it opened up Baja Norte to a whole world of adventure and exploration to an otherwise sedentary US populace. It made the place "doable." "If ol' Jack and his wife can do it, so can I." The beachcamps began to thrive and the rest is history.

baconjr - 8-24-2014 at 07:38 PM

Here is a link to the La Bocana blog http://labocanaorg.blogspot.com/

redhilltown - 8-27-2014 at 12:10 AM

Great link BaconJr...great pics!!! Thanks so much!

David K - 8-27-2014 at 08:07 AM

Yes, very nice... Good looking papaya flowers/ fruit, too...

baconjr - 8-27-2014 at 09:44 AM

We have a cabin at Bahia Soledad. When the seller took us there the first time he was impressed. He told us that 1/2 the customers who were interested in the land stopped and turned around halfway down the road. The tradition established by Jack Smith and his wife of opening a beer before heading down the road is part of our drive.

Pablito1 - 8-28-2014 at 06:13 AM

The first time that I was there was 1964-65. We really speared some nice fish.

Pablo