Directions to the San Ysidro Sentri Lane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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

Submitted by Jennifer Smith

The Old Runway Gets Some Use

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

And if you are wondering, yes, this fish

did weigh more than young Tristan!

Submitted by Jennifer Smith

Sunset Labor Day

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

Kika (or Daisy or Chewy) has been adopted!

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?

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

Your Turn to Write Something:

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:

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

A big night in La Bocana

includes a mean game of dominoes

and a nice group of people!

The Newest Full Time Resident

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?