Otay Mesa and Lakes

We spent three weeks in Pio Pico RV Resort in an area named Otay (procounced Oh Tie) Lakes What an abosolute change of pace for us. We were approximately 30 miles from San Diego, but it felt as if we could be on the moon. We had no phone service and had to buy internet service. We had to drive winding canyon roads to visit San Diego or to go the grocery store. It was not unlike West Texas in its isolation. And the hills. They were basically brown and gray, with a few low-growing green bushes. Not at all like home.

 

This is a view of the road we took into the RV Park. The road was really scary in a 40-foot RV with a tow, but it wasn't so bad in the Jeep. But we never could go fast enough for the locals. We learned to ignore them or pull over to let them zip by. Speed limits in California are merely suggestions apparently. No one expects people to abide by them.

 

Our stay at Jamul (pronounced ha mul) was unique to say the least. Behind the RV park, up across the mountain were narrow, dirt roads that were literally alive with white Border Patrol SUV's. Some nights we even had helicopters. Apparently we were a mile or two from the Mexican border and this area was a crossing point for Mexican citizens. Although we never saw anyone being arrested, there had to be many arrests here or they wouldn't have spent so much time here.

 

We even drove to the top of the mountain one day. The road itself was scary enough because it was so narrow and there was a cliff off one side.  But I'm sure we were being watched by the Border Patrol from some other vantage point so I didn't worry about being accosted. When we got to the top our phones started pinging and we got messages that said, "You are now in Mexico. Charges will apply." I don't know that we were actually in Mexico, but we were close enough to ping off their towers. At least they had phone service.

 

Another day Larry went up alone and talked to one of the patrolmen.  He told Larry that they had arrested 16 people the night before. Two more were in the group, but they got away.

 

We had Thanksgiving Dinner at Pio Pico. What a disappointment. Cold food is never a great meal.