F R I E N D S

Friends for life!

Two new friends showed up in June of 2002. We got some help from David Sibley, an expert we found through the Audubon Society. He told us they are Black-throated Magpie Jays. He says they occur wild within a few hundred miles of San Diego in western Mexico. He thinks this pair may have escaped captivity because of the worn tail feathers which would happen if their cage was too small. He feels they may survive here and that they are not migratory. We are trying to make them welcome.

U P D A T E

We just learned that these birds were purchased on the mainland by a local resident and were caged for some period of time before they escaped. We also have seen another, smaller one and we have seen them protecting a nest. Hopefully there will be more in the future.



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Here's a hummer for you.

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This fellow landed on our fountain Friday morning for a drink.
He flew into a tree across the road and posed for these pictures.

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Some wild burros visited us for a drink.
They live and roam the hills of Punta Banda freely.

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New friends came all the way from Chicago to prospect a retirement location.
They stayed three weeks and we think they had a good time.

Ray and Linda Davis from Chicago, IL.


Having fun yet? We hope they come back.
Señora Dona Anita Grosso de Espinoza Peña


On the way home from Bahia de Los Angeles in September of 2000, I stopped in El Rosario. Thirty-five years before with 12 friends on motorcycles we had stopped here for gas and lunch. When we asked at the gas station if there was a restaurant in town, the lady proprietor said "We serve food here. Do you like lobster tacos?"

For 35 years her name, Señora Espinoza, has been etched in my memory, just as her lunch and the vision of the two young señoritas that served it.

I was curious if she was still with us and what ever happened to her. To my great surprise I found that not only was she still with us, she was still living there and that she was home. As I ordered lunch I asked if by chance Señora Espinoza might consider giving me an audience. The young señorita waitress returned in a few minutes and told me that she would see me. Now! In her home in back of the restaurant. I was to follow the señorita. I did and nervously knocked on her door. She said, "Please come in." I did and there before me, sitting at her dining room table was the matriarch of El Rosario, Señora Dona Anita Grosso de Espinoza Peña.

She was born in 1908 in the pueblo El Rosario. Her father, Eugenio Grosso, was a mining engineer born in Italy, her mother, Tecla Peña, was the granddaughter of the Chief of the Baja Pimas. In 1932, against her mothers wishes, she married Heraclio Espinoza, the son of Don Santiago, a rancher and the local Sheriff. They had 10 children, all born in El Rosario. They were together for 53 years, which she says "went by quickly."

She invited me to sit with her at her dining room table. I told her how I had come to know her. Oddly she didn't remember me but we had a wonderful conversation. She seemed to like talking about the "good days." She was kind enough to let me be photographed with her and she signed a copy of her autobiography that I had purchased.

Truly an event I will remember the rest of my life. See the book section of our Potpourri Page.

U P D A T E - October 2001

Again returning from fishing in Bahia de Los Angeles, my friend Bill Griffith and I stopped for lunch at Mama Espinosa's. Here are the pictures Bill and I took. The other lady is Dona Anita's niece, Maria Grosso. Maria is the daughter of Arturo Grosso, one of Dona Anita's brothers. (She had six brothers and three sisters.) The giant snail fossils shown in the entryway of the restaurant were taken from a famous site located in El Rosario.

Dona Anita was very gracious and vibrant and alert. She looks great! She's 93 years young.





U P D A T E - December 2001

Again fishing in Bahia de Los Angeles, my friend John Jones and I stopped for lunch on the way down and for breakfast on the way home. I was lucky to get a picture of Dona Anita and Maria with Antonio Espinoza, a brother of Dona Anita's husband, Heraclio.

Also pictured is one of Dona Anita's daughters, Elvia Espinoza Grosso and her daughter, Marina.

Marina is also shown with some of the other señoritas working that morning. Note that the Christmas tree is decorated with real star fish. Someone said they saw Santa Claus by the tree. Maybe!


U P D A T E - April 2003

On the way to Bahia de Los Angeles with Lee Mathews, we stopped at Mama Espinosa's for lunch and to visit Donna Anita. She is now 96 years young and is recovering from back surgery. She did not have the old spark I had witnessed in the past. However she insisted on signing a copy of her latest book that I purchased. I'll stop again in June to check on her. You can find her new book listed under GOOD READING on our POTPOURRI page.


U P D A T E - July 16, 2003

I stopped as usual on the way to Bahia de Los Angeles. Dona Anita seems fully recovered from her back surgery. She is in good spirits and her old self again. I asked her if she would mind if I turned on my tape recorder. And she said "of course not". I told her that I had spent the previous weekend at the Meling Ranch and that when Duane Meling learned that was stopping to see Mama she made me promise to say hello for her. At this point Dona Anita gave me a short but fascinating history of the Meling family. Which was exactly what I was hoping for. Sadly at end of my visit I discovered that the recorders batteries were dead and I got NOTHING on tape.

Here is the best that I can remember. Mr. Meling (I wish I could remember his name) sailed from Norway with his pregnant wife and their children to the west coast of Baja to find his brother. I believe there was a storm and the wife began labor and the ship made for Santa Rosalillita. She died in child birth and is buried there. I think the baby died and is also buried there. I'm not sure of this.

Mr. Meling and the children continued north searching for his brother, a builder of piers. I think he built one in Ensenada. They found the brother and at some point Mr. Meling hired Mexican woman to look after and help raise the children. He eventually married her. Aida Meling was among the fruit of this marriage. Mr. Meling bought an existing ranch and ran as many as 300 head of cattle. At some point, I think after he pasted away the family converted the ranch into a dude ranch. Aida Meling Johnson ran the now famous Meling Ranch for many years. She passed away in 1998 and her daughter, Duane Meling, is now the Reinging Matriarch.


U P D A T E - March, 2004

Again I stopped as usual on the way to Bahia de Los Angeles. Dona Anita is now 97 years young and still in good spirits. She told me that her doctors are telling her that her immune system is failing. I made a small donatation as usual to her mission. She asked me to bring rice and beans next time. How can I NOT? She also needs plastic jugs to hold the rice and beans for distribution.


Friends and neighbors Roger and Allie Overacker.

One of my favorite fish taco stands. Muy bueno!

Our friends Bill & Kay that live on the next hill in La Jolla. Their beautiful home has a spectacular view. They rent to vacationers and weekenders.
Click here to visit their Web Page. Tortuga Junction


Our friends Dave and Meley.The young man is Meley's son Sergio.

While Meley's family visited from Juarez it seemed like a good time to have a small fiesta. We served up some carne asada tacos, music and cervesa on the west deck. Click here to see the pictures.

ATTENCION! ATTENCION!

The notorious La Mision Potato Bomber has been spotted and actually photographed. Even though he has long been on the 10 Most Wanted List with his reputed friend, the Frito Bandito, it is now believed that he is not too bright. As you can see in the last picture, he apparently has no clue of Newton's Law and does not realize that what goes up, must come down.

Caution is advised. He is believed to be armed. Heavily armed with a long length of sewer pipe, a can of "Engine, Quick Start Ether" and large sack of potatoes. He most likely has been injured about the head and shoulders and surely smells of smashed potatoes.


Roger and Brandon Wine during a recent visit.
The toothless one is son Brandon.

Our friend Hans Röhrig came all the way from Germany. We hope he comes back soon. Hans rode down from Redondo Beach with friends Bob & June Beuckman. We hope they come back soon too.


I take the girls up to see the coastline on other side of the hills behind our home.

Dave & Cathy Clarkson and their family camped next to us in Bahia Kino. They came all the way from Colorado to spend two weeks on the Sonora coast. This wasn't their first time there and judging from their meal of lobster, crab and clams I don't think it will be their last.

Four legged friends.


Nancy feeds carrots to the horses that stop by.
She's dosen't think the big bulls like carrots.

Fernando is a proud papa!

Camp Kennedy friends and visitors.




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