This past weekend, I went out to the border both on Sat and Sun. Sat was a complete border day. I walked the five miles in the morning out the park to meet up with Teté and her high school classes. That was probably the cooles part of a day full of interesting and exciting ocurrences. We talked with José (my friend who takes care of the huge garden on the Mexican side) and figured out exactly where they are going to plant the garden. They got native plants donated and will have 8 teams of six students. Each team will build a square meter garden. The area chosen starts about ten feet west of the circle that connects the two countries and they will plant right up against the fence. The students were excited about it. It will be a competition to see who has the coolest looking garden. One of the girls saw a lizard and was chasing it around the whole time til she finally caught it and gave it a kiss. She was funny. On the way out to the border a ran accross a group called the San Diego Tracking Team. I chatted with them for a few mintues. They were out trying to find tracks of species that went under roads. They said they don't track humans, just animals. After spending the day at a couple spots near the border they were planning on going up to Rancho peñasquitos to find tracks of a certain kind of bird that goes under the freeway. They were pretty gung ho. Kinda cool. I also picked up several rocks on the way out and on the way back. Also, when I was about half way back, I decide to hike up smuggler's gulch and see if I could talk to anyone through the fence. On the way out to the mesa there was what appeared to be kind of like a swat team of border agents walking back out towards me. There were at least 12 of them, it was kind of intimidating to see them with all there weapons and combat gear. They walked by and asked where i was going. "Just going for a hike". One said "Ok be careful." Another said " Be careful of the Aiens. They throw rocks." "Don't get too close to the fence." My first thought was "what an idiot, what is he talking about?" But then I realized that aliens might have actually thrown rocks at him. Reminded me a little of the scenes I used to see on TV where Palestinians would through rocks at armed israeli forces. Anyway, I doub that happens too often, if at all. I tried to take their picture as they were walking away, but my camera phone was full and as soon as tried (it still made the clicking sound). I couple agents came running back to me and told me to erase it. I showed them it didn't work. "Why can't I take a picture." "It's not allowed." "It's a illegal?" "No, we just don't want you to do it. Have a nice day."

I hiked up the hill at the end of the gulch and sat near the fence for a bit where I had talked to people on other ocassions. I sat for a bout 15 minutes and made space for more pics on my phone while a border guard watche me from up top. No one showed up so I walked west into the construction site. They were building away. Moving dirt and making roads. Covering culverts up and grading a bit more. I really do wonder what they are doing out there. I can't figure it out.

On the way back, un señor from up to a hill on the mexican side waved to me. There were three amigos sitting around chatting and one waved to me to meet him down by the fence. His name was Luis and talked to him through a hole in the fence


He had just been deported the night before and was hungry and thristy. He couldn't leave the area of the fence because he didn't have an ID and the Mexican police through you in jail if you can't show them an idea "Te digo, ni dejan en el pais de uno". I've heard this before from friend I've met at the fence that you can't stray too far cause the police will get you and through you in jail for 36 hours. Another friend, Ceasr, lives under a bridge that is a drainage system under the fence and cant' got either direction because of the BP on the US side and the Mexican police on the other. He sneaks into town on the mexican side and works at a hamburger stand and then goes back to his spot at night. Anyway, he's another interesting story. I have vide of an interview with him I should post. I gave Luis 50 pesos that I had and he was complaining about wanting to talk to his wife in LA. I lent him my cell, but it didn't work. We were in a bad area i guess. When I first offered it to him he said "tu eres la migra o que?". He was wondering if he should trust me. He did though and asked me if he could have the phone. I told him no but later was kicking myself cause I could've let him take it up to the top of the hill and try and jsut bring it back. Anyway, his story was pretty similiar to others i've heard at the fence. Someone gets deported, leaving his wife and children in the US and he's lost at the fence. Pretty messed up, inhumane situation. I actually went back the next day (michelle was cool enough to drive me out there this time so I didn't have to walk the whole way) and lent him my phone again. It worked this time and he talked to his family for a while. I'm not sure, but I think he tried to cross in on Sun night. Hope he made it.

After the visit with Luis on Sat, I went back down and started toward my house. I swung in behind the water treatment plant and asked an army guy exactly what they are building/working on there. "We're just making roads. Roads for BP." "What's the plan, is ther going to be another wall? How long will the roads be?" "I don't know the plans, I'm just a peon. Just an engineer." Well, I obviously wasn't getting anything out of him. I wonder who knows and would be willing ot share. Somebody reading this blog? Anybody?

Well, like I said, I went back out on Sun with MIchelle. We had a couple more run-ins with the border agents. They were polite, but warned us against aliens throwing rocks again. I wonder if thats a new protocol to say that. One of them said it's not illegal to be close to the fence, but we shouldn't stay there too long. it's always a different story, but overall, they are usually ok with me roaming around out there. Luis spent the night sat at the fence in the mountains. It was cold on Sat night. MIchelle and I walked up to the construction site again and I was talking about how it would've been a good idea to bring blankets when "ta da" there was a thick warm army blanket righ in our path. I went back over there and there was a guy about to cross. I asked him if they needed any blankets "No, gracias" he said hurriedly, but still polite. I just draped the blanket and a sweatshirt I found over the fence and we hiked back down.

I was grateful Michelle came down to drive me out on Sun, cause i was too tired to hike all the way back out there after walking a total of about 15 miles on Sat. Gracias michelle.