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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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I have been busy and away from the board for a while but when I saw this topic I was hoping it wasn't going to be what it was. Bernie had seen the
good, bad and ugly of Baja but always loved to tell very interesting stories about his experiences he had. I enjoyed his stories about how he first
built his home in La Salina and a lot of humor in his experiences living there. His books also expressed his FUN outlook on Baja.
Bernie was a caring man but he was not bashful in telling you his thoughts but always a gentleman. He gave us all something to encourage us to
explore and look for the FUN that Baja has to offer in our trips South. My prayers to his family and I know his sharing of Baja Love will be
remembered here for a long long time. Rest well my BajaNomad Amigo. "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Jaime here....Bernies wife.
Thank you for the kind words, you called him like he is......
I don't like RIP...I like hfb Headed for baja .
Think of all the stories above with all the other Baja guys and gals.....
Bernies time was cut too short on this earth. But, I am glad we had him for as long as we did.
Yes, you are correct on his encouraging to people.
Thank you for the kind words.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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perhaps RIB....rest in baja!
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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Bernie... you will always be in Baja with us
Dear Jaime,
It is with a heavy heart and deeply sadden soul that I am reading this thread. Bernie was one of the most kind and beautiful persons I have ever met,
someone I considered a friend. We met several times and he always spoke to me with words of advice and wisdom, as if he was my father. One thing is
for sure Jaime, we will never ever forget him, at least I will not.
Let me tell you something very few people know: our slogan at BajaCactus is "Where Baja is so much more than a dream...", well, Bernie helped me out
to come up with it... he left a sparkle of his joy for life and Baja with us.
I send you a big hug Jaime and will leave you with one of my favorites quotes from Bernie's book "Mi Baja":
"When I asked Yolanda how she got the octopus she said that she just dove down and stuck her hand in a hole in the underwater cliff and an octopus
would grab onto her arm. I asked her what she would do if a really BIG octopus were to grab her arm. She looked at me as if I were an idiot and said:
You don't put your arm in no BIG hole."
BajaCactus
[Edited on 7-15-2013 by BajaCactus]
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Jaime here.
thank you for the kind words...he will be missed each and every day.
I had forgotten that story, and you put a smile on my face for mentioning it. I am re-reading his books, to keep him close at hand and in my heart.
I cannot fill his shoes, nor would I ever try, but I can continue with his
"Baja is people helping people" words, which Bernie lived by.
Jaime
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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again, thank you for the kind words. It does make my heart full to hear how good he was.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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I meet Bernie in one the Baja book signings in la Mission Pyramid Resort,bought his books and really enjoy them.sorry for your loss Jaime,another
star for the BAJA sky..
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Yes, I like that...another star in the sky!
I am asking for people to let me know if anyone here is going to come to the celebration of life for Bernie at the san diego police pistol range.
its in spring valley on the 10th of august at 4-7. I need a head count for food. thank you.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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I am asking for people to RSVP for the celebration of life for Bernie at the san diego police pistol range. its in spring valley on the 10th of
august at 4-7. I need a head count for food. thank you.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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I made a pit stop at La Salina Restaurant on my way down to Ensenada, by the way, if any of you ladies didn't know, Sunday is Ladies day and half
price drinks at La Salina. I went in to inquire about the mysterious A Frame, and was it there or not there. Evidently the owner wasn't there until
later in the day, but there was a customer who claims he came to La Salina as a boy and was a construction worker. He said that people were probably
misinformed by calling the original building an A frame, that the restaurant was built very small and probably was a lean-to and people were
mistakenly calling it an A-frame but that he has all the original pictures. He said there was no A Frame on the property but I said that yes, the man
who was discussing it said someone reproduced it exactly and built it over at La Bufadora. Anyway I think we were talking about two different
structures, one being the original restaurant that he has pictures of when it was a small shack and the other building Bernie was talking about. Some
regulars there tried to chime in and say they knew a lot about the property but no one knew about the subject at hand. The general consensus was
that I should talk to the owner and he can tell me more, but that I will invite this man to the board to post his pictures of the original La Salinas
restaurant, by the way, he said not women founded La Salina, it was a man. So I need to get up there later in the day when the now owner is
there. | Quote: | Originally posted by Mexitron
Ahh, the A-frame-----my good friend's boss owned it back in the 90's and early 2000's and let her use it for parties. Place was awesome---I think one
of the parties there they managed to sleep 60 people overnight (granted, not everyone made it inside, or even made it up from the beach...). I recall
6 actual beds but also couches, etc., whatever furniture people were getting rid of they donated it to the La Salina house. Wonderful, albeit hazy,
memories there. |
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Some regulars there tried to chime in and say they knew a lot about the property but no one knew about the subject at hand.
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Asking a question in that gin-mill that would require memory for an answer would be like doing the same in Rene's up in Rosarito.
Looking at the La Salina complex from the toll road, the part far north of the bar.....if you didn't easily and clearly see the A-Frame, it's gone.
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BajaGirl87
Newbie
Posts: 11
Registered: 7-22-2013
Member Is Offline
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Hello Everyone,
My name is Kara and I am Bernie and LuAnn Swaim's granddaughter.
I have really enjoyed reading all of the kind words and stories you have posted about my grandpa. My first trip to Baja was before my first birthday
and I absolutely loved visiting La Salina with my grandparents. Everything about Baja was magical and it will always be a special place for my family
and I.
I'd love to hear more of your stories and hope to post some pictures for all to enjoy.
Love,
kara
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4340
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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Welcome aboard! Look forward to seeing some photos. Baja is a magical place and your grandfather had a nice way of putting pen to paper so to speak
and weaving a nice story. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65068
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Hi Kara,
Thanks for coming to Nomad!
David
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BajaGirl87
Newbie
Posts: 11
Registered: 7-22-2013
Member Is Offline
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I thought everyone would get a kick out of this. Here's my grandpa just getting started with the SDPD
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BajaGirl87
Newbie
Posts: 11
Registered: 7-22-2013
Member Is Offline
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Bernie SDPD
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Hi, Jaime here.
Yes, not only was Bernie a Police office in san diego, he was the youngest lt, sgt, and captain on the force. he hired over 400 people and, believe
me, they are sending me emails about what a spectacular man he was. He led by example. He also worked the border and, gads, you should see the
business cards from Baja he kept from there. (get out of jail free cards)
fun story, we had been down to see keri and mike at pyramid hotel, and we all went onto the beach in their 4 wheel drive jeep. We collected many
nice colored rocks, pinks, blues, ringed, yes ringed, yellows etc. Coming across the border, the guard asked what we were bringing back, and Bernie
waited too long to answer, so good old Jaime said ...Rocks, colored rocks..". well, the guard was a nubie, and....off to secondary we went...Bernie
was not happy with me...to say the least. so he explained to a man after we went thru the Xray machine...really, we have beach rocks for the
garden..... the man asked last time we were in secondary, and Bernie said 40 years ago, when he was working the Border, they talked a
bit.....and...yep....we waited no longer.....off we went. Paid to have him in the car....ok, so he was driving!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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lasalinagary
Newbie
Posts: 7
Registered: 8-28-2009
Location: La Salina
Member Is Offline
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My wife and I have lived here in La Salina since 1990 and knew Bernie and Luann well over the years. We have met you also several times at the
Cantina. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and Bernie's family. I truly wanted to read another book on the tales of Baja. We will miss him.
Clarification on the A frame which was only one of several homes he helped build here. The A frame was an ocean front house inside the main gate down
about 3 streets. It was not the Cantina. The house was torn down about 7 years or so ago and replaced with a new one. As you know, termites are
rampant here in Baja and it had seen better days. The new owner built a large home on the lot and last night got married to his new wife there. So the
tradition continues.....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Thanks, Gary.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Thanks for the clarification!! I will be in the States for a few days but will be heading back down to Baja in a few days. How exactly do you get
there? I would love to meet with you or the owner to take a picture to post. You can U2U me and I can meet you at the Cantina.
| Quote: | Originally posted by lasalinagary
My wife and I have lived here in La Salina since 1990 and knew Bernie and Luann well over the years. We have met you also several times at the
Cantina. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and Bernie's family. I truly wanted to read another book on the tales of Baja. We will miss him.
Clarification on the A frame which was only one of several homes he helped build here. The A frame was an ocean front house inside the main gate down
about 3 streets. It was not the Cantina. The house was torn down about 7 years or so ago and replaced with a new one. As you know, termites are
rampant here in Baja and it had seen better days. The new owner built a large home on the lot and last night got married to his new wife there. So the
tradition continues..... |
[Edited on 7-28-2013 by EnsenadaDr]
[Edited on 7-30-2013 by BajaNomad]
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