Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Mision Santa Maria - Return of the Loser
To all the gang on the Mision Santa Maria Trip:
Well, here I am, back at home. The first thing done was to shuffle the calender pages so that the long shower taken appeared to be the one and only
shower that real Aridologist take once a year. 
Then, I was overwhelmed by the thought of all the people that got me here. In no particular order, here are the particular ones that stand out:
Baja Cactus, and his staff who spent countless hours finding the right parts and getting them to me and turning over the facilities of the Motel
(particularly Isela - WiW # hidden) - and Tele) to Chris and I.
Chris, who had seconds thoughts about leaving me to die at Mile 8 and returning with outer tie rods and being the brains behind changing them after
my brains had turned to 80 year old mush.
Art, whose Miraculous Machine towed me over some very rough spots. I thing we were all impressed with the combination of Art's abilities and the
vehicle he crafted.
Paul, with his boundless energy and technical knowledge, who seemed to be everywhere on the mountain pulling winch cable, attaching tow straps, or
plotting strategy. Judging by the companion with him, he even has sex appeal. 
All the rest of the gang who stuck together to spend hours in the middle of the night getting me out in the finest tradition of the Baja Nomad forum.
Thanks, Doug, for making this comradery possible.
And then, there is David K, who led us into this Salsipuedes. I have special plans for him. Je, je, je.
The Roadrunner who crossed 50 yards in front of me at Mile 8, c-cked his head, decided I was was useless to his Plan of the Day and proceeded on his
way.
Of Teddi Botham, my passenger, the Mule Queen, I can say nothing because as a gentleman of the old school, my lips are sealed.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Glad to hear you are home safe and sound.
How is the truck?
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Thanks, DianaT
The tie rods are replaced as is the stripped ring and pinion.
The crunched camper top has been turned in to the Discover Baja insurance while in Baja as per rules. Must call the Tijuana office Monday for further
whatever. Will report on the insurance progress as many people are interested.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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"crunched camper top"????? Wow, had not heard that little tid-bit yet. You lost faith in your wheels and tried something else, eh?
What an experience!!! Glad to hear you're "out of there" and back home in one piece.
Do you think the ring and pinyon (sp?) failure was caused by "weight"? or something else?
----and you gotta explain that "crunched camper top"
I am thinking that some of the more timid WIW will be a lot more hesitant about you, now---------
Barry
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13034
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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Neal...it sounds like a WINNING combination of amigos to me!!! Ya lived to write about it and sounds like yet another baja adventure...way to go!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Yes,
We must hear the story of the camper-----of course, you are allowed some poetic license in the telling of said story.
Seriously, we will be very interested in the response from the insurance company.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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It's great to hear you are back!
Neal, I would not call you a looser, but I would call you a survivor!
I saw the photo of your camper - can't wait to hear the story.
Welcome home.
Bob H
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64547
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Good to read your words here on Nomad, once again Mr. Aridologist!
In my trip report Part 3 or 4 (coming soon) I will give more details that I didn't give a blood oath to keep secret! 
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4980
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: INTP-A
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
"crunched camper top"????? Wow, had not heard that little tid-bit yet. |
Posted in this thread:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=45495
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com |
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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You have all heard of Jumping Cholla, well it turns out that the swamp held a primordial version of a palm called Jumping Palma. Trust Me.
It did not work on the Jumping Palma, but if you are confronted by a Jumping Cholla bud in the road, just honk and it will jump off the road. Trust Me
again.
[Edited on 6-6-2010 by Neal Johns]
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64547
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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In this video taken by Zoom in hbmurphy's Tacoma, you can see just how close the palm trees are to the 'road'... turn up your volume... Zoom is
priceless!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvjeiwTN48&feature=chann...
[Edited on 6-6-2010 by David K]
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Baja Bucko
Nomad
Posts: 288
Registered: 9-23-2003
Member Is Offline
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Hay Sweety (directed to the great aridologist)-it ain't "Mule Queen"...I prefer "Baja Mule Diva".......but then again, you can whisper anything in my
ear :lol!
When that palm tree jumped out at us it wasn't your fault-there was limited visibility. Same w the 2 foot tall palm tree stump that Art ran
over....you gotta see it to avoid it.
My other 4WD is a Baja Mule!
La Mula Mil Survivor 2013-2014!
1000 miles by mule from the tip to Tecate!
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Baja Bucko,
Always good to have a satisfied customer....
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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WELCOME BACK NEAL, You are a inspiration to us,,, to bad a miss this trip like I said before I will never forget myself for missing the trip..
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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BAJACAT,
Sorry you could not make it, I know you really wanted to go. There should be another time.
Neal
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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