BajaNomad - Amigo's de Baja

Amigo's de Baja

Baja Bernie - 8-5-2005 at 05:29 PM

People with a shared dream
But with many facets
Lovers of the Ocean and Sea
Those who would find Missions
Or the cold and cruel deserts
Tonight you freeze
Tomorrow your blood boils
Those who take off
Down seldom used trails
Boots an hats
Scuffing the sand
Temperatures rising
A land apart
Comfortable at the ocean
The desert barely endurable
Mountains cold and pure
Amigos de Baja
A home that captures people
And makes them friends
Baja Ladies and Gents
People
Sharing the oceans
The missions and deserts
Struggling upon the mountains
Sharing
Bahia de Los Angeles
Mulege
San Ignacio
San Felipe
And TJ too
Here was home all safe and secure
A place to go when tired and blue
Make ready for a trip
Stop and refill your tank
Find a new pal
Share his thoughts and feelings
Amigos de Baja
A place that welded us together
So that we cared for each other
Even though we had separate
And different needs
Somehow in this safe and happy haven
We all found a way to fulfill ourselves
Our home has been destroyed
We are exposed and hurting
There is a need to reach out
To touch each other
To hold hands
And share our needs
We desperately need to find a way

Bernie Swaim
September, 2003

The way was provided by Doug Means and his BajaNomad Board soon after I wrote this piece.

Things seem to get a bit rocky every now and again but most of us still share a common love of Baja and its people. Hopefully that love for this wonderful land will allow us to work together, to understand our differences, and build on those areas where we share a common desire.

Perhaps in this way we will not have to go looking for another new home any time soon.

PAZ

Neal Johns - 8-5-2005 at 05:49 PM

Good thoughts, Bernie.

Good God! Something positive!

yankeeirishman - 8-5-2005 at 07:10 PM

Baja Bernie ....it's about time to see something posted here at the forum that is postive in thought. I hope that all Nomads read and follow this great little piece here, that you posted. Think I'll come back and join again.

Thanks Bernie

Bedman - 8-5-2005 at 07:36 PM

Good post!

Bedman

surfer jim - 8-5-2005 at 09:37 PM

Good thoughts ...but until they get rid of the few people who are out to destroy this forum nothing will change....

Debra - 8-5-2005 at 10:23 PM

THANKS BERNIE!!!!!!

Debra - 8-5-2005 at 10:33 PM

Was I a "bad girl"? My Orca is gone......!!!! Give it back please?! :no:

bajaruby - 8-6-2005 at 09:26 AM

That was beautiful Baja Bernie, Thanks :spingrin:

Bajame - 8-6-2005 at 09:57 AM

Refreshing! Thanks! :bounce:

Bajame

Baja Bernie - 8-6-2005 at 10:51 AM

Sadly true of many. But I try not to join the angry and the haters.

Life is just far too much fun to do otherwise.

Thanks for your view.

Like your handle--The title of my first book was "Mi Baja" and my license plates read the same.

What a place!

Amigo's de Baja

Juan - 8-6-2005 at 12:12 PM

This was a great site. I was at the last meeting in Washington State and wish the group had stayed together a while longer. However, all things have a beginning and an ending so it was probably time for the site to go.

One of the problems with Groups about Baja is that the agenda gets taken over by those who live close to the border. Those of us who live a considerable distance away seem to be forgotten in the discorse. Some of the posters become territorial and try to drive the newcomers away with bad results, the regular readers/posters either refuse to respond or take the bait and start another cyber war. Never the less I would rather read the posts on this site than on any other. Thanks to everyone for making it interesting.

Pax, Juan

bajaruby - 8-6-2005 at 12:19 PM

Bajame
Have you been to Jackson, Ca. lately. thought I saw that plate lately

Juan

Baja Bernie - 8-6-2005 at 01:56 PM

I just noticed, you have the best of the world Baja Sur and the Olympic Penisula. How could you not be so tranquilo in your writings--and I bet--your approach to life.

I sure he wasn't there!

yankeeirishman - 8-6-2005 at 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaruby
Bajame
Have you been to Jackson, Ca. lately. thought I saw that plate lately

The water is too cold :lol:

bajaruby...are you still hogging that great island spot up there? :bounce:

bajalou - 8-6-2005 at 04:05 PM

Great Bernie, thanks

and Yankee - your lot looks just like it did a month ago!!!!

:biggrin:

yankeeirishman - 8-6-2005 at 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou
Great Bernie, thanks

and Yankee - your lot looks just like it did a month ago!!!!

:biggrin:

Thank God I aint in no hurry! Expected slowness was in the game plan! I got Burt down there pushing Salvadors's rump into gear. I myself, will be there in five weeks for getting the basics going. Am going south to aquire more land, will contact you in case you feel like doing an two day run with us to Punta Finale. I am dying to see how I am greeted by Antonio :lol:

[Edited on 8-6-2005 by yankeeirishman]

bajalou - 8-6-2005 at 06:03 PM

Quote:

T. Am going south to aquire more land, will contact you in case you feel like doing an two day run with us to Punta Finale. I am dying to see how I am greeted by Antonio :lol:

[Edited on 8-6-2005 by yankeeirishman]

I might just be interested in that little trip - give me a call or Email.

:biggrin:

Sallysouth - 8-6-2005 at 09:33 PM

Muchas gracias for your recent email.Such beautiful art work. Keep me on your email list , por favor...Sally,

[Edited on 8-7-2005 by Sallysouth]

excellant post

mulege marv - 8-7-2005 at 05:50 AM

very refreshing ! i dont do alot of posts but do read the board. being fortunate enough to live in baja i dont do trip reports as who wants to hear about going back to the U.S. ?
(and only do that once a year)
i do post pics of mulege and surrounding area, fishing reports for those that are interested (fishing is very poor right now by the way) but have made the mistake of getting peeed at certain individuals who are the "self proclaimed experts". i refused to even read the board for about a month. well thats all behind me, and a post like this makes me glad i came back. i see the "experts" are still at it posting with more negitve topics and i will just not read those. people come to this board to get information, and share experiences. not listen to opinions, nice job baja bernie !

Jack Swords - 8-7-2005 at 07:50 AM

Thanks Bernie for the nice thoughts. Nice to read about Baja again. Been staying away from the forum as it seems to have lost its way, but your posting reminds me of why I need to check back now and then.

Bajame - 8-7-2005 at 08:56 AM

No I don't have Baja Plates on my suv Baja Ruby. Been to the So Fork of Yuma River and it's great! Deep emerald pools and the water is about 78 degrees, one can dive off the rocks and wear those no-seeum bathing suits. :bounce:

Jack Swords

Baja Bernie - 8-7-2005 at 10:10 AM

Thank you those words they are a true compliment coming from you. So glad you are back.

Mulege Marv,

I enjoy most of your posts and I believe that you and others who reside in Baja are selling yourselves short--There are millions of stories that you all take for granted and that would be extremely interesting to the newer folks who do not even know of some of the stories and characters who have and still do dot Baja like a thousand lighthouses.

Baja Jane--who, I understand, lived for years in Mulege and was quite a different lady. Tell us about the things she made to suppoort herself and how she piped water for a great distance (through a forest-HaHa) to her place.

All of you guys have stories to tell--just like or even better that the one OSO told after a little prodding.

Sharing is just a whole lot of fun--and us old farts have a whole bunch of stories to share--we just gotta remember them and pass them on, before we forget them again, so they will be again passed on and never forgotten. Sorta like the original folks did--by word of mouth (which this board really is).

This is so darn important with Baja changing the way it is.

Skeet/Loreto - 8-7-2005 at 10:43 AM

Bernie: Thanks for all your good words about Baja its People and Guests!
I decided to come back on this Board and be myself with out gettin back into the Rants I would some time get into in the Past.
Yes , us ole timers do have some stories to tell and I know that some of the people read and try to understand and are interested, just have to ingnore the Profanity,braggng about using Drugs, the Hateful Name -Calling, disrespect for another Posters Position , etc.
Just got back from an Investigative trip to Baja Sur. Very enlighting!!! Will report later. Skeet/Loreto

Eli - 8-7-2005 at 10:58 AM

Pues, ya sabes, good vibes all around, very nice indeedie. Thanks for ALL your thoughts always Bernie.
A La Paz, Sara

Eli

Baja Bernie - 8-7-2005 at 04:08 PM

It has been a long time since we heard from you. Want to tell us what is going on in the Land of the Little People. Still can't find that book.

selling ourselves short

mulege marv - 8-7-2005 at 05:40 PM

[Edited on 8-8-2005 by mulege marv]

opinion

mulege marv - 8-7-2005 at 05:45 PM

sorry what i posted was an opinion and not fact, i told myself i would not get sucked into that again, you will see another post when i have something positve to say or see.
viva baja ! :yes:

nice to be back

Eli - 8-8-2005 at 09:22 AM

Well Bernie, Just no words of value come to mind as of late. You know how hot and cold I run.

I have been staying in the studio working, more and more hours on my art. Less and less time on the computer.

Oaxaca continues to be kind to me and in general give me something special to smile about each day.

Saludos, Sara

wornout - 8-8-2005 at 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Swords
Thanks Bernie for the nice thoughts. Nice to read about Baja again. Been staying away from the forum as it seems to have lost its way, but your posting reminds me of why I need to check back now and then.

So, I wasn't the only one who gave up on this forum for a while? Well, I checked back too and was pleasantly surprised to see something refreshing or positive for a change.

I think the best way to bring some sanity to it all is to post only in the positive threads and not even read the squabbling ones, let alone stoop to that level and respond to the as I have to admit, I have caught myself doing in the past.

wornout

Baja Bernie - 8-8-2005 at 02:23 PM

I think you have hit the nail right on the head.

How did that song go???

Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative? really does apply to life and it could to this board .

mcgyver - 8-8-2005 at 08:13 PM

Bernie: Yes there are some great old timer stories out there, I just wish some of these people could hear them,. I am not much of a writer and as everyone knows a terrable speller but if I had only had a recorder and recorded Fred Hoctor and his friends one night at Punta Banda, much more funnier than Baha Ha-Ha when the others contributed the uncensored part. BYW I have just about every columm that Fred wrote for Western outdoors. About a year ago I had the privileage of sitting around a Baja camp fire in the back country and listen to one of Baja,s early fliers and one of Baja,s old time Baja 1000 racers talk about how it was then!!
Fred Hoechest at Punta Banda is retired there now and can tell Baja stories for days.
When are you going to publish those you have not already?

mcgyver

Baja Bernie - 8-8-2005 at 11:07 PM

With some of them I have to wait for a few more people die so I don't get sued even if it is the truth.

Here is a short one on Fred Hoctor---I had been looking for him for a few years because I, too had read a bunch of his stuff that was not included in Baja HaHa. Anyway, I found that his home in San Diego was just a few miles away and his place near La Buf was not really to far from my place in Baja. I met his for the first time when he agreed to review a few chapter of my first book. He read a chapter, lowered his head and kinda looked at his forehead, chuckled and asked me if my momma (wife) checked my spelling for me. He could be a really caustic New York Jew when he wanted to. Anyway he allowed that I just might have a 'little' talent and then suggested that I re-write my best chapter. He talked about a great deal of things, that I may include in some writing some day, and we agreed to meet again in two weeks to go over the other chapters that I left with him.

The next time we met he was madder than a wet hen and growled, some on in. This as he screamed at his cute little puppy and offered me coffee--and then remembered that he had run out a few days ago.

He walked me out to his back yard, overlooking the south end of All Saints Bay, and proceeded to tell me that he was dying and that the doctors had told him that they could do nothing for him. This was sort of an aside as he talked about fishing and just about everything except my book. He just kept remembering stories and telling them in his rapid, machine gun style.

He finally got around to my book and told me that I should finish the book but that I should not even think of self-publishing because I would never be able to break into the distribution side of the book business. He told me how he had spent hours at the distributions houses in San Diego telling the salesmen dirty jokes and buying them donuts just to get them to place his books in the big book stores. Said that he fould one guy who was a real fisherman and got him to pull other books from prime locations and replace them with his. Laughed until he couldn't breath when he told me that he hooked the guy by giving him a little plug in the Western Outdoor Magazine.

Going back to the house he, again, began to scream and kick at his puppy. He picked up a couple of books and threw them as the dog scampered into the bedroom. When I asked him what he was so mad about he turned on me and turned bright red before blurting out, "That damn dog ate my lower partial and I can't eat anything and I can't even go to the store.

He loaned me a couple of his old, collectors, books on Baja and we agreed to meet again in three weeks.

I showed up on the appointed date only to find that he had stood me up. He had passed away the night before.

A very funny man, but boy could he get so caustic--acid would drip from his lips when he began to cut me about this or that.

If anyone want to buy one of his books, Baja HaHa, I still have a few that I sell for his wife, Sylvia. Just go to my website below.

Don't pay no mind to your spelling--heck I even invented a new word right here before God and everybody--Just ask Ken Bondy. Let's hear your stories.

Baja Bernie - 8-9-2005 at 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yankeeirishman
Baja Bernie ....it's about time to see something posted here at the forum that is postive in thought. I hope that all Nomads read and follow this great little piece here, that you posted. Think I'll come back and join again.

Thought I had accomplished something until I read the posts by Yankee on the "Growing Bamboo is so easy song" thread.
"Watch out folks! I had responded twice here in this post, the second being rather a buttchewing post...but no bad words or threats. AND GUESS WHAT?!!!! IT HAS BEEN DELETED. The friendsfamilyofrmac idiot song was deleted (by the poster), with an second post explaining this action.

friendsfamilyofrmac posted on 8-8-2005 at 10:16 PM
post was edited too....it originally said that yankeeirishman had a good point (about starting trouble)

"So jrbaja is right.....these guys are editing as they feel the need. I shall here on out, copy all posts I do (and theirs), then plastered the living hell of this forum with anything of my that gets edited for their needs. Good luck next time ol boy!"

Yankee--Who are 'these guys'?

Boy did we go from positive to something far less than positive. The positive stuff lasted almost 4 days WOW!

A question--why would anyone opposing JR remove a post by a stranger that was shooting at JR. Makes no sense to me.