BajaNomad

Flat Tire(s)

Diver - 3-16-2007 at 10:18 AM

So there I am, heading out to Asuncion with plenty of time to get there before happy hour and dinner. Cruising at 45mph down the dirt/gravel road they are grading and compacting for the upcoming pavement. Running into the rougher part they have just started working on.

There goes that familiar sound and feel of a rear flat tire, wonderful.
Not normally a big deal but I am travelling in the F350 crew with 14' boat on the roof and trailering 24' of loaded camp trailer. No sooner had I started the process of looking the situation over, a local man with his wife and small daughter stopped to help. With my limited spanish I said "lantera no es bueno" and he agreed. He immediately started pulling out his jacks and tools and set to changing my tire. I almost didn't even get to help except to pull out my tools.
Now I am wordering if I really look that old to him that I must have help or if thinks gringos don't know how to change tires or if he is just "that kind of guy". I decided to go with "that kind of guy".
We get the right rear changed and go to put the flat back underneath when we notice that the left rear has also gone flat !! Bummer ! No more spares !
Ah ha, but I have a patch kit somewhere. Alas, when I found it, all the glue was dried up. What now ??
As I pull out my assorted tools, my new friend spies a few lag screws and some liquid nails. After trying a small one, we finally got a 3/8 x 2 inch lag to seal the hole. With the truck jacked up, we were able to get 30 psi in the tire for the last 10 miles to Asuncion.

Let me explain that my local friend and saviour was a handsome young man dressed for a Sunday outing in white jeans and a silk shirt. He was filthy when he was done. His daughter was antsy and his wife was getting anxious. My efforts at passing out drinks and snack during our repair efforts helped a bit.

When he left, he refused any "tip" so I had to chase him down to shove my thanks into his pocket !

Another note is that 8 other locals passed our location during our repair efforts. Each and every one of them slowed to a stop and asked if we needed help. Every single one !
The lone truck with CA plates hardly slowed down and blew dust in our faces as they raced past. (Remember, I have WA plates and look GRINGO all over.)

All in all, the least stressful flat tire experience I have ever had. Gotta love it !! Gotta love Baja !!
.

.

Iflyfish - 3-16-2007 at 10:26 AM

Good one Diver.

With all the crime stories, it is good to hear one that shows the other side of Mexico.

By the way, don't look now, but you do look old.

I took up skiing at fifty and people would stop on the slopes and watch me get up, just to see that I was OK. That's when I discovered I was OLD.

Later Diver,

Iflyfish

rhintransit - 3-16-2007 at 10:35 AM

another example of the good people of Baja. reminds me of being 'home' in Phoenix recently. I fell off my bicycle when I had to brake suddenly...lots of people around me, cars going by, folks in golf carts across the way, no one, absolutely no one asked if I was okay. I picked myself up and continued on my way, to the stares of strangers, and thought of 'home' in Baja.

had it happened in Mexico, on the mainland or in Baja, a trip, a fall, a mishap, I know how many people would have come to pick me up, inquire how I was, etc...everyone from the teenage boy in baggy jeans to grandma! what a difference.

Heartwarming

djh - 3-16-2007 at 10:36 AM

I've yet to decide if it is the skin / body warming of Baja (when it is sub-zero here in Idaho) or the heartwarming that draws us the most.... Guess I could just classify it all as "the warmth", eh?

You've (obviously) some good karma, Diver !

djh

Offroad - 3-16-2007 at 10:53 AM

Diver -
I just returned from a one way drive down, and as always found the people, locals and tourists to be great.
So far, no flat tires in my travels, but was stopped once by a family out of concern that I was dripping some water. They were a family with kids in the back, but took time to make sure I was OK.
It all makes me want to travel as often as I can.
GREAT PEOPLE!

Taco de Baja - 3-16-2007 at 11:01 AM

When we got our flat on a hot, 100+ degree, Sunday in August last Summer, most vehicles passing us slowed to see if we needed assistance, which we did not.
They too were dressed in their Sunday best, as they had just ended their weekly meeting in the "local" salón....20 miles off the pavement.

[Edited on 3-16-2007 by Taco de Baja]

Neal Johns - 3-16-2007 at 11:08 AM

Great story and not an unusual one. Local Baja California folks have always been kind to me. I must look old......Naaah!

Unless I am with a hurry hurry group, I try to pay them back. One time we had just explored abandoned Mision Guadalupe and a few miles down the road came upon a family filled vehicle with a flat tire. They had no tire tools so I gave them water and together we fixed the tire. During the ensuing conversation (Conversation? With my 100 words of Spanish? Ha!) It turned out that they lived in the shack on the Mission grounds. I confessed my invasion and they gave me a laughing, belated Pase!

bajaandy - 3-16-2007 at 11:28 AM

Love those stories about the GOOD PEOPLE of Baja.

Many years ago we surfed a rarely surfable point called Punta Clara. We had a nice little camp spot set up along the bluff, and had decided to listen to some music in the afternoon. Well, as usual, the drinks were having that relaxing affect, and soon afternoon had turned to sunset. I got up to check the truck battery to make sure it still would turn over. CLICK. Nothing. CLICK CLICK. OK... we had killed the battery.

The next morning my friend took off on foot to find someone who might be able to give us a jump. About an hour later he came back and explained that he had found someone who said they could help.

Expecting a car or truck to arrive any minute, we were more than just a little surprised to see a man on horseback come over the hill towards our camp. As he drew closer, we could see that he had something with him: There, balanced on the horn of his saddle, was a 12 volt car battery. He explained that his car did not run, but that the battery was good. (A small piece of information that apparently did not get passed onto my friend when he went to get help.) That was OK, at least we had the battery to get the truck running.

The problem was that we had no jumper cables. And of course the connections were the wrong type for my vehicle. Luckily I had a roll of heavy guage wire in the tool box, and we were able to rig up some make-shift jumper cables. It worked, and we got the truck running again.

We were very grateful, and tried to give our battery toting horseman some money for his help, but as usual with the truly good people of Baja, he refused. We had to stuff it in his shirt pocket because he wouldn't take it.

To this day I will never forget the image of that man coming over the hill with a battery balanced on his saddle. Classic.

[Edited on 3-16-2007 by bajaandy]

DianaT - 3-16-2007 at 01:14 PM

The good stories are always a pleasure to read. We treasure the help we have received in the past in Baja.

Recently, on that same road to Ascuncion we were stopped for a dog run and only one car passed us---locals, and they stopped to make sure we were OK.

While we would hesitate anymore to stop and help someone near the border, and might be uncomfortable with someone stopping to help us near the border, "help thy neighbor" is alive and well, IMHO, in most of Baja.

See you in Asuncion
Diane

Barry A. - 3-16-2007 at 01:32 PM

Once fairly recently on the gravel road south of Bahia de las Animas (south of B of LA) about 10 miles below the intersection of the Animas dirt track and the graded road to San Rafael, my friend had a flat with his Isuzu Trooper. Tho he had 2 spares with him, for the life of us we could not break loose 3 of the lug nuts, even with a big "X" lug wrench----the nuts simply stripped. ALong came a pickup loaded with 5 fishermen from San Rafael. They insisted on helping out, tho neither one of us were "old", being in our early 50's then. They worked on those lug nuts for several hours with hammer and chisel, finally breaking them loose, one by one. It was HOT, and all they would accept from us were an occasional cervesa. These guys were so good natured, and so friendly, and absolutely refused to give up on those lug nuts, and it finally payed off.

I finally convinced them to take one of my Propane bottles (full) that they said they could use in San Miguel.

It is these experiences that make us keep coming back to remote Baja, knowing that we are all "one", and that help is on the way when problems develop.

You got to love it!!!! :yes:

bajaandy - 3-16-2007 at 01:53 PM

I like where this thread is going! Keep those stories of help and good will coming!

cbuzzetti - 3-16-2007 at 02:07 PM

Great stories Nomads!!
I have only had a few (6) trips down Baja and have not had any real problems (2 flats). Neither required assitance since both were changed in minutes. I always remove, add anti seize and retorque my lug nuts before going on a long trip. Something I learned the hard way. I usually carry two spares. I must have too much free time.
It is great to hear about the willing help. I will be sure to render assitance when needed.
Leaving in 1 hour. Can't wait.

Diver - 3-16-2007 at 02:15 PM

Ifly,

Thanks a lot. Thats a buddy for you; tells you when you look old !!

Diane,

Yes, hope to see you in Asuncion sometime.
And yes, I am more careful near the border and when the kids are with me.
But then, I have 2 large yellow dogs with me.

Barry,

But I am just in my early 50's

Once when I was in my early 20's, I was hitching around Colorado. I had left my pack at a campsite outside of town and gone in for some recreation.
When hitching back to camp on the pitch black county road and after at least 45 minutes of waiting for the first car, a van pulled over. The driver told me that no-one would likely be down this road tonight and he proceeded to drive me 3 miles beyond his home, to my camp.
When I got out and thanked him, he said "Just repay the favor to someone else someday".
I know it sounds corney but I remember his words often.
They were good words.

.

lizard lips - 3-16-2007 at 03:20 PM

does'nt surprise me. That's why I live here!


:bounce:

Bedman - 3-16-2007 at 05:57 PM

I've got 40 years of flat tire stories!! Here's the last one.

Tuesday 3:15 pm Cruising South on #1 very few cars to pass or be passed by. Listening to something on the c/d. Yakking with the Darlin wife. Loving life and the warm sun beating through the window.

BAMMM !!!! A screech of tires and that tell tale Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! It felt as if I had dropped off a 2 foot wall and on to the asphalt!! The motor home swerved HARD to the left and drug us along with it, in to the on coming traffic lane. I held on for dear life, fighting the steering wheel every inch of the 4 feet we drifted into the other lane. I saw out of the corner of my eye, Darlin Wife was looking for something to hold onto. (Later she confided that she thought we were going to roll. Note: I had made the mistake of applying the brakes immediately and aggressively) Finally I won the battle and pulled the beast back into the right lane. Catching my breath and gathering my composure the motor home and we limped along, looking for a place to pull off the highway. No such luck would grace us. After a few hundred yards I stopped in the right lane and stepped out to assess the damage. The left front tire was all but gone. The rubber was shredded and in tatters. The fender molding was hanging limply from a few attachment points. The inside motor liner was torn to pieces and the Stainless Steel wheel liner was bent and contorted. I climbed back in the Moho and lowered the leveling jacks, lifting the 23,000 pounds off the ground so I could change the tire. I popped 4 flares and scattered them behind. Cars pulled up and then drove around and passed. I started to pull the wheel retaining lugs from the wheel cover, a car honked, I moved out of the way and it passed. One lug off, struggling with the next one, two more cars honked and passed. I started to move back out into traffic lanes to attack the next lug. Honk and another car passes as I move out of the way. Then a Semi Blasts his air horn as I peek around the corner, he passes. And then, a young man parks his dusty light blue pick up behind the Motor home. I see his wife setting inside, watching as cars and trucks file passed slowly. "Hola" he says. I greet him and he tells me he is a mechanic and can he help? Never being one to refuse help, I Gladly accepted. (and God knows I needed help with this one) We dodged cars and semi's passing for almost an hour. Finally, we had the tire changed and my helper/angel of mercy was in his truck and ready to go. He never asked for any money and I never offered but, the whole time I had been calculating what I would have paid in the states for a road side service call 60 miles from a phone in the middle of a desert while dodging cars and semis. The number was big. I didn't want to cheapen his help by asking how much? And he didn't ask for a dime, though I assumed by the callouses on his mahogany hands and the look of his truck that he was a hard working man. I reached inside his cab and stuffed $100 bill in his shirt pocket and Thanked him again. Then ran to to motor home door. I just knew when he saw what I put in his pocket he would argue. The rest of the trip was Wonderful, as usual and I have another fond Baja memory.

Bedman

David K - 3-16-2007 at 07:11 PM

NOMADS!!!

On dirt roads specially, always offer to help...! It's Baja road etiquette!!

Diver, great story that needs to be told when it happens to anyone. Wouldn't it be nice if we read that kind of story about the Mexican people instead of just the occaisional tragic news?

great thread

greg_surfs - 3-16-2007 at 08:24 PM

Thanks for kicking this one off and to everyone else who added. I've been going down for thirty+ years, mostly on surf trips. For the last twenty I don't even get out of the car until about Santo Tomas. Somebody told me to go through my closet when I was a kid and get out all the stuff I wasn't wearing anymore. I thought he was only half serious, but when he came to get me for the trip (living in Laguna Beach back then) he made me go back in the house while he waited and I came back with a bag of clothes. We dropped them at the local church. I didn't think much about it until I got older and started taking my own kids down. We are coming from Oregon now, but I make my son and nephew go through the closet and create a donation bag. One year I saw a guy walking in Erendira wearing a shirt I had donated. It looked pretty good.

Neal Johns - 3-16-2007 at 08:26 PM

Ten years ago we were halfway down Baja when, a few miles from our destination ( a rancho with Giant Mural Style pictographs at the end of a dirt road), we met an oncoming local truck loaded with family. I was in front of the group so I got out and went forward to see who would back up to a wide passing spot. I said "Rancho XXX? Los monos? He said Si! Si! Me rancho" and conveyed that they were headed to the village to shop. He then said Pase! Pase! I thought nothing of it until we arrived and no one was there! He had turned his whole ranch over to a bunch of gringo strangers. (And in an hour or so, we found Los Monos).

Think he would get the same reception in the USA?

bajadogs - 3-16-2007 at 10:49 PM

Diver,
Thank you for sharing that experience. Reading it gave me flashbacks of a black night on the road out to Cieto Lindo about 15 years ago, just past the trees. The black night that seemed like a nightmare has become one of my fondest memories.
Thanks again for the inspirational post!

fdt - 3-17-2007 at 09:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver

All in all, the least stressful flat tire experience I have ever had. Gotta love it !! Gotta love Baja !!
.

.

Beautiful story, kinda even put a knot in my throat, thanks a lot for letting everyone know :yes:

boe4fun - 3-17-2007 at 09:41 AM

What great stories! Here's two more. Myself and 2 buddies pulled into Guererro Negro on a Sunday (Fathers Day). They both went into a restaurant while I checked the bearings on my boat trailer. When I finished my chore I walked up to the front door of the restaurant but it was locked. My 2 friends were inside with a large gathering of locals. The waiter sees me and directs me around to a side door which is unlocked. Once inside, I find out that a family had reserved the entire place to honor their patriarch for Fathers Day. They fed the 3 of us, plying us with all the tacos we could eat, but not allowing us to pay one peso. I had to insist that they at least allow me to buy a round of beers for the mariachi band!
#2: While on the way to Camp Gecko, me pulling my 5th wheel and my buddy pulling my Seaswirl on a tandem axel trailer, my friend, not being used to driving on Mex 1 hits a cement birm and bends both rims on the outer lip of the starboard side of the trailer. He radios to me and I find a pullout about 300 meters up on the left. We both stop, jack up the trailer and take off both wheels but I only have one spare. I'm getting ready to unhitch my 5th wheel so I can drive back to El Rosario or San Quintin to find another rim and tire when an older Japanese pickup with 3 kids in the front seat pulls up. The driver yells "pit stop" and gets out to assess the damage. "Me fix" he says and pulls out a sledge hammer from behind the bench seat. He picks the better of the bent rims, places it on the pavement bent side up, and proceeds to beat the hell out of it, getting it back to a shape that could hold a bead. Then, while me and my buddy and our wives watch in amazement, the pours some liquid into the inside of the tire. He straddles the rim, stepping on the tire, flips in a match (the liquid was gasoline), and jumps off as the gas explodes and pops the tire onto the rim with a secure bead. His buddy is ready with an air supply which works off of their 4 cylinder engine, and they fill the tire and have it back on the trailer pronto. When I told him I wanted to pay him and said how much, he said just pay me what you want! He said he had worked on pit crews for the Baja 1000 for a few years and learned a lot of tricks. I ended up giving the young man 20 bucks for his few minutes of work. People can talk all they want about "Yankee Ingenuity", but personally I don't think the gringos have anything over the ingenious Mexicanos!

DianaT - 3-17-2007 at 09:52 AM

We picked up our last tire helper walking along the road from Hwy 1 headed toward Coco's corner.

He was a few miles from the highway, and we knew he had a long walk where ever he was going, so we offered him a ride.

A few minute later, opps, that rock bit a big hole in the sidewall. The young man with us insisted on doing most of the work. We were not happy with the tire, but we were very happy we had made the choice to offer the young man a ride.

As posted before, along the border is different and it seems that way for most everyone. I think a part of it may be that life just moves faster in those areas.

A few years ago, we along with a friend, were returning home from an afternoon in San Felipe. Very near Mexicali we saw a Mexican lady with three kids and a dog, and a very flat tire. It was summer time. As we passed, we noticed that no one was slowing down or stopping to help her. So we turned around, and John and our friend changed her tire while she kept the young children off the highway and I babysat the little dog.

I really think it is that faster paced urban life border thing as to why no one was stopping.

Diane

fdt - 3-17-2007 at 10:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
While we would hesitate anymore to stop and help someone near the border, and might be uncomfortable with someone stopping to help us near the border, "help thy neighbor" is alive and well, IMHO, in most of Baja.

Diane


I don't understand what you mean by "hesitate anymore" when you talk about near the border. Are you talking about right at the border while you are waiting?
I was very touched by diver's post because what he experienced is what we do here, at least myself, and the people I hang out with, and I always try to show this to my children. A few weeks ago after picking the up from school and we were comming down a hill, I spotted a car with two ladies that were with theire car hood up stoped going uphill, I whent down quite a way to were I could make a u turn and headed up, my kids asked were are we going and I said to help someone. The questions started, who? were? why? and I anwered 1 I don't know, 2 up the hill and 3 because it looks like they need help. Turns out they had overheated, we whent got water for them and waited till theire car started and were on theire way. Just 2 days ago, Thursday, again as we were comming back from school there was a van, again on the oposite direction with hood up and jumper cables out and the 2 guys were flaging passing cars asking for a jump, now this was happening as i was waiting for the light to turn green and a lot of trafic and no one would stop to help these 2 guys so after the second green I whent to the next available intersection were I could make a u turn and here go the questions again were are we going? why are you turning? and so on and so on, and I answered that there was a van stoped back there that needed help and no onewas stoping, so we were going back to help. We jump started the guy and he was on his way. I received a phone call from The Tijuana COTUCO and they told me that a tourist from Kenya had e-mailed them telling them of how I had helped him when he had some trouble in avenida revolucion 2 weeks ago. I have not had a chance to meet many Baja Nomads yet, but say you have trouble in Tijuana and I see you and stop to help, please don't be afraid or feel uncnfortale, Tijuana is near the border and it's were we spend most of our time since we live here, so most likely it is were we will be able to help someone, tourist or not. Maybe in the future my children (junior nomads) will be able to help yours near the border.
And if I was to need help near the border would my fellow nomads stop?

DianaT - 3-17-2007 at 10:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
While we would hesitate anymore to stop and help someone near the border, and might be uncomfortable with someone stopping to help us near the border, "help thy neighbor" is alive and well, IMHO, in most of Baja.

Diane


I don't understand what you mean by "hesitate anymore" when you talk about near the border. Are you talking about right at the border while you are waiting?
I was very touched by diver's post because what he experienced is what we do here, at least myself, and the people I hang out with, and I always try to show this to my children. A few weeks ago after picking the up from school and we were comming down a hill, I spotted a car with two ladies that were with theire car hood up stoped going uphill, I whent down quite a way to were I could make a u turn and headed up, my kids asked were are we going and I said to help someone. The questions started, who? were? why? and I anwered 1 I don't know, 2 up the hill and 3 because it looks like they need help. Turns out they had overheated, we whent got water for them and waited till theire car started and were on theire way. Just 2 days ago, Thursday, again as we were comming back from school there was a van, again on the oposite direction with hood up and jumper cables out and the 2 guys were flaging passing cars asking for a jump, now this was happening as i was waiting for the light to turn green and a lot of trafic and no one would stop to help these 2 guys so after the second green I whent to the next available intersection were I could make a u turn and here go the questions again were are we going? why are you turning? and so on and so on, and I answered that there was a van stoped back there that needed help and no onewas stoping, so we were going back to help. We jump started the guy and he was on his way. I received a phone call from The Tijuana COTUCO and they told me that a tourist from Kenya had e-mailed them telling them of how I had helped him when he had some trouble in avenida revolucion 2 weeks ago. I have not had a chance to meet many Baja Nomads yet, but say you have trouble in Tijuana and I see you and stop to help, please don't be afraid or feel uncnfortale, Tijuana is near the border and it's were we spend most of our time since we live here, so most likely it is were we will be able to help someone, tourist or not. Maybe in the future my children (junior nomads) will be able to help yours near the border.
And if I was to need help near the border would my fellow nomads stop?


Ferna,
I should have been more clear. Our hesitation would mainly be on the toll road and it is because of all the things that we have read about recently---not that we wouldn't stop, but we would be a lot more cautious than in the past.

I don't know if you read my last post, but only a very few years ago, we did stop to help a lady---flat tire, three kids and a dog. After we passed her and saw no one stopping, we had to make a rather large loop to get back. By the time we got back, we expected to see others stopped to help, but there was no one. I am sure that you would have stopped had you been there, but away from the border, lots of people would have stopped.

Tijuana is a great city, but unfortunately the drug problem has caused us to be far more cautious on BOTH sides of the border.

I sincerely apologize if my first post offended you in any way, and I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Diane

LarryK - 3-17-2007 at 11:27 AM

The kindness and loving fellowship of the Mexican people is one of the main reason a
I keep returning the last forty years. I used to have a place s/o Mexicali and spent a lot of time in the fields looking for birds etc; in those early days without 4wheel dr. it was easy to get stuck. I have had people leave my site and return with a tractor or pull rope and always help. Never take any money but I was asked to join them for coffee or just conservation. I never did master Spanish, but we can communicate very well when needed

fdt - 3-17-2007 at 12:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
I sincerely apologize if my first post offended you in any way, and I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Diane

Ms. Trotter;
I wasn't offended, I understand that Americans live a lot of fears when traveling outside of the US and I know it's not your fault. I just wanted you and all other nomads to know that near the border is Baja California and there are very, very, very few bad guys here in Tijuana, the vast, vast majority are hardworking helpful people. Yes, were there are less people there are less bad guys. Once upon a time for about a month we had no police force, Remember? And we were all just fine.
Just give us a little more credit and if one of us stops to help it wont mean that we are out to get you.:yes:
As for the toll road, I really don't have statistics as to how many people travel it daily, weekly or monthly and how many incients take place. I think it's like flying, 100 dead, 200dead, 300 dead, those are real horror stories, with trying to put together body parts and all, and I'm not afraid of flying and I'll even expose my kids to planes.;)

DianaT - 3-17-2007 at 12:27 PM

FDT,

I really agree with you, and we have traveled in every state in Mexico by car and or bus and have never done so with fear, except when a bus driver began to fall asleep going down a mountain road. :tumble:

We also lived in Calexico for several years and spent a lot of time in Mexicali. Both sides of the border have been affected by the gangs and drugs, and yes, the recent stories about the toll road have created more concern.

You are correct about the numbers, but I am afraid I laughed when you used the flying analogy----I HATE flying and am a basket full of nerves everything I board an airplane. While I may drive the toll road with more caution, I am a fearful mess on an airplane. :yes::yes:

We have many, many stories of being assisted from all over Mexico.

Sorry, if this has strayed from the topic of the great rescue stories in Baja. Hope more people will share their stories.

Diane

Fatboy - 3-17-2007 at 09:04 PM

I too have good stories about help received while on the 'road' in Baja.

During our trip in 2000 we were in La Paz with our Jeep Cherokee when the powersteering hose started leaking. We managed to find the local Jeep dealership but they would have to order the hose.

We tried a couple of Auto parts store with no luck either. Then we started looking for 'Yonke' (sp?) and since we had no idea what we were looking for it took a while to find one.

When we did find one they had several Cherokee's but no hose. They had someone lead us over to another juk yard. Once at the second yard we find out that they had no hose either. With some disappointment I started wondering what we were going to do now when a young man came over and motioned for us to follow him.

After following him for about 30 minutes through La Paz he pulls up to a small shop and gets the owner over to look at our problem. He told us no problem. Before you know it they have the hose off and are repairing it. They get it back on and for a small fee we are on our way.

After 7 years that hose is still on there.

Fatboy - 3-17-2007 at 09:39 PM

Story number two...

On the way out of La Paz on that same trip in 2000 we pass a old Toyota pickup on the side of the with hood up. You have to remember that even today I cannot complete a sentence in spanish and I only know a handful of words. On the trip was my wife, our 6 year old son and our daughter who would celebrate her 2nd birthday in a few days. So here we are turning around to help some locals 20 or more miles out of La Paz.

Well, it turns out that they had recently changed the oil and filter and they had not made sure the old oil filter came off with the gasket. When they installed the new filter it was now 'double gasketed'. It held for a while but 20 miles out of town it blew out dumping all of the oil out.

We only had 2 quarts with us and was getting ready to drive all the way back to La Paz to get enough oil to get them going when they made it clear to us that there was a store much closer.

After getting directions we are off to get them some oil. I wonder now if they really believed that we would come back? Anyways, the directions were something like...go towards La Paz 2 miles and there well be a road to the right. Then follow that road for a few miles and there well be a store.

So we turn off on what turns out to be a dirt road. I am thinking "There is a store down here?". After going down this dirt road for 15 minutes or so with me doubting our directions every minute of the way we come upon a house.

As we approach it there is a large truck with a dozen or so young men around. Some are in the back of the truck, others are standing in the shade talking and others are coming out of the house holding sodas and snacks.

Well, this be it Martha, I said to my wife. She always gets mad when I call her Martha since that is not her name! I open the door and step out of the jeep to the amazement of the young men and this huge dog starts growling and barking at me. I guess he has never seen a white mexican before?

Everyone was now watching us and I am looking at the house, with a very large, very angry dog between me and the door and I think to myself "I can just leave here right now and I am sure someone else will stop to help the guys stuck on the road and I will get to keep all of my skin intact with no puncture wounds". Sounds like a win/win deal to me!

After a few seconds of the dog snarling and foaming at the mouth I decide to go for it. I slink past Cujo with my tail between my legs as far across the walkway as I can get and step into the store.

It is a small room attached to the house with some of the basics including the object of my quest, motor oil. I buy 5 bottles from the very puzzled young girl running the register. I know what she was thinking too, "How did this middle aged, white, american every find this place and more importantly how did I get past her very unhappy man-eating, gringo hating dog outside?"

Well to wrap it up... after many, many puzzled stares we hightail it out of there and get back to our stranded motorist who gratefully receive the lifegiving oil.

Fatboy - 3-17-2007 at 10:10 PM

Third Story...

In 2003 my sister and I are between Coco's corner and Highway 1 when we decide to stop and stretch. We walk around checking out the local flora for 10 minutes or so.

It is my turn to drive so I hop in to her Blazer turn the key and...well, nothing actually. No engine noises, no clicking sounds, nathing, nada, zip!

That's odd. I have got to stay calm for my sisters sake. This is her first trip to Baja and she freaks out when is more than 5 miles away from a major US city with a Starbucks on every other corner.

So I tell here..'Relax, I am sure it is just a battery cable or something like that'. I pop the hood to check it out and everything looks good. I begin to wonder what is going to be worse, stranded in the middle of nowhere with a bad battery or being with my sister who is going to completely freak out when I break the news to her that we are stranded in the middle of nowhere with a bad battery.

The first thing I do, with her still in the car and the hood hiding me, is pray to the Lord up above. "Please, Lord get me out of this and you can strand me in a much worse situation just as long as my sister is nowhere around, please!?!?!?!?!"

I break the news to my sister and I got to hand it to her, there was only of hint of panic in her voice when she asked what are we going to do now? I told her that for now we wait until someone comes along.

How long will that be, she asks? I told her I don't know but shouldn't be more than a couple hours. A COUPLE OF HOURS she screams! WHAT IF NO ONE COMES ALONG! WHAT IF THIS? WHAT IF THAT?, WHAT IF...!!!!!!!

I try to place the earplugs in my ears while a hand her a paperbag to hypervenilate into when a local pulls up, THANK GOD!!!!!

To this day my sister does not realize how close one of us came to dying that day. In a few more minutes I would have made up my mind as to whether I should kill her so I could have some peace or if I should just commit suicide to get some peace.

We try to jump the Blazer with the locals truck but is just doesn't work. We then pull the battery out of their truck and use it to start the Blazer. With the Blazer now running we take out their battery and put the bad one back in.

After thanking them profusely we head towards Highway 1 and the drive for 100 miles to the nearest Autoparts store where we buy a new battery.

Once again the locals saved a life...

jimgrms - 3-18-2007 at 07:35 AM

I remember years ago seeing mexicans driving a old old chevy in san felipe the fuel pup had gone south and they had a 1 gallon can with a hose run from the can to the carb fuel line and wouls stop when they burned that gallon and refill it,

fdt - 3-18-2007 at 09:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fatboy
I too have good stories about help received while on the 'road' in Baja.


:lol::lol: You tell great stories Fatboy, thanks

I got one

BAJACAT - 3-18-2007 at 01:06 PM

On a recent trip to Laguna Hanson, comming back about half a mile from Mex 2 my friend's tacoma had a blow out tire.we stop to check the damage and to get ready to install the spare using the trucks stock jack(tinny thing),when a big ford f250 stop and ask if we need it help,we told him that we where ok,to what he respond it if you guys can make it I offer you my ranch to stay for the night.this guy owns Rancho Ponderosa wich has campgrounds,right after he left another car stop and offer their help. I just love Baja.

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BAJACAT - 3-18-2007 at 01:09 PM



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Jack Swords - 3-18-2007 at 03:52 PM

What a wonderful thread...we have experienced many of the stories given by the wonderful people of Baja and Mainland Mexico. 8 years ago I was driving with a buddy vehicle ahead of me on the highway just out of La Paz. I hit a football sized rock on the road, crushing my tire, rim and sending me out of control (I swear the rock jumped out at me!). The truck spun around and flipped on its side, leaving me hanging by my seatbelt. With the truck on its side, I loosened the seatbelt, fell down in the cab, and proceeded to open the driver's door upward, jumping out. Stopped behind me was a young Mexican couple with big eyes who witnessed the accident. Both ran up to me and gave me a hug, assuring that I was OK (I was). My camper shell full of fishing gear and stuff was strewn over the road. Every Mexican car stopped and helped me pick up the stuff. A semi-trucker stopped and dragged my truck off the highway and we flipped it over. The front differential and transmission were also strewn on the road. Nobody would accept a "tip" but I did get to put some into pockets. As a side note, 5 California cars passed very slowly as the truck lay on its side with its CA plate showing. Not one stopped, called out if anyone needed help! The towtruck, highway patrol was a very Mexican experience. Finally, my day was completed with a ballena of beer and good night sleep. I have always stopped to help others on/off the roads in Baja, and certainly will continue. What great folks!

Old ?

RonnieRockCod - 3-18-2007 at 07:00 PM

Some replies concerning offering help with fixing flat tires have been associated with the "flat tire-ee" being old. But we all know it is with the culture of the Mexican people to be of assistance to those in need. This has been exemplified by those who posted of their personal experiences.

So, for all of you who thought you were being helped because you were "old" because a generous, well meaning Mexican asked to assist you. Try this on for size. I was in Von's market the other day and the young cashier asked if I wanted help out to the parking lot with my groceries. Good luck to all, RRC.

Bajafun777 - 3-18-2007 at 09:15 PM

Reading the reviews about tire blow outs and then dealing with the out- comes from these unexpected testings of our alertness reminded me of a trip down south about 1980. My three buddies and I went to Ensenada to go deep sea fishing for 2 days and after having a so-so fishing trip one of them decides we have to go to the Blow-hole further south to have fish tacos. We had two days of hard drinking and hard lying about the big ones we lost back to the ocean, so our expert on where the best fish tacos kept on us to go further south. Well, away we went and back then their was only one place that served food that I remember being their. The fish tacos were good and the beer was cold, so what more could you want? We thought we had a perfect day going as we headed back. The road is two lane and in those mountains it twist and turns. We noticed a small truck with what seemed like eight kids in the back directly in front of us having a back rear tire which was coming off the axle. My friend was blowing his horn and trying to pull out and come along side to get the man's attention to pull over before the tire came off and his family and him went off that twisting mountainous road. Every time we tried to pull along side the small truck a car was coming in the other lane and forced us back in. Finally, my buddy just went for it and pulled along side with me pointing to the man's tire and yelling for him to stop! He didn't stop fast enough and his tire came off with it hitting the side of my buddies chevy 4x4 and his vehicle swirved into the truck but pull out just as it touched off the side of our truck. I thought we were going to get pushed over the side but our big truck as they say was much bigger than the little truck with the tire problem. They got pulled over safely but with a missing tire. We had to find a place to pull over some distance down the mountain road. My buddy's truck sustained damage to his side and the wheel area had been pushed in. Thankfully, my budy had a crowbar in the back of the truck to force it back out which kept the pushed in metal from cutting into his tire. We walked back up the hill to see the man that was driving the small truck getting a ride to probably go get another tire. He waved as he passed us and his face said it all. That was a lucky day for all of us. It should be noted that my friend is still just as crazy and bold when the times of going for it presents itself. My buddy told his story to another friend of ours in Tecate and he set him up with someone to fix that problem with the side of his truck without costing him an arm and a leg. Oh yea, by the way once we got down off the mountain and came to the first little store we got some cold beers to settle the nerves. The man upstairs was watching over us and decided we had more days in Mexico coming:saint:spingrin::! Man, I love a happy ending especially when I am involved. Bajafun777tumble:!!!