Just got an email from his wife telling me that 'Herb' is no longer with us. He was a hell of a man and loved the Baja people very much. He was a
traveling pardner of 'JR's' and felt as strongly as JR did but didn't have the need to beat others around the head and shoulders when they didn't see
things his way.
I, for one, will miss him very much.DianaT - 6-1-2007 at 09:16 PM
Sounds like he was a great guy, and a real loss for those who knew him.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
In Mystery we are born, in mystery we live, and in mystery we die.
Always sad for those left behind.
Dianecapt. mike - 6-2-2007 at 06:01 AM
sad, i liked Herb's stuff.
Penned this last night
Baja Bernie - 6-2-2007 at 07:27 AM
True passion is tempered by much thought, honed by our life experiences, and kept warm and embracing by shared friendships.
Bernie Swaim, June 2, 2007David K - 6-2-2007 at 08:25 AM
Sad for sure, 'Herb' was a nice man, posted really good photos and stories from the interior of Baja!
Bernie and 'Herb' at Book Signing #2 (May, 2004)...
[Edited on 6-2-2007 by David K]Natalie Ann - 6-2-2007 at 08:42 AM
My sympathies to Herb's wife, family and friends... he was a good man, an interesting man, and he will be missed. I'm expecting he's adding his
stories to those of other Nomads past, as they sit around that heavenly fire.fdt - 6-2-2007 at 09:18 AM
Sad news indeed, our condolences to his family.
"Herb"
Dave - 6-2-2007 at 09:25 AM
Who?BajaNomad - 6-2-2007 at 10:19 AM
Pulled just now from the archives..... by "Herb" (some in response to you Dave!):
Stuff I like better in Baja
1. Huitlacoche
2. Chicharron by the Chunk, crispy as a snack or soft in soups and Tacos.
3. Soups or Caldos in general
4. Sunrise and Sunset over the sea in the same day
5. Sitting in the Zocalo or Plaza in Tecate or San Ignacio on a Sunday afternoon.
6. Seafood c-cktails
7. Less Crowded Beaches
-- posted on 11-23-2004 at 12:23 PM
[Re: cultural norms for acceptable societal behavior that ((differ distinctly)) between the US and Mexico]:
Divorce. The notion of a family unit is far more compelling than the notion of irreconcileable differences.
Scant clothing. Particularly in underage females. MUCH less of that down south than up north.
Sense of personal space. People get much closer to you in public places in Mexico. We think it is rude, they think it is rude when we object.
Timeliness. There is definitely a different standard for what is considered polite and not. As a college student in the US, if the professor was not
in the classroom 5 min after the start of class, we assumed class was canceled and split. I was shocked to discover in Mexico City that the "polite"
standard was to wait 20 min for each hour of class. I had one Mexican professor that would sometimes show up 20 to 40 min late for a 3 hour class. I
once had a interview with the VP in charge of Latin American operations for my company in which he stated that, "These people believe there are things
in life that are more important than always being on time and I think they are right."
Being able to relax and enjoy your meal in a restaurant and having to ask to get your check when you are ready to leave... vs. having the check shoved
in front of you as soon as it becomes apparent that you are not going to spend any more money and then having the waiter hover over you periodically
until you've paid and left.
Stopping to strike up a conversation with someone and becoming a coffee, soda, or dinner guest just because you were there and you were nice. Happens
to me about every other time I go to Baja (south of Ensenada). Has NEVER happened to me in the US.
Smiles and waves.
People stopping to help people who are in obvious need of help. I once stopped to photograph some wildflowers beside the road in Baja and had trouble
actually being able to set up and get a good shot because 4 different people stopped to see if I needed help. I've had 2 vehicle breakdowns in Baja
and in both cases people stopped and broke out toolkits and became as engrossed in solving my problem as if it was their own vehicle. I've stopped to
try and help people up here and have actually had them jump in their car and roll up the windows and lock the doors because they were leery of my
intentions.
The focus in the US business community on "strictly business" without "getting to know" the people you are dealing with. I was asked to come along as
the translator on a major business deal with one of my company's customers who had operations on both sides of the border. We negotiated over a
substantial lunch in Tijuana and I had to constantly make appologies for my "rude white friend" who was already asking during appetizers, "So, can we
do the deal?" I had to explain to him that we were still on our kids and their education at that point, no business yet, and that there would be no
handshakes until dessert.
I could go on and on but, hopefully, by now you get the point. And when I say Mexican values, I am speaking in generalities and I know that much of
the urbanized border zone from Ensenada north does not reflect these values as much as the rest of Mexico. I also know that you will encounter people
on both sides of the border that will act outside of what are considered the norms for socially acceptable behavior.
Now, I don't think the differences are genetically based. I just think that a lot of things compete for our attention and focus in the modern world.
When you don't have things like personal wealth and your nation's prominence on the world scene to take up so much of your thoughts and attentions, it
leaves you to focus more on the more traditional things like family and community which I personally find more refreshing.
-- posted on 10-12-2004 at 01:22 AM
--------------------------------------------------------Sharksbaja - 6-2-2007 at 11:12 AM
Thanks Doug, I needed that! Very astute observations. We'll miss Herbs presence and contributions. Vaya con dios amigo.
Understand but...
Dave - 6-2-2007 at 11:16 AM
Herb who?
Are we not allowed to know his surname?
DAVE WHO?
vgabndo - 6-2-2007 at 02:26 PM
What does it matter. Just reading the observations above I share the loss. My condolences to those who were close to him.Bob and Susan - 6-2-2007 at 03:02 PM
Originally posted by vgabndo
What does it matter. Just reading the observations above I share the loss. My condolences to those who were close to him.
Unless you want to treat life and death anonymously.
Death is cold enough.DENNIS - 6-2-2007 at 04:31 PM
Com'on Dave..............
The man died.
Why do you have to have fun with it?Bajafun777 - 6-2-2007 at 05:39 PM
Bob and Sue, good thought on sharing what mattered to Ken (Herb) Thomas by way of his photos he posted on his website. Interesting and something and
meant a great deal to him as his expressed in his open statements on his website. Sorry for his families loss.vgabndo - 6-2-2007 at 05:40 PM
Bob and Susan...thanks for sharing the website. Not just his friends but the world, it seems, has lost a gentle man with a keen eye for beauty.
Dave
Baja Bernie - 6-2-2007 at 07:36 PM
It was my post and I didn't use his name because 'he' chose to use the name Herb..............When his wife contacted me with the news I did not think
to ask her permission and would have felt awkword after the first contact. Now that his name is posted here I will tell you all that I have never met
his wife, Pat, but I understand that they both have traveled extensively in Baja and I believe on the mainland.
He was a very interesting, perceptive man who had a great grasp of the Mexican culture and he had the guts to tell his pushy bosses to back off when
necessary.............Knowing you, I believe that you would also have thoroughly enjoyed his mind and perhaps even his concern for his fellow man.
I do understand what you have said about death being so cold and I guess without a name to lean on it does not impact as much as if you had shared a
beer, a picture, or even a hand shake.
I hate funerals but I do plan on attending his because I really liked and respected this man.
Here is just a little of what I wrote to his wife.
"Two mature men who went about our lives with a quiet passion for other people and a place that allowed us both a peace that we were never able to
find in the normal world. Baja and its people have a way of doing that for some and it is a blessing."koru - 6-5-2007 at 04:18 PM
Hello - all ya'alls
I've been one of those lookie loos on this site for a couple years. I've posted only a few times so I'd best get my profile and etc updated! I promise
to get more involved!
I just met Bernie at Ken's funeral services today. What an amazing and kind person. In the past, I had heard about Bernie thru Ken. Glad I met you
Bernie!
There is a group of travel buddies that has traveled with Ken in SoCal and baja for years. We called your bajanomad "Herb".... "Xterra Ken". Some of
those baja pals could not attend the services today and some do not live in SoCal any longer. A few of us could attend and it's been a difficult week
for many of us. It was a really nice service and long....2 hours. Lots of people and good stories were shared. Ken loved life and although he
understood his days were numbered....he lived life to the fullest. Our thoughts are go out to his family.
Here are two sites that will display Xterra Ken's awesome photography skills....enjoy and remember.
How unfortunate for many of us that we find out more about a man after he leaves us than when he's still with us.
Herb was an interesting man and I wish I had met him.
Koru
Baja Bernie - 6-5-2007 at 05:18 PM
I was about to post something about the services for Ken, 'Herb,' but you have done an excellent job
I will say that I was amazed that he was only 43 years old, younger that my youngest daughter, and I really find it obscene when such a caring person
leaves us so early in life.
Our meeting was very much by chance as it was with Herb. I did sense that I was meeting a very similar type person who cared about others and it
showed. Thank you for being so supportive when things became a bit much for both of us. Like I always say, "Baja is about People Helping People."
Glad you are going to be posting and I hope that you bring your feeling about Baja and what you see in your travels for all of us to share.
I never did get a chance to speak with his wife because there were just too many folks there to support her and pay their respects.
Sure wish I had been able to visit with him one more time before he was gone............didn't happen and I know I lost something important because of
that.
Here is an excerpt of the message Ken left for his family....."knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile, So if your meet someone who
is down and feeling low, just lend a hand to pick him up...................."
That my friends sums up why I liked and respected this man!
Thank you for the kind words.
ESCAPER XTERRA KEN (as we knew him)
danamite - 6-5-2007 at 05:34 PM
We met Ken Thomas (aka Herb) on the back roads of Death Valley, literally.
It was a bright sunny day in Death Valley, October 2003 & my first time visiting Saline Valley Hot Springs. We ventured up to the source pools.
The area was fenced off so the burros would stay out. From the rugged north pass, a very rocky 4WD route, comes an black Xterra. That vehicle followed
us down to the warm springs area & I noticed his big grin in my rear view mirror. The driver was shaking his head in amusement off me, my dot com
logo, or maybe my little 2WD Isuzu - coasting down the hill. We parked near camp. Later that evening before our nightly soak, as my friends & I
walked through the moonlight in the open desert, I noticed the Xterra parked out near the runway. I hiked over a introduced myself to the stranger.
After a few minutes of chit chat, he asked "You wouldn't happen to be DanaMite would you?" I was stunned, as most people have no idea of who I am ,
but some are dedicated fans of Total Escape. Xterra Ken had been a follower of my site & adventures for well over 5 years. He stated that my web
site & documented travels was one of the main reasons he bought his SUV. His love of travel had lead him to Baja many times, the high Sierra &
the vast California deserts. I was tickled to meet him that magical night & we introduced him to public nudity.
The first time he stayed overnight at the Total Escape headquarters, I had to remove a large scorpion from his room. Lory, Kristin, Ken & I spend
10 days traveling through the back roads of Baja: Bahia de Los Angeles, where we all got to know him better & met some amazing folks. Mid-2005, we
dragged him up to the high country Eastern Sierra, Inyo National Forest, for some wildflowers, boulder camping & chilly snow melt creeks. Long
time Escapers Cheps & Suzie followed Ken's Xterra almost everywhere that weekend in their stock Trooper, except during the hail storm. My most
recent camp trip with Ken was to the Sequoia's in the summer of 2006. We spent the weekend sightseeing & lounging by granite waterfalls.
We will surely miss this incredible soul!
We love you Xterra Ken.
[Edited on 6-6-2007 by danamite]DoRu - 6-7-2007 at 03:12 PM
There was something about Ken that few people I've met have. Once you've met him, it was as if you've known him for much longer and looked forward to
the next meeting. Our first trip to BoLA was with Ken and though he'd not been able to make it on our later trips into Baja, he did join us for a
handful of parties at our home in S.D. Knowing that we'll no longer be in his company is quite a sad thought and yet we'd only met a handful of
times. He had that way about him. Bernie had only met him once and exchanged a few emails but that was enough for him to see Ken off at his memorial
service. Having heard some of the stories at Ken's service, it became obvious just how special Ken was and how many lives he had touched. There was
not a dry eye in the place.
Hopefully, Ken's photo's will remain online for years to come so others can enjoy what he saw and how he captured it. He saw through 'the stuff' and
captured the best of it all.
We'll miss you Ken.David K - 6-7-2007 at 08:19 PM
Sorry that I didn't add this when I posted the photo I took of Ken (Herb) with Bernie... 'Herb's' Baja photo collection has been linked on
VivaBaja.com for several years under 'Baja Home Pages' as:
Herb's Beautiful Baja Photos
They are outstanding... Herb had traveled with the late 'jrbaja' when he visited the more remote ranchos in baja Sur.
/