Paulina - 3-28-2008 at 09:33 AM
As Dern, Cody and I headed for Bahia for her spring break, Dern and I were talking about our adventures of the past. He mentioned that he liked my
road block story, to which I replied that I think it was posted on the Nomad board somewhere. When we passed through El Rosario I always look towards
the baseball field, and remember the Spring break in which I ran the road block, using the baseball field as means of escape. It couldn't be done now
as there's a cinderblock wall that circles the playing area...
The date was the last week of March 1996. Connor was 8 years old, his sister Cody had just celebrated her first birthday. My two children were secured
in the back seat of my truck, a red duel cab 4X4 Ford. The three of us were on a Spring break mission, heading to Bahia de Los Angeles for two weeks.
Rosie our Bullmastiff was in the back.
A day prior to heading south, a good friend and Punta Banda neighbor, Fred Hoctor had informed me of a situation in El Rosario. He suggested I give my
vacation location a second thought, and stay in Punta Banda. He had heard through the Baja grape vine that the road was closed in El Rosario and no
one was getting through. I must have missed his article in the Western Outdoor News. I assured him that by the time I got there the situation would
surely be resolved and I’d have no problem…
The line was quite long at the military checkpoint on the mesa above El Rosario. I pulled into my place, shut off the diesel motor and set ourselves
up for a wait. I was getting bored with the scenery, noticing very few vehicles heading north. Finally I saw a car slowly approaching, gesturing at
those in front of me to turn around. Seeing that, I already had my hand out the window, waving a greeting to meet theirs.
To my surprise the station wagon pulled to a dead stop. Sitting drivers door to door was a man who was probably as old and un kept as his car. In my
best estimate he had about 10 dogs with him, wagging their tails and all vying for the driver’s side window.
“Unless you turn around, you aren’t going anywhere tonight.” he informed me.
By my guess this gentleman was in his late 70’s, with long grey hair tucked under his army hat. What else he had along with him I could not surmise as
I saw nothing but dog fur.
Smiling, I leaned out my window asking what he meant by his statement. He told me that the highway in El Rosario had been closed. No one was going
north or south until the road crew were paid. He advised that I either turn around and go home, or plan on spending a week or two in my truck.
I had already decided I was not going to be spending Spring break with two young children and a big dog camping along the side of the road in El
Rosario.
Going back was not an option.
Giving this about 4 seconds of thought I asked this gentleman where he was coming from and how he got through the road block. With a huge somewhat
toothless smile, through a bushy moustache he proudly replied, “I know a short cut!”
Peaking my interest and with raised eyebrows I replied, “Really? Do you care to share it with me?”
He said, very seriously, “Lady, you have to have a really BIG set of balls.”
“Well,” I replied, “I may not have the big balls, but I do happen to have a big truck!”
We met eye to eye and I knew that I had passed his test.
When my turn came to leave the military check point, I finally made my way down the grade, past the Pemex, and pulled into town making the sharp left
hand turn into El Rosario proper. Knowing that traffic would not be coming north from that point on, I took the opportunity to drive up the opposite
side of the road, passing by the vehicles with their frustrated occupants.
At the front of the roadblock I parked my truck, told Connor to stay in the truck, and marched up to where I found men sitting in plastic lawn chairs
in front of a semi-truck trailer blocking the highway. I announced to them that I was a single mother and not in the mood to camp out in town with the
two children and a wild dog. My plan was to go south, to Bahia de Los Angeles.
I must not have made a very big impression on the disgruntled crew as they didn’t move.
After making my silly announcement and not getting much of a reaction other than laughter, I knew that I had no other choice. I put into plan the
secret my new found Ex-patriot friend had divulged to me. Walking back to my truck I asked a local observer where I could find the ball field. With a
knowing smile he pointed south.
Climbing into the driver’s seat I made a U-turn as if going to join my place in line. As I made this slow turn the same local came up to the passenger
side window, wished me luck saying, “Go for it.” Parked at this spot was a VW bus. There were two surfers watching my interaction with the locals.
Anxious to get to their surf spot, they decided to follow me.
When I passed the spot where I was supposed to dejectedly wait this protest out, I made a sharp left hand turn. Instead of joining the conga line I
aimed for the baseball field. There was a taco stand there and a few of the customers tried to block my advance by standing in the road, arms spread
wide. They thought better of their idea and jumped aside when they were faced with Big Red, followed by a VW surf van that wasn’t going to give them
slack.
As I passed by the taco brigade, full on speeding across the baseball field, I happened to glance over my left shoulder to the highway. Much to my
surprise I saw a truck coming down the embankment, heading my direction from the opposite side of the field.
During the time that I had taken to make my announcement, the u-turn, talk with the surf van, and then the dip past the taco stand, the road crew
suffrage had the time to attach a dead body car to the tailgate of this truck.
Towing the rusted carcass it was racing me for home base, the far south facing corner of the ball field where at the time led to the river bed. There
were 4 men in the bed of this truck, all whooping and hollering as the dead body car they were towing fishtailed back and forth behind them, raising a
huge cloud of dust. I was leading the race and among their greatas, I was the first vehicle to hit the river bed, the VW surfers were right on my
behind.
When I felt my truck drop into the sandy river bed I flashed back on my father. He was an off road racer, belonging to several clubs, very experienced
in desert running. I learned from him that when one hits sand you don’t stop, but keep going. So as I gripped the steering wheel I told my son Connor
to hold tight. We were about to have another fun Baja adventure! I wished the best for Rosie the Bullmastiff in the shell of the truck and floored it.
We roared into the El Rosario river bed, bouncing and racing along. My daughter Cody was secure in her car seat; Connor was in his seatbelt cheering
me onward. Rosie on the other hand was not so comfortable with the generator and various camping supplies in the back of the truck, giving her a run
for her space as we bumped along the river bed.
I lost sight of the surfer boys, not sure if they ever made it out of the river bed or not. I finally located a solid bank to the river and aimed
left. I found myself pulling up and into the backyard of a local woman who was hanging her laundry. As I drove under her laundry line I apologized and
made my way through her backyard, aiming for the highway.
As I nosed my way out of her driveway, I rejoined the pavement far south of the blockade. I was met with the surprised looks and faces of those
waiting in line to go north; cars, campers, big rigs, all wondering where I came from and how did I make it past the road block.
I pulled over to the side of the road to secure the bed of the truck. Rosie had been jolted around, the generator and fuel cans had been dislocated
not giving her much room. I organized the back, gave Rosie a potty stop and as I was closing it all up to head on to Bahia, a man in a motor home
asked me how I got through.
I answered with a smile, “You have to have a big set of balls and know a short cut!” I recalled my adventure advising against it as most likely
another blockade was being assembled across home plate at that very moment.
Still shaking, I headed south for Bahia. It donned on me that there was a good chance that I could be the last vehicle heading south for some time.
I’d better not have any more adventures if I knew what was best for me.
When I pulled into Bahia I found a phone and gave Fred a call. “Guess what Fred, you were right! But guess what else? I know a short cut!” I didn’t
tell him about my new balls!
I've always wondered what became of the surfer VW, and if they remember me.
P<*)))><
David K - 3-28-2008 at 10:22 AM
Thanks Paulina... that's a classic and you cannot re-post it too many times!
Bajagypsy - 3-28-2008 at 10:25 AM
Paulina, i think alot along the same lines I do!! Loved the post!
Martyman - 3-28-2008 at 10:47 AM
Wow Paulina,
You are my hero!
Marty
DENNIS - 3-28-2008 at 01:26 PM
I'm waiting for the rest of the book. When can we expect it?
Gadget - 3-28-2008 at 05:54 PM
What an awesome story Paulina! You're da Man...er Woman
Now that is what Baja Nomad forums are for 
She didn't share anything about her opinion or ideas, just her balls and a Baja adventure.
CLASSIC
aha baja - 3-28-2008 at 06:42 PM
Proving that "Well behaved women rarely make hErstory!"
Proving once again that " Well behaved women rarely make hErsory"! Great story(factoid) I laughed astonished the first time I heard you tell it in
Bahia. Continue running the gauntlet. No harm no foul!I hope your goal is not stopping at the "brass ball" level but to strive to "go for the gold"
PAULINA... my 'Baja sister'!
David K - 3-28-2008 at 06:55 PM
Viva Baja #1 when I met Paulina (2000)... I am talking to DP Dave and Whistler, Paulina is just inside the doorway:
Viva Baja #2 (2001) when Paulina got an orange shirt from El Camote's esposa 'Mermelada' who wanted everyone to wear orange at the party.
BBBB #1 (2001) has Paulina with Earle (Fang), Mike Humfreville and Eric (Amigos de Baja):
Lost Mission Hunt (south of Las Flores, 2001):
Taking Debra for a ride on her Quad, Camp Gecko (2002):
Surprise bump into at Bahia Asuncion (2007), Dern, Elizabeth, Shari, Paulina:
You don't need balls to be 'ballsey'... You go girl!
standingwave - 3-28-2008 at 07:22 PM
Thanks for a great story, Paulina.
baitcast - 3-29-2008 at 06:24 AM
Its 5:am and I,m settling in for todays first visit with coffee in hand when I start reading this wonderful Baja tale!
I,m laughing now and getting louder and louder,think I just woke up mama,what a great story Paulina,you surely do have a big set
Rob
TonyC - 3-29-2008 at 09:54 AM
Thanks, that was fun.