BajaNomad

BIKE PROJECT

bajadock - 4-11-2008 at 05:34 PM

Grovernator,
Missed you this week, but, please email me with specific direction via I-5 north. I'll be back up to SD either next week or following and my Jeep Cherokee should take a handful.
docdockerty@msn.com

OTHERS, yes, it's a pain when you've got lots on your mind headed south, but, DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST BIKE?
Thanks to GROVER for storage/collection. Need a hint on his beverage preference.

These kids will remember their first/maybeonly bike forever!

fishbuck - 4-11-2008 at 05:44 PM

Hey Grov! I'm headed down Sat afternoon. I have an empty Ford F-150. Will that help?

DianaT - 4-11-2008 at 07:33 PM

And when you get to meet Grover in person, you will meet a really nice person.

Thank you Grover. :spingrin:

John and Diane

bajabound2005 - 4-11-2008 at 08:38 PM

Bajamigo and I picked up two bikes today. If you are headed south of Ensenada and don't want to go out Punta Banda way, but have picked up bikes, we can meet you in Maneadero. If you want to come for a visit , a c-cktail and fine meal...well, Grover has our phone #s and other contact info!

We zipped across the border today with a loaded SUV and those 2 bikes on the top and got the GREEN PASE! We weren't worried about the bikes; we'd just stopped at Duty Free to stock up!

greybaby - 4-11-2008 at 08:57 PM

Wish we could stop by and take some down. What a worthy cause - and the gratitude received from these kids will last a lifetime. Good for you!!

DENNIS - 4-11-2008 at 09:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by greybaby
Wish we could stop by and take some down. What a worthy cause - and the gratitude received from these kids will last a lifetime. Good for you!!

You should be due for a trip back by now. Wait 'til you see Sharky's. You won't believe the transformation.
Everything else is just as you left it.

Agua Viva- Highly recommended!!!

thebajarunner - 4-11-2008 at 09:11 PM

Good old J R turned me onto this place a few years back.

Since then I have made many visits, have taken a church group there to work for a week and have a great rapport with the folks that run the place.

It is clean (my number one priority) happy, well run, highly recommended.

They are feeding more than 100 kids every day, making sure the local kids get to school and just doing a great job.

Any help you can give will be well appreciated, and well utilized.

greybaby - 4-11-2008 at 10:02 PM

Thanks, Dennis. Would LOVE to visit. My husband was there for all of two days in February and I'm just looking for an excuse to head South. I'm sure I could round up a couple of bikes so it would truly be worthwhile trip.

Am just curious, is this the Agua Viva located on the road to Ojos Negros? That's the only place that sounds familiar.

bajabound2005 - 4-12-2008 at 07:12 AM

Nope, Agua Viva is out in the fields between Maneadero and Punta Banda (on the south side of the La Buf road.

XRPhlang - 4-12-2008 at 08:42 AM

Grover-
I'll be coming through on Wed. April 30 to meet up with the La Turquesa Trek group. I will probably have room for at least 3 bikes on my motorcycle trailor and maybe a couple more in the truck. I'll be traveling from the San Luis Obispo area and plan to pass through SD around around noon. Will this work timing wise? I'll probably reach Mandanero around 3pm. Need to get to El Rosario before dark.

And if you don't want to leave the carretera...

bajamigo - 4-12-2008 at 09:49 AM

...we will be happy to meet you in Maneadero, take the bikes off your hands, and send you promptly on your way after we fill you up with a few tacos from the famous Poblano. There's a Pemex across the street, but you're on your own there.

Way to go ! Grover (and helpers)

tortuga - 4-12-2008 at 12:31 PM

Wish I could see those joyful expressions on the kids faces. Thanks all for your efforts and may you all get the GREEN light at the border !
Saludos Tortuga

XRPhlang - 4-13-2008 at 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
...we will be happy to meet you in Maneadero, take the bikes off your hands, and send you promptly on your way after we fill you up with a few tacos from the famous Poblano. There's a Pemex across the street, but you're on your own there.

(I hope I did the quote thing right)
Dropping off the bikes with you in Maneadero would be great if I'm pressed for time. In Baja I'm never pressed for time unless I'm trying to get somewhere before dark. I'll keep my taco appetite intact either way.

bajamigo - 4-13-2008 at 12:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XRPhlang
Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
...we will be happy to meet you in Maneadero, take the bikes off your hands, and send you promptly on your way after we fill you up with a few tacos from the famous Poblano. There's a Pemex across the street, but you're on your own there.

(I hope I did the quote thing right)
Dropping off the bikes with you in Maneadero would be great if I'm pressed for time. In Baja I'm never pressed for time unless I'm trying to get somewhere before dark. I'll keep my taco appetite intact either way.


Start fasting! The tacos are the best on the planet!
:bounce:

bajamigo - 4-13-2008 at 12:19 PM

Fishbuck just left after delivering three bikes rehabbed by Grover. No problems at the border. We had a great visit, and now he's off to find Bajadock and Dennis. I'm not given to generalizations, but Nomads are some damn terrific people!

A word about the bikes: the folks at Agua Viva Guarderia have a list of ten kids who want a bike more than anything else in the world. These are not just bikes; they are the trains, planes and automobiles of their imaginations that take them far from their crummy surroundings. We are storing the bikes that have already arrived until all ten are here, so that we don't break some kid's heart while making another the happiest kid on earth. For the time being, it has to be all or none.

So if you're planning to come down this way, bring a bike---we'll meet you at a time and place of your convenience if you can't detour to Punta Banda.

FISHBUCK IN ENSENADA

bajadock - 4-13-2008 at 01:27 PM

Read the local police blotter this morning and found out that Fishbuck is in Ensenada. He must have escaped as he made it all the way out to Punta Banda to deliver bikes to Bajamigo and Bajabound2005.

Great meeting you, Mike, and thanks for stopping by the Pub this afternoon and introducing yourself. Encouragement for you to post your trip report. Especially curious about your friend and his visit to, um, er, what was the name of that bar downtown, TONY'S?

Safe travels on your way south.

DENNIS - 4-13-2008 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajadock
Safe travels on your way south.


For sure. Just met Mike at Sharky's as he traveled south. What a neat guy. All here should have the pleasure of meeting him. We had some Nomad laughs talking about every one of you guys who like to stir the pot here. Fishbuck and I decided it was you, not us, that had differing opinions. Mike and I, well, we just go with the flow.
Buen Viaje, Miguel.

bajabound2005 - 4-13-2008 at 03:39 PM

And the Rosarito- Ensenada Bike Ride is on Saturday so crossing the border with bikes should not be an issue!

BAJACAT - 4-13-2008 at 09:10 PM

Yes Kath, it's right.this saturday the Rosarito Ensenada race will be on, my son it's participating again this year.I will be paying Grover a visit.So if i can meet you guys&gals in the Maneadero gas station,to do the trade off, it will be perfect.No time to visit maybe next time.I still want to visit Jon and Arlene's place,Agua Viva.

chris.JPG - 47kB

jeans - 4-13-2008 at 10:17 PM

I just wanted to say that I stopped by on my way down last week, picked up a couple of bikes and met Grover...what a nice guy! I took two small bikes...one for a boy and a pretty little pink "girly" bike with a matching Little Mermaid helmet. Grover had repainted it so it looked brand new.

I also got to meet several of the little tykes at the event...they all got a turn in my massage chair and one little guy showed some natural talent as he mimicked my hand movements on his friends.

bajabound2005 - 4-14-2008 at 07:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Yes Kath, it's right.this saturday the Rosarito Ensenada race will be on, my son it's participating again this year.I will be paying Grover a visit.So if i can meet you guys&gals in the Maneadero gas station,to do the trade off, it will be perfect.No time to visit maybe next time.I still want to visit Jon and Arlene's place,Agua Viva.


Yes, we can meet you there. Let us know when. This would be the first Pemex when coming into Maneadero from the North, before the turnoff to La Bufadora.

BajaGeoff - 4-14-2008 at 11:03 AM

Hey Grover,

I am heading down to Ensenada this Friday for the bike ride...I might have room to take some bikes down. I will let you know later this week once I figure out how much room I am going to have.

DENNIS - 4-14-2008 at 07:06 PM

Gene...

Have you been through Globos or the other Segunda areas lately? Probably a lot of helmets available for good prices. I need some "new" Hawaiian shirts so I'll try to get up there as well.

greybaby - 4-14-2008 at 08:49 PM

Reading through the above posts has made me so jealous (and proud) of you all who are there doing such worthwhile projects down there and having a good time shopping in the segundas. Enjoy every minute of it - would love to see some photos of the kids getting their bikes (and helmets!). They will be thrilled. Give them extra hugs from some of us gringos who have to stay North of the border for now.

BAJACAT - 4-14-2008 at 08:56 PM

Grover I will be by your place this wends.late afthernoon. I will call you before I go.I can take 5 bikes this Saturday.I will be attending the Rosarito Ensenada race.

greybaby - 4-14-2008 at 09:18 PM

Thanks Grover. This is awesome stuff. Brings back such fond memories of when we lived in Cantu and were able to actually rub shoulders with many of the children in the community who, often in their physical need, taught us so much about life. How to embrace it and make the most of your circumstances - and somehow find such incredible joy in the midst of it. Keep up the good work, all of you.

Story and Pictures

bajamigo - 4-15-2008 at 07:50 AM

Couldn't get Grover's link to work, so just in case, here's a link to the bike "delivery" that took place earlier this year

Rotilio's Bike

fishbuck - 4-15-2008 at 05:12 PM

Mision Acomplished! Bikes delivered and I am safely returned to Costa Mesa.
What a great experience and a super good way to start any trip farther south!
Pick up some needed item and deliver it to the people who know where it should go. Great BajaNomad karma for sure.
And then there are the nomads that live there at Punta Banda.
First off Grover is a real nice guy and your classic San Diego layed back cool guy. Grover, you Rock!
Okay, I need to rest and eat. I've got more so check back... ;D

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by fishbuck]

fishbuck - 4-16-2008 at 10:58 AM

Okay, I'm back. Wow, was I tired!
Ya, Grover was super cool!
So on down to Ensenada and arrived a little late so decide to stay and go to Punta Banda (PB) in the am. An Ensenada side story to come later.
About 9am or so I venture to PB
and find Bajabound2005. I now understand why everyone likes PB so much. What a beautiful place and awesome view. The weather was perfect and blue sky forever.
I'm met the BB2005's and supernice people living a great Baja life. They explained a little about the kids and I was really impressed and sooo glad I could do a small part to help.
Such nice people and place and soon I find I cannot leave I like it so much. But bikes are unloaded and I'm am given directions to my next location...Bajadock's Pub...

... To Be Continued!...

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by fishbuck]

bajamigo - 4-16-2008 at 12:54 PM

Call me Mr. BB2005.

Vince

fishbuck - 4-16-2008 at 01:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
Call me Mr. BB2005.

Vince


Sorry Vince(Bajamigo)! I knew I was going to goof that up. Then who is Bajabound 2005?
Anyway I dropped the bikes at Bajamigos house and he and his wife Kathrine (man, I hope I got that right!) are superfine people and I loved hanging at their house and chatting.

bajamigo - 4-16-2008 at 02:49 PM

KathLEEN is BB2005. Otherwise, you're doing great, Bob!
:lol::lol:

DENNIS - 4-16-2008 at 04:51 PM

Man...That's rude. It's not Bob, it's Bill. Mike will tell you that.

fishbuck - 4-16-2008 at 06:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
KathLEEN is BB2005. Otherwise, you're doing great, Bob!
:lol::lol:


Next time I'm taking notes.:?:

BAJACAT - 4-16-2008 at 08:22 PM

Don't fell bad Fish, for the longest time I tought BB2205, was a guy,boy I was wrong...:dudette:

BAJACAT - 4-16-2008 at 08:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by grover
Quote:

No problem,mi Amigo fue un placer,gracias for the soda pop

Thanx for the pickup, José...

12 down; 8 to go. ;)

DENNIS - 4-17-2008 at 03:49 PM

Good score, Gene. Looks like you're on a quest.

bajamigo - 4-17-2008 at 05:05 PM

Gene, I need two small ones. A neighbor brought me two beautiful bikes this morning but no helmets.

Vince

bajabound2005 - 4-17-2008 at 06:03 PM

Save your $$, Hose, the kids that all got helmets at 3 Kings Day wore them for us that day...haven't seen the helmets since, but they do LOVE the bikes!

DENNIS - 4-17-2008 at 06:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Save your $$, Hose, the kids that all got helmets at 3 Kings Day wore them for us that day...haven't seen the helmets since, but they do LOVE the bikes!


What happened to them? Perhaps John and Arlene [ is that right? ] can shed some light on this.

bajabound2005 - 4-17-2008 at 08:10 PM

The kids HAVE the helmets, they just don't use them! Think of them as seatbelts in cars in Mexico.

Looks like we'll be doing a prelim delivery tomorrow morning!

[Edited on 4-18-2008 by bajabound2005]

BAJACAT - 4-17-2008 at 09:43 PM

He Kath I will be taking 5 bikes this saturday to Ensenada.Can you and Vince meet me in the Pemex,by the Bufadora turn off.I will call you on saturday to let you know the time.

bajabound2005 - 4-18-2008 at 07:22 AM

Bajacat. can do.

bajabound2005 - 4-20-2008 at 05:39 PM

Bajacat delivered 5 more bicycles yesterday to Cafe Bohemia. We picked them up this morning and delivered them to Agua Viva for storage until we deliver them to the kids (hopefully next weekend!) While we were at Cafe Bohemia we picked up a couple pounds of organic Chiapas dark roast coffee and several pounds of organic cherry tomatoes:bounce:

bajamigo - 4-20-2008 at 09:10 PM

I think we have the delivery routine down cold. I picked up the 5 bikes that BajaCat brought to the Bohemia and trucked them up to Agua Viva today. I wish everyone on this board could see how happy these kids will be when we deliver the 20 bikes we have. You, senor Grover, epitomize everything that is truly good about this board.

BAJACAT - 4-20-2008 at 09:39 PM

Hi Vince, wen are you guys doing the big drop,I would like to be part of it if I can.

bajabound2005 - 4-21-2008 at 07:36 AM

Looks the first delivery will take place this afternoon.

XRPhlang - 4-21-2008 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by grover
Just got another primo boys off craigslist; for a total of 9 more that need delivery.

I think we've still got a couple of promised pickups in the bag.

I can still take bikes on Wed. 4/30, if there's any left.

bajabound2005 - 4-21-2008 at 05:12 PM

Doc is headed your way the end of this week and is planning on bringing some back. We made a delivery today to Rotilio's camp -- VERY HAPPY KIDS. Bajamigo will post pix a little later today.

Also, a neighbor just gave us another bike (actually, he went with us for the delivery so you'll see his pic)

Grover -- maybe we should re-title this thread to BIKE PROJECT?

fishbuck - 4-21-2008 at 05:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Doc is headed your way the end of this week and is planning on bringing some back. We made a delivery today to Rotilio's camp -- VERY HAPPY KIDS. Bajamigo will post pix a little later today.

Also, a neighbor just gave us another bike (actually, he went with us for the delivery so you'll see his pic)

Grover -- maybe we should re-title this thread to BIKE PROJECT?


Or Baja Bike Express. Helping those less fortunate get their first bike. Drivers needed !

bajabound2005 - 4-21-2008 at 05:20 PM

I love that name, Fishbuck!

sylens - 4-21-2008 at 05:29 PM

we need baja norte bike express and

baja sur bike express
(right diane;D)

bajabound2005 - 4-21-2008 at 05:39 PM

Si, los dos!

BAJACAT - 4-22-2008 at 06:32 PM

WHAT ABOUT" OPERATION- BIKES 4 BAJA ",sounds ilegal , I like itttt

DENNIS - 4-22-2008 at 07:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by grover


Isn't there an "H" missing from the front of that word?

Hormiga = Ant

Iflyfish - 4-23-2008 at 12:42 AM

You guys Rock!

Iflyfish

bajadock - 4-23-2008 at 10:46 PM

Grover,
My north of the border travels looks like tuesday pm(April 29)and will hope to find you wednesday pm. You have already done it, but please U2U me once more with directions, phone# and your schedule next wed pm before I head south to Ensenada. THANKS to all who can share!

bajabound2005 - 4-24-2008 at 08:16 PM

The helmets from Hose A were delivered to Agua Viva today after his daughter-in-law so kindly delivered them to Cafe Bohemia. Beachbum1A picked them up at the Cafe yesterday and brought them to Punta Banda. We delivered this morning along with all the leftovers from last night's "steak night" at La Sociedad de Vecinos de Punta Banda. We do that once a month and this was the first time the leftovers went to such grateful folks!!!

BAJACAT - 4-28-2008 at 08:28 PM

BB2005,Kath do you have any idea if the everybody is cover as far as bike's.Grover has aboutn 8 and I have 4 of, totalling 12 more bikes.are more bikes still need it?

bajamigo - 4-28-2008 at 09:39 PM

When we delivered the last load of bikes, they all went to one "village." The Agua Viva folks told us there are other villages around them where the kids want bikes. BTW, Jose, a "village" is like that collection of storage containers we saw peopel using as housing when we brought Rotilio his bike. So keep the bikes coming!

Incidentally, Jon at Agua Viva spends a fair amount of time fixing up bikes that he finds around the area or have been donated. That's when he and the rest of the staff are hustling to take care of 130 kids. So the need for bikes goes on.

And remember, if any Nomad is heading south, bring a bike or two or ten and drop them off at Cafe Bohemia, so you won't have to go out of yoour way. BB2005 and I pick them up promptly so there's little inconvenience to Jim. He's happy to take them off your hands.

BAJACAT - 4-29-2008 at 08:05 PM

Thanks for the 411, Vince i score 2 bikes this last weekend ,n ow I got 4 plus 8 or 9 that grover has.I will problably be heading that way next week to deliver my bikes to Agua Viva. I have all day this time, maybe we see each other. B^J^C^T

bajaguy - 4-29-2008 at 08:15 PM

Bajacat, will you be down this weekend???

BAJACAT - 4-29-2008 at 09:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Quote:

No bajaguy,I will be going next week.Why what's up?

Bajacat, will you be down this weekend???

bajaguy - 4-29-2008 at 09:25 PM

I was going to be at the Ensenada house. Thought we might get a Pacifico

BAJACAT - 4-30-2008 at 05:05 PM

Ha, looks like it's going to be my loss.Thanks for the offer bajaguy.maybe next week hee..and ther is any way to switch that Pacifico for a Modelo?:rolleyes:

bajabound2005 - 4-30-2008 at 05:31 PM

XRPhlang delivered 3 1/2 bikes (Grover's definition) to Cafe Bohemia yesterday. Beachbum1A picked them up this morning and delivered them to our house (along with a pound of wonderful coffee beans from Chiapas). We'll be delivering them to Agua Viva this week to see some more happy tykes.

edited for hourse, which of course, should have read horse!

[Edited on 5-1-2008 by bajabound2005]

bajamigo - 4-30-2008 at 06:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hose A
What's a "hourse" ? And where can I get one ?


A house with four hooves and a flowing mane, silly!
:lol: