Phil S - 11-18-2009 at 02:44 PM
We had purchased our FM-T from Vagabundos del Mar out of Rio Vista Ca prior to our trip. So we drove to Tecate border, parked in plaza parking lot
with Wendy staying in the auto while I walked across with our FMT's. Imm. person very cordial. Stamped them without wife having to come with me.
Showed him My passport. He asked for Wendys, but when I said was in the car, he says, "no problema". Shook his hand, and i walked across and up
through u.s. immigration center. Showed passport. He swiped, and sent me on my way back to the parking lot.; Just in time to see a wrecker, towing
out a vehicle. Couldn't see the plates, so don't know if was American or Mexican. Trip through town was uneventful. We stopped at all lights, and
stop signs Drove the speed limit. Didn't see any cops. Drive south was great. Few cars going south. Few going north, but made good time. Was able
to not have a problem with the construction that you run into, out of Ensenada. Looking good, but sure taking long enough. (we drive this every
November) Stopped at El Rosario at the motel next to the Pemex station. Up next morning, drove south to Mulege. Still very few cars on the road.
Just the usual number of truckers. Stayed at the motel (name forgotten) where turn off the highway before the bridge entering downtown on the left.
$400.00 pesos. Great motel, except for the dog that backed in the property behind our room early in the morning. Drove all over Mulege. The pictures
provided by our fellow Nomads just didn't do justice to the devistation you see in person. It is heart breaking. Cleanup is moving right along. We
ate dinner at the Esquipales. Was great. We met the owner and thanked him for his generosity for providing meals to the locals right after the flood.
He said that he used a generator to provide power, and thanked us for coming to his restaurant. I ordered lobster, and was served six small ones.
Price was great. Service was great!!! Next day we stopped at Bob & Susans lighthouse resort. Got grand tour, and what a delightful couple. They
told us they dropped the rates, and hopefullyh we will stop there on ojur fway back north first part of December, depending upon what time we are able
to leave Cabo. We continued on to Loreto, and stayed three days, visiting friends and stayed at a friends home that overlooks Juncalito. Then
headed on south to our destination of Cabo San Lucas, to our timeshare for two weeks. On the way south about twenty miles north of Inserjentes (sp?)
I was driving, and a car was preparing to pass me, and was really close to me, when I was approaching a flatbed truck with roofing tar buckets & a
shovel. I probably wasn't 100 feet behind him driving maybe 60mph when the shovel, bounced out, hit the pavement and with the shovel (spade end)
coming at me sliding with sparks, on it's back, and you find yourself in one of those absolutely split second moments when you don't have time to do
anything but just react. My decision to drive over it, was based upon several factors. One. A car was approaching from the opposite direction, so I
couldn't swerve into the other lane. The car behind me was really pushing me, and I wouldn't be able to slam on the brakes, thought I doubt if I
could have done anything to stop in time. So I instictively straddled it and hoped for the best. (keep in mind. This Chrysler Town & Country van
has a low center of gravity) So you guessed it. Bang as I went over it. After the car went on by that was heading north, I looked for a place to pull
over, just down the road!!! By time I got stopped, I noticed the truck had stopped & was backiing up to retreive his shovel. Yeah,
right!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wasn't going to find it, because it was driven up into the engine compartment. I began to think that the rest of the trip was
going to be pretty expensive!!!! So since I couldn't get under the car for a close inspection, nor could I reach the shovel "head" I waited a while,
watching for oil leaks. Tranny & engine. After about 15 minutes, not seeing any leaks, we started up, entered the road, and said a prayer, and
headed on to Cabo. Gas stop at Todas Santos.for lunch. Inspection showed still no oil leaking (oh yes, and constant watch of the idiot lights on
the dash for something
to glare back at me) Still no problems. Steering was good still. Maybe I was going to be lucky. We arrived at the resort. Parked the car for the
night, and checked in. This is such an incredible Resort, (Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach) it was easy to not want to worry about the shovel. Great
nights sleep. Up next morning, and called the front desk & asked for info on finding a Chrysler dealer or a mechanic to remove it, and repair
whats broken????? Finally a call back with a number to the San Jose Del Cabo Chrysler dealer. A phone call resulted in their telling me to come
right in. So leaving Wendy in her bathing suit, and heading to the pool, I drove to S.J.d.C. arriving about 12:15. By 2 p.m. they asked me to come
to the service area and see the car. They were able to remove the shovel head, and no oil damage. No tranny cooler damage, other than some bent fins.
A bent brace that took the brunt of the shovel, sending it in an upwards direction. It met with a thick aluminum cross brace, slicing about two
inches of the four inches in width. That was what stopped it. They inspected for brake line damage, and electrical. Fuel tank, and anything else
that the wooden handle would have penetrated. Nothing. There truly is a higher power!!!! Cost?????????????????????? nada. "just tip the mechanico",
said the service writer. Time spent removing the shovel & inspection, and with a big hammer to drive the cross piece back straight, fifteen
minutes. I'm a happy camper!!!!! Fortunately the mechanic spoke English. No one else did at the dealership!!!!! The aluminum frame piece will most
likely require removing a lot of metal to be able to remove it. Will deal with that when we get back home in December. Still wonder if the owner of
the shovel, is still lookiing in the ditch for it.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trip back hom December 1st should be a snap!!!!!!!!
[Edited on 11-18-2009 by Phil S]
Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 02:55 PM
Another uneventful trip, eh? 
You guys were really lucky. Just imagine if you
had gotten stuck at the scene. And when was the last time all you had to do was tip your mechanic at the dealership in the states?
Great resort. Pueblo Bonito got started years ago in Mazatlan. Their first project in Cabo was the "white" one- now known as Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos.
Seems that with every additional project they just keep building them better.
Hope they've finished the downtown infrastructure project. It was a mess for long time. Enjoy. And safe and less eventful return trip.
Phil S - 11-19-2009 at 07:08 PM
The downtown infrastructure is complete. How nice to drive it. Pueblo Bonita Sunset Beach is rated one of the best resorts in Mexico. Look it up.
We love it here. They keep building,f and building and building new phases. Love this place!!!!!!
osoflojo - 11-20-2009 at 12:00 AM
The good news about PB Sunset is that they wont let the local rif=raf like me in unless I have a reseervation there. The other 2 PB, are not quite as
snobby..............
Phil S - 11-20-2009 at 07:52 AM
Why would rif-raf want to go there anyway??????????? Don't think it's the most expensive resort on the 'tip'. ?????? Anyway. There are no vendors
pestering you at PBSB. That's got to be a plus. And when we want to be 'pestered', we board the shuttle that takes us to P.B. Rose' and let them 'go
for it'!!!!! Usually acquiring some some Christmas presents for the grandkids.
Bajahowodd - 11-20-2009 at 11:17 AM
The rif-raf factor is more about location than anything else. Sunset Beach is out of town, and conveniently fenced. Not to mention that they don't
have much other competition along that stretch of beach. On the other hand, their other two properties are smack dab in the middle of Playa Medano,
the busiest stretch of public beach around. That said, in case anyone wonders why Pueblo Bonito hass two hotels next to each other on Medano, here's
the story. The developers of the original Pueblo Bonito initially wanted to purchasse the full tract of land that includes the land under that hotel,
and the land between it and the Cascadas. However, the land on which the Rose stands was tied up in litigation for years and not available for
purchase. Lest, there may have been but one single hotel spanning that property. I'm just guessing, but I do believe that if the developers had been
able to acquire the entire parcel, there would have been similar achitectural appearance, as oppossed to what is there today. And just for the record,
I think the Rose is an abomination from an architectural point of view.
osoflojo - 11-22-2009 at 06:18 PM
What I meant by rif-raf I meant people like me who live there and want to go there for lunch.........
Phil S - 11-23-2009 at 12:30 PM
osoflojo. Oh, I see. I was thinking you were referring to those who wanted to go out there and "case the joint"!!!!! lol!!! Well, from the
prices in the restaurants "in here", I'd think you are saving yourself from a 'heart attack", or a "menu shock" after looking at the prices. For
example. Wendy & I had dinner in the "inbetween priced" restaurant. Two glasses of wine at $125.00 pesos each. I had a steak dinner, and Wendy
something less spendy. Total bill for two was $70.00 u.s. with tip. And half the people here don't look like they could afford the airfare???????????
Bajahowodd - 11-23-2009 at 12:38 PM
oso- You're saying that if you drive up to the gate and tell them you wish to eat at their restaurant, they won't let you in? I've never been turned
away anywhere. In fact, just because it's a timeshare operation would seem to me that they would welcome lookyloos. Maybe you shouldn't wear a mask
when you go there.