BajaNomad - COCO NEEDS HELP

COCO NEEDS HELP

baja Steve - 12-3-2004 at 04:35 PM

I stoped by to drop off food for Coco this morning and he told me he has to go to the hospital and get his left worked on. He thinks they maybe they will take it off. He has a person that will staly at his place but coco needs food for him. For all of you that stop by Coco's corner that will be going by in the next month or so please help him.

Vikingo in Ojos

Capt. George - 12-4-2004 at 07:12 AM

Steve, touch base, changes in schedule.

George y Deborah

Me No - 12-4-2004 at 11:25 AM

He does need help, but it is more of the mental variety.

Hearing so much about this character my wife and I were more than a little excited to stop in and meet him. We were on our way to Gonzaga to watch the Baja Mil.

As we approach his house/junkyard there, we are diverted onto his property by a series of pylons and ropes with beercans strung across them. No problem. Then, at the exit back onto the road there is a man in an army suit with a rope blocking our excit. I initially thought it was a check point. Then, the now determined to be fake army guy, asks for 50 pesos to pass through. My wife then explains to the guy that we have to get to Gonzaga with gas for one of the bikes in the race, now open the gate. The guy then tells us that we need to wait for Coco, who we could see a mile or so down the road ordering some people around. BS, I'm going I signaled by reving my motor. Well the gate came down and we were off. As we approach where Coco is at, I see him doing some hastey manuerving in his old ford. The closer we get the more obvious it becomes that he is trying to position his truck across the road so we can't pass. If the guy would have just parked his car on the side of the road I would have stopped to talk with him, but I found his actions wrong, to say the least. So I hop the little embankment and attempt to pass on the split road. Just as I get abreast of Coco he makes a half hearted attempt to ram us. :moon: :lol:

Will I ever stop there now? Not on your life. Do I now believe the reports that he puts things in the road to cause flats. Certainly this person feels he owns that section of highway so anything is possible, especially if business is slow.

The next day while camped at Gonzaga we run into another couple who had passed through cocos on race mourning. They relayed how cranky he was and that most people were paying his fee, but they got around it because Coco groped his wife and she got major peeed. :fire:

Good luck with your leg Coco, and when they cut it off give it to me so I can cram it up your arse. :lol:

A-OK - 12-4-2004 at 11:48 AM

Damn....... that sounds familiar.

Curioser and curioser

jrbaja - 12-4-2004 at 12:50 PM

with all the miles I have put on tires throughout Baja, one of the few flats I've had was right by Coco's. :light:

David K - 12-4-2004 at 01:30 PM

I made a small web page on Coco's Corner a while ago... http://vivabaja.com/coco

KurtG - 12-4-2004 at 04:15 PM

Sure doesn't sound like the Coco that I've known for the past 10-12 years. He has never even hinted for a handout from me and my friends and has expressed his appreciation for any small thing we have helped him with.

JESSE - 12-4-2004 at 05:13 PM

This Coco caracter seems interesting, keep the stories coming people :bounce:

baja Steve - 12-4-2004 at 05:23 PM

kurt
Cocco didn?t ask for help he was telling us what it was going to take to have someone live at his place when he was in the hospital. He has done a lot for a lot of people over the years I thought we should help if we can.
The people bad mouthing him should find out why he is doing what he does. The race people trash his place and leave and it is not a JUNK YARD it is his home.

kurt by the way it is pooring down rain down here. hope to see you in mulege

David K - 12-4-2004 at 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baja Steve The race people trash his place and leave and it is not a JUNK YARD it is his home.

GEE, say it isn't so! Some people swear that SCORE has clean up crews that follow the race.

Last year Rockman posted how he spent several hours picking up trash after the 1000 passed near Gonzaga, where he has a home.

Some from another board came here and raked him over the coals as if he needed to lie about such a thing.

The race groupies like Coco, so sad they trash his lands and leave.

[Edited on 12-5-2004 by David K]

TMW - 12-5-2004 at 08:32 AM

I don't have an opinion about Coco himself, but I don't spend much time in his area or going by. I have talked to him and found him friendly and fun. However the last time I stopped there he wasn't there but another guy was. Being friendly and wanting to help out I asked for a beer and how much. He said $5. I said for a six-pack and he said no, per beer. I said no thanks and started walking away. He then dropped it to $4, then $3. By then I was in my truck and on my way. That was two years ago in June and I haven't stopped since.

Some people "swear" to a lot of things David

jrbaja - 12-5-2004 at 09:27 AM

picking up trash happens to be something we are dealing with right now in fact. Along with graffitti.
These races cause more destruction than you would ever believe and do not help the local people in any way.
I have been working on that for over 2 years now.
And I will be posting the results as they happen.

TMW - 12-5-2004 at 10:26 AM

The trash is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Score can address the trash problem with the racers and their crews and put some kind of police effort to it, but how will you get the locals to clean up their trash. I go to every Score race and some local promoters in Baja and the biggest problem I see is the locals leaving trash, especially bottles and beer cans. It's as if they expect someone is going to come out in the middle of nowhere and pick em up. In the U.S. races don't have the huge public viewing as there is in Baja and trash thats left is usually from the teams and crew and when it's ID'd they're in deep doo doo. There was a recent problem with a race in Barstow where the team pit area was ID'd and the BLM was notified with the names. Personally I think it's a problem all over Baja not just at races. Education is the key and the sooner the better.

TMW - 12-5-2004 at 10:38 AM

JR how do the races do so much destruction in your opinion. Also, I guess if your talking about helping a local farmer or fisherman they probably don't. If your talking about the cities then your wrong. They bring in millions of dollars to the cities for hotels, resturants and tourist shops, not to mention the gas and other parts they buy. I think you'd have a very hard time convicing the Governor of Baja Sur or the Mayor of La Paz and Ensenada that the races don't help. The racers don't want to race to La Paz any more often than necessary because of the logistics involved. It use to be every 3 or 4 years. The city of La Paz pays Sal to come down and it must be pretty good because it's been twice in three years now.

David K - 12-5-2004 at 10:38 AM

I wrote about the Baja 500 last year here... Before the racers arrived at our location (east of El Alamo and Hwy. 3), dozens of locals (perhaps from Ensenada) arrived.

Instead of keeping their empties in their pickup beds, the bottles where dumped right next to their trucks.

http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/500

Don't get me wrong

jrbaja - 12-5-2004 at 12:10 PM

I like the races but have been investigating the pros and cons for two years.
I will be talking with SCORE and had the first meeting with BFG people yesterday and we are working towards something beneficial to all concerned, especially the local Mexican people.
As I said, I will post as things progress but in the mean time, I have been working on the education of the local people towards cleanup programs in their areas for two years. It has been highly successful in areas where we have started this program as they see it as beneficial to everyone, including themselves in the long run.
The schools are all participating in "litter/graffitti" education and PROFEPA has been giving environmental preservation classes to all the people in the mountains. It is working.

Now, what these races have caused in the past is a huge amount of litter, ridiculous graffitti, jealousy and thievery, marooons driving like maniacs on the highways, drunk drivers, and problems with the locals as in sabotaged spots on the race track for whatever reasons.

Now some seem to like to point fingers and say the Mexicans did it or whatever but the facts are, if it weren't for the races, these things wouldn't be happening.
I see just as many if not more disrespectful gringos and I live here full time and know of what I speak!

I have solutions for these problems that will benefit everyone involved, stop the thievery and sabotage, and make Baja a cleaner place.
There has been a major lack of communication between the local Mexicans and the race people. This was a big mistake and hopefully it is about to change!

I will keep you posted. :light:

Here's an eerie night shot of the race.

TW

jrbaja - 12-5-2004 at 12:33 PM

Yes, I am talking about the local people, not the government people involved.
They (the gov. guys) are also involved with racing and aren't the ones causing problems, it's the spectators and pit crews causing the problems as well as no real benefits going to the locals other than stickers, posters and candy.
These guys need to be involved!

And I would also be very surprised if the races bring in "millions of dollars" to the economy unless there is a huge payment made to somebody to have them here.
From what I have seen, most of them are afraid to eat anything besides what they bring themselves, prefer budweiser or coors to Mexican beer, and camp out in the wilds not spending money. 1 or 2 nights in Ensenada and 1 or 2 nights in La Paz might equal out to a million but doubtful.

bajalou - 12-5-2004 at 01:04 PM

Quote:

Now some seem to like to point fingers and say the Mexicans did it or whatever but the facts are, if it weren't for the races, these things wouldn't be happening.
I see just as many if not more disrespectful gringos and I live here full time and know of what I speak!

Well JR I also live here full time and go to both Score and the more frequent Code races and I will respectfully but very strongly disagree with your above statement.

And to quote you " and I live here full time and know of what I speak! "

:biggrin:

Maybe in Rosarito....?

David K - 12-5-2004 at 01:16 PM

... but I have never seen gringos drinking American beer in Baja. Perhaps it is because if I am around other gringos in Mexico, they are from this web site and like Pacifico, Dos Equis, Tecate or Carta Blanca (as they should)!

I have seen well-to-do Mexicans drinking American beer... perhaps to be sheik? They were driving nicer than typical 4X4s and SUVs. Maybe they like 'imported' beer, as we do up north. Unfortunately, they also didn't want to be bothered with hauling their empty containers out. I also have see Budweiser advertised in Mexico.

Good and bad are in all places and have no nationalities... The important thing is doing something about it, such as hauling out more trash than what you created (if there is trash there).

Thank you for your efforts JR.

Check out Los Frailes

jrbaja - 12-5-2004 at 02:18 PM

Tecolote and Bahia Concepcion sometime. As well as all the surf beaches on the Pacific side. Or any stretch of remote coastline in Baja Sur after a storm. You might reconsider who is really guilty.
Basically, it boils down to all of us and education. The Mexicans in the rural areas want to promote some tourism. Educating them to the fact that tourists don't want to see trash seems to work.
As far as the races go, to say that it is just the Mexicans or gringos trashing seems a little "off", especially if you go to the races a lot. I won't post pictures as we are working on a solution rather than a "blame" session.
Nevertheless, no matter who is responsible for it, I am trying to do something about it for the benefit of all rather than point fingers and watch it continue to happen year after year.
We will see if there is success or not.
And I am sure that after all the years of discussion regarding these issues, most everyone that reads this stuff onn here is aware and probably take out more trash than they brought with them. At least I hope so. :light:

And as far as who drinks american beer David, I can't believe how many there are that prefer bud or coors to anything down here and bring their own. It truly amazes me but they're not my kids :lol:

bajalou - 12-5-2004 at 02:53 PM

JR - I think it's great what you're trying to do regaridng the trash cleanup. But I don't think it helps your cause to say more comes from gringo's than Mexicans. While you travel to great places in baja, most americans that live in other areas full time consider Roserita as just an extension of San Diego ie: not the real mexican peninsula that you and we all love. Come to San Felipe - look around - the trash that's dumped all over the desert is 99% from the mexican population. An example is where I live. It's a american development but all of the building contractors are Mexican. The development has had to threaten some of the contractors because they just dumped the construction debree a hunderd yards or so off the roads in the surounding desert. But contractors in other area still dump it all over.

A lot of education to be done, but here it's the Americans trying to pressure the Mexicans to do better.

I see the americans in this area drinking Tecate, XX, Sol and very rarely Corona. Bud is available but shunned unless the price is really low.

Bring Carol for out our New Year's Turkey smoke, JR, you'll have some great food and a great time meeting locals. Mostly Americans but usually some Mexicans come if they can get away from work. Most of the Americans are full or 1/2 timers so they have a large stake in Baja.

:biggrin:

Well, I don't know who trashes more but

jrbaja - 12-5-2004 at 03:07 PM

we are all guilty and those of us that aren't, need to teach the others.
Something tells me that Baja Sur is a little more into doing something about it than Baja Norte from what I have seen and it really surprises me that San Felipe has such a problem. Do you talk to them about it?
I most certainly don't consider Rosarito, San Felipe, Ensenada or Puerto Pe?asco being anything besides the border party towns which they are.
As far as extensions of San Diego, not hardly!! San Diego doesn't have trash :lol:

I think I'm going to be south for the holidays but if anything changes, I wouldn't miss it !! Might even drive back up !!! Gracias Amigo

bajalou - 12-5-2004 at 03:32 PM

Hope to see you here JR

:biggrin:

Nikon - 12-5-2004 at 07:03 PM

Okay. Is Baja's trash problem under control of all the experts now? There's a hungry Mexican in the desert waiting for an SUV with CA tags, bringing Virginia Ham, Beluga Caviar and Fruitcake. Coco told him it was coming. How he'll get rid of him when he returns is his biggest problem.

KurtG - 12-5-2004 at 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baja Steve
kurt
Cocco didn?t ask for help he was telling us what it was going to take to have someone live at his place when he was in the hospital. He has done a lot for a lot of people over the years I thought we should help if we can.
The people bad mouthing him should find out why he is doing what he does. The race people trash his place and leave and it is not a JUNK YARD it is his home.

kurt by the way it is pooring down rain down here. hope to see you in mulege

Steve, I was referring to the other allegations about Coco, not your post. I'm planning to aim the bike south around the 18th and hoping the weather co-operates.
Kurt

Trash @ the Bahia

BajaRob - 12-6-2004 at 08:27 AM

Lou is right. We have a dump @ KM 31 south of San Felipe. About a year ago, 65 of us spent half a day doing a sweep of the desert around the dump and burned about 600 bags of what we picked up. The area was pristine for two days. This year we were not able to generate any interest in another clean-up as most believe that our efforts are pointless. The local Mexicans are the worst offenders. Most refuse to burn their trash and only smile when we request that they do so. Most of what does not get burned is spread about our beautiful desert by animals and the wind. It is an absolute shame but I don't know what the solution is. Rob :mad:

David K - 12-6-2004 at 08:38 AM

Rob, is it like a municiple dump for Ejido Delicias or just the Bahia Santa Maria private dump? Is a big pit dug with a dozer? Maybe a dump czar is needed, with a dozer and gasoline to burn the trash before it is covered? Having camped in that area since 1966, I would be disappointed to see trash all over the desert. That big mess near Faro Beach, south of San Felipe was cleaned up, afterall.

Trash @ the Bahia

BajaRob - 12-6-2004 at 09:19 AM

David, our dump is private and consists of a large pit and several small ones. The primary pit was dug by Marcelino ( Maria's brother ) who by the way remembers your incident here in the early 70's. He said your family had two 2 wheelers and that the one you were driving was gold in color. If he is correct, he has an incredible memory. Back on topic, we have to be careful what we ask for. The local Delgado has expressed an interest in closing all of the private dumps and building a public dump in the poblado near Dr Pepe's office and Chelo's restaurant. That would mean that most people would have to drive several miles further to dump their trash and I bet they would'nt. That mess near El Faro was cleaned up @ the expense of Remax @ a cost of $1000. We are all very grateful. The worst offenders for trash in town are the Mexicans from Mexicali who leave tons of garbage everywhere on all major Holidays. But hey, it's their country. Rob

[Edited on 12-6-2004 by BajaRob]

I forgot

BajaRob - 12-6-2004 at 09:31 AM

David, if you are here for New Years eve, our party starts one hour after Lou's. We are steaming 100 dozen clams and the pate' is to die for. Every one is welcome. Rob

Beer Cans and Bottles

Bajaboy - 12-6-2004 at 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Instead of keeping their empties in their pickup beds, the bottles where dumped right next to their trucks.

http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/500

There is a pretty simple solution to this Dave. I'll bet none of the bottles were Coronas or Pacificos, right?! If all beer/soda products had a deposit, much of the problem would be solved. It's amazing that we don't require a larger deposit here in the US.
My two cents....

Zac

wilderone - 12-6-2004 at 01:17 PM

Commenting on one of the earlier posts regarding SCORE trash and destruction, I can state that, weeks after the SCORE race about 3 years ago, I personally saw spray-painted arrows on rocks, decals on rocks and small posters stuck all along the course in the canyons leading to Matomi. The SCORE people have a responsibility to respect the environment and not deface with spray painting and decals, as well as pick up after themselves. Why would they expect anyone else to?

thekookbuster - 12-6-2004 at 02:35 PM

I think I'd be way grumpy and a little off in the cabeza if I lived out in the desert all alone too.

Maybe after he becomes a movie star come April (d2g) he can start selling his autograph!

:biggrin:

Me No - 12-6-2004 at 03:36 PM

So true DB.

I seriously doubt I will ever pay for anything at his place after what I experienced though.

I can understand him wanting to warn people to stay off the course, but this was 7 am and the big pit crews hadn't even shown up yet.

Can you Imagine going from peace and quiet, to trying to keep several hundred gringos under control.

It is a wonder he didn't get his gun out. :lol:

[Edited on 12-6-2004 by Me No]

David K - 12-6-2004 at 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaRob Marcelino ( Maria's brother ) who by the way remembers your incident here in the early 70's. He said your family had two 2 wheelers and that the one you were driving was gold in color. If he is correct, he has an incredible memory.

[Edited on 12-6-2004 by BajaRob]

It was President's Day weekend, 1972 (Nixon was going to China) and it was just me (age 14) on a Honda Trail 70. No other bikes. It was a metalic gold color. We (my parents and I) had just arrived at Nuevo Mazatlan in my dad's blue 4WD Suburban and set up camp under the trees. I had forgot to bring my helmet... but wasn't too concered since I had been riding mini bikes since I was 9 and the area was mostly sand.

I rode north a mile to check out Bahia Santa Maria, passing the office ... and must have hit a soft patch of sand on the hard pack runway/road which slammed me onto the ground (I don't remember anything after leaving our camp)....

It was pretty ugly, they knew to look for my parents at Nuevo Mazatlan as I has made a lable on my hat saying where we camped (weird huh?).

Maria and her brother drove the Suburban (now an ambulance) while my parents attended to me (it was ugly). Some firemen camping at Bahia Santa Maria stablized me for the long drive... It was all dirt to San Felipe then. They tried to find a doctor in San Felipe, but only a pharmacist was available... We continued on....

At Mexicali, the Maduenas started to go to the Mexicali hospital, but my dad shoved some money in their hands to get back on, and zipped me over the border into Calexico (saved my life). I was transfered to El Centro when I was getting worse and the neursurgeon was called back from his vacation, and saved my life. I had a cerebral contusion and was in a semi-concious coma. I was transfered to Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles after a week or two in El Centro. One morning I woke up (came out of the coma) and wondered what had happened... My dad was there at the hospital when I returend to 'this world'... He had tears... I will never forget.

I was almost beat by the Baja! I came back fighting! I was on a cane for a couple months, had to learn how to walk again, had home schooling for the rest of the year, and no more PE for all of my high school years... If I got hit in the head again, it could kill me. I did get back on my Honda (always with a helmet) to not let it become an issue of fear...

I was most bummed because I missed all the televised Nixon in China event!!!

Damn Dude

jrbaja - 12-6-2004 at 06:16 PM

You just multiplied my feelings about what generally happens with inexperienced or inebriated people that ride bikes down here. I see it all the time unfortunately and it is tragic!
But I guess you learned about potholes at an early age!! :bounce:

I was a pretty good rider and have been hit twice at Cantamar and patched up so many people it ain't funny!

Cuidado Amigo

David K - 12-6-2004 at 06:32 PM

Yes, but just think I was neither inexperienced or drunk and still look at what happened (or could happen).

I suspect, I was looking over at the camps and new round houses going up along the beach where Baja Rob has a house, now... while riding straight towards the bay (north).

If my front tire hit a patch of sand, it could have abruptly turned the handle bars and thrown me down onto the packed clay surface of the road, which back then doubled as a runway. The concrete hard dirt and my unprotected head, met. The skin was totally shaved off the side of my face, my two eyes pointed in opposite directions (I was told all this, mind you), and like I said before, it was ugly. My mom went into shock and started to run towards the beach... the firemen helped it all calm down.

I do not remember anything until the El Centro hospital at some point. I never remember pain... I was screaming my mom said.

What I remember at El Centro and Los Angeles hospitals was like a dream memory. People I knew who came to visit me, I recognized but mixed up their names... My sister (Annalee) I called 'Leeanna' (Annalee backwards).

Years later, she named her baby daughter, Leeanna! Satellite Man knows them both as he eats at their sandwitch shop in Leucadia, when he goes surfing.

So I could explore Baja more safely, my dad bought this dune buggy. Here I am at Nuevo Mazatlan fresh out of the hospital, still 14...

[Edited on 12-7-2004 by David K]

David

Mike Humfreville - 12-6-2004 at 07:01 PM

The picture didn't work, at least on my browser.

Well David

jrbaja - 12-6-2004 at 07:07 PM

I'm sure you had vast amounts of experience at age 14 but the fact is, you wrecked by not paying attention which is generally learned from experience. Would you do it again?
I'd say you are very lucky and good on ya for pulling through.
Picture didn't work for me neither.

bajalou - 12-6-2004 at 07:21 PM

Worked for me - interesting buggy David

:biggrin:

David K - 12-6-2004 at 08:06 PM

The photo opens here, as well (it is under 50kb)... The photo is in my Nuevo Mazatlan web page JR and Mike (link in my Notebook).

Lou, I was told the body was an original Myers Manx (Bruce Myers of Valley Center). The previous owner fabricated that aluminum roof and snap on side curtains... worked great in Baja!

bajalou - 12-6-2004 at 08:13 PM

I thought the red tub part looked like a Manx. The aluminum additions are good for both the cold and hot weather. Too bad you don't still have it.

:biggrin:

David K - 12-6-2004 at 08:28 PM

After I got a Jeep, it's motor was rebuilt to SCORE 1/2-1600 specs and put in a rail frame... was going to make a racer. The roof was removed from the Manx, and thrown over the cliff into the brush below my mom's place. I don't remember who got the Manx body. The big fire last year destroyed my mom's old place and melted that roof (I went to see the fire damage and discovered the roof from 25 years ago. I saved a piece of it and have it with me now).

thekookbuster - 12-6-2004 at 10:29 PM

Quote:

The concrete hard dirt and my unprotected head, met.

Man! That explains everything! LOL :biggrin:

Desertbull - 12-7-2004 at 12:38 PM

Hey Minnow,

Get your facts straight...I don't post under any aliases...you get what you see directly from me...I ain't postin' under The Kookbuster...and I DON"T know who the hell it is...nor do I give a rats ass other than to let you know ITS not me...

As most will tell you...I'm the last person you'll ever see to hide/post anonymously behind a computer monitor...you get it straight and to the point with me...no BS, so get your facts straight....

Doh.:moon:

FrankO - 12-7-2004 at 01:04 PM

That didn't strike me as your style. :lol:

Desertbull - 12-7-2004 at 01:14 PM

Zactly FrankO......Zactly!!! Anyone who knows me knows that.... :lol:

Me No - 12-7-2004 at 01:21 PM

DB, Kookbuster didn't stike me as an alias. :lol:

Me neither

jrbaja - 12-7-2004 at 02:48 PM

:lol:

thekookbuster - 12-7-2004 at 03:37 PM

Me neither!

4baja - 12-7-2004 at 08:09 PM

you go bull!!!! :coolup:

Speaking of kooks..

FrankO - 12-7-2004 at 11:01 PM

I was out today all by myself at my favorite cliffs spot w/just overhead glassed off loooonnnng rights. :lol:

. A little inconsistent but when the sets came it was a blast. I guess yesterday was double overhead +. Lot's of bait in the water and a couple of dolphins swimming in the lineup. No barney's though. :biggrin:

Desertbull - 12-8-2004 at 09:48 PM

Ahhh ... the joys of Ensenada! Just returned from Punta Banda and saw some of my amigos & amigas..We left Tue afternoon and stopped at PN for some lobster and then onto Punta Banda that was a big night of PHUN. Sheez, never knew that sleepy little hollow had so much stuff going on...Spent the day visiting and arrived back this evening...

Mucho agua at Punta Banda...the tractors were out today pushing all the dirt run off out of the road, deep rain gullies, sprinkling on and off and the ride home was intermittent rain...

:lol:

[Edited on 12-9-2004 by Desertbull]

Me No - 12-8-2004 at 10:26 PM

How is your car coming along. :biggrin:

Desertbull - 12-9-2004 at 02:46 PM

Just ask YoMahriz or Jay

wornout - 12-10-2004 at 08:34 PM

So, what IS the latest on Coco?