BajaNomad - I Lost My Muffler In Mexico

I Lost My Muffler In Mexico

Ateo - 1-6-2015 at 06:33 PM

We had 10 days to head to the Pacific West Coast of Baja..........

We crossed in Mexicali and stayed the night in San Felipe the first night. Had the BEST pizza at El Padrino's....... The next day it was blowing 40 knots so we bailed for the other side of the peninsula. On our drive to Gonzaga, I saw surf able waves (generated from all that wind) and wondered what some of these points would be like if there was any groundswell in the Sea of Cortez.................a man can dream.

San Felipe Sunrise

10.5 miles this new roads stretches from Gonzaga.................

We made it back to Chapala and Hwy 1 and headed south. Air down time:

Climbing up a steep section I hit a rock.

Bungees helped us limp into the campsite, which was only a mile away. As I got out of the truck to check the muffler, I tried opening the tailgate latch to get my tools. The latch broke and we were unable to get the tailgate down for 4 days. Everything had to be taken out of the back of the truck thru the back window. That meant half of our stuff stayed in the back for the trip. Very upsetting to have to climb in every time you need something from the ice chest!

There is a teenage boy under that..............he slept the whole trip.

The next day a new friend helped me manhandle the muffler from the two support latches. This guy was an ex pro rock climber. He cleaned up the entire fish camp of all trash, sorted it, condensed it, burned what could be burned and packed out the rest. A good dude.

We made a new latch so we could get in and out of the tailgate.

We beat our truck up bad the last 6 years. Stuff was falling off and many repairs were needed. We decided to say goodbye to the old Brown Tundra. Thanks for always getting us where we wanted to go...............................but it's time to say bye.

danaeb - 1-6-2015 at 06:43 PM

Great report Ateo! Thanks.

woody with a view - 1-6-2015 at 06:45 PM

good times! i'll verify your trash claim Friday!

Whale-ista - 1-6-2015 at 06:50 PM

Great photos and wonderful trip!

Sounds like you (almost) lost your muffler in Baja.... and maybe a little bit of your heart when you said good bye to the old truck. (they do become part of the family)

Is that the newly repaired stretch of scenic hwy north of San Miguel/Ensenada? Whoa- they moved a LOT of dirt!

Thanks for the report! Look forward to your future travels in the new rig.

David K - 1-6-2015 at 06:56 PM

Wow... great photos that tell a story ... and a new Tundra to cap it off!!

BajaLuna - 1-6-2015 at 07:27 PM

great pics! Sorry about your truck troubles, it will make for great stories around the campfire one day!!

And cool, you took along with one of the best books ever....

sun, sea, friends and family and zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, what could be better!

Ateo - 1-6-2015 at 07:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

good times! i'll verify your trash claim Friday!

The day we we're leaving, my buddy Geoff who cleaned the area up was leading a 8 person cleaning team from one point to the next. He wants to make this into a profession and get sponsored by Patagonia. Dream big!

Ateo - 1-6-2015 at 07:29 PM

Thanks Whale-ista! I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend when I left that truck!!! I had to tell myself that it was an inanimate object!

Yes, that's the toll road repair. Look at how tiny that vehicle looks up against those huge mounds of dirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Great photos and wonderful trip!

Sounds like you (almost) lost your muffler in Baja.... and maybe a little bit of your heart when you said good bye to the old truck. (they do become part of the family)

Is that the newly repaired stretch of scenic hwy north of San Miguel/Ensenada? Whoa- they moved a LOT of dirt!

Thanks for the report! Look forward to your future travels in the new rig.

Ateo - 1-6-2015 at 07:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaLuna

sun, sea, friends and family and zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, what could be better!

Yep, that book was for my son! I read it in Baja back in '93!

BajaBlanca - 1-6-2015 at 07:55 PM

awesome trip report ! your pics are magical

one can just imagine the sights and sounds for each one

thanks for taking the time (and it does take time) to post those fantastic shots

BooJumMan - 1-6-2015 at 07:57 PM

Sweet!

woody with a view - 1-6-2015 at 07:58 PM

Squirt, pour out 1/3 to 1/4 and top off with some got Ta-kill-ya and enjoy a hobo margarita!

Tioloco - 1-6-2015 at 08:03 PM

Looks like a fun trip! I'm glad this thread didn't turn into a - which vehicle is tougher?-

micah202 - 1-6-2015 at 08:03 PM

.

...thanks for taking us along!

Tioloco - 1-6-2015 at 08:04 PM

Woody-
I thought it was Fresca instead of Squirt! Lol!

Bichito - 1-6-2015 at 08:07 PM

You weren't kidding when you said the Tundra was falling apart! :wow:

AKgringo - 1-6-2015 at 08:09 PM

It' not fair, you throw away better trucks than I drive!
Thanks for the photos, I need to do that my next trip.

Maron - 1-6-2015 at 10:25 PM

Super, sorry about your troubles, but a great report and even better pictures. Congrats on the new ride.

Chupacabra - 1-6-2015 at 11:08 PM

Awesome report, thanks!

Neal Johns - 1-6-2015 at 11:55 PM

Funny! Good report.

bajalearner - 1-7-2015 at 02:20 AM

That's a damn good looking pizza! Awww, that new car smell...the pics are so good, I can almost smell both.

A healthy New Years; out with the old, in with the new!

tiotomasbcs - 1-7-2015 at 02:31 AM

Living large! Your kids will always remember these trips. Looks like the daytime temps were warm and enjoyable. Raining down here now?! How long from San Felipe to sand under your feet? Thanks for sharing, Amigo. Tio

Cypress - 1-7-2015 at 02:36 AM

Thanks.

willyAirstream - 1-7-2015 at 07:58 AM

Thanks for the fun report.

aguachico - 1-7-2015 at 08:04 AM

Thanks for the report. Good on the guy who policed the camp site. Something to add to my list.

Congrats on the Tundra upgrade.

Ateo - 1-7-2015 at 08:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tiotomasbcs

How long from San Felipe to sand under your feet? Tio

I'd say 5 hours.

DENNIS - 1-7-2015 at 08:38 AM

"Zen and the Art......." How very groovy. Took me back about thirty years when I saw it in your foto. Nothing like studying "quality" while in a high quality setting like Baja.
Thanks for another quality trip report, Jon.

Sunman - 1-7-2015 at 09:10 AM

Nice. Didya surf/chat with the Aussie anchored in that sailboat? Nice chap with his girl living the dream.

CortezBlue - 1-7-2015 at 09:18 AM

What time of year was your trip?

TMW - 1-7-2015 at 09:28 AM

Excellent report and as usual you have the best pictures. Sorry about the muffler, must of been a heck of a rock.

David K - 1-7-2015 at 10:13 AM

Or it was about to drop off anyway and the shaking finally did it?

Ateo - 1-7-2015 at 01:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Sunman

Nice. Didya surf/chat with the Aussie anchored in that sailboat? Nice chap with his girl living the dream.

Yep. We hung out at camp a couple times and surfed a couple sessions together. They seem like a sweet couple and good people. Quintin loves chocolate so I hooked him up with two boxes. How do you know them?

Ateo - 1-7-2015 at 01:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by CortezBlue

What time of year was your trip?

last week.

Ateo - 1-7-2015 at 01:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Excellent report and as usual you have the best pictures. Sorry about the muffler, must of been a heck of a rock.

I think it was a combination of rock and rust. The muffler looked like it had taken a few rocks in the past.

Sunman - 1-7-2015 at 02:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo

Quote: Originally posted by Sunman

Nice. Didya surf/chat with the Aussie anchored in that sailboat? Nice chap with his girl living the dream.

Met him in the general area surfing the week before Christmas. Knew that was their anchorage and saw them in your pics so kinda figured you would have had contact.

Udo - 1-7-2015 at 03:00 PM

Nice report, and great photos!

wessongroup - 1-7-2015 at 04:52 PM

Thanks for the "trip" ...

only a muffler ... ya did good :biggrin:

[Edited on 1-7-2015 by wessongroup]

Bajaboy - 1-7-2015 at 05:47 PM

Good stuff, reading this from Baja Cactus on our last night. Funny how it always works out when you have the right frame of mind.

Ateo - 1-7-2015 at 06:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy

Funny how it always works out when you have the right frame of mind.

And I'll be honest, the first few days camping I didn't have the right frame of mind. The last time I lost a muffler, I blew a head gasket a few days later. At the time I thought the two were related (I know jack____ about cars), but after I consulted my buddy Geoff, he put my mind at ease. I was obsessing about being far from a mechanic with my wife and kids and a muffler hanging off the car with 50 miles of dirt road ahead of me. =)

But, my frame of mind did change after ripping that muffler off and just knowing it would be a loud ride home..............Learning experience.

willardguy - 1-7-2015 at 07:02 PM

oh yeah.....AND I got a new tundra!

duuude...you're killin us! :lol:

vgabndo - 1-7-2015 at 08:44 PM

I've got to admit, I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for you Jon!

Marc - 1-7-2015 at 11:10 PM

Great report and wonderful images.
I loooove my '07 Tundra! I've beaten it all over Baja & mainland Mexico. Got it back from the body shop and detailer yesterday. Absolutely like new now.

[Edited on 1-8-2015 by Marc]

Skipjack Joe - 1-8-2015 at 03:47 AM

Nice report Ateo. Really enjoyed the pictures. The fish in the underwater picture look to be opaleye.

Santiago - 1-8-2015 at 07:00 AM

Why do I keep thinking about Tony Bennett??

Nice report on a great trip.

chuckie - 1-8-2015 at 07:21 AM

That my first thought as well....

BajaGeoff - 1-8-2015 at 10:07 AM

Nice report Ateo! Looks like a lot of fun...

Ateo - 1-8-2015 at 10:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaGeoff

Nice report Ateo! Looks like a lot of fun...

I'm gonna need to add this new truck to my policy. I'll contact the office!

Ateo - 1-8-2015 at 10:31 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

"Zen and the Art......." How very groovy. Took me back about thirty years when I saw it in your foto. Nothing like studying "quality" while in a high quality setting like Baja. .

Exactly.