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Barbarosa
Nomad
Posts: 188
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: Jackson, CA
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Mood: "On th' road again..."
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barbarosa
But to you (Dennis) I think you live in a pretty dark world. And much as I hate to be judgmental, I'm pretty sure I like my life better than I'd
like yours. There's a lot of wonderful people out there.
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Well...that was pretty much a large part of my point. Didn't realize I presented it in such a cryptic fashion as to lose you completely.
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Yup. Just took me awhile to figure you out. You got it. me too.
Barbarosa
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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There are definite good and bad things about Mexicans. I think that the government agency people and Mexican sales people really, really suck in
general. I believe that most all educated Mexican professionals do not know their a$$ hole from a hole in the ground. I believe that the locals are
mostly pretty good people in an interpersonal way. I think the Irish in Ireland are the nicest people that I have ever met. I like the English,
Italians are OK, the French in Paris are the worst people I have ever encountered, Canadians are pretty much like Americans to me.
Americans have the greatest variety, alot of really sucky ones and alot of others that are the best humans you would ever want to meet
I am very familiar with and have much experience with the Mexican culture here in the USA in addtion to the exposure to the Baja Mexican culture over
the past 25 years thru my time in the Baja on a frequent tourist/fisherman basis and investing in real estate there.
In the final anlysis, I want to live in Baja and not in the USA.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Good. Tell that to the noob, babarooba and his U2U confidant drarroyo. Noob is the one who can't sustain an arguement and arroyoahole is the one who
prompts him to act like a know-it-all fool.
Sorry if he's a friend of yours. I noticed how well you were getting along.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Corvette from Canada to La Paz
I once drove a open-air CJ-5 from the Canadian/USA border to my casa in Coyote Beach, Baja Sur. It was the Dead of Winter! 3100 -plus miles along a
scenic route..We froze our burros off!! 
When we arrived back in Baja we could dress cooler....
Or did I post on the wrong thread again....?? 
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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No. You did good, Roger. Thanks.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Your efforts would be better spent toward anthropology than criticism. |
Dennis, does this mean you recognize some value to my opinions, after all?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajatripper
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Your efforts would be better spent toward anthropology than criticism. |
Dennis, does this mean you recognize some value to my opinions, after all?
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Utmost value, Steve. I think you know that. I thought of you when I voiced my opinion that a primer on Cultural Anthropology may have silenced the
pointless criticism of this wayward noob as he tried to steer his arguement from the original point to one he considered a private, "yeah...now I
know" moment to one of pertinance.
Perhaps you, an Anthropologist, would comment on the legitimacy of my statement.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Posts: 16490
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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posted on 4-12-2011 at 10:28 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
I find the locals to be kind, very helpful, very friendly, non judgemental, resourceful, generous,
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In your glaring generalization, Mitch, you forgot "Cute and unpredictable."
Actually, this is a good example of selective evaluation. When is the last time you looked for these traits in your US neighborhood?
Maybe never. We tend to overlook that which we understand as the norm. There are many who live in Anaheim who have never been to Disneyland, or New
Yorkers who have never visited the Statue of Liberty. They know it's there, but they don't really know the place.
Another thing before I crack my first beer.....I'm willing to go all in by saying most who see these traits as dominant characteristics of a people
are unable to speak and reason with them in their language...at least past the grunting and pointing stage. To them, the Mexican people are just like
Disneyland is to the people mentioned above who know they're there, but don't really know them.
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Jim/Liisa
Nomad
Posts: 192
Registered: 2-5-2011
Location: San Felipe (South Campos)
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Your going to put Mexican gas in that car???
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bennme
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 1-26-2011
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WELL, folks, I'm back and here is my update of the trip:
The corvette ran like a true champ, leaving Monday morning, April 11. I made Bend Oregon the first day, and just north of LA the second. Dragged my
butt thru LA gridlock for a couple of hours before making it to a friend's in San Diego where we had lunch. The vette was certainly the center of
attention at every gas stop.
On Wednesday after lunch, I decided to cross the international border at TJ. After being green lighted i needed to stop and get my FMM so rounded the
corner by the Yellow taxi stand and was fortunate enough to pick out an unmarked police car occupied by a plain clothes member. I parked my vette in
front of him, showed him my retired badged and asked him if he would mind keeping an eye on the vette while I went to immigration. At that point,
Juan, a local ex officio tour guide who was standing nearby and spoke fluent english stepped in and offered to take me to migracion and an ATM.
After talkiing with the mex. policeman, he instructed me to back alongside the unmarked where my car would be safe. I shook the policeman,s hand and
offered my hearlfelt thanks and then was off with Juan to get my FMM. We breezed thru that and then off to the marketplace where he located the ATM
and instructed me to shut the door behind me.
Then it was back to my safely parked and untouched vette. I tipped a suprised Juan a well earned amount of pesos, got directions out of TJ, shook the
polceman's hand and offered enthusiastic thanks, and was on my way.
The toll road down to Ensenad was perfect and beautifu and cheap, about 2 buck per 3 booths. My first military checkpoint was at the end of the toll
road and the young fella was more interested in the vette, than me - a sign of things to come...
After being waved thru, i was off, a little misdirected thru Ensenada but catching up with the main route in no time. The road south was great and my
speeds were averaging 50-60 with adjustments for blind curves etc.
I drove straight through to El Rosario the first night and stopped at the Pemex where the guys flocked to the vette. It was my ice breaker everywhere
and really opened up the conversation with everyone, pictures, questions, looking at the engine....these are the mexican folks I remember growing up
with in SoCal....shy at first, but quick to embrace once you offered them a smile and respect.
I was gassing up when a little guy about 10 who had been selling roadside trinkets with his mom came running up yelling 'muy bonita carro!'....he was
amazed when i opened the door and ushered him into the driver's seat. I couldn't not buy one of his God's eyes and hung it on the rearview.
I paid 240 pesos to stay at the baja cactus next to the Pemex in a very rudimentary but adequate room. A late dinner at Mama Espositos next door was
super and then off to bed.
On the road next morning around 7 and into the desert and the beauty it offered. Coming into Catavina, i topped up at the first place i came to
(there are several and each little pueblo down the highway offers plastic can gas). Very nice folks, again enthralled with the vette. many folks
gave me the thumbs up and whistled as i drove by....I made sure I gave everyone a friendly wave, which was enthusiastically returned. There are about
20 kms of very rough broken pavement south of Catavina which caused me to crawl thru with the vette, and then off again down a good highway. My
experience at every military checkstop (save one where it was the mandatory stiff faced cursory inspection) was to have a bunch of young soldiers
drooling over the car and asking lots of questions about the year and horsepower. Great experiences in meeting mexico's military. My badge was of
significant help, as well as my police ball cap. Gassing up at the pemex in Jesus de Maria was about an hour of consorting with many of the locals
who had heard about the vette and either walked over drove over to take pictures. An open invitation to sit in the c-ckpit was graciously received by
a few enthusiasts.
I did stop in Go Negro around lunch time and was flagged over by a young member of the Policia Federale, who wanted to talk corvette. Upon seeing my
police cap, the brotherhood quickly made a young friend and we managed to communicate about life as policemen in two different countries.....no diff,
other than the language. He directed me to the highly recommended milagaro's(sp?) where I enjoyed a wonderful bowl of fish chowder. I talked with
some of the local ex pats and then hit the ATM at the pemex and off southbound.
Coming out of the desert and hitting the coastline at Santa Rosalia was breathtaking, but the unfortunate mess in the town left by the German mining
company years ago was heartbreaking. The amount of litter strewn about the baja is truly disappointing and would take years of concerted effort to
clean up.
I overnighted at the plush Santa Fe hotel in Loreto for the night and again spent about an hour in the secure parking area with the staff ogling the
vette. The biggest fella there was about 6'3 and 260, but was thrilled to see that he fit in the driver's seat. I knew the vette would be in good
hands for the night.
The next morning, I found I was an hour behind with the clock changing to Mountain time. I left Loreto for a casual drive to La Paz, stopping for a
top up in Constitucion. I arrived at my place in La Paz around noon and can say that this was really the trip of a lifetime.
In most cases in life, it has been my experience that you get back what you give. I have always known the mexican people to be shy and standoffish
until you extend them the respect and friendly smile - they warm to you quickly. I am off again in a couple of weeks with the jeep and enclosed
trailer, pulling my harley and small amount of possessions and tools. I am hoping for another wonderful, albeit slower, drive again. To those of you
who encouraged me, thanks. To the doubting Thomas's, you really need to do this trip and keep a smile and friendly attitude.
As far as Vados, they are now virtually non existent, having been filled in and paved over. The signs are still up. The Topes presented no problems
save one which lightly kissed the exhaust pipes.
Saludos!.................Keith
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks for the trip report Keith!!! Sounds like it went excellent for you with lots of fun!
(Santa Rosalia was originally a French run mine, fyi)
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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Great report, thanks! Must have been a blast driving mex1. I drive a Willys and as you encountered, it is also a great icebreaker and usually adds 10
minutes of entertainment at ck pts, pemex and taco stands, a great way to meet new people.
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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great ending to a sketchy thread. The vette ambassador!
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Thanks, Keith. Great trip report. Just don't let all that friendly enthusiasm cloud your vigilance in the future.
FYI and not really important.... VADO is a large [or, not so large] dip in the road. POTHOLES are called Baches....or worse, depending on how hard
you hit them.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jim/Liisa
Your going to put Mexican gas in that car??? |
Mexican gas is not what it used to be in the old days, pumped out of barrels, sifted through cheese cloth. These days, Mexican gas is highly refined
and not a problem.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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bennme
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 1-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Thanks, Keith. Great trip report. Just don't let all that friendly enthusiasm cloud your vigilance in the future.
FYI and not really important.... VADO is a large [or, not so large] dip in the road. POTHOLES are called Baches....or worse, depending on how hard
you hit them. |
Thanks Dennis, I like to think that after 20 years in the police force, i am a pretty good, although imperfect, judge of character. And yes, i do know
the dif between Vados and Potholes. There are virtually no vados left...............Keith
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bennme
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Thanks, Keith. Great trip report. Just don't let all that friendly enthusiasm cloud your vigilance in the future.
FYI and not really important.... VADO is a large [or, not so large] dip in the road. POTHOLES are called Baches....or worse, depending on how hard
you hit them. |
Thanks Dennis, I like to think that after 20 years in the police force, i am a pretty good, although imperfect, judge of character. And yes, i do know
the dif between Vados and Potholes. There are virtually no vados left...............Keith |
Great trip report Keith. Would like to meet you some day as I was also in law enforcement back in the 70's and 80's in Miami for the Dept of Justice.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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bennme
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 1-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
| Quote: | Originally posted by Jim/Liisa
Your going to put Mexican gas in that car??? |
Mexican gas is not what it used to be in the old days, pumped out of barrels, sifted through cheese cloth. These days, Mexican gas is highly refined
and not a problem. |
Right on the money. I used premium when I could, but my sbc will also perform honourably with magna, and I encountered absolutely nada problema with
fuel, even from the plastic cans!
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Barbarosa
Nomad
Posts: 188
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: Jackson, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: "On th' road again..."
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bennme
The amount of litter strewn about the baja is truly disappointing and would take years of concerted effort to clean up.
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Great account. Thanks. Glad you had a good trip. (I had no doubt as long as the car behaved itself. Guess it runs ok on regular.)
I had a different take on the trash. True there were stretches that were a mess. But (and maybe my memory is faulty) I actually remember it as much
worse. Like they're really cleaning it up. (Seemed to me like Norte was remarkably cleaned up but that Sur has a lot of work to do.)
Barbarosa
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
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Mood: y Blues
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Sounds like a great trip, thanks for the report! I'm curious, did you keep track of your gas mileage? Did it vary significantly SOB from NOB?
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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bennme
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 1-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by El Camote
Sounds like a great trip, thanks for the report! I'm curious, did you keep track of your gas mileage? Did it vary significantly SOB from NOB?
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I was averaging over 20mpg all the way. Unfortunately, my newly refurbished trip odometer decided to cave in Bend. I usually topped up at half tank
and paid average 250-300 pesos.
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