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zonijay
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 9-1-2008
Location: Tucson
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Baja Soapbox
I've given a lot of thought on whether I should post my thoughts on this or just exercise the delete button so I'll try not to make this a rant.
When Our group was headed home after this last Baja trip we encountered a Mexican family about half way between Coco's and Gonzaga. They had a RR flat
that they had driven on and shredded. I was about 10 minutes ahead of the others. They pleaded with me to stop. They didn't have the right tools to
change out the tire which had wedged itself in behind the break backing plate. I radioed the others about the situation and when we were all there we
gave the driver a breaker bar and correct deep socket to free the wheel. He had a small bottle jack that was not going to be sufficient.
After the wheel was off and about 2 hours of different (hacksaw, diagonal cutters) attempts to get the the old tire un wedged we tied it off to the
hitch and pulled it free. We deflated the spare because their inadequate jack couldn't get the truck up high enough. Got the tire mounted and used one
of the compressors to get it back up to pressure. The driver and his dad and brother did almost all the work. We just supplied a few needed tools.
These folks had their entire family (gramps, granny and brother, husband, wife and 2 kids) as well as their livelihood in that old F250. Did I mention
it was hot and very sunny. They were taking 1200 pounds of pulpo (octopus) on ice from Guerrero Negro to Mexicali to sell. While we were helping them
a group of several very high dollar, race type, "buggies" driven by Americans and a number of high dollar SUV's driven by Mexicans just blew by us and
only one said "need help?" We could have used a high lift but we managed. The family said they had been sitting there for hours until we stopped. They
could have lost their entire load, had we not stopped to help.
I know our little group isn't unique on this forum but what has happened that so many can't take a little time to pay it forward? You can take this to
the bank. We felt far better in being able to help then the folks we helped felt. Being able to assist our fellow human beings quite literally made a
good trip into a great trip.
And the bag of fresh pulpo they gave us that Pam cooked up for lunch was delicious.
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Baja karma....nice job
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Good for you, doing the right thing. What more can I say?
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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I think you took the correct action also. Good on ya'.
Guess I'm unclear about your use of 'rant'. In that the family had been there for hours are you saying that others passed them by?
If you're referring to the ones that passed while you were there, perhaps they saw that your group (you did mention multiple vehicles) was assisting.
Anyway, you acquired some good karma.
Allen R
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1662
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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That has happened to me - broke down about 40 km south of Catavina in August!
Finally a Mexican school teacher and his wife and kids on their way home to GN after school supply shopping in TJ - stopped and helped me. . .
meanwhile lots of shiny new vehicles, old vehicles, police and truckers passed be like I was standing still . . . which I was with a spare tire and a
tire iron in my hand.
The problem - I didn't have a jack to lift the camper high enough to change the tire.
This was 3 or more years ago.
This generation drivers don't stop for anyone but themselves!
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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It may have something to do with all the "negative press" that has been going on the past few years. Robberies, personal assults, "Don't stop in
out-of-the-way places" etc. I'm sure it has made many people reluctant to stop to give a hand that several years ago whould not have been a problem.
In my 35 years of coming to Baja, I have always stopped for stranded motorists both gringo and Mexican, but now I must admit, I'm a bit more cautious.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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So? You did what any decent individual would do. You want a medal or what? 
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bigmike58
Nomad
Posts: 286
Registered: 1-20-2012
Location: Homeland CA/Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
So? You did what any decent individual would do. You want a medal or what?
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Really?? Nice comment cypress, I betting you have some karma coming your way....
Great job on helping that family!!
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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ZONAJAY
HOLA, now ,,,you a baja folk !! that,s what we do down here!! ooopps !! Im, just FRESH back in monterey calif. (2) days..but good on ya mate..The
govs of the planet have folk's running around fighting,pickering amonks themself,, so that the dont see the real big picture...LOL but folk's like
you ,,,keep it a nice planet to hang out on......" IF,,each day you lived,,you did something nice for someone else,,,IT would make this planet/journey
a lot nicer for everbody" Tell me I'm wrong ?? what loser will argue with that very simple thought of life.....thank's....THRIVE and
give....K&T 
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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Zonijay
Welcome, I sure you can handle this group. Having gotten myself in trouble 6 or 5 times I have notice that the locals are more likely to stop, "the
better "(costly) the gringo ride the less likely they are to stop. We all get into to the stuff and some of us are willing to help out a stranger,
some are not. Baja karma is what it is. Thanks for doing your part! You'll always have a cold one waiting for you in my camp. Bring your friends, they
seam like good guys as well. MMc
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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yup! i can't tell you how many times i have stopped for a Mexican guy waving a gas can while his family watches the cars zip past. i don't know what
it is but the turn off to San Carlos, just after El Rosario seems to be a Bermuda Triangle for Mexicans and their families trying to stretch their
mileage. twice i have pulled over in the middle of the hiway. once to fill dude's 2 gallon gas can and once to give dude a ride to El Ros. he wouldn't
accept a ride back south to his rig as i was heading north.....
karma is a b!tch.... love her!
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Welcome to the board
Jay I don't know anything about your Baja experience, and have only your newness here to judge. I don't want to project anything on you.
A lot of thoughts went through my head when I read your post. In recent years I have passed people I wouldn't have in the past. The road is long and
the discussion in my mind as I drove on in guilt has often been spirited. First I am responsible for my wife's safety. I'm also 68. On the main road,
I can easily rationalize that someone younger and more able will soon be along.
For anything short of a brokendown lowrider full of cholos, I stop in the dirt.
I have been helped out of a pretty tough jam, and felt huge gratitude to those who had jumped in and pulled my fat out of the fire. I owe. I've felt
in payback mode for years and have equipped my truck to fix a lot of stuff it doesn't have!
I've also thought what I'd have done in your place, and I think these days some times you have to ask for what you want. The answer is always no until
I ask. I'd have flagged down two or three trucks and found out if they were all really turkeys. I'm betting there was help for the ASKING.
It's one thing to flag everybody down looking for a fuel injection technician, another to be looking for a jack.
Kudos for doing the right thing. His noodley appendage will touch you.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65278
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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zonijay, welcome to Baja Nomad and you did a good deed.
I believe if your group wasn't already helping them, the others would have then stopped. However the leader of that group should have asked if you
had it under control.
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Hey Woody...
On that stretch after Constitution going towards La Paz, I found two men pulled of the road standing next to their truck with a 1 gallon gas
container.
I took my 5 gallon off the van and for good measure put half of it into their truck.
Lots of handshakes and on my way I went. As they grew smaller in the rear view mirror I wondered why they hadn't left themselves.
The last image I could make out was the men waving the gas container at the next vehicle on the road as that vehicle was pulling over to 'help' them.
I just cracked up at their day job getting the tank filled by passing motorists!!
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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zonijay and bigmike58, Welcome aboard to both of you. My comment was out of line and I apologize for being snarky.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7390
Registered: 8-5-2011
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Good karma indeed. Everybody makes out when you stop to help someone.
What's with the person in charge of the expedition to get the catch to market? Not making sure the right tools were onboard to change a tire is
inexcusable. Especially considering where they were and the distance they were going. Assuming he's a he and married, I hope his wife ragged on him
the whole trip and cut off any "fun time" for a while.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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While I find most folks offering assistance to others in need.....there are a few that do drive by.............including the Americans. In
Baja...I can rest assure that I will indeed get help sooner or later.......as I have had help many times. Coco's area was one of those
*(&*(^&*%$ flat tires with frozen nutz. We got help from a Mexican.
I know in California............I still be waiting for help, till the vultures come to eat my carcass.
Welcome to the BN.
[Edited on 4-7-2012 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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Many years ago in Baja, I passed by a car that needed a tow out of a ditch by the road. That's what it looked like anyway. I didn't stop. A few miles
later a big rig ran me off the road coming around a blind curve. Enough said?
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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WOODY
karma is a b-tch,,,love her !!!  THAT'S GOOD !!!! I have alway's said " The
problem with karma is that it dosn't happen fast enough for my liking,,but it DO'S happen" K&T
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zoesterone
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 5-8-2011
Location: Mazatlan, soon to be Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
My comment was out of line and I apologize for being snarky.
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Good man.  |
It WAS snarky, but being a big enough person to apologize makes up for it. Very few people acknowledge their mistakes. Thank you.
Dogs are not our whole life, but make our lives whole.
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