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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulina
You don't mess with moms, wives, or women who have the juevos to do it alone, so is the experience I've lived |
Love it!
Thanks, Paulina...I've been waiting for your contribution. Your story about running the El Rosario blockade is one of my all-time favorites. Too bad
that story got lost with the old Amigos board!
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3812
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I think Bedman has the original. I've lost it, but still have it logged into memory.
Bring it back Bedman!
P<*)))><
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Yeah Jeans, I love it too and will never forget that story, a real classic!Paulina,you have the heuvos, and more, no doubt about it! I feel the same
way when I drive or travel in Baja.I am a Mom, g-Ma- and x-wife, mom in law,(of my peeps that live in Bja) well... I will stop here, but could go on.I
too know about the power of the Women in Baja! They don't scare me.I DO know of what you speak (however, I will not drive in Cabo!!)EEEKKK!
[Edited on 1-14-2008 by Sallysouth]
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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baja829
Nomad
Posts: 167
Registered: 2-24-2006
Location: South Campos, San Felipe, BN
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Mood: BAJA HAPPY
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Only stopped once, although I've traveled thousands of miles in mainland and Baja. It was many years ago and my mother was in the car with me. We
were in TJ, after spending a great time in Estero for her birthday.
The officer stopped me and said I drove through a stop sign. I told him there wasn't any stop sign and offered to go back and show him. He said he
wouldn't give me a ticket if I would go and have a drink with him. With that I hit the ceiling and told him how dare he make such an offer, and
especially since my 75 yr. old mother was in the car. He asked me if she understood Spanish too and when I said yes, he immediately apologized, said
"good bye & drive carefully". My Mom thought it was pretty funny, and I was just happy I didn't get a ticket, or anything else.
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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I thought I would bump this up because of reporter Anna Cearley's research on police corruption & mordita.
Any more stories out there?
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here it is Paulina...
| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulina
I think Bedman has the original. I've lost it, but still have it logged into memory.
Bring it back Bedman!
P<*)))>< |
posted on 9-24-2006 at 10:22 PM
I Know a Short Cut...
I Know a Short Cut!
The date was the last week of March 1996. Connor was 8 years old, his sister Cody had just celebrated her first birthday. My two children were secured
in the back seat of my truck, a red duel cab 4X4 Ford. The three of us were on a Spring break mission, heading to Bahia de Los Angeles for two weeks.
Rosie our Bullmastiff was in the back.
A day prior to heading south, a good friend and Punta Banda neighbor, Fred Hoctor had informed me of a situation in El Rosario. He suggested I give my
vacation location a second thought, and stay in Punta Banda. He had heard through the Baja grape vine that the road was closed in El Rosario and no
one was getting through. I must have missed his article in the Western Outdoor News. I assured him that by the time I got there the situation would
surely be resolved and I’d have no problem…
The line was quite long at the military checkpoint on the mesa above El Rosario. I pulled into my place, shut off the diesel motor and set ourselves
up for a wait. I was getting bored with the scenery, noticing very few vehicles heading north. Finally I saw a car slowly approaching, gesturing at
those in front of me to turn around. Seeing that, I already had my hand out the window, waving a greeting to meet theirs.
To my surprise the station wagon pulled to a dead stop. Sitting drivers door to door was a man who was probably as old and un kept as his car. In my
best estimate he had about 10 dogs with him, wagging their tails and all vying for the driver’s side window.
“Unless you turn around, you aren’t going anywhere tonight.” He informed me.
By my guess this gentleman was in his late 70’s, with long grey hair tucked under his army hat. What else he had along with him I could not surmise as
I saw nothing but dog fur.
Smiling, I leaned out my window asking what he meant by his statement. He informed me the highway in El Rosario had been closed. No one was going
north or south until the road crew paid. He advised that I either turn around and go home, or plan on spending a week or two in my truck.
I had already decided I was not going to be spending Spring break with two young children and a big dog, camping along the side of the road in El
Rosario.
Going back was not an option.
Giving this about 4 seconds of thought, I asked this gentleman, where he was coming from and how he got through the road block. With a huge somewhat
toothless smile, through a bushy moustache he proudly replied, “I know a short cut!”
Peaking my interest, with raised eyebrows I replied, “Really? Do you care to share it with me?”
He said, very seriously, “Lady, you have to have a really BIG set of balls.”
“Well,” I replied, “I may not have the big balls, but I do happen to have a big truck!”
We met eye to eye and I knew that I had passed his test.
When my turn came, I finally made my way down the grade, past the Pemex, and pulled into town making the sharp left hand turn into El Rosario proper.
Knowing that traffic would not be coming north from that point on, I took the opportunity to drive up the opposite side of the road, passing by the
vehicles with their frustrated occupants.
At the front of the roadblock I parked my truck and marched up to where I found men sitting in plastic lawn chairs in front of a semi-truck trailer
blocking the highway. I announced to them that I was a single mother and not in the mood to camp out in town with the two children and a wild dog. My
plan was to go south, to Bahia de Los Angeles.
I must not have made a very big impression on the disgruntled crew as they didn’t move.
After making my silly announcement and not getting much of a reaction other than laughter, I knew that I had no other choice. I put into plan the
secret my new found Ex-patriot friend had divulged to me. Walking back to my truck I asked a local observer where I could find the ball field. With a
knowing smile he pointed south.
Climbing into the driver’s seat I made a U-turn as if going to join my place in line. As I made this slow turn the same local came up to the passenger
side window, wished me luck saying, “Go for it.” Parked at this spot was a VW bus. There were two surfers watching my interaction with the locals.
Anxious to get to their surf spot, they decided to follow me.
When I passed the spot where I was ‘supposed’ to dejectedly wait this protest out, I made a sharp left hand turn. Instead of joining the conga line I
aimed for the baseball field. There was a taco stand there and a few of the customers tried to block my advance by standing in the road, arms spread
wide. They thought better of their idea and jumped aside when they were faced with Big Red, followed by a VW surf van that wasn’t going to give them
slack.
As I passed by the taco brigade, full on speeding across the baseball field, I happened to glance over my left shoulder to the highway. Much to my
surprise I saw a truck coming down the embankment, heading my direction from the opposite side of the field.
During the time that I had taken to make my announcement, the u-turn, talk with the surf van, and then the dip past the taco stand, the road crew
suffrage had the time to attach a dead body car to the tailgate of this truck.
Towing the rusted carcass it was racing me for home base, the far south facing corner of the ball field where at the time led to the river bed. There
were 4 men in the bed of this truck, all whooping and hollering as the dead body car they were towing fishtailed back and forth behind them, raising a
huge cloud of dust. I was leading the race and among their greatas, I was the first vehicle to hit the river bed, the VW surfers were right on my
behind.
When I felt my truck drop into the sandy river bed I flashed back on my father. He was an off road racer, belonging to several clubs, very experienced
in desert running. I learned from him that when one hits sand you don’t stop, but keep going. So as I gripped the steering wheel I told my son Connor
to hold tight. We were about to have another fun Baja adventure! I wished the best for Rosie the Bullmastiff in the shell of the truck and floored it.
We roared into the El Rosario river bed, bouncing and racing along. My daughter Cody was secure in her car seat; Connor was in his seatbelt cheering
me onward. Rosie on the other hand was not so comfortable with the generator and various camping supplies in the back of the truck, giving her a run
for her space as we bumped along the river bed.
I lost sight of the surfer boys, not sure if they ever made it out of the river bed or not. I finally located a solid bank to the river and aimed
left. I found myself pulling up and into the backyard of a local woman who was hanging her laundry. As I drove under her laundry line I apologized and
made my way through her backyard, aiming for the highway.
As I nosed my way out of her driveway, I rejoined the pavement far south of the blockade. I was met with the surprised looks and faces of those
waiting in line to go north; cars, campers, big rigs, all wondering where I came from and how did I make it past the road block.
I pulled over to the side of the road to secure the bed of the truck. Rosie had been jolted around, the generator and fuel cans had been dislocated
not giving her much room. I organized the back, gave Rosie a potty stop and as I was closing it all up to head on to Bahia, a man in a motor home
asked me how I got through.
I answered with a smile, “You have to have a big set of balls and know a short cut!” I recalled my adventure advising against it as most likely
another blockade was being assembled across home plate at that very moment.
Still shaking, I headed south for Bahia. It donned on me that there was a good chance that I could be the last vehicle heading south for some time.
I’d better not have any more adventures if I knew what was best for me.
When I pulled into Bahia I found a phone and gave Fred a call. “Guess what Fred, you were right! But guess what else? I know a short cut!” I didn’t
tell him about my new balls!
I've always wondered what became of the surfer VW, and if they remember me.
P<*)))><
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
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It was great to read that again..but it really deserves its own post! 
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
I thought I would bump this up because of reporter Anna Cearley's research on police corruption & mordita.
Any more stories out there? |
What conclusions that are real has she come up with, anyway?
What makes her anything other than an unqualified questioner?
I just participated in a her poll put up here asking questions about police mordida. I wish I hadn't responded.
She's not a psychologist nor is she a sociologist or criminologist and is hardly a journalist.
Taking testimony from this site is anything but factual so, why ask for it?
Why doesn't she learn some Español and read the local papers?
If there's a groundswell of sentiment that the US press blows chiit out of proportion, perhaps they could use this type of shallow investigation
method to support their claim.
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
[What conclusions that are real has she come up with, anyway?
What makes her anything other than an unqualified questioner?
I just participated in a her poll put up here asking questions about police mordida. I wish I hadn't responded.
She's not a psychologist nor is she a sociologist or criminologist and is hardly a journalist.
Taking testimony from this site is anything but factual so, why ask for it?
Why doesn't she learn some Español and read the local papers?
If there's a groundswell of sentiment that the US press blows chiit out of proportion, perhaps they could use this type of shallow investigation
method to support their claim. |
You don't know anything about her...she was a border reporter for 14 years...of course she speaks Spanish.
Are you fluent?
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3812
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
It was great to read that again..but it really deserves its own post!
|
Thanks David for posting that, it was fun to read it and relive the adventure. I always smile when I pass that ballfield. There is a fence around it
now, so that short cut is out of comission for future road blocks.
Those were the days.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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bajalorena
Nomad
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Location: BuenaVista, BCS
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In January of 2006, I flew to California to settle my father's estate, and drove back with a new SUV. I asked a friend to drive along with me, she
agreed and off we went. It was a pleasure to show someone new the experience of driving down Baja. The anticipation and worry crossing the border at
San Ysidro (of course I had the vehicle loaded to the hilt), spending a great day in Ensenada, through the wine vineyards at Santo Tomas, making sure
we got that last bit of gas at El Rosario for the long trek, the wonderous "Rock Gardens" thru Catavina, passing Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio and Santa
Rosalia wanting to stay in Mulege for the night. Just past the cereso on Highway 1, we got pulled over for going too fast. That I was doing...........
I asked my friend to say nothing unless asked a question ( of course, most questions were in Spanish, and she spoke none), and she agreed.
The officer asked for my license, told me I was going too fast, and what was the hurry? I explained to him that we were two women traveling alone, it
was getting dark, and wanted to get settled into a hotel in Mulege for the night before dark.
He gave me a lecture about driving fast, that it was dangerous, that I could return to Santa Rosalia to pick up my driver's license (which would be
about a nine hours drive from my house) because I was getting a ticket, and I started crying. I told him that I would be in a lot of trouble with my
husband ( not) when he found out about my ticket. He asked me to calm down, and said to continue to Mulege, but to drive slow, and get there safe,
and that he would not give me a ticket. I feel that if I had not been emotional (but defensive instead) at that time, I would have had to pay mordida
to get out of the situation. Sooooo, I think that in this circumstance being a woman, and not putting the officer on the defensive, it worked out for
us both. I didn't get the ticket, and he didn't have his authority questioned.
I was very nervous, drove slow, and saw him pulling someone else over going the other way. My friend said I deserved an Academy Award. I said let's
just have a great dinner at Los Equipales, I'm buying........
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulina
I've always wondered what became of the surfer VW, and if they remember me.
P<*)))>< |
Believe me, that won't be a problem....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
It was great to read that again..but it really deserves its own post!
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It does... and it is its own post... Where I got it: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=19536
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulina
| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
It was great to read that again..but it really deserves its own post!
|
Thanks David for posting that, it was fun to read it and relive the adventure. I always smile when I pass that ballfield. There is a fence around it
now, so that short cut is out of comission for future road blocks.
Those were the days.
P<*)))>{ |
De nada... I used the Nomad search and found where you posted the story: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=19536
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Dianamo
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 12-27-2005
Location: SF Bay Area, CA when not in El Cardonal
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Mood: ...still in Baja
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I was stopped once going north in Santa Rosalia, because I stopped at an "alto" sign! I saw the cop behind me, so I wasn't going to make any errors.
The "alto" sign was very confusing, as it was unclear which street was supposed to stop, so I decided to err on the conservative and stop, in case it
was for my street. The cop did not know a woman was driving because he was behind me (BTW, I had shattered my right arm a couple of weeks early in
Baja Sur and had a cast from my fingers to my shoulder), when he approached the door he looked surprised to see me driving and informed me that he
could give me a citation for stopping at the "alto" sign, even as I pointed to the fact that it was facing me. He did give a couple of looks at my
cast, which I thought may be a violation, since I was basically driving with one hand. But he then said to proceed! Maybe he thought the cast could be
used as an effective weapon.
I have had a couple of other experiences that my husband says only I could get out of.
Minds are like parachutes...they only function when open!
\"The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.\" - Plato
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Role playing
There are a couple reasons to be stopped. One is a traffic violation (speeding, running a red or amber light, running a stop sign) and the driver
is guilty. Another would be the ''shake down'' -- driver has done nothing wrong and the cop making the stop wants money.
In either situation, and in my opinion, I believe women have a slight advantage.
Men can't use tears or anger (or maybe they can and I don't know about it) like a woman can. Women can intimidate cops in a way men can't.
Personally, if I'm guilty, I admit it and pay on the spot. If it's a shake-down, I stand my ground, do not play dumb, and confront the issue with
respect and calmness.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I think that many of the stories recounted here simply reflect the other side of the machismo coin.
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
Posts: 516
Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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A lot of men get shaken down in Red Light districts.
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tjBill
A lot of men get shaken down in Red Light districts. |
That's a WHOLE 'nother thread!
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Here's one I'm told that works
Carry a water bottle while driving that you have access to. If stopped by the police, squirt some water on the crotch area of your pants or shorts.
It's important that the water spot be seen -- lighter color fabric would work best.
After stopping, walk up to the cop and tell him you are having a ''medical emergency,'' and point to the wet spot. Show a little angst while doing
this.
Probably wouldn't work on the same cop twice.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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