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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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AAA and Baja
On my first trip down the old highway 1 before they paved the peninsula there was a sign, somewhere south of Punta Prieta as I recall pointing
somewhere and placed there by the Automobile Club of America (or Southern California).
It was an official sign to me back then, in my 20?s, representative of something powerful, like a government or major corporation. And there it was,
right in the center of the most remote place on earth in my eyes. In those days either there was little difference between countries and corporations
in my mind or I didn?t recognize any. But over the years I grew, on staying with their roadside service and occasionally a policy of their auto
insurance, to respect the Auto Club more and more.
Tonight on NBC the 11 PM news told me that their new and MAJORLY irritating investigative reporter (who?s very good if a Geraldo type) caught on tape
two of the oil-change companies, presented them on the news, breaking our chops with false charges for repairs that were never made and services not
provided.
It?d be nice to see NBC recognized for a job well done. I?ll remember that.
But for the rest of my life and the lives I have some minor impact on across the years, just so few, I will continue to write about the selflessness
of the Automobile Club.
That sign, so lonely and forlorn on the west side of the rutted dirt track we had driven for so many days was a reminder of a small presence in a
foreign place of my country. Not an unwelcome one as we see today in the Middle East, rather, simply, something familiar.
It was so rural then that, that sign was of help to all, offering up a feeling of here-we-are-ness, of sharing a place in time with the few that
passed there.
Go figure. A company, a corporation (I don?t know where one stops and the other begins) that actually gives a chit? How wonderful.
Here?s a place to start.
Their sign made it all work for me in the late ?60?s.
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Doug - Great Stuff
Your old auto-edit stuff replaced my word ASS with FANNY, totally changing my context. But obviously you've changed that S/W with something more
sophisticated. It will be interesting to see what it does to several more words I love, like psyhnol;oinft, and wrminythyre e. They are most inocent
words and should be protected.
But sincerely, amigo, I hope this whole deal is working out for you. Personally, I;m tryig to remember to open an AD before I fade into impending
doom.
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Debra
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Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Mike, does AAA cover you for towing in Mexico?
I know Good Sam does and also Progressive, just wondering.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3752
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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AAA signs
Mike H, just read your old post but it brought back terrific memories of those old signs along the "real Baja road." I remember them being at El
Rosario, Punta Prieta, Santa Ynes and El Arco. How exciting to finally chug up to one of those great road posts which told you how far to the next.
Whoever the slimeballs are that ripped them off, and no doubt have them hanging in SoCal garages.... a permanent curse upon you and all your issue!!!
You stole a very sentimental part of our peninsula, one that most current Baja fans have no clue of which we speak.
Baja Arriba!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65273
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Those diamond shape signs were slowly being shot up or plowed over. One was labled with San Agustin and El Marmol one way, and Santa Catarina and
Punta Canoas the other. A Baja amigo (not me or any regular poster here) did save it from sure destruction and showed it off at my Viva Baja party's
'show and tell' once.
Another was painted over, re-labled and placed near Rancho Sonora on the old road at the San Simon/ El Marmol fork. Cliff Cross' book: Baja has a
photo of it.
[Edited on 11-8-2003 by David K]
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Rancho Sonora
used to be one of our favorite stops. They had an old propane refer and cold sodas and we pften had a meal. Every time we pass it I think of it as
the ranch where I had the very best salsa I had ever tasted. We'd sit on the patio and watch the small birds searching for seeds in the old tires
they had modified and turned into planters which were suspended from the rafters. Sure do miss those days.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65273
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yup, and when the government built the new highway in '73 over the hill and a half mile south, the owner just moved his 'ranch' to the highway! We had
breakfast there in July, 2000 after camping at El Volcan... MUY BUENA... LA DESAYUNA
[Edited on 11-8-2003 by David K]
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Ski Baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 652
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Baja
Runner, you are catching on. Debra, you are not.
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Must be nice to be perfect! But anyway...
Mary Ann told me on Wednesday that Deb has a new Baja rig, YEHAW! She wrote some silly chatter 'bout leaving old Mike (that'd be me) in a trail of
dust. But I figured she's just blowin' smoke rather than dust.
Deb will reset the books regarding what we all consider typical off-road driving. For example, she'll never have to air down because she drives so
slow the earth is turning faster than her vehicle. Never will she have a problem with hydroplaning, not that it rains much in Baja anyway, but she'll
do just fine driving her rig in the surf. 'Cept it'll be all rusted before she'll get it to the car wash.
After our travelling with Debra (De-brat) across many drives to Baja, I now understand how she gets so many miles out of her vehicles. Unfortunately,
I also learned along the way why I have vehicles scattered in disrepair all over the peninsula and I get more flat's than a platoon of race drivers.
Congratulations, Debra, on your new vehicle. We hope it works well forever.
[Edited on 11-8-2003 by Mike Humfreville]
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Debra
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Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Ski
I'm waaaaaaay too young to have seen those AAA signs that Mike H. did.....(he's an 'old fart') I 'got it', it brought to mind just how helpful AAA
might be in Baja these days....I'm learning here okay?  
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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You (Annon) pure Baja only no chatter folks....this us where you can skip to another thread
Okay Michael......The race is on! You and I on the road to La Gringa! I'll blow your doors OFF! HEE, HEE! YOU ARE SOOOOO TOAST! When I was
driving my 'Baja Sedan' 1990 T-bird, yes I had to protect it (you PUTZ) I had to get home.....not the greatest Baja rig......but, It always carried
Brendan and I home....(It's never had to stay behind, LOL!)....You ARE SOOOO TOAST!....YOU ARE SOOOO TOAST! HEY..... my new rig has a tow package,
does POT II need a ride home? 
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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POT (Poor Old Truck)...
has no bumper to get towed with. He (she?) was always stand tall and independent, well, except for the several times El Camote and Amo had to come to
our rescue.
But I'll take you up on the road to Gecko. It's a race. I'll see if we can get on of the racers to moderate. I can here it now...
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Casa P. D. y C.
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 9-18-2003
Location: BCN
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Debra,
Just keep track of those keys, and watch for automatic locking doors.... We've been there before... I'm just afraid of the jump MH will get on you on
the road to Gecko should this mishap happen again...
Your pal,
P. 
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Debra
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Thanks "P".......
He is sooooooo toast! 'What he dosen't realize it that he's 'old' and I'm not~! Well maybe I am....but, Mike H. IS SOOOOOOO DONE,,,,,,,"
Vaca BLANCA, and my new Toy? Ha! Bring it on Mike! Putz!
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Well, if it isn't the "Escape from El Rosario" girl, coming to the defense of her pal(s). P, have you heard Debs new name - De-brat! It fits her
well. I threw the hyphen in just so she wouldn't think I was calling her a rat.
I don't know that you've ever followed her anywhere, paved or dirt, but it's almost impossible to move that slow. Although it does have a certain
pace that I can recall. Mary Ann and I were charging through Costco on a mission this afternoon, until we reached the book section and her pace
slowed considerably.
Oh well. I'd have done the same for hummers or blond jokes. You guy's doing Gecko 4 N.Y.? De-Brat was until she bought her new wheels. Georock,
David, Marla, etc, etc will be there. And us.
It'll be fun to see Deb peddling her new toy in the sand. Guess she won't need training wheels after all.
What abuse we inflict on our friends.
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Casa P. D. y C.
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 9-18-2003
Location: BCN
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Hi Mike,
Yes, we'll be in Bahia for New Years, wouldn't miss it for the world. Casa P & D, minus C (she'll be in L.A.) will head for the bay a couple of days
before Christmas and stay thru the beginning of Jan. Stop by the trailers any time. The invitation is open to everyone. Hope to see you and MA on the
dance floor at Diaz's NY's eve. Oh and Debra, I know a certain someone who'll be saving a dance for you...
P.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3752
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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road sign robbery
Bajalera, you are absolutely correct, I stand admonished for my use of words.
(My pastor calls those kinds of words "time out words" and you have to be quiet for 5 minutes after uttering same.)
I suppose that my reaction was mostly envy that I did not take one of the signs when they were still there.
Still and all, in the no pavement days there was a stunning contrast to the Baja of today.
Returning to Ensenada from El Arco after the 1971 Mexican 1000 had rolled through we came upon a Stroppe Bronco, sitting beside the road.
The rear end gear was out, sitting on a spare, and a complete set of tools, sockets, wrenches, the works, was sitting next to the gear.
Drivers long gone. We looked the whole thing over, took some photos and went on our way. It never occurred to either of us to take the tools, the
spares, or anything else.
And then they paved the road..............
Sigh......................................
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Mike H......
The challenge was for a race on the road to La Gringa, Not Gecko....but, that is okay too. 
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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We'll need someone with a stopwatch to time each of us so we can run the course one at a time. I can't imagine you'll want to be near me driving at
my usual speed. Now that I think about it, the stopwatch will need to include the 24 hour features of a regular watch. My time from Gecko to the
village will be somewhere in the vicinity of 4 minutes. Yours, on the other hand, will require the 24 hour measurements of the clock.
Also, we will want to line the sides of the road with some measure of protection, like hay bales or some such. Consider empty boxes of wine. We'll
need to consume them before the race of course. Why waste a fine product should we run amuck? WHEEEE!
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Casa P. D. y C.
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 9-18-2003
Location: BCN
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She can use the empty cardboard wine box for a helmet, just cut out an opening on one side. Re-inflate the plastic liner bags that she usually uses
for pillows, stuffing them inside the car for extra added airbag protection. I will volunteer to pit for her too should she need to pull off for
refreshments mid course. (To keep this baja related, I really did see a man walking down the side of the road outside of La Paz last summer with a
cardboard wine box fashioned into a great sun hat. Wanted to stop and see how he did it, but I was riding shotgun. )
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