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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Flat Tire(s)
So there I am, heading out to Asuncion with plenty of time to get there before happy hour and dinner. Cruising at 45mph down the dirt/gravel road they
are grading and compacting for the upcoming pavement. Running into the rougher part they have just started working on.
There goes that familiar sound and feel of a rear flat tire, wonderful.
Not normally a big deal but I am travelling in the F350 crew with 14' boat on the roof and trailering 24' of loaded camp trailer. No sooner had I
started the process of looking the situation over, a local man with his wife and small daughter stopped to help. With my limited spanish I said
"lantera no es bueno" and he agreed. He immediately started pulling out his jacks and tools and set to changing my tire. I almost didn't even get to
help except to pull out my tools.
Now I am wordering if I really look that old to him that I must have help or if thinks gringos don't know how to change tires or if he is just "that
kind of guy". I decided to go with "that kind of guy".
We get the right rear changed and go to put the flat back underneath when we notice that the left rear has also gone flat !! Bummer ! No more spares !
Ah ha, but I have a patch kit somewhere. Alas, when I found it, all the glue was dried up. What now ??
As I pull out my assorted tools, my new friend spies a few lag screws and some liquid nails. After trying a small one, we finally got a 3/8 x 2 inch
lag to seal the hole. With the truck jacked up, we were able to get 30 psi in the tire for the last 10 miles to Asuncion.
Let me explain that my local friend and saviour was a handsome young man dressed for a Sunday outing in white jeans and a silk shirt. He was filthy
when he was done. His daughter was antsy and his wife was getting anxious. My efforts at passing out drinks and snack during our repair efforts helped
a bit.
When he left, he refused any "tip" so I had to chase him down to shove my thanks into his pocket !
Another note is that 8 other locals passed our location during our repair efforts. Each and every one of them slowed to a stop and asked if we needed
help. Every single one !
The lone truck with CA plates hardly slowed down and blew dust in our faces as they raced past. (Remember, I have WA plates and look GRINGO all over.)
All in all, the least stressful flat tire experience I have ever had. Gotta love it !! Gotta love Baja !!
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Good one Diver.
With all the crime stories, it is good to hear one that shows the other side of Mexico.
By the way, don't look now, but you do look old.
I took up skiing at fifty and people would stop on the slopes and watch me get up, just to see that I was OK. That's when I discovered I was OLD.
Later Diver,
Iflyfish
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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another example of the good people of Baja. reminds me of being 'home' in Phoenix recently. I fell off my bicycle when I had to brake
suddenly...lots of people around me, cars going by, folks in golf carts across the way, no one, absolutely no one asked if I was okay. I picked
myself up and continued on my way, to the stares of strangers, and thought of 'home' in Baja.
had it happened in Mexico, on the mainland or in Baja, a trip, a fall, a mishap, I know how many people would have come to pick me up, inquire how I
was, etc...everyone from the teenage boy in baggy jeans to grandma! what a difference.
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djh
Senior Nomad
Posts: 936
Registered: 1-2-2005
Location: Earth mostly. Loreto, N. ID, Big Island
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow fellow, plays a yellow cello...
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Heartwarming
I've yet to decide if it is the skin / body warming of Baja (when it is sub-zero here in Idaho) or the heartwarming that draws us the most.... Guess
I could just classify it all as "the warmth", eh?
You've (obviously) some good karma, Diver !
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Offroad
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Southern California
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Diver -
I just returned from a one way drive down, and as always found the people, locals and tourists to be great.
So far, no flat tires in my travels, but was stopped once by a family out of concern that I was dripping some water. They were a family with kids in
the back, but took time to make sure I was OK.
It all makes me want to travel as often as I can.
GREAT PEOPLE!
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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When we got our flat on a hot, 100+ degree, Sunday in August last Summer, most vehicles passing us slowed to see if we needed assistance, which we did
not.
They too were dressed in their Sunday best, as they had just ended their weekly meeting in the "local" salón....20 miles off the pavement.
[Edited on 3-16-2007 by Taco de Baja]
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Great story and not an unusual one. Local Baja California folks have always been kind to me. I must look old......Naaah!
Unless I am with a hurry hurry group, I try to pay them back. One time we had just explored abandoned Mision Guadalupe and a few miles down the road
came upon a family filled vehicle with a flat tire. They had no tire tools so I gave them water and together we fixed the tire. During the ensuing
conversation (Conversation? With my 100 words of Spanish? Ha!) It turned out that they lived in the shack on the Mission grounds. I confessed my
invasion and they gave me a laughing, belated Pase!
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
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Mood: Adventurous
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Love those stories about the GOOD PEOPLE of Baja.
Many years ago we surfed a rarely surfable point called Punta Clara. We had a nice little camp spot set up along the bluff, and had decided to listen
to some music in the afternoon. Well, as usual, the drinks were having that relaxing affect, and soon afternoon had turned to sunset. I got up to
check the truck battery to make sure it still would turn over. CLICK. Nothing. CLICK CLICK. OK... we had killed the battery.
The next morning my friend took off on foot to find someone who might be able to give us a jump. About an hour later he came back and explained that
he had found someone who said they could help.
Expecting a car or truck to arrive any minute, we were more than just a little surprised to see a man on horseback come over the hill towards our
camp. As he drew closer, we could see that he had something with him: There, balanced on the horn of his saddle, was a 12 volt car battery. He
explained that his car did not run, but that the battery was good. (A small piece of information that apparently did not get passed onto my friend
when he went to get help.) That was OK, at least we had the battery to get the truck running.
The problem was that we had no jumper cables. And of course the connections were the wrong type for my vehicle. Luckily I had a roll of heavy guage
wire in the tool box, and we were able to rig up some make-shift jumper cables. It worked, and we got the truck running again.
We were very grateful, and tried to give our battery toting horseman some money for his help, but as usual with the truly good people of Baja, he
refused. We had to stuff it in his shirt pocket because he wouldn't take it.
To this day I will never forget the image of that man coming over the hill with a battery balanced on his saddle. Classic.
[Edited on 3-16-2007 by bajaandy]
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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The good stories are always a pleasure to read. We treasure the help we have received in the past in Baja.
Recently, on that same road to Ascuncion we were stopped for a dog run and only one car passed us---locals, and they stopped to make sure we were OK.
While we would hesitate anymore to stop and help someone near the border, and might be uncomfortable with someone stopping to help us near the border,
"help thy neighbor" is alive and well, IMHO, in most of Baja.
See you in Asuncion
Diane
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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Once fairly recently on the gravel road south of Bahia de las Animas (south of B of LA) about 10 miles below the intersection of the Animas dirt track
and the graded road to San Rafael, my friend had a flat with his Isuzu Trooper. Tho he had 2 spares with him, for the life of us we could not break
loose 3 of the lug nuts, even with a big "X" lug wrench----the nuts simply stripped. ALong came a pickup loaded with 5 fishermen from San Rafael.
They insisted on helping out, tho neither one of us were "old", being in our early 50's then. They worked on those lug nuts for several hours with
hammer and chisel, finally breaking them loose, one by one. It was HOT, and all they would accept from us were an occasional cervesa. These guys
were so good natured, and so friendly, and absolutely refused to give up on those lug nuts, and it finally payed off.
I finally convinced them to take one of my Propane bottles (full) that they said they could use in San Miguel.
It is these experiences that make us keep coming back to remote Baja, knowing that we are all "one", and that help is on the way when problems
develop.
You got to love it!!!! 
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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I like where this thread is going! Keep those stories of help and good will coming!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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cbuzzetti
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: Atascadero, Ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: Lookin for a vacation
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Great stories Nomads!!
I have only had a few (6) trips down Baja and have not had any real problems (2 flats). Neither required assitance since both were changed in minutes.
I always remove, add anti seize and retorque my lug nuts before going on a long trip. Something I learned the hard way. I usually carry two spares. I
must have too much free time.
It is great to hear about the willing help. I will be sure to render assitance when needed.
Leaving in 1 hour. Can't wait.
BajaBuzz
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Ifly,
Thanks a lot. Thats a buddy for you; tells you when you look old !!
Diane,
Yes, hope to see you in Asuncion sometime.
And yes, I am more careful near the border and when the kids are with me.
But then, I have 2 large yellow dogs with me.
Barry,
But I am just in my early 50's
Once when I was in my early 20's, I was hitching around Colorado. I had left my pack at a campsite outside of town and gone in for some recreation.
When hitching back to camp on the pitch black county road and after at least 45 minutes of waiting for the first car, a van pulled over. The driver
told me that no-one would likely be down this road tonight and he proceeded to drive me 3 miles beyond his home, to my camp.
When I got out and thanked him, he said "Just repay the favor to someone else someday".
I know it sounds corney but I remember his words often.
They were good words.
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lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1469
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
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does'nt surprise me. That's why I live here!
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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I've got 40 years of flat tire stories!! Here's the last one.
Tuesday 3:15 pm Cruising South on #1 very few cars to pass or be passed by. Listening to something on the c/d. Yakking with the Darlin wife. Loving
life and the warm sun beating through the window.
BAMMM !!!! A screech of tires and that tell tale Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! Whap!! It felt as if I had dropped off a 2 foot wall and on to the
asphalt!! The motor home swerved HARD to the left and drug us along with it, in to the on coming traffic lane. I held on for dear life, fighting the
steering wheel every inch of the 4 feet we drifted into the other lane. I saw out of the corner of my eye, Darlin Wife was looking for something to
hold onto. (Later she confided that she thought we were going to roll. Note: I had made the mistake of applying the brakes immediately and
aggressively) Finally I won the battle and pulled the beast back into the right lane. Catching my breath and gathering my composure the motor home and
we limped along, looking for a place to pull off the highway. No such luck would grace us. After a few hundred yards I stopped in the right lane and
stepped out to assess the damage. The left front tire was all but gone. The rubber was shredded and in tatters. The fender molding was hanging limply
from a few attachment points. The inside motor liner was torn to pieces and the Stainless Steel wheel liner was bent and contorted. I climbed back in
the Moho and lowered the leveling jacks, lifting the 23,000 pounds off the ground so I could change the tire. I popped 4 flares and scattered them
behind. Cars pulled up and then drove around and passed. I started to pull the wheel retaining lugs from the wheel cover, a car honked, I moved out of
the way and it passed. One lug off, struggling with the next one, two more cars honked and passed. I started to move back out into traffic lanes to
attack the next lug. Honk and another car passes as I move out of the way. Then a Semi Blasts his air horn as I peek around the corner, he passes. And
then, a young man parks his dusty light blue pick up behind the Motor home. I see his wife setting inside, watching as cars and trucks file passed
slowly. "Hola" he says. I greet him and he tells me he is a mechanic and can he help? Never being one to refuse help, I Gladly accepted. (and God
knows I needed help with this one) We dodged cars and semi's passing for almost an hour. Finally, we had the tire changed and my helper/angel of
mercy was in his truck and ready to go. He never asked for any money and I never offered but, the whole time I had been calculating what I would have
paid in the states for a road side service call 60 miles from a phone in the middle of a desert while dodging cars and semis. The number was big. I
didn't want to cheapen his help by asking how much? And he didn't ask for a dime, though I assumed by the callouses on his mahogany hands and the look
of his truck that he was a hard working man. I reached inside his cab and stuffed $100 bill in his shirt pocket and Thanked him again. Then ran to to
motor home door. I just knew when he saw what I put in his pocket he would argue. The rest of the trip was Wonderful, as usual and I have another fond
Baja memory.
Bedman
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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NOMADS!!!
On dirt roads specially, always offer to help...! It's Baja road etiquette!!
Diver, great story that needs to be told when it happens to anyone. Wouldn't it be nice if we read that kind of story about the Mexican people instead
of just the occaisional tragic news?
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greg_surfs
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 3-12-2007
Location: Oregon
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great thread
Thanks for kicking this one off and to everyone else who added. I've been going down for thirty+ years, mostly on surf trips. For the last twenty I
don't even get out of the car until about Santo Tomas. Somebody told me to go through my closet when I was a kid and get out all the stuff I wasn't
wearing anymore. I thought he was only half serious, but when he came to get me for the trip (living in Laguna Beach back then) he made me go back in
the house while he waited and I came back with a bag of clothes. We dropped them at the local church. I didn't think much about it until I got older
and started taking my own kids down. We are coming from Oregon now, but I make my son and nephew go through the closet and create a donation bag. One
year I saw a guy walking in Erendira wearing a shirt I had donated. It looked pretty good.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Ten years ago we were halfway down Baja when, a few miles from our destination ( a rancho with Giant Mural Style pictographs at the end of a dirt
road), we met an oncoming local truck loaded with family. I was in front of the group so I got out and went forward to see who would back up to a wide
passing spot. I said "Rancho XXX? Los monos? He said Si! Si! Me rancho" and conveyed that they were headed to the village to shop. He then said Pase!
Pase! I thought nothing of it until we arrived and no one was there! He had turned his whole ranch over to a bunch of gringo strangers. (And in an
hour or so, we found Los Monos).
Think he would get the same reception in the USA?
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1076
Registered: 8-28-2006
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Diver,
Thank you for sharing that experience. Reading it gave me flashbacks of a black night on the road out to Cieto Lindo about 15 years ago, just past the
trees. The black night that seemed like a nightmare has become one of my fondest memories.
Thanks again for the inspirational post!
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
All in all, the least stressful flat tire experience I have ever had. Gotta love it !! Gotta love Baja !!
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Beautiful story, kinda even put a knot in my throat, thanks a lot for letting everyone know
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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