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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Finally Got Home !! Buy the Book and DVD !
Just wanted to let all who may be concerned (curious ?) know that we arrived in our snowless driveway yesterday about an hour past dark. We feverishly
started unpacking so things wouldn't freeze between the house and camper; loading big roughtotes and repacking clothes inside....
We had gotten most of the important and freezible into the house and had just started dinner ...... when the power went out.
We are talking really, really dark darkness.
190lbs of frightened yellow labs came running out of their room ! 
I'm immediately just adapting to the next bump in our continuing bad road. I go out to get the generator and check on gas; down to the barn to get a
few more cans; might have to get some more gas tomorrow....
The power came back on one hour later and has been good since !! 
Dinner in our dinning room, surrounded by our hills, trees and sky; not a bad place to be, really.
About the truck ..... you'll have to wait for the REST of the story !! 
At this point we only know that there was overheating involved, a possible cam shaft sensor problem, 2 sensors, the IDI computer and a front-end
alignment. I think it's best to bring the truck to an independant diesel mechanic for an opinion before I talk to my dealer. The Chula Vista dealer
had doubts as to whether the overheating caused all of the rest of the failures.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Glad to hear you're alive and well, Diver. Keep the Baja faith.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Really glad to hear you guys made it home safe and sound Ira. Too bad this vacation didn't work out but I just know you guys must have accumulated
lots of good karma points for the next trip down.
Wishing you all the best...
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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when it rains it pours...glat to hear you are home
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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I'm happy to hear you guys finally made it home safe and sound.
David
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Welcome Home!
What a saga! You do live in a wonderful home and place and no doubt it feels great to be back there. We are relieved that you and your wonderful
family are home safe and sound.
Iflyfish
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Good to hear you made it, even with the additional snag.
Diane
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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BajaNomads ROCK !!
Just a bit about the people;
When our truck died about an hour before dark on an uphill grade 30 minutes south of El Rosario, the first and only truck to stop was there within
minutes containing TW and Shirley with their tow strap in hand. Not only did they tow us off the road and onto the shoulder at the top of the hill,
after thinking about us for a few minutes they returned to ferry my family down to Bajacactus. Once that was done, they decided to return to make sure
I was safe even passed twice to make sure that I hadn't backed off a cliff - there was no cliff !!
I loved TW's comment when Shirley asked "Where do yo think he went ?"
TW said, "Maybe he got tired of the wife and kids and kept going south ?!"
Priceless and not far off either !!
I had gotten the truck running for it's last long sprint back to the Bajacactus and somehow we had missed each other.
After unsuccessfully trying to convince TW and Shirley to stay and let us buy dinner, we headed to Mama's. After elaxing to a table, I noticed a man
and young boy sitting near us and something rang a bell. Took me a few minutes to figure it out until I asked " Are you Igor ?" Yes it was, having
dinner with young Alex who is getting older all the time. Alex has that "growing up", kind of nice-kid thing going on really good. He is charming and
will soon be killing the ladies.
We saw Igor the next morning but I promised not to divulge any details about his unuasual morning attire.
Later that morning I had time to call Antonio who was very kind in offering any help he could. Although his people tried, there wasn't much they could
do. I also got a call from Antonio later in the week when he received the room report and saw that we were still there. One of his maintenance folks
drove me to find a mechanic and the room attendants were charming; it's not a bad to place to be stranded for a few days - 8 is too many !
Later that day, I walked to the internet cafe at Mama's and posted on Nomads about our location and all.
The posts and offerings were amazing. I just found even more that came to our email but unfortunately we couldn't access email until we got home.
FDT picked up the phone and called me.
Now, I have never met Fernando and was quite surprised at his offer to help. At the time, we thought we were a fuel filter away from being back on the
road and he wished us well.
With a heads-up from FDT,we met Doug Means coming into the Bajacactus that evening. We shared some very nice conversation about many subjects in
common and he left before the sun was high enough to read my scribbled note. Still very nice to meet Doug and his family who I cannot praise enough
for his enabling of BajaNomads and his many efforts in Baja.
The next day, we called FDT to arrange shipping of a Ford part to El Rosario which he arranged masterfully. He not only is a fluent spanish go-between
but also a competent problem solver. As our saga continued, FDT managed the pick-up of another part and the delivery to BajaGringo who was heading
south.
BajaGringo was actually already south of TJ but back-tracked to pick up our package and then passed his San Quintin destination to bring it to us in
El Rosario. Ron spent much longer than he had planned, trying to help with the diagnosis gone bad. Another Nomads just really, really wanting to help.
A very nice man.
We had also run into Steve and Debby on their way home with a huge flatbed and a serious looking rock crawler. Unfortunately, we couldn't think of a
way to take them up on a trailer ride to SD.
Time to call Fernando again; we needed a tow to the border.
All arranged through a reputable agency in San Quintin by phone - Viva Fernando !
The next call was to the Trotters who had offered to come down and ferry the gang with dogs to SD. They agreed readily and also conveyed offers from
another "former" Nomad to help with the hauling.
The very next morning, John and Diane arrived early as did the tow truck from San Quintin. We loaded up the family with Trotters and the truck and
camper and I with the tow truck. Next stop TJ for me and Chula Vista for the rest.
The Trotters were amazing. My kids said that driving back with them was just like driving with the grandparents (who they are very comfortable with),
John drives fast and Diane talks enough to keep them occupied !
Wonderful, warm and generous people; they even lent us their little car for a few days ! We hope to enjoy many repayment dinners with our Asuncion
neighbors in the future.
I had an interesting ride as the driver pulled over a few miles north of San Quintin to pick up his girlfriend for the ride. This was definitely not
the wife but he managed to keep us on the road through all the kissing and thigh squeezing.
As we pull through TJ, a car appears with a waving FDT and leads us through the maze to a secure parking lot near his home. Also waiting for us at the
parking lot is the mystery ex-Nomad with F350 ready to tow our camp trailer across the border to the RV park - ROBERTO !!!
This guy is in the amazing catagory when it comes to NICE. He hooked up our trailer and headed through the TJ and border maze like a pro, getting us
to the campground before the Trotters and my gang arrived with cold pizza.
AND he volunteered to return on Monday morning to get my truck back across the border, to the dealer for repairs. Due to a few oops's on my part and a
problem getting the truck on the trailer, we finally arrived at the dealer after closing and left the whole thing on their doorstep.
I had never met Roberto before but he went WAY out of his way to help a stranded Nomad. As Shari would say, ROBERTO is the BOMB !!
Many more Nomads and more to the story coming up soon !
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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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We are so happy to know you are home now. "Por fin".
Also now that the secret is out as to the mistery nomad, I have to agree with you Diver, Roberto is great! I had an opportunity to travel with him to
San Pedro Martir and visit with Nomad astrobaja last year and it was a great trip. Roberto is a true friend.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fdt
We are so happy to know you are home now. "Por fin".
Also now that the secret is out as to the mistery nomad, I have to agree with you Diver, Roberto is great! |
OK, secret is out. Believe me, we really enjoyed meeting Roberto---he is one super person. We hope to be seeing him again.
And, Fernando, well, we WILL meet you in person one of these days.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
they even lent us their little car for a few days ! . |
After driving his big ole truck, Diver said he had fun in our little Echo studying the undercarraiges of vehicles.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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great! i hope to never have to use the bajanomad emergency rescue team but it's reassuring to know that it's there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Welcome home Diver!
Wish we knew you were at Baja Cactus (1-2-09)... perhaps we would have met that night before the staff sent us to Turista Motel because they were
full?
Next time... when the Ford is all better!
Nice to hear that even former Nomads offered help... that's the Baja spirit!
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norte
Super Nomad
Posts: 1163
Registered: 10-8-2008
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
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Nice to hear that even former Nomads offered help... that's the Baja spirit! |
What is that supposed to mean? I know a lot of non-Nomads that help... sounds like a lot helped Diver
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fishingmako
Nomad
Posts: 259
Registered: 10-10-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: always up
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I'm sure glad I became a Baja Nomad, when you travel you have the insurance of knowing someone is available to help you , what a security blanket that
is, why aren't all people like this? If everyone just would help the next person asking for help, we wouldn't have all the rage that goes with the
problem, most people though just say OH WELL someone will help them, I'm too busy or? but just think when something happens to you remember, what goes
around comes around, and If you truly believe that, watch what happens in your life, It will help you to be a much better person.
Diver, question what was the cost of towing from Baja Cactus to TJ?
and what was the part? since I have the same exact Truck and going to be heading South all the way to Cabo, be nice just in case, glad your home, I'm
sure this was a night mare for a while.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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norte, it was supposed to mean just that... non-nomads helped to.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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Diver, I'm glad you and your family made it home safe and sound. Almost everyday Shirley would ask how you were doing etc. Now I can tell her all is
well the trip is over, you're home at last.
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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 David K
Nice to hear that even former Nomads offered help... |
Not offered David, helped!
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by norte
What is that supposed to mean? I know a lot of non-Nomads that help... sounds like a lot helped Diver |
Don't get excited there norte. We're all family. You too.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Don't get excited there norte. We're all family. You too. |
Don't be so sure of that---in this thread about the Diver situation, http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36325&pag...
David K posted,
| Quote: |
What an ordeal! Great that the Baja Nomad family is everywhere... Very kind of the Trotters for all they are doing, too!
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Gave us a good chuckle---sure sounds like we are not "family"
Don't worry David, we are not into the family idea---just a network for assistance, information, discussion, and where some good friends are made,
including friendships with quality ex-nomads
Diane
Edited for clarity.
[Edited on 1-22-2009 by jdtrotter]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | | [ we are not into the family idea--- |
Well....in support of each other here, I thought it had meaning.
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