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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Missing persons issues in baja
With 2 missing persons reports this week, I would like to stress the importance of regular check ins from off road nomads. I understand that many baja
officianados (fans) love the idea of getting away from it all and being left alone out in the wilderness....but...things are changing here and I think
we need to try to be safer and at least arrange more check ins with family or friends to make sure all is well.
If you cant personally go to a village, send a message through someone else...ask someone else to email a pal for you every few days or so. Please let
someone know where you are in the event of a problem...so we know where to start looking for you.
It's great being off the beaten track for sure but please keep in mind the horror for those who may have to look for you.
We have adjusted our modus operandi here and ask visitors to keep in touch along the road...so if they dont show up at say Guerrero Negro...we know to
start calling around.
Often people show up a day late which always worries us...a life could be saved if the person is found in time.
So Please please please try to keep in better contact more often... particularly when on the road. Set us check in places llike ensenada, Guerrero
Negro, Santa rosalia etc...I would be happy if someone wants to use us as a contact person as we are in mid baja.
AND FOR GOD SAKES...SLOW DOWN...YES EVEN ON THE STRAIGHT STRETCHES.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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Excellent advice Sharri
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
Member Is Offline
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what do you mean when you say "things are changing down here"? are you saying that baja is getting more dangerous to travel?
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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My friend just got back from checking on their place in San Felipe about 2 miles outside of town which was broken into a week ago. The thieves broke
down the door besides breaking out a window also took little things, as they do not leave house with a lot of things inside. Friends had to spend a
little over $150 dollars to make repairs. They are hoping that since they do not leave much in it that the thieves will not return. They try to get
down about every two weeks or so. No way to stop the return of thieves but you can reduce the risk by not putting much inside unless you actually live
in it fulltime. This is their take on it and is what they plan to keep doing until they can spend longer times during the year. I have had a number
of friends with houses or trailers in San Felipe area and I do not think I remember any of them not suffering at least one break-in a year, as the
locals know who is naughty or nice and basically your pattern of coming and going. They were informed of their miss fortune by another friend of
theirs who went down to check on their house. Later------ bajafun777
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 4baja
what do you mean when you say "things are changing down here"? are you saying that baja is getting more dangerous to travel? |
Well, Mexico overall now has the 6th highest homicide rate in the world, if you trust Nationmaster.com. Over 13 per 100,000 residents.
The US is about a third of that at 4 per 100k.
I didnt check the kidnapping rates for Mexico. But kidnappings, outside of parents abducting children, has gotten pretty rare in the US.
You decide.
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Bajagypsy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living the dream
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I know we are bad for not checking in Shari, and for also being late  , I
promise to do better in the future. All our relatives are worried about us building and eventualy living down there. I just ask if they read the
paper here. It's bad everywhere.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Canada checks in at 1.4 homicides per 100k, or about 1/8 the rate in Mexico.
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LarryK
Junior Nomad
Posts: 99
Registered: 8-26-2003
Member Is Offline
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I text my wife when I go through major citys, this way at least she knows what section of the highway I am on.
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Humboldt Chris and Robin
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
Registered: 11-13-2004
Member Is Offline
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We always check in with our kids as often as possible and let them know our plans as we boondock a lot, so at least they know the general areas we
are heading for. Never noticed anything changing in rural Baja over the last ten years (except the army wearing ski masks on patrol) but I do hear
the stories and news clips. But with the break-ins we experience at home, I guess its a sign of the times, and we are always careful when traveling
anywhere in any country.
This January, we passed a couple pulling a boat and trailer from Puertocitos to Gonzaga Bay and no way in hell were they going to make it that night
so we told anyone we came in contact with at Alfonsinos. I hope someone would do the same for me!
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Bronco
Nomad
Posts: 168
Registered: 12-1-2007
Member Is Offline
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Are you serious???????????????
| Quote: | Originally posted by 4baja
what do you mean when you say "things are changing down here"? are you saying that baja is getting more dangerous to travel? |
Really think about it, after 35 yrs-NO DOUBT", read,research,
Stay on your barca, sorry you might get harpooned by a speedy panga,no running lights. As goes the US what do you think happens to our paradise lost!
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tunaeater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 616
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
Member Is Offline
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The SPOT personal tracker (satellite messenger) is a great way to do that. My dad was in Baja for over a month and he would send the signal every few
days. You preprogram the email contacts and it sends a generic message with the log/lat of the sender. Also a cool way to follow their trip and where
they are with the google maps. We also use these to track riders in the offroad races. There are a few different ways to use these and they are great
for hikers, offroaders, boaters etc.
A very inexpensive way to keep those at home from the worries of not checking in when you are in remote places of baja. Also has the alert 911 button
for extreme emergencies.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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I have spot for my motorcycle trips, it would work great in Baja. You can update as often as you want.
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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I'm missing and I don't want to be found! ( Sorry guys, couldn't resist)
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tunaeater
The SPOT personal tracker (satellite messenger) is a great way to do that. My dad was in Baja for over a month and he would send the signal every few
days. You preprogram the email contacts and it sends a generic message with the log/lat of the sender. Also a cool way to follow their trip and where
they are with the google maps. We also use these to track riders in the offroad races. There are a few different ways to use these and they are great
for hikers, offroaders, boaters etc.
A very inexpensive way to keep those at home from the worries of not checking in when you are in remote places of baja. Also has the alert 911 button
for extreme emergencies. |
It is a great product ..... You don't have to type anything, just push one of four buttons.... One of them sends a auto message with your GPS
coordinates .... Another is for emergengies... If you are doing fine, just push the OK button and your info will be sent to your loved ones.
[Edited on 2-20-2009 by CaboRon]
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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I also have one, Teina gave it to me for Christmas as I sometimes go out in the mtns/desert alone (usually in New Mex., not Baja) A couple of friends
also have them and we send locations on day trips. I sent a couple of locations on the Pres. Day Nomad run. Nice just seeing where friends are even
when they don't need help.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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bajadave1
Nomad
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-20-2004
Location: Los Barriles, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Phil, you could be more right than you think!
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joel
Nomad
Posts: 361
Registered: 2-2-2007
Member Is Offline
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Shari,
Thank you for starting this thread. I'm a sporadic reader here, but probably track the board more than most of my friends and hadn't seen the pattern.
If this is indeed a growing concern (which it seems it is) someone or small group of Nomads should start collecting and posting information about
individuals that are missing as well as sharing relevant information about how to keep ourselves safer.
A lot of good information gets posted on this board, but most Nomaders don't check every day (or even every week) and are likely missing most of it.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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Perhaps this could be the time for KING NOMAD to have a part of the board where Member Nomads could transmit their SPOT co-ordinates, so they could be
monitored if so desired by the membership
Just an idea, y'all!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Ford
Junior Nomad
Posts: 87
Registered: 1-2-2007
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
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great idea udo....can we set it up so that it is linked to google maps or something?
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Hltoppr
Newbie
Posts: 16
Registered: 12-3-2003
Location: Arizona
Member Is Offline
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With Spot, a user can set up a public, or private, Spot page, to which folks can go to see where the last check in message was, or otherwise follow
the user. It doesn't keep messages from going to the user's list of contacts via email or cellphone.
For our travels, I have a set list of contacts, and for the Help or 911 calls, direct the list of folks to one person, who will organize the efforts,
depending upon the issue.
I've used my Spot all the way through the Copper Canyon area, and it's a great tool to have.
Well worth the $150 a year, IMHO.
-H-
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