Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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End of summer Baja Recover at 8,000 Ft (8/2001)
After a carefree 2 week trip across the northern region of Baja - trouble struck. Returning into camp, I discovered that my transmission had burned
itself out. Its delicate seals melted into nothing.
Enter the Amigos de Baja website; David K, Desert 'Tim Sanchez' Bull, Andrew Simpkins (R.I.P.), and Dan Wilson - great guys that rose to the occasion
in order to help me recover my pickup.
After posting that I had a problem near the Vallecitos section in the Sierra San Pedro Martir park, David K. made some phone calls and was able to
help me obtain a flatbed trailer from Desert Bull. Dan Wilson drove out from Palm Springs and Andrew drove south from San Jose where we stopped over
at Desert Bull's home to borrow his trailer, purchase our insurance, and travel south along I-15 to the U.S./Mexico border.
This was a mere 3 weeks before the 9/11 attacks, so security was how it always had been - easy for travelers in both directions. However, we did not
skimp on the required forms needed to trailer my disabled vehicle and Desert Bull's trailer back into the US.
Our first night - after dinner, discussing the mysterious Rolls Royce parked behind our motel - El Palomar.
After 10 p.m. the lights literally were turned off around the Palomar facility, so Dan, myself, and Andrew (R.I.P.) sat outside of the gift store and
watched cars and trucks bounce off of the massive speed bumps in front of the Palomar restaurant.
Andrew mentioned, "It's interesting how quickly we assimilated here after a short while."
The next morning, we had driven from Palomar up to the park, where a nice summer storm had washed my gear clean.
Unfortunately, all of the new Coleman camping equipment my ex-Wife and I received as wedding gifts had been stolen by another group of campers - the
most important items (being, my pickup truck) had not been touched.
SSPM Semarnap employee Emigdio standing beside my pickup and trailer.
Andrew testing my pickup truck. He then said, "Yes, Ken - This truck really is F---ed up!"
The reverse gear did not work, but the truck did move under its own power in 4lo.
Trying to back onto Desert Bull's trailer - with no luck.
Finally, driving onto the trailer in 4lo - the BFG All-Terrain tires packing full of dirt.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Trouble strikes - again
Andrew drove the distance under 15 m.p.h. with our destination at a borrowed trailer at "Ship Wrecks" near Camalu. The drive was slow, but very
scenic as can be seen by this photograph.
After taking a few potty breaks along the way down the mountain, we figured it would be an easy drive along the San Telmo river to Hwy 1, and then,
trouble struck.
Dan examined the tire which must have blown out approximately 1 hour before this photo was taken. Andrew had noticed it was becoming more difficult
to drive along the flat ground, and he stopped to figure out what the problem was.
Steel belts from the blown tire had wrapped themselves around the entire axle housing and brakes to create an un-removable wheel that could not be
changed.
Roadside help is only an armwave away in San Telmo as can be seen in this photo! Some cold beverages were all that was needed to get this problem
quickly under control!
We were then off to "Ship Wrecks" for the night.
The next morning in camp, look at we discovered! A blown Goodyear MT/R!
Over and out...
-Ken
[Edited on 8-21-2011 by Ken Cooke]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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what a story ... major trouble and muchos amigos to help out.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Wow Ken, I didn't remember a problem with Desert Bull's trailer mentioned before... Good thing it happened in Baja where they can make anything move!
10 years ago... lot's of good Amigos de Baja met up and have become friends thanks to the Internet.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Today, Dan chimes in (while on the road)...
Hi Ken thanks for those pics and hope you are following our trip. Been posting pretty much on a regular bases after I unlead the camera. Have
taken a bunch of pics on this trip, and when I get home will have the ones from New Orleans put on as well. Wow those pictures bring back a lot of
memories, and I still get a chuckle how mangled that rim was. Good thing those guys were there to help and all it cost you was a view CD's
lol....
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
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Anytime, anyplace, any amigo in Baja...
Desertbull
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
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Nice to have good friends like that Ken---quite the adventure.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Desertbull
Anytime, anyplace, any amigo in Baja...
Desertbull |
Thanks again for the use of your trailer, Tim. It helped me tremendously. Sorry, again for the brake cable, broken rim, etc. 
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