Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Early Father's Day Baja reminiscences with my dad
Since I'll be in Baja next weekend, had an early Father's Day brunch with my 86 yrs young dad.
I used our brunch to review family photos, reminisce about his life and gather notes to share with family living out of state (I'm the only one still
living near him). This includes interesting talk of his time in Europe in post-WWII Marshal Plan/pre Cold War era deployments.
Even though we have family in Baja, he always worries when I travel south, so I shared the Baja Almanac and we discussed my route and road conditions.
He then began telling me about the 2 weeks he spent in September 1972, traveling the route of Hwy. 1 when it was still under construction.
He was a journalist in San Diego for 25 years after retiring from the Marines. Since his first language is Spanish, he was assigned most of the MX
stories from mid-60s until his retirement in 1992 (including the 1985 Mexico City earthquake).
For the Hwy 1 report, he drove with fellow reporters and photographers in 2 jeeps, caravanning with cars carrying politicos and SCT representatives.
My dad and his Jeep compadres camped near the construction areas while the others stayed in the new hotels being constructed along with the paved
road. (Many of them are now abandoned.)
When I told him I'd probably be staying overnight in Guerrero Negro, he recollected eating in the dining hall of the Salt works facility and being
scrutinized by the Japanese managers who suspected them of industrial espionage for some reason. Of course, 40 years ago not many tourists visited GN,
let alone carrying camera gear and taking notes.
He also remembered camping in the hills south of town, looking at the lights near the plant, and a group of lights a short distance away where the,
ahem, "ladies" stayed who entertained the workers far from home. Apparently, GN was not the large community it has become with the new road, and many
single men worked there for months at a time and needed... companionship. (I'm guessing that included the salt plant and road crew workers a short
distance away.)
There were no military barracks at the 28th parallel then-just the hotel.
Also, he recalled he and his camping friends were awakened that night by explosions. Being a 20 yr USMC vet with a combat tour in Korea, this was a
bit unsettling...until they realized it was the road crew using dynamite for blasting thru the canyon route. The men were working overnight to avoid
the daytime September heat.
He also talked about covering the start of the Baja 1000 in Ensenada, then taking a flight to La Paz to greet the winners at the finish line.
He still travels to the Cabo area, but now stays in the inclusive resorts- his days of sleeping on the ground are long behind him.
Finally, he discussed visiting a state prison south of Santa Rosalia. Anyone know about that? Is it still there?
So I learned a few new things about Baja, and my dad.
Wishing other nomads a Happy Father's Day next week!
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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Great post. Thanks. The prison is still there.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Nice to reminisce.
The place where the ladies were in Guerrero Negro was called Las Bombas. East of town out past the dump. The remnants of the Cantinas are still
there.
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baja43
Junior Nomad
Posts: 53
Registered: 12-21-2004
Location: Vista/Colonet
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Nice post. Good memories for both of you to have. If you don't mind, I'll just share the warmth.
Visited the prison last December on the way north from East Cape...my wife bought some nice handmade jewelry boxes for her friends in the prisoner's
store...worth 20 minutes.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64754
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Las Bombas: "hoar Town" by Mike Humfreville
| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Nice to reminisce.
The place where the ladies were in Guerrero Negro was called Las Bombas. East of town out past the dump. The remnants of the Cantinas are still
there. |
You all may enjoy Mike Humfreville's story about this place in 1974, posted on Amigos in 2003 and preserved by Fred Metcalf:
http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/MikeHumfrev...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64754
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Whale-ista
Since I'll be in Baja next weekend, had an early Father's Day brunch with my 86 yrs young dad.
I used our brunch to review family photos, reminisce about his life and gather notes to share with family living out of state (I'm the only one still
living near him). This includes interesting talk of his time in Europe in post-WWII Marshal Plan/pre Cold War era deployments.
Even though we have family in Baja, he always worries when I travel south, so I shared the Baja Almanac and we discussed my route and road conditions.
He then began telling me about the 2 weeks he spent in September 1972, traveling the route of Hwy. 1 when it was still under construction.
He was a journalist in San Diego for 25 years after retiring from the Marines. Since his first language is Spanish, he was assigned most of the MX
stories from mid-60s until his retirement in 1992 (including the 1985 Mexico City earthquake).
For the Hwy 1 report, he drove with fellow reporters and photographers in 2 jeeps, caravanning with cars carrying politicos and SCT representatives.
My dad and his Jeep compadres camped near the construction areas while the others stayed in the new hotels being constructed along with the paved
road. (Many of them are now abandoned.)
When I told him I'd probably be staying overnight in Guerrero Negro, he recollected eating in the dining hall of the Salt works facility and being
scrutinized by the Japanese managers who suspected them of industrial espionage for some reason. Of course, 40 years ago not many tourists visited GN,
let alone carrying camera gear and taking notes.
He also remembered camping in the hills south of town, looking at the lights near the plant, and a group of lights a short distance away where the,
ahem, "ladies" stayed who entertained the workers far from home. Apparently, GN was not the large community it has become with the new road, and many
single men worked there for months at a time and needed... companionship. (I'm guessing that included the salt plant and road crew workers a short
distance away.)
There were no military barracks at the 28th parallel then-just the hotel.
Also, he recalled he and his camping friends were awakened that night by explosions. Being a 20 yr USMC vet with a combat tour in Korea, this was a
bit unsettling...until they realized it was the road crew using dynamite for blasting thru the canyon route. The men were working overnight to avoid
the daytime September heat.
He also talked about covering the start of the Baja 1000 in Ensenada, then taking a flight to La Paz to greet the winners at the finish line.
He still travels to the Cabo area, but now stays in the inclusive resorts- his days of sleeping on the ground are long behind him.
Finally, he discussed visiting a state prison south of Santa Rosalia. Anyone know about that? Is it still there?
So I learned a few new things about Baja, and my dad.
Wishing other nomads a Happy Father's Day next week! |
Great post... my dad and 2 of his fellow dentist friends made the long trip in Nov. of 1972... the Baja 1000 was during part of the trip. Pavement was
completed halfway to San Ignacio from Santa Rosalia... and paved on to the tip. The lower half of Baja Norte was still wild, for less than another
year.
So much changed, so fast from 1970-1974!
My dad (and mom) are totally responsible for my love of Baja, Camping, four wheeling, the Desert, History, and helping others have fun.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Nice to reminisce.
The place where the ladies were in Guerrero Negro was called Las Bombas. East of town out past the dump. The remnants of the Cantinas are still
there. |
You all may enjoy Mike Humfreville's story about this place in 1974, posted on Amigos in 2003 and preserved by Fred Metcalf:
http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/MikeHumfrev... |
I miss Mike's short stories so much! This was a wonderful example of this brilliant story telling skills. I loved how he summed up Las Bombas... "A
scene out of the early American west, dark and dank, smoky, smelly, sleazy."
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13047
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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What a wonderful walk down memory lane with your Papa...I miss my dad's stories.
Boy am I feeling rather...aged. I used to go to Las Bombas outside of GN as it was the only bar the girls could go to as women werent allowed into
cantinas in town! It was a blast...lots of fun with great dance music...it looked just like a disco. You had to buy a poker chip from the bartender to
dance with one of the "ladies" who worked there...different colour chips for different...ahem...types of entertainment.
[Edited on 6-9-2014 by shari]
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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thank you all for commenting. I hope you enjoy June 15 observances w/family.
Shari- great story! do you remember the "codes" for the colors? What if you had a newbie who didn't know the color scheme? Or a colorblind
patron...the humor possibilities are endless...
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
What a wonderful walk down memory lane with your Papa...I miss my dad's stories.
Boy am I feeling rather...aged. I used to go to Las Bombas outside of GN as it was the only bar the girls could go to as women werent allowed into
cantinas in town! It was a blast...lots of fun with great dance music...it looked just like a disco. You had to buy a poker chip from the bartender to
dance with one of the "ladies" who worked there...different colour chips for different...ahem...types of entertainment.
[Edited on 6-9-2014 by shari] |
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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wonderful story of Las Bombas. thank you for posting.
makes me wonder how our current experiences of Baja will appear to the next generation in 40 years...
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Nice to reminisce.
The place where the ladies were in Guerrero Negro was called Las Bombas. East of town out past the dump. The remnants of the Cantinas are still
there. |
You all may enjoy Mike Humfreville's story about this place in 1974, posted on Amigos in 2003 and preserved by Fred Metcalf:
http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/MikeHumfrev... |
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Nice to reminisce.
The place where the ladies were in Guerrero Negro was called Las Bombas. East of town out past the dump. The remnants of the Cantinas are still
there. |
In Japan they're referred to as 'comfort girls'. 
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10131
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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My dad took me to TJ and Rosarito when I was about 12.
We lived in Ohio, but my much older sister lived in Long Beach.
We did a 4 week road trip from Ohio to CA and back.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10131
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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You should ask dad to spill the beans OP. How many girls did he hook up with during that two week trip?
I'm going with 3.
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