17 March ‘07
Saturday
After leaving Vagabondo’s RV Park in Los Cabos, we headed toward Todos Santos. We are traveling up the Baja with Phil and Kathy. They also have a motor home (36 foot Holiday Rambler) and they are pulling their Honda. Our first stop for the night was a spot that is just 15 kms south of Todos Santos and one that is a favorite with surfers. This is a “Free” camping spot. It is located about ¼ mile off of Highway 1 and right on the beach. The road coming in is packed sand and dirt and the areas that can hold the campers, is also solid ground. Coming off the highway was quite an experience, as there is no shoulder, so you drop off about 6 or more inches from the black-top. It is enough to make the coach moan and groan and just about everything sounds like it is going to come out of the cabinets. Soon we are settled, our jacks are dropped, the chairs are out, and a drink is in hand. The surf is up and pounding…the sun is bright and we are waiting now for a magnificent sunset. We did unhook Phil’s car and head into see Frank and Lynn. Their home is in Todos Santos, but when we got there we found out that they were in La Paz until Sunday. Frank hasn’t been feeling well, so we thought he might have gone up there to see the doctor. Saturday morning we pulled the two coaches out of their spots and started heading to La Paz ourselves. We were heading to Tecolate Beach, which is about 15 miles east of La Paz. Driving out of the campsite here at “Surfers Beach”, was again riding all the sand / dirt and bumps. Just as I was pulling over that 6 or more inches onto the highway, I hit the bottom of the coach hard. All of a sudden I knew that something was really hurt, I had no power to move forward and there was this terrible noise. I, we were in trouble and I didn’t yet know why. About 200 yards up the road I found a spot that was long enough for the two rigs to pull off the road. I went back to tell Phil that something had happened and then I ran forward to crawl under my coach to find out what I could. The first thing I saw was that the tailpipe and the muffler was completely wrapped around the driveshaft and rear axle…totally crimped in 4 places and not moving even a fraction of an inch. Shoot !!!! After climbing out and telling Louise, Phil and Kathy what I found, we ran through our options. As it turned out, Phil and I jumped into my car and headed off to Todos Santos. I was hoping to find some one who could come out and cut the tail pipe and muffler off. This was no easy task. Luckily Phil found this young man that was having a garage sale and asked him if he spoke any English…”Heck Yes Man, What Can I Do For You?” He volunteered to help us out and find someone that could do the work for me. He left his stuff sitting along side the road and got into my car and off we went. We had been told about this fellow up and around the street, that did some welding and he might have what it takes to cut the pipe. Thanks to our “volunteer” Miguel agreed to give it a try. He put his electric saw into a case and got into my car. Dropping off our “volunteer”, we were off. About an hour and a half later, we were on our way back to Todos Santos to deliver Miguel back to his shop and pay his bill…$400 pesos = $40. Dollars. I would have and thought I would have to pay 3 times that much. Now back to the coach, grab a sandwich and coke, and we are now off to Tecolate Beach and with a new sound coming from under our coach…ROARRRR
Saturday
After leaving Vagabondo’s RV Park in Los Cabos, we headed toward Todos Santos. We are traveling up the Baja with Phil and Kathy. They also have a motor home (36 foot Holiday Rambler) and they are pulling their Honda. Our first stop for the night was a spot that is just 15 kms south of Todos Santos and one that is a favorite with surfers. This is a “Free” camping spot. It is located about ¼ mile off of Highway 1 and right on the beach. The road coming in is packed sand and dirt and the areas that can hold the campers, is also solid ground. Coming off the highway was quite an experience, as there is no shoulder, so you drop off about 6 or more inches from the black-top. It is enough to make the coach moan and groan and just about everything sounds like it is going to come out of the cabinets. Soon we are settled, our jacks are dropped, the chairs are out, and a drink is in hand. The surf is up and pounding…the sun is bright and we are waiting now for a magnificent sunset. We did unhook Phil’s car and head into see Frank and Lynn. Their home is in Todos Santos, but when we got there we found out that they were in La Paz until Sunday. Frank hasn’t been feeling well, so we thought he might have gone up there to see the doctor. Saturday morning we pulled the two coaches out of their spots and started heading to La Paz ourselves. We were heading to Tecolate Beach, which is about 15 miles east of La Paz. Driving out of the campsite here at “Surfers Beach”, was again riding all the sand / dirt and bumps. Just as I was pulling over that 6 or more inches onto the highway, I hit the bottom of the coach hard. All of a sudden I knew that something was really hurt, I had no power to move forward and there was this terrible noise. I, we were in trouble and I didn’t yet know why. About 200 yards up the road I found a spot that was long enough for the two rigs to pull off the road. I went back to tell Phil that something had happened and then I ran forward to crawl under my coach to find out what I could. The first thing I saw was that the tailpipe and the muffler was completely wrapped around the driveshaft and rear axle…totally crimped in 4 places and not moving even a fraction of an inch. Shoot !!!! After climbing out and telling Louise, Phil and Kathy what I found, we ran through our options. As it turned out, Phil and I jumped into my car and headed off to Todos Santos. I was hoping to find some one who could come out and cut the tail pipe and muffler off. This was no easy task. Luckily Phil found this young man that was having a garage sale and asked him if he spoke any English…”Heck Yes Man, What Can I Do For You?” He volunteered to help us out and find someone that could do the work for me. He left his stuff sitting along side the road and got into my car and off we went. We had been told about this fellow up and around the street, that did some welding and he might have what it takes to cut the pipe. Thanks to our “volunteer” Miguel agreed to give it a try. He put his electric saw into a case and got into my car. Dropping off our “volunteer”, we were off. About an hour and a half later, we were on our way back to Todos Santos to deliver Miguel back to his shop and pay his bill…$400 pesos = $40. Dollars. I would have and thought I would have to pay 3 times that much. Now back to the coach, grab a sandwich and coke, and we are now off to Tecolate Beach and with a new sound coming from under our coach…ROARRRR