Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 10:30:27 -0800
Reply-To: Todd Francis <tbf@PACIFIER.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Francis <tbf@PACIFIER.COM>
Subject: Re: FRYDAY-----horror stories on Surf Mex Trips
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I have been to Baja many times due to the off road races and, although I
have heard of many horror stories, we have been lucky and have not had
trouble. Your police story reminded me of being just south of San Quntin
late one night parked on the side of hwy 1 with about 3 vehicles and about
10 guys. We were testing the race car for the upcoming Baja 1000 later on
that week. We were doing our thing and a police car drove up and the officer
got out and tried to tell us something in Spanish. Unfortunately out of all
10 of us we couldn't figure out what he was trying to say and he gave up,
got in his car and headed back to town. A little later the police car showed
up again and the officer brought his superior who could not speak English
either and he started conveying the same message. We finally understood him
saying "mal" (bad) and then finally "banditos". We then started
understanding that he didn't want us staying overnight where we were
because it was unsafe and wanted us to come to town and park in front of the
police station by a little city park. We finally found out that the area we
were parked was close to big tomato fields and the field workers just may
come out and rob you in the night. We stayed in town and had a quiet
uneventful night. If you are in Mexico you need to be on your best behavior
and very aware of how you are driving and how everyone is driving around
you. I have had friends getting fined because they blew a stop sign that
wasn't there. You know those little rubber stop signs that are put in the
road between lanes on two lane (one way) roads. You will see them in
Ensenada. Well, this one was old and broken off right down to the road
surface. The little metal mount was still there though. I guess the police
thought that was good enough so my buddy got fined. When I hear of people
with drugs down there it makes me cringe. The Federally(sp?) checkpoint guys
would love to find drugs. For the most part that is why they are there.
Todd Francis
Precision Alloy LTD.
http://www.precisionalloy.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "s w" <smorewhisky@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: FRYDAY-----horror stories on Surf Mex Trips
> --- "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM> wrote:
> > I'd like to hear some stories from the list
> > regarding wierd incidents while
> > camping, surfing in Mexico and other strange
> > places....could be anywhere?
> >
> >
>
> stoped at a liquor store in santa rosalia for a bottle
> of rum on the way to la paz(eventually) and got back
> to the truck(pre-vanagon, and not mine at that)to find
> a federale writing us up a ticket, or taking info, or
> looking offical at least(.45 six shooter)80 peso's
> later we find we were parked more(in his opinion)than
> 1 meter from the curb...saw him later that night at
> the local store, and got out of there quick!!! he was
> a nice guy though as far as people in charge
> go...probobly one of the most honest mexican police i
> will ever run into. only had a 100 peso bill(charge
> was 80) and it took me a good 5 min. to convince him i
> needed no cambiar<sic>?....one time at campo la
> xxxxxx(sorry, favorite place ;)...) i was laying in my
> cot, again, no van bunk :( , reading a book, buddy
> asleep in the tent, hear some noise and expect beach
> owner to be getting home and bringing me a bottle of
> whatever, look up to see a macheen gun in my face and
> an 18 year old telling me in spanish to get prepared
> for inspection, hummer full of them coming to
> help...good thing all the partaking was done with days
> before...good times, but be careful out there, they
> are not playing games in their own opinions....
>
> =====
> Scott Wilson
> 85 GL Westfalia
>
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