Good story.

Thanks,

Mike

On 3/18/07 9:07 PM, "Mark Drillock" <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:

> People seem to wonder at times if Syncros are worth the cost of
> ownership. A fair question for sure. It all depends on what you need the
> Syncro for.
>
> A week ago today, I was down in Baja with one of my Syncros. A friend
> and I drove it down a few days earlier to stay in a campo where I have a
> small travel trailer permanently parked. At night I stayed in my trailer
> while my friend stayed in the Syncro. It is a mostly stock passenger
> model with center seat removed for carrying capacity. He had never slept
> in a Vanagon before and was very impressed with the experience compared
> to tent camping. Roomy and comfortable, almost luxurious.
>
> The sun was up brightly about 6 am and we were also, since we planned to
> take my inflatable boat out for some fishing. The day was calm as could
> be and the water was dead still with no waves and very little sound even
> at the waters edge. We packed a few bottles of water and snacks,
> launched the boat, and headed a ways south to a place where I have had
> good luck before. Baja is a volatile place weather wise and the frequent
> strong winds and threat there of normally keep me withing a few miles of
> camp while out in my little boat. Since the night was so calm and the
> day dead still we decided to go to a place about as far as I ever
> ventured by boat. After cruising at speed for about 30 minutes we
> arrived at the intended fishing hole, expecting to slowly fish our way
> back. A ways farther down the coast was visible a small rock islet where
> I sometimes drove down and kayak fished, by 14 miles of rough dirt road.
> We looked at each other and decided what the heck, it does not look that
> much farther and the day is so calm. In a flash we were up to speed and
> 20 minutes later arrived at the islet.
>
> We put on some lures and trolled slowly twice around the giant rock with
> only a small released bass to show for the effort. We pulled up on the
> exposed side, stopped the boat motor, and started casting some small
> metal lures toward the islet and fast retrieving them. On about the 3
> cast my friend's rod bent over and line went out from his reel. He
> hollered and the fight was on, or so we thought. Seconds later the line
> was going straight down and appeared to be caught on the bottom. He
> started testing to see if he could work the fish up some when suddenly
> the line gave way, cut off on some deep sharp rock. Ah well, that's fishing.
>
> As he rigged up for another try, I looked off in the distance and my
> heart sank. Way off to the north where we had come from I could see a
> dark line in the water across the horizon. WIND!! I told him we had to
> leave NOW and he knew I meant it. We fired up the outboard and headed
> back north as quickly as we could. It was still quite calm where we were
> but off in the distance it was changing fast. Soon the strong breeze
> reached us and the boat started hopping over small swells. We were not
> even back to the spot we had originally intended to fish and spray and
> more water than I liked was sweeping over the bow of the boat every 30
> seconds or so. Then every 20 seconds, then 10... We were not going to be
> able make it back...........
>
> The shore line we were passing was very rocky and exposed. I knew of a
> place just ahead where if we could get to we would have a chance to get
> the boat up on shore and at the very least be safe ourselves. It was a
> solitary hidden beach where my wife and I used to camp 15 years ago. We
> fought on and I told my friend not to worry we would be ok, in spite of
> the waves that were drenching us both. We made it to the rocky beach,
> lowered our landing wheels, and I quickly shouted my plan. I pointed to
> the best path I could see through the boulders and gunned the motor
> toward the shore.
>
> We nosed up into the rocks and killed the motor. We both jumped out and
> pulled the boat up till it was wedged in the boulders, small waves
> crashing around us. Then we started carrying everything higher up onto
> the shore to get the boat light enough to manhandle up too. A few cuts
> and bruises but we managed it all fairly well through the slippery
> rocks. We collapsed onto the sand and my friend looked over and asked
> WHAT NOW?
>
> No sweat said I, I know this place and I will walk for help. He looked
> around at the barren landscape and shook his head. No really, I said, I
> have camped here before and the main "road" is just over that small
> hill. We divided up our snacks, eating some of them as we talked. Only 7
> miles back to camp by the dirt road I said, over the mountain. Maybe 2
> hours of hard walking into the stiff wind and I should catch a ride
> anyway since it was Sunday and people would be heading north to return
> to civilization. 2 bottles of water each, a couple beers left for him, I
> should be back in 3 hours at the most.
>
> I started up toward the road, wishing I had brought socks as sand and
> sharp bits of gravels were being kicked up by the wind and getting in my
> shoes. This was not going to be fun if I had to walk the whole way. I
> walked hard for long while, made it over the mountain, and stopped to
> clear my shoes for the 3rd time. I heard an engine in the distance so I
> jumped up, hopeful. Just a motorcycle, going the wrong way for me. Then
> another, and another and some more. Hardcore types but without any gear
> so a sag wagon must be bringing up the rear. About a half hour later the
> 4wd SUV appeared. They slowed and asked if I needed water but I waved
> them on. Another half hour and I heard another motor, this time from
> behind. A ratty mini pickup with some very scroungy Mexicans in the
> front was coming. They knew right away what was what and the passenger
> slid over in the front seat to make room before they even reached me.
> The door opened as they slowed and I jumped in. We said our hellos and
> headed up the road at not much more than a fast walk. Too rough for the
> tired old truck and it's baldish tires but a ride is a ride.
>
> They took me the last 3 miles to my place and I got out with a smile and
> thanks. I have found Mexican people to be very helpful and kind once you
> get out of the cities, like most places I think.
>
> Reaching the trailer, I gulped down a cold soda and cleared some stuff
> out of the Syncro to make room for the boat stuff. Then I drove back to
> where I hoped my friend was patiently waiting. He was laying on his back
> dozing as I pulled down to the other end of the beach from him and he
> did not notice the Syncro over the wind. The spur road had ended at some
> deep sand and rocks so I parked and walked the rest of the way along the
> shore to him, looking at the ground for a way to drive there without
> getting stuck.  The beach was a no go but the flat area above it had
> enough small rocks that I thought the Syncro could likely make it at
> least part way. I told him my plan and we started carrying the boat
> stuff up to the top where I expected to soon drive the Syncro. I walked
> back to the Syncro and pulled out my tire pressure gauge. Time to let
> some air out, lots of it. Nothing improves your chances in sand like
> soft tires. I went down to 25 front and 30 rear. I could have done more
> but I wanted to leave some room to go down more if I got stuck. Then I
> would back out and we would just have to drag everything for a few
> hundred yards, trip by trip.
>
> I pulled the knob for the rear locker and started off in G gear. The
> Syncro slowed and spun the tires a few times here and there while I kept
> the gas floored. I made it most of the way to my friend and then decided
> not to push it any further than a high spot where there would be room to
> turn around. We started making the short trips with our stuff to the
> Syncro and finally pulled the boat itself up to the back hatch. 12'
> inflatable with wood floor... my friend says, what? aren't we putting it
> on the roof? this thing won't fit in there!.....
>
> We lifted the nose of the boat up into the back hatch and sure enough
> the largest part of the boat was a couple feet too wide to go in. We let
> air out of the boat until the sides were soft enough and then shoved it
> the rest of the way right in. The deflated ends of the pontoons folded
> in and I closed the hatch. We jumped in and started to pick our way back
> to the dirt road, 400+ pounds heavier than when I drove in. A little
> dicey in spots but we made it back to the road and headed back to camp.
>
> Sandwiches, a few beers, SIESTA TIME!!!
>
> Mark
> 87 Syncro, stock motor and trans
> 215/75/15 Mich AT tires
> aggressive VC