Folks, I am sending the three messages copied  below because you all need
to know about this.  Jack & Michele are  friends we met in Mexico last year.
They are from Portland, Ontario, near  Almonte.  We saw them in La
Manzanilla this year when they stopped by our  camp to say hello.  This situation
could have been us as we traveled the  same road just a week in front of them.
 OK, things in Mexico are starting  to look bad.  We are now on the Natchez
Trace about and hour south of  Tupelo in one of the free camping spots
along the Trace.  See our blog  at _www.westfaliatravels.com_
(http://www.westfaliatravels.com)  for  more details.   I had previously forwarded these
messagges to many  folks including the List Servers some of which did not accept
the Forwarded  messages.  Since then I have received numerous messages
asking me to  send the messages directly to the Lists as I am doing now.  Thanks
for your  patience and understaning.

-----Original Message-----
From: jm vanderbyl  <mjvanderbyl@hotmail.com>
Subject: HIJACKED!!!!
Date: Sat, 27 Mar  2010 11:14:02 -0400

BAD NEWS  We have been hijacked & have nothing left but the clothes on  our
back!  THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!
We were leaving Rosies in Cd.  Victoria  and were about 1 hour away near
the km 57 where the road splits  & separates for about 1 mile or 2---near the
lake.  -The road was  blocked  and bandidos        with guns  and machine
guns threw us out of our vehicles.  We were travelling with  Dave & Joyce.
They took off with our trucks and campers.  Left us  in the ditch.   5-6
truckers went by but refused to stop.  The  Federales  3 cars just happened to
come by 5 minutes later.  Spent the  day at their office.
We figured the bandidos cased us out at Rosies  and let their gang know we
were coming.
It was too well planned to be  randomly done at 9:40 a.m..........
We were not physically hurt but  emotionally.......
When you travel out of here, we recommend you travel  behind a big truck or
doble remolque so they don.t have a chane to block the  road.  Or else use
another exit into US.
And now the paper work has  started.....not a very fast or easy business.

We are still in  Victoria.  trying to get to Monterrey for passports, etc.
and flight  out of MX.  with 2 dogs.

safe travels.  We thank God we  are ok.

Michelle & Jack
Dave &  Joyce

ps  send this to all travelling in MX friends.

-----Original Message-----
From: jm vanderbyl  <mjvanderbyl@hotmail.com>
Subject: news from us
Date: Mon, 29 Mar  2010 10:48:56 -0400

well, the federal police came yesterday and told us they had found our
trucks  and trailers.
Still hooked up!  So we have to go with them & check  them over.  !!!
We have no idea if there was damage done but we expect  it won t be a
pretty scene!
We will still have to go Monterrey to get new  passports.

Will keep you up to date as soon as we know  more.

Thank you everyone for your messages, your prayers and your  encouragement.

ps.  There was another Canadian couple who got  hijacked yesterday 15 kms.
south of Victoria.  Brian & Connie from  Ontario.  The police contacted us
so we had supper with them & offered  advice & support.  There are now 6
Canadians stranded in  Victoria!!!

safe travels!

Michelle & Jack
Dave  & Joyce

-----Original Message-----
From: jm vanderbyl  <mjvanderbyl@hotmail.com>
To: us  <mjvanderbyl@hotmail.com>
Subject: todays news
Date: Tue, 30 Mar  2010 23:42:34 -0400

We went to see our truck & trailer at noon today at the army base
compound.  The damage to the trailer is minimal--after all the bandidos  lived in it
for only 1 day..the arrest was made at 3-4 p.m. Sat.  6  bandidios are in
custody.

The truck has damge to the front bumper  and grill from the chains of the
tow truck that the army and police used to tow  the truck with the trailer
attached from the bandido camp to the army  base.  How far we dont know.  They
did not have any keys for the truck  so they must have towed it in
Park......If they did not have dolly wheels, I  imagine the transmission and rear
end are toast.....in which case the truck is  toast!!!!!!!!!!!
All the papers, books, wallets are gone except for 1 copy of  ownerships
which we think the army found  after they brought it back.   A copy of the
ownership is very good.  All the good stuff is  gone..computer, camera, 2 GPS,
generator , maps ...all of Michelles  clothes!
Jewellery, medication..etc!  All of Jacks tools are gone.   Safe & all its
contents.
Unbelievably the new TV & SAT receiver are  still there!!!
tHE FRIDGE IS STILL WORKING ON PROPANE BUT THE BATTERIES ARE  GETTING LOW.
and it will not be released for another 5 working days.   Everything shuts
down in MX on Thursday until MOnday!
WHAT A  MESS!!!!!!!

So we will be lucky if we leave MX by the end of next  week!

We are going by bus to Monterrey tomorrow a.m. to get new  temporary
passports.

Michelle & Jack

Please note  that I will be away from my business travelling in the USA and
Mexico from  November 18, 2009 until April 30, 2010.  Parts orders will be
processed  although not as quickly as usual.  I will always be available by
E-mail.  If you phone, your call will be addressed by Greg T. Brown here
and he will either call you back or advise you to contact me directly by
E-mail.  See my _www.frankcondelli.com_ (http://www.frankcondelli.com/)
website for complete details.  Travel Blog at _www.westfaliatravels.com_
(http://www.westfaliatravels.com/)

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli

Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)  -
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/)  a VW  Camper camping event,
Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13,  2010