Anza-Borrego Loop Trip, April 17 & 18, 1999

by John Page
Photos by Allan Wicker

The Christmas Circle gang pulled out a few minutes after 8 o’clock. They were Mike and Phyllis Aguilar, Lou and Sophie Vener, Allan Wicker, John and Nancy Hoopes, Reda Anderson, Matt and Raquel Westlake, Rob Tugend and John Schmidt, led by John Page and Paul Ferry and with Carol and George Gilster in the sweep position. At the Banner Store we picked up the San Diego gang, consisting of Reena Deutsch and Beverly Ingram, Ron and Linda Lewis, and John Bortz.

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The story of Neal's Mexico Rescue - All five versions!

Size Counts (story #1)

by Marian Johns

I know what all of you are thinking, but in this case, it was a bigger hammer we needed, rather than the smaller one we pack along on our desert travels. A big hammer and a small Mexican named Pancho saved the day. Actually, the real heroes of this drama were some incredible friends – Bob and Marilyn Martin and John Page – who came 500 miles when we called for help. Plus, there was a little instrument of modern technology called a satellite phone, courtesy of son (and satellite tester), Jonathan, which was an indispensable item that enabled our rescue. 

A week of exploring and wildflower viewing near Cataviña in Baja (about 300 miles south of the border) started off well enough as we “oohed” and “aahed” at the solid blankets of orange poppies covering the hills along I-15 between Corona and Lake Elsinore. But fate had other plans, and she dealt us a hand with a few unpleasant surprises. First of all, Neal’s bridge broke as he was pigging out on Jelly Bellies we had just purchased at Tom’s Farms. After considering different options, we found a dentist in Escondido who temporarily cemented it back in place. By the time Neal’s teeth were fixed, it was too late to cross the border, so we camped in the boonies near Tecate on the U.S. side.

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Baja, Oops!
By Neal Johns

It all started out so well, then everything turned to mush. Several fellow Baja  lovers on the internet planned a trip to the most inaccessible Mission ruins in  Baja, Mission Santa Maria. The road is about 14 miles long and starts off of  Highway One 300 miles below the border. We gathered at the village of El Rosario  at the BajaCactus Motel. The owner, Antonio Munoz, had supported our expeditions  for years and was a good and faithful friend. It did not hurt that his Motel was  built to American standards and was also inexpensive.
Marian had just returned from Tibet (yes, she saw Mount Everest from Base Camp,  but did not climb it. :-) and had chipped a bone in her foot the second day of  her trip, Being somewhat cheap, I mean frugal, she limped around until she got  back to Kaiser. She declined to go on another trip with a limp.
What could I do but ask one of my WiW's (Wife-in-Waiting) to accompany me? Teddi  was already in Baja where she had been indulging in her hobby of riding mules  over the El Camino Real mule/foot trail that connected the Missions. She met me  in El Rosario with her dog, an aging Shepard named Dixie she claimed would  protect her from my advances. Dixie ambled over and licked my hand. So much for  protection. Threatening to tell Marian (whom she knew) did work.

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"Rodemeyer Rock"

by Dave "BigBird" Given

IN APRIL OF 2008 "SIRBOB" RODEMEYER WENT OUT TO DO SOME  MAINTENANCE ON A DRINKER FOR THE SHEEP SOCIETY. I WAS IN THE LEAD WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW....NOTHING. NO SIR BOB. I WENT  BACK LOOKING FOR HIM AND HE WAS STUCK.WHEN HE TRIED TO BACK UP HE TURNED HIS STEERING WHEEL AND PROMPTLY PARKED HIGH UP ON A ROCK. IT TOOK A FEW HOURS TO GET HIM OFF OF THE ROCK. WHAT HE HAD FOR A JACK WOULD BARELY JACK UP A  2X4 . IN APRIL OF 2010 WE WENT BACK TO THE SAME PLACE AND INSTALLED THIS SIGN:

 "SIRBOB RODEMEYER MEMORIAL ROCK" FOR ALL TO SEE AND  ADMIRE. HE IS SO PROUD HE CAN BARELY SPEAK.