CharlieG

A couple of weeks ago I took Hwy 15 up to Nogales from Chapala. Roads were excellent and should be considering the amount of tolls one pays during such a trip. Seemed like there was a toll station every 15 minutes. Well, a lot anyway. Although I have driven this route alone many times I chose to use a driver this time as back problems have me pretty much incapacitated. We planned a two day trip, one day to Los Mochis and then one more day up to Nogales. All went smoothly until, between Guaymas and Hermosillo, in the middle of the desert, my car started overheating and we could not continue. A hose had come loose and all my coolant had escaped. I had no auto tools with me and only a liter of drinking water. We were stuck for about three hours and no passing cars would stop to help. With good reason as most Mexican travelers are afraid of each other and stopping to help a stranded motorist is not part of the current culture. Apparently two big guys standing in the road waving empty water bottles did not inspire confidence. Calls to the 074 emergency number got only vague promises that perhaps, in five or six hours, a tow truck could be sent out from Guaymas. Not very helpful and the famous Green Angels who used to patrol the roads are nowhere to be seen these days. Incidentally if you don't speak and understand Spanish you will have a very, very hard time calling for the help that's maybe never going to come anyway. Finally I remembered that there was a Leatherman tool somewhere in my luggage and with it we were able to re-attach the loose hose. But we still had no water. After close to three hours a pickup stopped across the hwy in the southbound lane and Felipe my driver ran over and caught him before he could take off. Fortunately he had a two gallon jug of drinking water that we were able to buy from him and that allowed us to limp into Hermosillo and refill with coolant. Note...this guy didn't stop to help us, he was reading a map when Felipe started knocking on his window. The moral of this story is that if you are going to drive across that desert you should be prepared to handle any type of minor breakdown yourself because it's very probable that no one is going to stop to help you. At least that was my very recent experience. Take tools, several gallons of water and spares of any parts that are likely to fail on the trip I had never had any type of problem before on any of the many trips I've made through Mexico over the years and had become complacent. I will be much better prepared should I ever make this trip again. Charlie

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Rafael Aguilar...3312165892. Rafael has a car rental business, drives people and their belongings to the border himself and has other excellent drivers working with him who do trips also. A week or so ago I found it necessary to get myself and my car to the border at Nogales and due to some serious back problems I was hesitant to take the trip alone this time doing all the driving myself. Rafael set me up with one of his drivers, Felipe, who drove all the way (two long days) and was very helpful in getting us back on the road when my car broke down between Guaymas and Hermosillo. I can't recommend Rafael and his crew highly enough. Felipe doing the driving took most of the pain out of the trip for me and I spent the time listening to audio books. Had he not been able to talk a passing driver, the only one who stopped anywhere near us in over two hours, out of a couple of gallons of water the breakdown we experienced could have been much worse than a few hours of delay. I also strongly suggest that anyone making this trip across the desert carry a few gallons of water with them and some tools. The Green Angels must be busy tuning their harps somewhere these days and trying to get a tow truck out to the desert can take hours. Despite several desperate calls to various emergency numbers no one ever showed up to help us. But, all ended well. I am safely relocated to Tucson and will soon be getting free VA treatment for my physical problems. Just wanted to commend good work. Charlie G

+1 for Dr. Daniel Hernandez at Integrity. Did a TURP prostate procedure on me last May that was quick, painless and successful. Just one night in a small private clinic in Guad and he came all the way out to my house in Ajijic the next night just to remove the catheter. Can't recommend him highly enough but don't know about insurance. I paid him in cash. in pesos, as many doctors prefer to be paid but the cost was very reasonable.

Thanks to all for your input. Very helpful!

Just recently I have started experiencing troubling kidney symptoms and a blood test today shows there is something not good going on. Does anyone know of a kidney specialist (nephrologist) who comes out to the lakeside area or is going to Guadalajara the only option? Thanks.....

I've been using this CBD oil I buy on Mercado Libre for the last six months as a sleep aid. I've been putting about a quarter dropper full under my tongue an hour before I plan to go to sleep. Works very well for me. For years I was troubled by annoying lucid dreams that disturbed my sleep and this oil has eliminated them completely and allows me to sleep more deeply and longer. Good stuff and the supplier is very reputable. Product comes by FedEx the day after I order it. https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx/MLM-624008149-oil-premium-cbd-hemp-750-mg-alta-concentracion-envio-gratis-_JM

I've bought dozens of things through Mercado Libre over the last five years. Always quick delivery and products as advertised. I always look there first when I'm in the market for anything. Bought my current cel from a vendor there {a reconditioned iPhone 4s} a couple of years ago and it's still working great. The system works most smoothly when using a debit/credit card on a Mexican bank.