You want a vacation in beautiful Baja, Mexico and you’re driving your car.  Your first thought is “my US auto insurance doesn’t cover us in an accident in Mexico.”  That’s what we thought so when we decided to vacation in Mexico we purchased a border insurance policy on Dairy Mart Road, in San Ysidro, just before you cross into Tijuana.  We had a resort vacation lined up in Ensenada and we had been there several times before, loving our vacation time there.  It was our first anniversary and we decided to take a drive south of Ensenada through the beautiful wine country towards the little fishing village of San Quintin.  It’s a gorgeous, although quite scary drive to San Quintin, as the roads are narrow, in poor condition and the drivers range from exceedingly slow to race car driver speeds.  We had some dinner roadside and it was starting to get dark so we turned back towards Ensenada and this is when it became clear we had committed the sin of driving after dark in Mexico.  As we approached the village of Santo Tomas, a truck coming our way swerved into a car in front of us and started coming directly towards us, causing me to swerve off the road and we were struck at the front of the car, crushing the driver door and tearing off the rear bumper.  The driver of the truck ended up going off the road, crashing into a fence.  We were both in shock and the jolt of the impact wasn’t completely felt at that time but we weren’t severely injured in the accident.

Within ten minutes, an ambulance arrived and the Santo Tomas police to ensure that no one required immediate medical attention.  The Federales arrived within 30 minutes and grilled us – in Spanish of course, no English was spoken by anyone but my wife and I.  They determined the driver of the truck was drunk although he was not arrested.  The Federales asked us to settle the matter with the drunk driver and we insisted that the insurance representative be called to the scene – although this is not how car accidents are resolved in Mexico.  The other driver took a cash settlement for the damage to her car on the spot and we were encouraged to do the same – apparently, the family of the at-fault driver had some money and wanted to settle it because otherwise, a criminal complaint has to be filed and the driver is jailed until the damages are paid.  We did not know this or we would have ended up with some land, cattle and a built a little residence in Santo Tomas.

What ultimately happened was the border insurance company simply refused to pay – until I threatened to sue the US agent, a licensed insurance broker in California.  They finally paid for the totaled vehicle four months after the accident.  We did not have transportation back to the US and had to take a Greyhound bus back to Las Vegas.  Our car became a Mexican taxi cab in Ensenada and we were left to make payments with nothing to drive.  It’s a hard way to learn about border insurance, to actually have your car totaled in Mexico.  The next several times my wife and I crossed into Mexico, we didn’t buy the border insurance.  I hid $500 in the truck that I figured I could use to settle an accident if necessary.  Luckily we didn’t have any more accidents but here are the rules:

1.  Do not drive outside of towns in Mexico at night.

2.  Do not drive with alcohol or drugs in your car – do not drive drunk – they will take YOU to jail – not a Mexican citizen.

3.  Do not try to bribe a Mexican police officer – it they’re dirty, they’ll tell you how much to pay.

4.  Have cash hidden somewhere to settle a car accident.  If it’s the other driver’s fault, do not leave the scene until you have been paid for the damages or you have to file a criminal complaint.

5.  Consider leaving your car in the US and walk across the border – it’s easier coming in and going out, the trolley takes you right there and public transportation in Mexico is very good.

6.  Learn some Spanish – you will get screwed in an accident and could end up in jail if you can’t negotiate.

7.  Buy the border insurance only if you owe money on your car – then you need gap insurance as well.

8.  Have a great time in Mexico – it’s a fantastic and easy place to enjoy a vacation.

I can’t say enough good things about Bayview, Idaho – it’s absolutely a breath of fresh air and a fantastic starting point for a great day on the lake.  One summer afternoon, Scott, the owner of the Floating Patio took us out on his pontoon boat.  In fact, we went to Hope and back and Susan and I have been hooked on boating on Lake Pend Oreille.  If you’re camping at Farragut, you should really take a right at the 54 and check out beautiful Bayview.  When you make your reservation for your camping spot at Farragut, make a reservation for a pontoon boat at Bayview Boat Rentals.   Guaranteed Fun!

To those who are unfamiliar with Bayview, there’s no pizza delivery in town until now.  Ralph told me that he will deliver the hot pizzas to the door – a service that I’m sure has been sorely missed.   I’m not sure if he was joking when he said he’d deliver a pizza to campers at Farragut State Park but I believe he would.  He laughed when I asked him if he’d deliver one to Coeur d’Alene.

To get to Ralph’s just go up the street from the Bayview Merc and hang a right in Alma’s Court.  Or just call him at (208) 683-2218 and get a free delivery

• Coeur d’Alene is surrounded by national forest
• a beautiful downtown – very quaint
• it’s on Lake Coeur d’Alene
• minutes from Lake Pend Oreille
• the people here are, by and large, very friendly
• we’ve got great friends – which feel more like family
• and finally, the Kroc community center

Susan and I took a tour of the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center and this place is phenomenal.  From the tour, we were told the facility if approximately 120,000 square feet and is only slightly smaller than the Kroc center in San Diego.  The idea here was that the Kroc family (McDonalds founder) left a huge grant of money to specifically provide for community fitness facilities and Coeur d’Alene was fortunate enough to be one of the sites selected for a Kroc Center.  As Susan joked, the Krocs must have felt guilty for making everyone fat so they left a big chunk of change to help them get fit.  We walked into the place and were immediately greeted by a fire in the fireplace.  I had wondered where people in CdA hang out as I hadn’t yet seen a gym anywhere nearby and it’s clear they’re hanging out in the Kroc Center.  In addition to a huge swimming area, a water slide feature, rock climbing wall that goes from easy to expert, 4 basketball/volleyball courts, state of the art cardio and weight equipment, child care, theater, the place has a video and sound recording studio which we were told was going to open this February.  It seemed kind of pricey to me for both of us to have a membership but they explained that they have many different plans so anyone of any income level could participate.  Indeed, the facilities are very impressive and access to the studio alone, would be worth the price of admission.  It’s notable that all the food is cooked in their kitchen and there are no big-macs anywhere to be seen.

The Kroc Center is just one more reason to love living in the beautiful city of Coeur d’Alene.  Come on up and say hi!

American Bald Eagle at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Nature lovers of the Inland Northwest, the American bald eagles have landed at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Photographers, bird watchers and curious spectators were braving the cold today to witness the majestic splendor of the national bird, the American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  Every year, the birds migrate for a couple of weeks to get their fill of kokanee salmon.

At the Coeur d’Alene Parkway, an Idaho Parks and Recreation, day use area.  Photographers and spectators observed the bald eagles perching atop pines, soaring through the crisp air, circling their prey and quickly snatching the fish in their talons.  Although the day was overcast and the forecast is calling for snow in the coming days, a Park Ranger speculated that the birds would be here for another week or two.  The park had fires, cookies and hot chocolate for onlookers.  There are binders of photographs available for viewing as well as scopes set up to view the perching eagles.  If you’re looking for a nice way to spend some time, the Lake Coeur d’Alene Parkway is a fantastic spot to do it in.  I managed to get a few shots and although I would liked to have had a 400mm zoom, my 200mm lens caught some of the action.  Here are some images from my camera:

Farragut State Park Cabin Host

When Susan and I lost our home and decided to live in a travel trailer, we had never even been camping together.  We quickly learned that the campgrounds we found along the way were tended by camp hosts.  Camp Hosts are basically seasonal care-takers.  They live on site, provide assistance to campers, pick up the sites after people leave and sell firewood.  Some Camp Hosts are paid but most exchange a couple hours a day of their time in exchange for free rent.  Camp Hosts are often retired couples traveling as snow birds.  They might host a campsite up north during the summer and drive their camper to Arizona or Florida during the winter.  We were surprised at the number of people involved in this activity.  There’s an entire network of folks that live in RV’s and exchange their time for free rent in a beautiful campsite.  We did run into some that couldn’t wait to stop camp hosting – it’s not for everyone.  And the word to the wise is that “professional” camp hosts line their gig up between labor day, before the new year so now is the time to check with a park if you’d like to host for them.

Our experience in North Idaho occurred because Farragut State Park has a different type of camp host need, the Cabin Cleaner.  The park has ten cabins that are rented nearly every day all summer long.  When campers vacate a cabin park personnel clean up after them so it’s ready for the next camper.  Enter Jeff and Susan.  We found Farragut online and volunteered to clean the cabins.  We were offered a camping spot on Volunteer Lane – an area in the park dedicated to volunteer’s living space but your trailer has to have a septic system.  Ours didn’t so they offered us to use the “hostel” – basically a little cabin with a common kitchen and set up for multiple sleepers.  We lived in the park for free in exchange for cleaning the cabins.  Now, cleaning the cabins was anything but difficult.  They’re only 10×10 and most vacating campers clean up after themselves.  I never had a day with more than three hours of work.  Most days I got it done in an hour and occasionally there weren’t any cabins on a work day.  I heard many people state that the Cabin Cleaner is the easiest job in the park and I’d have to agree.  I often felt guilty about this so I volunteered to do some work above the cabin cleaning position.  I worked on the asphalt and helped out with some other projects but this was completely voluntary.

Originally Susan and I intended to return as cabin cleaners for another summer of free rent but for one reason or another, we’ve decided we need to do something else.  So there may be an opportunity for some lucky person to have what I think is the best volunteer job at Farragut State Park this summer but you’d better act fast as the position will fill quickly. If free rent isn’t incentive enough, Farragut State Park on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille is a gem of unparalleled beauty.  Go to the Idaho website and submit your application today.  You might like it there so much that you decide to stay, that’s what happened to us anyway.  You can use the money you save in rent to go down to bayview and rent a boat for a fantastic day on the lake.

If you’re looking for camp hosting in another state just google camp hosting (state) and you’ll find loads of links to check out.

UPDATE:  A friend emailed me and said my photo reminded him of Russell (but without hair) in the Pixar Movie UP.  You be the judge.

Personally, I don’t see the resemblance.

Farragut State Park - Eagle Boat Launch

Garbage can at Waldron campground, looted by bears

I heard about the pillaging of the trash can and a couple of my co-workers had to clean up the trash strewn around the can.  I took my mighty hunting dog, Haley and my trusty Canon Rebel to go hunt for the bears.  Right next to the can, they left their calling cards.

Momma bear poop

Cub bear poop

I could see from the spot of their poop, the trail they had come down from the woods to the garbage can so Haley and I braved our way up the hill.  To my shock, there was garbage strewn all about.  It appeared the strategy was to remove some bags, take them back up the hill where they could leisurely go through the bags, emptying cans, eating paper plates, and surprisingly, sorting the recycables.

One of several caches of garbage/bear food

Another garbage cache

While we were viewing the aftermath of the bear garbage party, I got an eery feeling that we were being watched.  Haley even seemed to sense that we were near the sow and cub so we high tailed it back down the hill and into the safety of the truck.  As much as I wanted to get a picture of the pair, the idea of stumbling into them in the woods where they’ve obviously been feeding just seemed like a dumb idea.  So I drove to the north side of the park to seee about getting some shots of deer and ran into a Ranger, showed him the pictures and they closed the lid of the can and closed Waldron campground.  Of course I got to go pick up the trash the next day and we were joking that since we had closed the can, the bears would hit the garbage can at the shop.  While we were picking up the garbage at Waldron, that is exactly what the pair were doing – pulling bags out of the can at the shop and munching on it in the woods adjacent to the shop.  I hear branches breaking around the apple trees and I run out with my camera but I still have yet to see the maurading garbage bears of Farragut State Park.  I’m assured they are no threat to people but they sure are a nuisance to the maintenance people of the park.  Susan and I have another month in the park so maybe we’ll get a shot of them.

Tiny hummingbird taking a big drink

Today Haley and I hiked the High Point trail and I was a little disappointed with the view. If I had a little more time, I would have tried to find a better vantage point but I ran into a couple of ladies from Bayview who seemed a little lost so I showed them how to get back to their trail. Anyhow, here’s the view I got.

Back from the hike I was famished so I made a giant BLT sandwich and poured Haley a bowl of food but she had another idea.

Plenty of bacon for Monkey

Haley sacked out on the floor while I cooked

Just loving living in the woods and looking forward to starting my new job with the park tomorrow. This isn’t really a travel blog any longer so I’m going to figure out what to do with it soon. I don’t have a broadband connection at home so I depend on regular outings to Bayview – thanks Ralph’s for providing free wi-fi. After this I’m getting in Pend Oreille at the Floating Patio. Thanks Scott for employing my wife! All in all, this is pretty fair living.