Day 19 A little help from our friends

After a very good night's sleep, we woke ready to tackle our predicament. We had a few gawkers and some sympathetic passers-by as we discussed our strategy. I found a piece of aluminum siding and thought that could help us get the wheel out of deep sand. It also appeared trying to go backward made more sense since the motorhome was pointed slightly uphill.

After a while we decided to see what progress we had made. One slight issue was that we had the aluminum under the wrong wheel. I know that the drive wheel tends to be the right rear, but noticed the left had been spinning and the right did not so that was a mistake on me. I think if we had dug both tires out and wet the sand really good while putting the aluminum siding under the drive wheel, we would have possibly got out. We didn't get out and decided that it was getting hot and we should go walk on a sandy beach and let the dogs get wet, have lunch in town and come back with help or work the correct wheel.

So we got in the Honda and set out to explore. We found a sandy beach and more dry camping spots that probably would not have left us in our situation.

After we had our fill of turquoise water and beautiful sand, we decided that our situation was distracting us from enjoying the area. It was windy so snorkeling was out of the question. We headed back to town to start the process of finding a good soul to help us out. On the way back we saw a couple of motorhomes parked behind an open gate looking like a camping spot, or glamping spot since it was so well manicured. We decided to check it out. We saw an Oregon license plate and thought it was already promising. At the house, a very nice couple from Florence greeted us and we told them our predicament. We inquired about the camping spots and found out that this was a new place and they had open spaces. We sure wished we had known about the place yesterday. But here we are. They said they would help us out.

Randy and Kim gave it their best shot but was unable to move the beast from its sand prison. Kim got to work calling around and soon we had help on the way. Randy and Kim went back to their place. We said that if we get out, we are coming your way.

Santiago arrived with his big truck and pulled us backward with a large rope. Still the sand prison would not release its trapped prey and broke Santiago's rope. Not to be deterred, we dug and dug, and Santiago pulled again. The beast moaned and the sand gave up another 3 feet but the rear end continued to drag in the sand. Kasey advocated for the aluminum siding again, this time on the right wheel. We dug more to release the hold the sand had on the rear end. The siding gave the wheel the ability to rise above the grip of the sand and success! We were out.

The bricks that Randy placed under the tires did not survive intact, but he was okay with that. We hugged Santiago, paid him of course and set to work gathering our belongings strewn about.

We then set off for The Last Place. We arrived and Kim and Randy were surprised we were out already. We set up and sat down to visit with them and their dog, Dude who got along great with both dogs.

This place is not just a camping place. This is more like glamping and would be one of the places our friend Diana Wales would whole heartedly embrace. Hot showers, bathrooms, laundry, swimming pool, wifi, electricity and dump station. 

Randy and Kim wanted to go to dinner and show us their favorite place in town. We walked the beach to town with the idea of meeting up with them since it was not a long walk. They are on a point with beach access and awesome views. For more information, visit their website thelastplace.com

When we got to town, the brown pelicans were diving right off shore in an aerial display. It was fun to watch them.

In town, Kim and Randy came driving up in their dune buggy and said to hop in for a ride. We headed to the restaurant but we're stopped by a couple of young men from Spain I think, that wanted to rent the dune buggy. Randy gave them instructions on how to find him tomorrow so they could arrange the venture.

Our meal was at the Coral Reef Restaurant overlooking the sea of Cortez. Great food, drinks and soon their friend Brian joined us. Brian was one of the guys Kim contacted to help us out. We were introduced as the ones that got stuck and the stories started from there. Brian is from South Africa and he arrived in Cabo Pulmo and never left.

After dinner, we road back in the dune buggy with Kasey laughing the whole way.

We got a tour of their upper floor complete with a large meeting area and soaking pool overlooking the ocean.

And that completes a magical day that began stuck in Baja and ended with hooked on Baja.