Mex05, 6 Update 4/28/05: The entire journal starts at -> Mexico 05' <-
Driving South into Mexico: We do a quick ‘checklist’ rundown; break off, everything on top lashed down, is their anything we don’t feel right about. We do a pinky shake and commit to safety just before I stick it into gear. For the second time we try to leave Mazatlan for points farther south, tonight we’re shooting for somewhere near Puerto Vallarta. While driving along the drive shaft seemed good but the further we got the worse the jeep ran. The engine was running really bad at slow speeds. I’m having a tough time keeping it running and had to pull over to adjust the idle speed screw on the carburetor so it wouldn’t kill, this is not good. Driving in town is no fun, we jerk back and forth while the motor tries to keep running. This can’t continue, when the motor oscillates between almost killing and running it feels like there are no breaks.
Getting gas in route:
About 200 miles and almost eight hours later we pull into Sayulita, a beautiful small beach community of surfers and tourists looking to avoid the crowds of Puerto Vallarta. We see a sign for $50 bungalows, sounds good. Two nights right on the beach in a tropical paradise setting. Out of all the places we’ve been in Mexico, Sayulita is the best for sure. We talk about wanting to live here forever. To go anywhere, includes a barefoot walk two or three blocks along a beach filled with surfers, after that a choice of beach bars, restaurants, markets and cafe’s. Down the beach the other direction are a few small beautiful tropical hotels with decks and terraces jetting out over the beach. The ocean water here is warm. The beaches are good for swimming but you have to be able to handle a big wave or two to get out. We look at the waves here as being small compared to the waves we had at Todos Santos, people here say they are big. We are where we want to be. Again our luck holds out.
Heidi and I are now involved in high level discussions, we are not feeling good about the jeeps ability to make it back to the US the way it’s running. Are emotions are running wild, one day we’re headed south, next day north, one day the jeep is fixed the next not. The guide books are back out and the maps are getting marked. We pick a bailout route heading north toward the border while trying to hit several major colonial cities along the way. We are determined to enjoy the trip back as much as possible, we have the time, as long as the jeep keeps running.
After I took a short ten mile ride to an ATM it became obvious that I had to try to fix this jeep problem Now. I have a plan. First, extend our stay here in paradise for another week so I have time to fix the problem, Heidi likes that idea. Second, take the slow speed jet assembly out of the carburetor and soak it in cleaner. That all went smooth but no difference, the jeep still ran like crap. Now plan B: 1st, Take the plugs out and give them a good look and gap them. 2nd, Check every vacuum tube and connection again. Well I sure did something right, the jeep now runs like a top. At first the idle speed shot up to around 1500 RPM like it should have. I adjusted the screw to bring it back down to 900. It ran smooth. A short test ride was like night and day. The jeep was fixed but I couldn’t believe anything I did fixed it. Well I was right, it didn’t, during my vacuum tube inspection I noticed a large diaphragm assembly attached to the carburetor was hanging funny, I moved it back into place. It turns out, that was my problem. A bracket that holds the diaphragm in place rusted off causing the plunger to be fully extended causing the motor to run bad at slow speed.
I’ve always liked to fix things but the pleasure I’m getting here is indescribable……. After a short walk to the hardware store I’m back with some bailing wire to hold the diaphragm in place. The jeep has a Band-Aid fix and again we’re pointing it south, deep into Mexico.
Pic jeep fix
Buses run out of Sayulita about ten times a day headed for Puerto Vallarta. Heidi and I take a day off and are on the bus by 8:30 AM for a day of exploration and goofing off.
Waiting for the bus this guy was selling sea food by the kilo. He gave his entire sales pitch over the megaphone and people started gathering.
The bus ends at the city terminal, from there we hop on a city bus to the old downtown and malecon area. Our main mission is to eat and find a couple book stores the guide book talks about. Finding reading material in English is sometimes an effort. Using a map of the city torn from the guide book we find the café with the big used book selection, Heidi has several she trades in. Next we’re looking for Senor book where we can buy a new Mexico guide book, ours is out of date and in many pieces. We find Senor book no longer exists but we are told there are more book stores downtown. At a book store downtown a sales person gives us a card of an English book store down near where Senor book should have been. We got everything we needed and more and had a great time, about eight hours of walking around and goofing off.
Heidi making new friends:
Being on the road in a foreign country is stressful, especially when your ride isn’t running good and you’re not sure where you’re spending the night. After we get settled in at a new destination we can both feel our mood change from wanting to start heading for home to wanting to check out the next destination south. We are for sure settled in here and both can’t wait to get to the next destination, as long as the jeep keeps running. With our new 2005 Lonely Planet guide book we plan our next several stops south; Melaque, Colima (in search of some famous mask makers and some volcanos), Tracones, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, city of Oaxaca. We’re thinking a week or more in the state of Oaxaca while we look for more mask makers, shop and check out the scene.
Some more pics of Sayulita:
With fingers crossed we’re back on the road tomorrow morning heading south.
Continued at -> Mex 05'-7: