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Mexican Connection
15th Anniversary Rally Don and Ethel George This was our first trip with the Mexican Connection, and we are glad we went. We had just returned from two incredible months on the mainland of Mexico with Adventure Caravans, bought a 1995 diesel Trek, and off we went on this Baja trip. It is always nice at a big rally to talk to other owners of the type of rig you have. Sure enough, other Trek owners were there and very helpful as we brand new Trekkies. Our 14 year old Bounder was 31 ft long and the Trek is only 28 ft long. But we have more living space as the bed comes down from the ceiling. We really like our Trek, but we had a problem with the bed not going back up the next to the last day of the week-long rally. We now have a working bed after visiting a good mechanic near us in El Cajon. All's well that ends well. On March 6, the night before we all caravanned to El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe, a number of use spent the night at Imperial County Fairgrounds in El Centro, CA. Fifty-five rigs started out for San Felipe, but one had to turn back because of transmission problems. A woman from El Dorado Ranch led us on the trip. It was an uneventful trip, which is good when traveling in Mexico. El Dorado Ranch had arranged for the "Green Angels" to help us traveling. 306 people were registered, but some had gone down to enjoy Mexico before the rally. Some people boon docked. In the caravan, we followed Bob & Cathi Tessier's (from our local chapter 25) Safari motorhome. I've read that the view doesn't change if you're not the lead dog. However, the Indian mural on the back of their rig is super to view. We were very impressed how well the rally was organized. A big tent allowed us to have comfortable friendship hours daily with door prizes. Don won dinner for us at a nearby restaurant. It was like a small Escapade which is quite a compliment. The charity work done by Chapter 8 is amazing. The Mexican Connection gave $2000 to CARE. A number of participants made trips to an orphanage named Rancho Cristiano Lirio de Los Valles. They performed near miracles there. For instance, they had no running water until Chapter 8 remedied that situation. The monetary donations by the Escapees for the orphanage was heart warming. The children's teacher had only an 8th grade education, so money was allotted to help her finish her high school education. Work was also done to help a school with handicapped children. I wish I could remember all that Chapter 8 accomplished. This is just a sampling of what we did: Took the free shuttle bus to San Felipe and walked all around and had lunch. The town is hurting for tourists. We enjoyed a couple of buffets in the big tent with the beautiful view of the Sea of Cortez. We participated in the talent show along with the Tessiers. Don went on a fishing trip, but they had to return as the water was too rough. I attended a writing class & solar seminar. There were Margarita parties, crafts, games, tournaments, bingo, dune buggy desert trip, travel slide shows, Spanish lessons, tour to seek shells and sand dollars, free coffee every morning, a swap meet, Sunday devotional service, dessert potluck, hitch-up goodbye breakfast, and many more rounded out activities.
Hugs, Don & Ethel George
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Escapees Chapter 8
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