The next morning we could discover the new place. There was a bay with about 5 km of beach. On one end there was a small village along the beach and on the other end was our campsite. Campsite is maybe a bit exaggerated since it consisted of a row of Palapas (straw huts without walls) and a row of pit toilettes on the other side of the driveway (they made us wonder where the flies had just come from that invaded regularly our meals). But there was only one other couple on the site besides us! It was a marvellous place. We could watch the jumping fish and the fishing Pelikans just from our lunch table. It was just great to see how they glided over the surface of the water pulling up a few meters just to dive down into the water on to their prey. Despite the warnings of sting rays in the water (that dampened somewhat the childrens enthousiasm to go into the water) we decided to stay for a few days to recover of our adventure.
We decided to drive down a dry river bed to the sea for the night. We made only 10 meters
and then we were stuck in the loose sand. Beginner mistake! Still confident in our four wheel
drive I pressed the buttons to activate the differential and the 4-wheel-drive and wanted to pull back - just to get stuck even deeper in the sand!! We started frenetically digging the sand away and had serveral more attempts in moving the car but basically did not manage to make any headway. Now we paid for not having taken the metall sheets for sand with us. After half an hour we decided that we probably would not make it out on our own and Kate took off with a car that had come past to find some help in the next village.
and then we were stuck in the loose sand. Beginner mistake! Still confident in our four wheel
drive I pressed the buttons to activate the differential and the 4-wheel-drive and wanted to pull back - just to get stuck even deeper in the sand!! We started frenetically digging the sand away and had serveral more attempts in moving the car but basically did not manage to make any headway. Now we paid for not having taken the metall sheets for sand with us. After half an hour we decided that we probably would not make it out on our own and Kate took off with a car that had come past to find some help in the next village.
In the meantime it had turned dark and while I continued to dig the kids made themselves some supper. My plan was to try to prop up the car by the help of the hydraulic jack that is used for changing tyres and put some stones underneath. We had to digg all the sand out, take some of the road out that blocked the back pumper and then fill up with stones. The kids made a marvellous effort to find the stones in the dark (despite snakes and spiders) and helped to build a little "road" underneath the wheels. They ensured as well the continues supply of drinks to Daddy. 3,5 hours later we had the camper ready for another try. In the dark the children were watching the wheels and I was heating up the clutch. We managed to pull back... about one
meter. Nevertheless, we were encouraged and continued to dig and fill up. After another two goes we had got close by about a meter to the track.
Suddenly we heard the noise of a truck in the dark. A military truck stopped and out got... 10 soldiers and Kate. She had managed to hurry the soldiers out of the evening meal in the next village and got them to drive for one hour to help us. Now the soldiers were obviously very keen to demonstrate the capabilities of their "Hummer", the American build army truck. And I was worried that they would just pull the camper apart, especially since we did not find a pulling hook at the back of the camper. Fortunately we managed to convince them in broken Spanish to try first the wooden plancks they had in the back. Everybody got in position (10 soldiers pushing the front) and I let the clutch go. The camper jumped backwards on the road and ... almost rammed their truck that they had left just behind. But we managed to get out!! Hurray! It has to be said that Kate and the kids did an amazing job in what could seem like a rather desperate situation-amazingly nobody did panic and the whole family worked as one team.
Suddenly we heard the noise of a truck in the dark. A military truck stopped and out got... 10 soldiers and Kate. She had managed to hurry the soldiers out of the evening meal in the next village and got them to drive for one hour to help us. Now the soldiers were obviously very keen to demonstrate the capabilities of their "Hummer", the American build army truck. And I was worried that they would just pull the camper apart, especially since we did not find a pulling hook at the back of the camper. Fortunately we managed to convince them in broken Spanish to try first the wooden plancks they had in the back. Everybody got in position (10 soldiers pushing the front) and I let the clutch go. The camper jumped backwards on the road and ... almost rammed their truck that they had left just behind. But we managed to get out!! Hurray! It has to be said that Kate and the kids did an amazing job in what could seem like a rather desperate situation-amazingly nobody did panic and the whole family worked as one team.
