On my first trip down the Baja Peninsula of Mexico my traveling companion was a very attractive Cuban Muchacha .. needless to say she spoke fluent spanish. When packing the bike back in Arizona, I noticed she opened a package of tampons pulled out a few placed them along with a few condoms lose inside the top pouch of our traveling bag. Now what's up with that I said ... never mind she said and smiled. As we got closer to the Mexican border, I brought up the topic of road checks and police. She told me not to worry and if we were stopped not to say anything especially if it was the army.

It was getting dark no traffic and just outside of San Felipe we literally ran into a army check stop with no warning. There was about 10 or so some with machine guns. One fellow walked over .. he looked to be about 12 years old and spoke to us very quickly in Spanish. Well doing what I was told ... I said nothing sitting on the bike with a dumb look on my face. My companion said nothing either. He said something again and moved to the back of the bike, pointed at the traveling bag and unzipped the top pouch. As fast as it was opened it was closed and he waved his hands for us to leave even faster. I hit the starter and away we went. At what I thought was a safe distance, I pulled over and asked her what the heck just happened and what did the soldier say.

She told me when he first spoke .. he said if I have to speak english to you ... you can proceed. He then asked what was in the bags. I guess his conversations tactic's were a little play on words if not language. I can only imagine what would have happened if I in my broken Spanish or if she in her fluent Spanish spoke back to him. As for the tampon and condom props ... she explained this is an anti machismo thing and no self respecting latino male going near that with a 10 foot pole. We played out this same scenario one more time on our trip to Cabo San Lucas with the same results.

Now I can only wonder if it would have worked if I was riding alone ..... hmmmm.

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Murphy

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Murphy