12/30/24-Monday-Day 24 “Situational Awareness”
In preparation for our ferry crossing in two days we head out this morning to refill water at a nearby purificada before heading to a Walmart on the edge of La Paz for groceries. When we pull into a shaded spot towards the back of the lot, where it's much easier to fit a rig the size of ours, I notice a man standing beside a red car occasionally looking over at our truck. We are used to getting looks in our camper, especially in Mexico, but this just felt odd. It wasn’t the typical gawking and stares that we get when driving through towns or even when sitting in a lot such as this, it was more of a looking around to see if we’ve walked away from the truck yet. I then notice that we are parked next to a large RV that is completely blocking any view from the store or cameras that might be present. This could be absolutely nothing and us simply being paranoid but we decide to skip Walmart for now and drive to an Autozone that is across the parking lot to grab a couple of things that I need for the truck.
While in Autozone Heather calls me from the truck, the man from the Walmart lot has gotten into his car and followed us to the Autozone lot and is now parked about fifty yards away facing our truck. I promptly set my items on the floor and walk outside while staying on the phone. After talking things through I return to the store to quickly purchase the couple of things needed all while keeping Heather on speaker phone so that she can let me know if anything changes. After returning to the truck and with the red car still parked nearby we decide to skip Walmart and instead drive through town a bit to stop at the Chedraui Selecto to stock up on groceries. Thankfully the little red sedan remains stationary.
As I said above, this could very well have been nothing at all and the guy simply liked our camper (I mean I’m a bit biased but Wanda is a pretty gal!) but I would rather make something of nothing and play it safe than make nothing of something. We are often asked about safety while traveling in Mexico and the truth is that there is crime everywhere and we keep our heads on a swivel at all times but especially in populated areas whether that is in the US or Mexico. In ten weeks traveling through Baja last year as well as our time here this year, this instance is the first time either of us have even felt that anything may be a bit off and we simply chose to listen to our instincts rather than ignore them.
Likely due to the upcoming New Years Eve holiday, Chedraui is a madhouse and it takes a few trips around the parking lot before I manage to find enough space to shoehorn Wanda into a spot. While waiting in the parking lot Heather decides to give the temperamental a/c in our truck a try and as luck would have it, it works giving her a bit of relief from the midday sun while I take much too long searching for groceries.
When we head out of town Mark and Michele have already found a secluded spot along the coast where along with Josh and Darci we intend to spend the next two nights hoping to avoid the New Years Eve celebrations and crowds as well as anxiously awaiting our impending ferry crossing on the first of the year.
Adam Olterman
You can read more on our travels here!
Member discussion