The "Brakemen" at Lake Catemaco

     We traveled along the eastern coast of Mexico and turned inland toward the highlands just past Veracruz.   The country is amazingly beautiful and the altitude starts to increase.  We were headed for Lake Catemaco, and about 15 miles away, the brakes on the RV began to steam, so we stopped.  I called the park that we were headed to and the owner was an American and of course, spoke perfect English.  Gracias Dios.  Espanol just seems to disappear from my brain in an emergency.  He said to just park until the brakes cooled off and we should be fine as it was mostly downhill for the rest of the trip.  The next morning he would have his brakeman come over and take at look.

      Early the next day 4 happy Mexicans arrived and walked around our rig just shaking their heads.  We had jacks on the rig, so we jacked it up and they pulled off every tire (6 on this rig) and began their diagnosis.  By then, we were seeing dollar signs flashing before us but.....They said we had one brake that was completely gone and the others would require cleaning.  However, they would have to get the new brake pads from another town,  maybe today, maybe not and they would need the money to pay for it.  As we held our breath, he said he would need 1,000 pesos, about 90US Dollars.  Whew, okay so far.

      They all left and returned about 4p with the part, giddy that it had been available so quickly.  Now the work began.  Sweating and talking, they cheerfully took about 3 hours for the whole event.  By then it was dark and we were really holding our breath.  The head guy apologized and shook his head and grinned and said we owed him another 1000 pesos.

     Oh my,  about 180 US dollars for good brakes all around.  These guys were our new best friends and oh yes, my spanish got us by as the American owner was no where to be found.  viva la Mexico....More to come