Mexican misadventure
EDIT
southey wrote:A while back we had a contributor talk of going on an extended Sth American run starting in Mex.
Can we please confirm it isn't one of the two poor WA souls that appear to have been found after going missing recently . ?! Was a likeable contributor too from memory !?!?
Horrible . What could have happened
Agreed. Horrible stuff.
RIP fellas and sincere condolences to the family and friends of these poor boys.
Hope they're at peace.
Very sad news indeed.
So fucked. Two mates on the trip of a lifetime. Terrible
This is what i was refering too .
" ACB__ commented Wednesday, 5 Aug 2015 at 2:40pm
I'm spending a few months in northern south, and central America from December through to July next year.
Now while the graph and history suggests El Nino in Central America can produce more storms and swell, I understand it will mean more rain and worse rather than better conditions. Do you think this will be the case? "
ACB are you out there . Pls check in to confirm .
I know he mentioned he was starting Sth and heading Nth . But we all know how plans can change ?!?
So so sad, when I shared the FB post on Sunday, then saw the burnt van images yesterday on the news, with bike off the back, you could tell it was theirs :(
Hey fellas!
I'm still here in Australia I fly out on the 21st of December so still just getting the last few things together.
Horrible news about the lads from Perth. I have no intentions of driving on my own, or at night. I'll be getting buses for sure.
6 months starting in Peru and finishing in Mexico City via central America is where ill be.
Will probably start a forum page on here to let you know about my travels!
Condolences to the family and friends of the two lads from Perth. Worst nightmare stuff.
@ACB, stay safe mate. Definitely don't drive at night, EVER!, not sure about the rest of Central and South America but in Mexico this is a big no no! Crazy Mexican truck drivers who use the middle line as a guide, cows wandering onto the road randomly, no shoulder and often a decent (couple of gutter heights) drop off on the side of the road. And that's before worrying about the more unsavoury locals.
Also get your Spanish sorted, if you can communicate it makes life a lot easier. Sounds obvious but can save an iffy situation from going bad if you can explain yourself, or at least understand what's being said to you particularly by the authorities. Don't assume that someone'll be able to speak English everywhere you go. And don't pretend to understand when you don't, I've fallen into this trap mostly through pride or stupidity. If you don't understand ask them to repeat and/or clarify. Again could save you some grief!
"Mexican authorities confirm burnt-out van with two bodies belongs to missing Australian surfers"
Just tragic.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/mexican-officals-confirm-burnt-van...
I would be really interested to know about their last remaining hours.
Was it something they saw that they weren't supposed too? Did they have something they shouldn't have? Did they buy something from a rival cartel? Did they sleep with someone they shouldn't have?
I just want to know why they were killed., they seemed so harmless!
I don't know ACB, I wouldn't fixate on their last hours too much. I imagine some horrible, horrible shit went down and for someone whose gonna travel in the vicinity in the near future it'd be uncessarily distressing to drill into specifics.
Be sensible, follow advice, employ commonsense at all times...and if you're gonna make use of their demise then consider it a constant reminder to do the above.
ACB__ wrote:I would be really interested to know about their last remaining hours.
Was it something they saw that they weren't supposed too? Did they have something they shouldn't have? Did they buy something from a rival cartel? Did they sleep with someone they shouldn't have?
I just want to know why they were killed., they seemed so harmless!
Mate, highly unlikely that the sort of people responsible are gunna send out a press release with the details.
I'd follow stunet's advice and use it as a timely reminder to always be careful on your travels.
ABC just updated that story,shit that a heavy area.
Sadly, life is cheap in the third world, esp. Mexico.
A wrong turn, a wrong look. a simple misunderstanding can turn dream to nightmare in an instant.
My advice to ACB, if you are coming up from the south into Oaxaca, home to the greatest right points on the planet, hook up with a local surf guide from Salina Cruz, there's a couple of them, before you get there. They're pretty cheap and will keep local surfers from hassling you and get you around safely. Don't just rock up thinking it will be cool, it won't.
ACB , glad your still with us .
Hey Adam , you seem to be a bit of an expert on the area . I've only heard detailed stories from guys that have travelled there extensively in the last 20 or so years . And nearly every person has a horror story or one where they were at times lead by wolves and even ran with them . .! ? Apart from that , "olas " is about as cultural as I go to understanding the country and its issues .
This article sheds more light ,
" http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/warnings/australian-surfers... " .
By all accounts both Aussies were straight up legends , so I don't question their endeavours .
One photo /info did stand out , one bloke had a Mexican girlfriend , and without sounding rude could pass as a local . We will presume he or they both could Converse well in Spanish . Adam had spent the last 4 years doing similar trips , so presumably wrong place at the wrong time .
For a third world country that's a pretty solid gold chain !?
Did they attempt to drive through the night?
That was my understanding from the ABC article in which the ferry arrived from Baja between 9.30-10.30pm.
Obviously details still scarce.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/facts-hard-to-come-by-in-case-of-m...
Or maybe they parked down a backroad to sleep on the journey?
Please don't take this as victim blaming, there seems to be nothing dodgy about their intentions - just travelling through to Adam's partner in Guadalajara. It's a very sad story and condolences to all those close to the two.
Personally, I felt very safe when I travelled the Pacific coast of Mexico, but there's so many stories out there.
In the future I'd definitely heed braudulio's advice in not driving at night there, ever.
Southey, It was Adam the 'more Aussie' looking guy that had the Mexican girlfriend.
Are you sure LD ?!?
Did you read the article I posted ?! Way more photos including shots of said girlfriend .
The only thing I can think of is mistaken identity . If it's theft , what went missing ?!?
Even for mexico's standards , it just doesn't cut it as a straight forward case in my eyes .
BTW , Adam is a friend of a friend . So I too am not trying to victim blame !
Pic of said girlfriend in article is of Dean and her, who is English and living in Canada.
Footage on CNN news shows they found the van on a back road..bought a map at a store around midnight,van was found about 10am next day.
3 Mexicans arrested for the 2 aussie surfers murder, 2 others being sought.
Hope they're caught
Apparently they were pulled over on hwy by Mexicans criminals pretending to be cops/federalies with flashing lights http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/mexico-arrests-th...
Robbery gone bad . Nice work mikehnt
A while back we had a contributor talk of a going on an extended Sth American run starting in Mex.
can we please confirm it isn't one of the two poor WA souks that appear to have been found after going missing recently . ?! Was a likeable contributor too from memory !?!?