I was to leave the Ram Charger in Merida and pick up the Dodge dually truck. I left Paamul (about 25 kms south of Playa del Carmen - on the Caribbean Ocean) at about 9:00 a.m. and expected to be in Merida by 12:30-1:00 p.m. After about one hour and 15 minutes I had a flat tire (was on the Auto-Pista going thru the jungle); put the spare on and proceeded down the road (actually the whole area is essentially flat). About 45 minutes later - another flat. The spare had been used, and I was still passing through the jungle. What do I do????

Well very soon along comes a small white pick-up that stops. There were two guys who had emergency equipment in the rear the truck. They were assigned to a section of the Auto-Pista (is a Mexican freeway and is a toll road) to help people who have trouble while traveling this route. There is also another group throughout Mexico called the Green Angels who also help stranded motorists, etc. The two Mexicans saw that my spare was flat. They talked briefly (don’t know what was said as I understand very little Spanish) and then loaded the flat spare in the back of their pick-up. One guy climbed into the back and I got in the passenger seat (was a two seater pick-up). We went down the road a short distance, turned left and crossed the opposite two lanes onto a gravel road.

When back a few miles went under the Auto-Pista and to a small village about 20 minute away where there was a small tire shop. They had one used tire that was the right size. It was mounted and cost me $30 US. Back to the Ram Charger where the guys put the wheel on. So down the road again. One hour later - BANG - another flat. Oh well - and along comes a different small white pick-up with two guys giving the same emergency help. When they realize that my spare is flat they have a fairly lengthy discussion where the word ‘taxi’ was used. I said “Si taxi”.

They then loaded flat tire/wheel into back of their pickup, one guy got in back and I climbed into the passenger set. Down the road we go for about 10 minute - turn left and go about five miles to a small village. They find a taxi and load the spare into its truck. We went back to Auto-Pista go back toward Cancun then turned off - went thru jungle for about 20 minutes to a small town where we bought a new tire for $100 US. Went down the street a few blocks to a very small shop where they put the tire onto rims.

The tire guy was asleep in his hammock - so we woke him up and he mounted the tire. When I went to pay him he indicated ‘no charge’. I gave him 50 pesos (about $5 US) and he looked so happy he was almost crying - people are very poor in that town, so it was a lot of money for 15 minutes of work.

Put wheel back in taxi and went back to the other village where the truck guys were. They loaded the wheel into the back of truck and we went back to my Ram Charger where they mounted the wheel. So down the road again. The four guys in the two different trucks - I gave each of them 100 pesos. The rest of the trip to Merida was uneventful. Picked up the Dodge dually and returned to Paamul. This all happened on Thursday. On Sunday I hooked up 5th wheel trailer and headed toward Canada, going to Merida to stay at the Rainbow RV Park and visit with relative (family) for a few days and then proceed toward home (Kelowna area).

Near where I had the first flat time -the truck started to slow down - and come to a stop. When I exited the truck there was a streak of tranny fluid down the road from where we had come. No white truck guys and no Green Angels came along. After awhile a young lady of Mexican decent from Los Angeles (visiting relatives) stopped and gave me a ride for 1-1/2 hrs to a service area. I bought tranny fluid and got the mechanic to drive me back to where we had broken down.

When we got there I found out that a helpful person had stopped to check the situation out - he took off the broken hose and went to get a new one. However there were none available (where he went) so they did a repair job, actually using a short piece of garden hose. When he returned, he and the mechanic installed the repaired hose and filled up the tranny fluid. I gave each 400 pesos for their help. We then proceeded toward Merida (tranny wasn’t working right - but did work. I decided to fuel-up at the service area, but stopped just before the pumps when I saw a sign that there was no fuel available.

When I went to move the truck - no movement. Got out and saw a long streak of tranny fluid behind us. The repaired hose broke as we entered the service area. WHAT TO DO???? It is now 9:00 p.m. Got the mechanic to tow my truck/trailer out of the way. Phoned my father-in-law Felipe, and left a message. The mechanic ordered a flat-bed to take the truck to Merida to have the tranny fixed. The flat-bed arrived at 7:00 a.m. the next morning and started to load the truck - at that time Felipe arrived with one of his mechanics and much tranny fluid. He was there to help us. Felipe directed the flat-bed to a tranny shop in Merida.

The owner spook very good English. He put on a new proper hose - so went back to 5th wheel trailer and towed it to the RV Park (no trucks in Merida have hitch for 5th wheelers in a city of about 1,000,000). Then returned truck for tranny rebuild, which was rebuilt by Saturday for about $1,500 (Cdn). So finally left Merida on Sunday heading toward Campeche and stopping at Isla Aquada (at an RV park) which is located at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico near CD del Carmen.