Driving with Leigh

I was lucky for the drive to San Miguel de Allende. Through a series of contacts on the internet, I got connected with man from Brooklyn via Chapel Hill who was also making the drive today. Leigh had made the journey before and allowed me to sit back and relax, following him while he made familiar turns in the Mexican highlands.

The one challenge to driving with Leigh was his pace. He mentioned during a phone conversation prior to meeting, that once he gets to Mexico, he "likes to lock it in at 80." I rarely get Randal up to 80, but knew that the V6 could handle the challenge. What I did not know, is that Leigh's minimum speed is 80 mph and he hovers between 80 and 90 much of the time. This upped the ante as we climbed to 7,000 feet above sea level. None-the-less, I was able to keep up and even earned a remark from his wife that I had passed the test-- I was allowed to stay with them or drive with them again since I had kept up so well.

Our speed got me to thinking about the rumors I have heard about Mexican cops extracting bribes and inventing bogus tickets for tourists. We saw police, but didn't slow down much and went unhindered. Seriously, we were driving 140 kms per hour through areas marked as low as 80. Maybe cops should just worry about enforcing the laws that are on the books rather than the driving shirtless ticket one of my trip consultants was threatened.

I also got a rude awakening during the drive when we stopped for gas. After I had stepped out of my car and started talking to Leigh, one of the attendants (Mexico is just like Jersey in its full service policy) frantically tried to get my attention to examine the numbers on the pump. I think it showed 15 liters of gas pumped. I wasn't really sure what he was trying to convey and given the language barrier told him that it was fine. After my car was topped off, the pump read 30 liters of gas with a price tag of 300 pesos ($21). The attendant proceeded to charge me 450 pesos charging me for the first 15 liters as well. Much was lost in translation, but I ended up paying the 450 pesos even though I came into the station already toting a half tank of gas. I really don't think I got the first 15 that was apparently charged to me, but there was not much to do since I couldn't directly debate it and he had showed me something peculiar prior to filling the 30 liters. I'm pretty sure I got ripped off, but at least it was only 10 bucks to remind me how attentive one must stay where poverty is more widespread.