We left Morelia and headed toward the Mil Cumbres, which translates to the "thousand Peaks". Traffic in the City was incredible but we just wove our way through the capital rush hour traffic. Within one hour we were climbing into the most beautiful forest. And we climbed. The visita offered such breath taking views the climbing was not the focus of the day. We climbed for 25 miles.

When we got to the top we stopped to talk to to Canadian gringos whose car had broken down. Justin and Curtis where traveling to somewhere but they did not know where to. Curtis was going to explore the world for two years. Delightful young guys.

As we talked to them, I watched a fire erupt at the home across the road. As the guys talked about venturing around the world, I went to explore why the three children who set a huge pile of old lumber on fire were trying to put the fire out with small plastic buckets and no adult was present. The flame soon lapped 25 feet into the air. I jumped into action with the 3 guys following suit (finally). We all became firemen determined to save the near by houses and forest and maybe all of Mexico from complete devastation.

The mother and father finally arrived and just watched us. They must have thought we were possesed. After several hours we ran out of water and let the fire burn down. I am sure this is what the owners of the land would do but we American firefighters do not have the same level of experience. Well we all stood around for a few more hours watching the biggest camp fire burn down. Maria fed us some wonder shrimp soup and tacos.

We four gringos all camped that evening in the chicken coop and got up in the morning and rode away. I am sure there will be legends about us and how we saved Mexico.