Peluda is a donkey. In Mexico, as in many other poor countries, donkeys are still the means of transport for both people and whatever. Donkeys do not have to be fed like horses. They will eat practically anything. Brush, grass, weeds, etc. You can turn a donkey and a horse loose in a rough area and the horse will die but the donkey will get fat.
There is a very poor family that lives in Balastre. This is a very small settlement between La Peñita and Las Varas. They do not have any water near where they live. There is a very small stream several kilometers away. They used a donkey to haul water twice a day. One day, as they were crossing the road, a reckless driver hit and killed the donkey and then kept going. Donkeys don`t cost very much but this family did not have any money to replace the donkey
When Vicky and Bob heard about this they put a notice in the Jaltemba Bay bulletin board. A nice man noticed this and said he would buy this family a donkey. Vicky and Bob then started looking for a donkey and discovered Peluda, who belonged to an older couple who lived in a small hut in the jungle. Peluda had a son, who was a young donkey and not old enough to carry water. The older couple needed money so they sold Peluda.
Vicky and Bob had a problem. How could they transport the donkey all the way from the jungle corral where they lived to the poor family in Balastre? Now comes Richard, owner of Ricardos Pizza. He had a pickup truck with sides on it.
Vicky, Bob, Ricardo and a friend piled into the pickup and drove as close as they could to the jungle home of Peluda. Ricardo can now say that he delivers pizzas and donkeys. But then they were in for a sad surprise.
When they started to take Peluda away from her son, both donkeys started to bray (hee haw, hee haw) and began to cry. Tears were running down the cheeks of Peluda and her son. Vicky then explained to Peluda that she was needed by this poor family very much. Peluda seemed to understand and she then followed us to the pickup truck, where she climbed aboard. Ricardo drove all of us to Balastre and you should have seen the happy faces when we gave them this surprise. Now they would have help to bring water to their small home again.
All is well that ends well.
Vicky and Sr. Perez
Sr. Perez leads us through his property to see the burros.
Vicky inspects the two burros
Sr. Perez shows Vicky the two burros, who started braying as soon as they saw him.
Peluda, the one that we bought
Peluda is a female burra, a donkey of unknown years, but seems friendly and strong. We think she will be good for her new family. We bargain and buy her.
The home where Sr. Perez lives
Sr. Cipriano Perez, age 77 and his wife Isabel, age 60, share this simple jungle home.
Sr. Perez and some of his grandchildren
Sr. Perez will certainly leave behind a legacy. He has 3 daughters, 2 sons, 35 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Wow!
Loading Peluda
Vicky is pulling and Sr. Perez's helper is pushing Peluda, who was reluctant to leave her son behind.
Peluda is loaded
Peluda is loaded in Ricardo's pickup. Vicky will ride in the back and Brave Burro Bob will ride up front out of harm's way.
Vicky and Peluda arrive safely in Balastre
Vicky and Peluda become friends and arrive safely at Peluda's new home in Balastre.
Peluda prepares to disembark
Peluda gets ready to disembark at her new home with the help of Sr. Juan, head of the new family, and Vick Flores. Vicky shouts "andale, andale".
Peluda jumps ashore
Peluda jumps from the pickup but the photographer (Burro) Bob is a little slow to catch all.
Mission complete
Everyone is happy. We have from left to right: The mother, (Burro) Bob, grandfather, Peluda, Vicky with the baby grandaughter, the daughter, Ricardo (of Ricardo's restaurant fame) and the grandmother
Peluda seems happy
Peluda seems to be smiling with her new family.
