Dec 07, 2014
Mexico Welcomed Us With Open Arms
Dawn's beautiful colors greeted us as we rolled out of the RV park Saturday at 7:00AM.
We breezed through the US border with nary a border agent in sight and a few miles down the road at the Mexican ‘official’ border we were waved through. The highway seemed deserted to us and remained so for most of the day. Just a side note here, we always cross into Mexico via Nogales as we have never been stopped and checked, once asked to see our passports but that is it. We are aware of many fellow RVers and bloggers who enter via Lukeville and are very often stopped and searched. Conversely we always leave via Lukeville where we have never been searched but the once in all our years of travel here in Mexico and that was re the contents of our fridge. However the few times we have left via Nogales we were stopped and searched. Now you know why we always enter via Nogales and leave via Lukeville.
We got to KM 21 and were somewhat surprised at the number of folks traveling home to Mexico for Christmas. It is only Dec. 6th.
These are Mexicans now living in the US who take all their holidays at either Christmas or Easter to travel home to be with family. Usually they are loaded to the gills bringing in anything and everything. We spoke to one fellow who worked Friday till 5PM and started driving at 5:30PM from Fresno, California with his family. He says he won’t sleep until he arrives Sunday night. I can’t remember where he was headed but I did meet another lady whose family was doing the long drive to Guanajuato. It was fun chatting as we waited in line. We actually were out of there in a record 50 minutes this year despite the number of people.
Mid afternoon, Carmeh's nose comes up and starts sniffing and turning her head here and there and sniffing.
She knows that smell, salt water. Yes we were just coming into San Carlos and she knew that meant a beach.
We managed to get here by 2:50PM, another record for us ( likely due to the light traffic ) and were parked and on the beach within a short period of time. It made my heart so happy to see the girls enjoying the sand and the various sniffs.
It was one of those perfect days.
The day was made even better by the fact that long time blog reader Janet and her husband Ron and their doxie Millie ( we enjoyed her so much that we never got her photo ) were parked just next to us. Janet emailed last week to let us know they were here for a few weeks. We visited for a short time before the beach walk and again later once we got the RV set up. I also got to meet another blogger, Carol who with her husband Bill winter in Las Jaibas RV Park in Mazatlan. They are currently ‘stuck’ here dealing with some RV issues.
After speaking to my Dad who is managing so so despite having yet another roommate foisted on him the other day, I had some free time to visit with Janet and Ron over a glass of Pinot Grigio. Once Colin fed our girls the four of us headed next door for dinner. So much to talk about and so little time. I was touched to tears when Janet told me that they only came to Mexico last year because of me and my blog. It makes all the long hours at the computer so worth it. I am happy to see them meeting others and the locals and branching out. We hope to see them on the Isla sometime later this winter. It will be nice to spend more time with them when we are not rushing to leave so early in the morning.
We were once again treated to a lovely dinner. Thank you so much Janet & Ron, it was our pleasure to meet you.
I am glad we are nearing the end of our journey. Getting up at 6:00AM and putting in long days makes one weary. Fortunately Colin is managing to get in a bit of guitar time and I am managing a quick blog post every day. No time to just sit and read a book or spend more time visiting with my new found friends along the way. One just has to make the best of each day and enjoy it to the fullest for who knows what tomorrow will bring. I sit here listening to Christmas music as I put this together which makes me happy. I am so thankful for the technology that allows me to share this with you as well as allows me to have a crystal clear conversation with my father way back home. Life is good.
Amado, Arizona to San Carlos, Sonora...289 miles.
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Nice that you had an easy border crossing and time to hit the beach before dinner.
Safe travels on the rest of your journey.
I’m so very happy that you had “smooth sailing” crossing the Mexican border. I hope you and your hubby (and the “girls”) enjoy your time in Mexico – you so deserve it!
WoW! How great – what a good travel day. Hey! Bill and Carol are friends of ours – we travelled with them a bit two years ago! I remember that beach! Glad all is well – finally!
Yeah!!! That beach (and that restaurant) look familiar! Glad you made it across the border so easily. I remember seeing all those pickup trucks piled to the gills with household items and toys at this time last year too. Wonder if they’re trying to get home for St. Guadalupe Day on the 10th?
Well, you’re in the home-stretch now– just 1 1/2 more days!
So glad the crossing went smoothly! One more sleep! See you tomorrow! 🙂
Cool! I am happy all went well and I bet you guys are happy to be back in Mexico!
Contessa see my blog for road conditions south. Worse than last year in many sections…even for motor homes. That is the park consensus here so it will be slower if you don’t want to bash your rig to death. Safe travels.
We’re glad things went easier at this crossing. You were due for some less stress after the Okanagan experience.
I am surprised at the ease in which you entered Mexico. What about the tourist visa and the permits for the car etc I understand that Mexicans want 3 photo copies of this and 4 copies for that and then go to this building and than back to the first building etc etc? We are planning to go to RV to Mexico in the New Year and almost decided against it because of all the supposed paper work and hassle in general?Can you please give some feedback on this?
Happy girls!!!