Apr 03, 2012
Mexico Travel to Lukeville, USA
Monday, April 2nd found us back on the road at 6:10AM.
This is the proposed route for today. Because of the delay Sunday due to the march we will now have two long days.
As we passed the turn off to San Carlos, at the Pemex, we noted that there have been barriers added making the turn a bit more difficult. Go slowly and if you miss it, there is a dirt road just past the paved road you can take which will bring you where want to be. We stopped about 9:30AM to feed us all. Needless to say the breaks are few and short. Fortunately our coach is extremely quiet and smooth on any road so that we don’t feel any bumps, the engine just purrs along and we float along.
Shortly before Hermosillo we saw this huge spider beetle. The sign is advertising an exterminating company, certainly eye catching but in the middle of nowhere!!
It was just after I took this shot that we saw the first and only RV we have seen this trip. As we drove behind them I noted they were from B.C. also and that the unit was a toy hauler. As we negotiated the detour through Hermosillo a light went on in my mind as I saw the red truck!! Could it be? Was it possible? I decided that this RV was being pulled by non other than fellow blogger Kathy and Eric who also wintered in Mazatlan. I had been reading their blog off and on as they were friends with the brother of friends of ours!! Complicated, eh! Anyway we had never met, I have made a few comments on their blog but have no idea if they have ever read mine or even heard of me. When we had a chance, still driving the crazy detour, we pulled up next to them and I gestured to the driver to lower his window, I shouted “are you Eric?” It was them….a 30 second conversation and we got separated. I read on their blog last night about the woman talking to them while driving and they had no idea it was me!! Small world. So I guess you could say I met fellow bloggers on the road yesterday, literally. What amazed me is that they were the only other RV we saw in two days.
Just before Santa Ana at KM 111 we had the ‘big’ military check. About a 15 minute wait in line to be told we had to go over to the side for inspection. So we sat and waited and waited and no one came by so I finally did a ‘que pasa’ shoulder shrug and hand gesture when a soldier walked past. Shortly thereafter another soldier came to the door. I think he wanted us all to get out but I kept asking him to come in, this went back and forth and he finally did come in. I was surprised as this was the only place that no one spoke English and I was having trouble with his Spanish. So in comes our soldier who started checking the ceiling for soft spots, pushing every few inches. That brought to mind the incident last October 2011 where an RV tipped over near Los Mochis because the roof was full of drugs. Croft did a more thorough write up of that incident on his blog. So now here we were being checked. The soldier checked some cupboards, especially the bathroom vanity, looking for pill bottles, opened the fridge, checked under the sink covers….sorry only dirty dishes fella!! Moving into the living room he started pushing on the sofa and lounge chair, pushing the seat, the back, the top, looking for lumpy packages. He totally ignored our driving seats or any of the overhead bins. He then left indicating he would be back. I thought, now what, did he want a deeper search. Instead he came back and said we could go, I guess he checked with his superior. I thanked him for him for his security and our protection. The funny thing is that our tow vehicle was not searched at all. I read on Kathy’s blog that they were also pulled over and their truck ( not the RV ) was checked for drugs.
Finally on the last stretch, Santa Ana to Soynata. Driving and driving. Quick stop for a late lunch and pee break for all four of us. The girls have been so very good this trip, going on command. We got to the Immigration and Banjercito stop at KM227 at 4:45PM, which was actually 5:45PM local time. We were the only ones there and all went smoothly, though not quickly. There was the usual mess of copies made including 3 copies of the passport that needed to be signed and then we got our $300.00 cash refund for the car. The lady had a drawer full of US cash! By the way this was the first time I had been out of the RV since we left the Isla!!
Back on the road 25 minutes later with a stop in Soynata at the Pemex to fill up. Diesel here is bit less at 10.09 per litre. Next stop was the US border which was very fast and efficient as compared to last year. This year tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce were okay to bring over into the USA. It is now 6PM our time and getting dark. Where to spend the night? We thought about Organ Pipe Cactus National Park but saw that they only have 9 sites for 40′ RV’s and by the time we drove up it would be dark if the sites were already full, so we pressed on. At mile marker 55, just before Why, we found what we were looking for, boondocking in the desert. Perfect for one night, we usually go into an RV park in Ajo, mainly to get internet but now with my Verizon Wireless stick we don’t have to. We really prefer to be out in the open.
We parked just as sunset came upon us. The girls were out running everywhere and so very very happy. I think they might have forgotten about crabs as they had other things to chase and hunt.
Beautiful!! The end to a 12.5 hour day and 490 miles. A total of 881 miles from the Isla to here, just 55 miles north of the Mexico/US border. A perfect spot to relax, enjoy some wine and life!
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Very glad you made it back across the border almost without any problems! Now you can relax on a less strenuous journey back to Kelowna. Have a glass or two of cold white before dinner tonight.
Keep in touch. K&M&H
Ken…thanks for remembering the white…it was just perfect. Killed the bottle.
George…it really isn;t stressful at all, just long. This is how we enjoy our travels.
Longdog…yes thanks for the snake reminder, once the sung got up we got the dogs inside. No we will travel up the West side along I 5.
Angie….that would be so wonderful.
Nancy….for certain next year or maybe when we come down end of October. Will you be there then?
Jean…..the drive North will be easy….just long!
Looks like another stressful day, now you can relax. I would rather be retired and enjoy the journey (with no money like we do) than travel like that, but like you say each to their own.
Back in the USA and can now take it easy.
Travel safe.
Glad you had a relatively easy crossing. I’m sure the RV prodding was a big stressful. Do you head back through Texas? You should still get to see some of the beautiful wildflowers. The snakes are out now that it is warm in the desert so watch out for the dachsies.
Hola amigos, wish you a safe trip and hope to finally meet you next
Carnaval. Safe travel, take care blessings.
Give us a call if you are in the area…………..Coolidge Az 520-414-4410 , would love to have you over for a visit, drinks, dinner , cold beer and wine….the girls too.
Now you can relax after two horrendous days. We stayed south as long as we could too. Enjoy the rest of your trip home.
Kathy and Eric are our friends from Terrace. Eric and I worked together at BC Tel for many years. Small world!
Croft…..I think the world gets smaller everyday!
Thanks for all the pleasant postings about your travels. I agree now with you, after traveling up to Hermosillo anyway, that the drive is just something to get done and over with. The trailer parks and beach towns leave a good bit to be desired north of Mazatlan