ESTAMOS EN MEXICO - We are in Mexico

Wednesday a.m. – from sunny Bahia de Kino, Mexico

Check our location with the link of the DataStorm Map- choose the satellite view and zoom in to see exactly where we are. Jorge's is the building on the beach to the right of the brown roof and empty space.
First and foremost – why we left Indiana for the winter.

Home sweet Home

And then why we are in Mexico. Enough said.

Need I say more? View from Jorge's

We left the campground around 8 a.m. and arrived in Kino a little after 4 p.m. A drive of 277 miles with a couple of notable delays while on the road.

We took I-19 to exit 4, Mariposa Road the truck route to the International Border. There have been several changes to this procedure since last year. Mostly on the US side. Last year we were just asked a couple of questions – “guns?” “over $10,000US?” “No.” and we were on our way. Well this year we were one of the lucky? ones who got pulled over

Truck on left has the scanner - truck on right being scanned

Hummm….About three vehicles at a time are pulled over and x-rayed while the next 50 or so merrily pass by. We were lucky number two, there was a box truck in front of us. Once stopped we were very politely asked by the dark blue clad Homeland Security officer to exit the vehicle and wait at the benches in the rear of the area. We very quickly complied. While waiting we were asked for our ID – mine was still in Jennie in my purse [no way was I going to reach behind my seat when asked to exit vehicle] any way – Bill showed his license and they just nodded when I said mine was still in RV. Bill talked to the officer who said they check ID’s for illegals, wants and warrants etc. Said the day before they arrested 19 people. Mean while the big boom on the side of the white truck we parked next to was slowly moving over Jennie and Willie. Once that was done we were thanked for our cooperation and told to have a nice trip. Took about 20 minutes.

narrow road

Lots of narrow aisles and topes later we were on the Toll Road 15D in Mexico heading south.

A few of the Topes

About 10 kilometers down the road is the first Toll Booth. This booth also has a Declaration Point for loaded trucks. The road is only two lanes going south. The trucks drive in both lanes just until the end when the guy in the left lane tries to cut in front of all the guys in the right lane. Who of course don’t want to let him in causing a big traffic jam.
Some of the people with smaller pickups and cars cut across the center ditch and drove up the wrong side of the road to bypass the mess. Made for a couple of interesting sights – like meeting traffic coming the other way.

See car in other lane - cross ditch to get there

It took us about 30 minutes to make it to the toll booth. Because the exchange rate was so bad in Nogales we hadn’t exchanged any money for Pesos – just had about 180 left from last year. The toll was 152 – whew – just enough.
While waiting there (remember just barely into Mexico) the cell phone pops us “Droid!” “Droid!” had two text messages from Verizon about changing service to Mexico and how to make calls in Mexico and the charges. Isn’t GPS wonderful. Everyone knows where you are at all times.

Tope Ahead

On the other side of the Toll Booth was a Mexican obstacle. Again very narrow with nasty topes. Everyone was waved through. Notice the Tope sign

A very nasty Tope up close. Really rocked and rolled going over this.

BIG Tope

A few more miles down the highway we came to Migration – this is where we did the paper work – our tourist cards and vehicle permits. It seems the more up to date via computers they become the longer it takes.
First we go to the building where we fill out the information for the Tourist Cards. One each with general info – Where from? Where going? How long to stay? Etc. Showed them our passports and continued to Copies

Tourist Cards here

Had to have copies of completed Tourist Cards, also copies of Driver’s Licenses and needed a copy of the Jeep registration cause I forgot to make it at home. We already had the copies of the passports and registration for the RV. Copies cost US$ 2.25


The Driver handing over papers to be copied

Then to Banjercito to get everything completed and paid for. And they make more copies. The Tourist Cards were US$18 each, Vehicle Permit for Jeep US$42 and a ten year permit for RV US$51. After everything was paid for we had to return to first building to get the Tourist Cards stamped.

Lots of clerks available - no long lines

Then back into Jennie and on to Row #5 for final stop.

Last Stop - We are on our way

We were very politely asked if one inspector could board. Of course. After a quick glance around, peering with a flashlight into the vents?? She thanked us and wished us a good trip.
From then on it was smooth sailing all the way to Bahia de Kino.
More later.......