Mexican Day 2 - Matehuala to Queretaro

 Today was a super easy day.  I thought I was going to catch up on lots of sleep, as I shut down early last night and by that I mean lights off, eyes closed.  Multiple reasons why, to start with the dog was going mental.  Completely freaked out, would not settle down and rest or sleep, I finally straddled the little monster and gave her some gravol to get her to sleep. Next it was like a damn kennel around the motel in the morning.  The people to my right rolled in around 9 and had a couple yappy little shits with them, took them a long time to settle and they started again at 6am.  The neighbour to the left were up and out with their dog at 6am and same with the other folks 2 doors over from BC.  I did take my time getting moving and took Kahlua for a big walk around the motel grounds.

We got on the road just after 9 and it was an easy drive except for a couple construction back ups.  I got into Queretaro and was all good until turning off the highway, then I really had to drive like a Mexican!  I had to get across 4 lanes of traffic as they were screaming down the road, well being a polite Canadian wasn't going to work so I had to kick it in gear and just give 'er like a Mexican.  Made it thru unscathed.  Then I came to a roundabout.  Well I have never seen such disorganized chaos.  They did not follow lanes or go in a continual circle, it was more like a 4 way stop and I had to fight my way across it.  Once I got on the right road the chaos calmed own and found my way to my long lost friends place.

It was great to see Lyle again after 20 years, and meet his wife.  They have a lovely house in a small complex.  We sat and talked for a while, then took Kahlua for a walk before dinner.  He made pulled pork tacos and salad.  We spent the whole evening talking, reminiscing and filling each other in on our lives.  For the life of either of us, we can't quite remember how we actually met.  Guess that is what age does to a person.

Tomorrow they are going to take me to another town that is very beautiful.  I look forward to seeing it.  A lot of expats live there so it is driving up the prices in the area but still worth seeing.

So a very relaxing day for me finally and again tomorrow.

Entering Mexico - Laredo to Matehuala, San Lois Potosi

 So we left the hotel, gassed up and headed for the border crossing that opened at 8am.  We got there just before it opened and not to many cars in line.  It was single file to pay the bridge toll, then proceed to customs and immigration.  I drove up and one agent asking something, told him that I was a resident and he waved me thru instead of having to go in the self declare area.  Proceeded and 2 more agents stopped me and just wanted to look in the windows, then told me to park in the parking area and go inside for my stamp and TIP (temporary import permit) for the car.  I went inside and the worker there was helping some Quebecers and came to help me with my tourist visa.  I told him no, resident and he said come stand here, next to go in and get my stamp.   Then to the next area for the TIP.  Only 2 agents so it took a bit to get thru the other people in the line.  With that in hand, I was good to go, or so I thought.  I went back to the car and started putting things away, then took the dog for a quit walk.  When I came back, I couldn't find my damn phone.  I must have spent 45 minutes digging around in the Jeep, retracing my steps, back to the counter asking and nothing.  I was pretty sure it was in the car as I heard it vibrate with a message while I was digging.  Finally a Texan came out and asked if I had found it and then called me.  Low and behold I found it behind the cooler.  I was starting to have a minor meltdown not being able to find it.

So off I went, the first stretch  was pretty boring.  I was doing 120km but was getting passed like I was standing still.  On this highway and many others it is also common practice to drive on the wide shoulders so that people can pass at anytime.  The highway was a new bypass to get to the toll highway, it was fast relatively smooth and clear sailing.

I finally got on the toll highway and it was pretty good.  I came to the first checkpoint and when he realized "no habla espanol" he just waved me thru pointing to a lane, so I followed it and then realized it was not the lane I should be in as it was only for transponders.  Meanwhile I have a semi pushing me thru the toll, except there is a remote arm that lifts once the transponder is registered.  Now I'm stuck between the truck and the arm.  He starts honking, I don't know what to do but think there is enough room to squeeze around it so I do.  Not positive but I think I heard an alarm but I had already pulled to the side with hazards on so the damn truck could leave.  Then I see a guy come running, he stands in front of the truck, yelling at him, truck is honking at him, they are having it out and I'm just waiting  patiently.  Finally the guy lets the truck go and comes over to me.  I explain what happened and that I have no problem paying, it was just a mix-up.  So he took my money gave me my receipt and off I went.  Now I knew stay clear of the right lane.  

I went thru 4 check stops in total, each pulled me over, 2 just told me to go due to not speaking Spanish, the other 2 were good.  The first joked around with where I came from and with Kahlua.  Hey had a gator on his face so of course she started to growl at him.  I told her to be a good girl and he said the same thing to her and she was.  Hey let me go without any questions.  The other one, I ended up with a guard on each side.  The one on the passenger side was trying to get me to roll down the window, and I was trying to get hold of her first or she would have been in his face.  When I told him where I was from he started making jokes about Columbia, I kept telling him no, Canada, British Columbia.  He just laughed and then waved me on.

The scenery was incredible, great views all along the way.  Well worth doing the drive to see the country instead of just flying in.

The motel that I chose is amazing.  They are like rows of townhouses with garages for each room and lots of green space behind them.  This was really nice for Kahlua, so she could finally run loose and burn off some energy with arriving early in the day.  I think I strung her out after as she is having a meltdown now, after I came back from dinner.  I bought her a hotdog from Oxxo and she ate that finally and brought her back some Filet Mignon from my dinner which she ate also.  She has been eating as poorly as me since we have been on the road, so it was nice that she finally had something.

So tomorrow will be a short day, heading to see a friend who moved here 22 years ago and has made his life here.  His wife and himself are going to take me on a tour the next day to a well known town that I look forward to seeing.  Then come Sunday, I will pick up our friend from Progreso at the airport and he will be driving the rest of the way with me.  So one more short journey on my own and then I will have company the rest of the way.

Thats all for the first day in Mexico.  Time to lay down and have a rest.

Day 4 Vaughn NM to Laredo TX - WHAT A WINNER!!!

 Well the day started off well enough.  We weren't abducted and I think the red lights may have been from windmills and what I thought was choppers might have been trains.  Hey my mind got the best of me at night when you can't see shit!

So we made our way thru Roswell and I guess I was unimpressed.  For some reason I was anticipating something along the lines of Coombs, with aliens but it was a pretty normal town with an occasional alien statue here and there and of course businesses with an alien theme.  So pretty glad I didn't make a point to stop.  Carried on to Carlsbad, where the caverns are.  Cute town but still uneventful and that is where todays excitement starts.

We left there and headed along our route to find mass construction. 2 very narrow lanes that were still waiting for repair for miles and miles.  Think it was over 20 miles they were working on.  Well thru this area, the texture of the road surfaces made a hell of a noise and vibration in the jeep, plus the bumps and heaves in the road had it bouncing around, not to mention being so close to the oncoming lane when a semi blew by and the noise from the gust of wind terrified Kahlua.  She was so panicked, that she started climbing back and forth from front to back and was trying to get in the trunk.  I was getting a little fed up with the road and her so when we stopped in Ft Stockton, I remembered I had packed an anxiety collar in her bag, so I put it on her.  Damn thing worked like a charm and she ended up crawling into the back seat and going to sleep for the next shit show.

So we left Ft Stockton and started working our way towards Laredo.  Well the first part of this next section was all thru and and along the mesas.  Again the road surface was shit.  I think it was some form of gravel tar seal but not like we have at home.  The noise was horrendous (thank god she slept) not to mention heaves and bumps all well your navigating hills and valleys and curves and doing 60 to 70 mph.  I was worn the hell out from it.  Now somewhere along this stretch, I think I saw a Chupacabra, okay maybe it was a wild pig/boar but didn't look like any I've ever seen.  This is also where I drove all along the side of the border just live 0 Ave in Vancouver.  Only difference is it is extremely well patrolled.  They also have a roadway of a white rock/sand surface that they rake with 3 tractor tires behind their trucks.  I wasn't sure exactly what they were doing.

I was so glad to be done with those 2 stretches when I hit Del Rio.  Finally so semi normal road and was able to motor along and try to make up some time.  I got to Eagle Pass and that's when some idiot wasn't paying attention and just about rear-ended the guy in front of him.  Instead he hard cranked to the left towards me.  Thankfully I was watching everything and saw it coming so I in turn did the same thing into the middle lane and evaded being taken out 2 hours from my destination.  As I sat there cursing him out, puppy stood up on the console and started kissing my cheek, telling me its all okay mommy, I got you!  She's such a good girl.

We kept moving trying to cover as much ground before dark.  Along the next stretch between Eagle Pass and Carrizo Springs the border patrol has a checkpoint.  So talked to the guy for a few before traffic caught up to me.  As I pulled up he was staring at my plate trying to figure it out.  He was amazed when I told him 3 days and it was my first time doing it.  I asked him about the white sand and tires.  He said that basically it is to track illegals.  When they swim the river and climb the mesa(that part amazes me as they are not small) then they cross this substance and 1 leave prints and 2 carry it on their shoes which allows them to be tracked.  Makes sense.

The last eastbound leg was after dark and was 100kms.  I was not amused.  It was a 2 lane road at 75mph...not fkn likely!!  I was having a hard time seeing with oncoming lights and just wanted to get here.  The end part of the road was a bit better as they finally put a bit of a extra lane which helped some of the lights but it took longer then it should have.

Then don't know if it was expedia or me and the nav system but it sent me to a different address for the motel.  So I had to call and find them.  Then when I got here, there was nobody here to check me in, so I had to call again and get them to send someone, all to give me my key.

So all in we are now here and will cross the border in the morning.

Viva Mexico, we made it!!

Day 3, Tremonton to somewhere close to Roswell!!

 Well this has been truly an eventful day, starting with logging 1200 kms in total!  I can do an Iron Butt, I can do the same in a cage.

I thought I had come to the realization that the Jeeps navigation system was sending me on some wild goose chases but after talking with my mother and looking at my google route, they are in fact the same.  I didn't recall the town names that it sent me thru from SLC, nor at the one stop and it being another 5 hours to Albuquerque but I was wrong, they were the same.  And again this evening, I have no idea on the route it sent me but I was starting to sweat.  More on that later.  I ended up travelling thru 3 states again today, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  

Anyways, I started off nice and early at 7am and got on the highway into SLC.  I was told that it is a total nightmare except for Sundays between 10 and 2.  Well I was quite impressed as I only really slowed to under 20mph once and the rest of the time traffic was moving at around 60.  Hence why I was able to pull off 300 km within about 2 hours with my first check in at Price, Utah.  I left there and carried on and I have to say it was a very boring drive and desolate.  The only part I liked was Moab.  

Speaking of Moab, I almost decided to stay as there was a Jeep Jamboree and they were everywhere, some covered in the red mud of the area, others on their way in to play in the canyons.  The town it self is super cute also.  I would love to go back and check it out more, maybe on the way home.  Lots of the red rock and arches along the way.

I got excited entering Colorado as there were finally some tress and green space but nothing really eventful thru there.  Then well we entered New Mexico and if it wasn't for the change in landscape I wouldn't have known as there was no "welcome to" sign.  Again New Mexico is another desolate landscape.  Sure in a few spots there are the cliffs and rocks but otherwise very desolate.   I did manage to catch a tumbleweed in my bumper!  New Mexico really needs to work on their highways as I feel like I have whiplash or shaken baby syndrome.  It was pretty bad with dip after dip after dip in a row, like riding a small rollercoaster.  This was also causing the Jeep to bounce around all over the place, mind you doing 80mph probably didn't help.  Even the semi's were all over the road.

Anyways, I persevered and made it into Albuquerque at about 6 so I decided to keep going and knock off a few hours for tomorrow.  Well, I had already looked before about possible motels along the route into Roswell and there were some, so I figure I could stop along the way, if I didn't want to go all they way.  All was good along the Interstates and then the Nav told me to turn off onto a secondary highway.  It was pitch black along this road and yet it was still a 70mph zone.  All good besides the acres of flashing red lights in the distance.  I kept going, as I didn't really have a choice but I was starting to get sketched out.  I was waiting for a little grey man to be standing in the road!  I kept going waiting to find a town but I kept going and going and nothing.  It was probably about an hour down the road and I'm starting to get a bit concerned as I'm now closing in on a quarter of a tank of gas.  I was trying to compute in my head the distances from what the road sign said to the distance in kms on my nav and things weren't adding up.  when the nav told me to turn again, I pulled over to decide if I was going to listen to it or find this town.  My phone said I was basically in it.  Then I checked for motels and it said that there were some so away I went to find the town.

Thankfully, I managed to get a room and there is a gas station so I was able to settle for the night instead of going further.  So now I am in for the night, with flashing red lights all around and I have heard choppers overhead a couple times.  If you don't hear from me tomorrow then I may have been abducted!!

For now, we are all good and heading for the area of Laredo, Texas tomorrow.

From Kahlua and I, Wags and wishes

Day 2 - Yakima to Tremonton, Utah

 Well I got started a little later then I was hoping for even thou I was awake around 530.  I kept rolling over trying to sleep a bit longer.  When I did decide to get up, I took Kahlua out for her potty break, then went to get a coffee and came back to research how much further I could go today.  I was hoping for Provo, thinking I could get thru morning traffic in Salt Lake tonight but I forgot that there was a time change and lost an hour, plus I was getting a headache and just tired and to hard to concentrate on the road at night so I called it quits about 45 minutes from SLC.

So all in, I covered 1000km today and it only cost about $170 in gas!  I don't think that's too bad.  I went thru 4 states, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and now in Utah.  The highways here rock, legally, I was doing 130 to 140 all the way until construction slowed me down and sent me off an exit that I didn't want.

Had a bit of rain trying to be snow in the snow zone leaving Washington but otherwise it was sunny all day but fk its cold here, must be the elevation.  

I will have to wait and see how far I get tomorrow.  I would like to get past Albuquerque to maybe Roswell, but I think I will have to play it by ear as I've been told traffic in SLC is a nightmare.

Kahlua has been absolutely amazing!  Just curled up in her bed, sleeping the whole way until I stop. and she is already asleep beside me.  Thank god she is not a puppy and instead a grumpy old woman.

I downloaded some of the dashcam video of the snowstorm and I will have a look in the morning of some of the picturesque views, there were a lot of them.  I will post them later both on each days blog and on Facecrack.

Alright folks, sorry for the short entry, but like I said pretty uneventful day.  I need to lay down and rest my head and body and get some sleep.  So until tomorrow and possibly an alien sighting.

Wags and Wishes from Kahlua and I.

On The Road - Vancouver to Yakima

I came over to Vancouver on Saturday to hang out with Krystal and her boyfriend Marc in their new condo.  Krystal and I went to an interactive Halloween play on Saturday nite.  It wasn't as good as past years according to her and even thou it was local theatre, it was still a little corny for my tastes.  Some of the performers were pretty good thou.  We spent the start of Sunday waiting on Len to arrive with the furniture from her Great Gran, then after he left I took her shopping for some things they needed.  When we got back, I helped her build a few things that I had ordered for her and then got ready to go.

Krystal suggested that I might want to consider leaving this evening due to Monday morning rush hour traffic.  So I figured WTH, I could get a jump on the long days I was going to be putting in to get to the Mexico border.

It took me 30 minutes to get from her place to the boarder and I have to say, I LOVE MY NEXUS CARD!!  No line up in the Nexus line, showed the camera my card, drove up to the agent.  All he asked is if I had anything to declare!!  I said no, he said okay and that was the end of the crossing.  Didnt ask for the CDC form for the dog, nothing!  I had to call my mother as I started down the I5 cause she is having a panic about what hoops they may have to jump thru to go to their place in Florida.

So I crossed the boarder right around 6pm and it was fairly uneventful until south of Bellingham.  Then the rain started and of course its getting dark now and well, I hate driving thru Seattle, even more so then Vancouver.  So of course I'm a little on edge watching for my exit to highway 90, found it and off I went.  I had multiple messages coming in from folks that are watching my location but just kept going.  I stopped in Issaquah to stretch my aching legs and give the dog a chance to do the same and have a potty break.  Well she wasn't to keen on the rain so it was a short stop.  I responded quickly to the messages that came in and then got back on the road.  If I had of known what was ahead of me, I think I would have stayed there.

I have a love hate for the highways here, at least around Seattle.  Sure you can do a buck 20 legally or 70mph but they are rough and I find them narrow.  Anyways, I left Issaquah and head for Yakima, it should have been about another 2 hours ..... well that got extended due to down pouring rain, with lots of pooling and of course as we got closer to the summit the rain turned into sleet, with a dusting of snow/slush on the road.  Everyone started slowing down.  By the time we reached the summit it was a total whiteout!!!  I think there were a few places we were under 20mph and all the cars were following each other and a semi.  I threw it into 4 just to have some extra traction but still took it easy.  Not being overly familiar with the highway, it being night and piss poor weather, I decided to just behave.  Not like home when we have a snow storm.  I was starting to have second thoughts about leaving early.  I would have preferred to drive thru the snow in the daytime and not at night when it is like flying the Millennium Falcon thru the stars.  Think I passed by about 4 crashes on the way.

Anyways finally got down the pass and into the flat lands.  The rain stopped and I kicked it into gear.  I contemplated stopping in Ellensburg but it was only another half hour to Yakima, so I just kept going.

Kahlua was an absolute angel.  She slept pretty much the whole way, except for a few times when she heard the slush kicking up under the Jeep or the rain pounding on the roof.

We are now safe and sound in our room and will head out for day 2 tomorrow.  The original stop was Twin Falls, Idaho but since I have already drove 4 hours, then I may push a bit further.  I will check the map and see in the morning as for now I just need to rest.

Okay just checked the map and think I will aim for Provo, Utah tonite.

One day closer to the sun!!!

One Week Til Go Time.

 Well, it has been an eventful summer and I'm looking forward to getting back to the summer heat.  As most know by now, I left Len and have been living with Kahlua in my motorhome.  I have had a few downs but overall it has been great.    It has been a trying couple of years both at home and dealing with my grandparents and estate.  Now its time to put the motorhome in storage and head south for the winter.  I am a week away from leaving with a weekend stop in Vancouver to see Krystal and Marc as they have just moved into a new home.  I will be leaving the island on the 25th and Vancouver on the 27th.

Yes, I will be driving down in the Jeep with Kahlua, cause well the Diva will not fly!!  She does not do crates, she has separation anxiety and well she's too big to go in cabin (not to mention she would cry the whole time to get in my lap...that would make one really long annoying flight)  So drive it shall be.  I don't mind as then I will have my vehicle there and can come and go and explore as I please, instead of relying on Uber or drivers or having to rent a car.  My friend Dana was supposed to drive down with me but some things came up and she can't leave just yet, so she will join me on December 1st.  She does plan on driving back with me though and we will make a point of doing some sight seeing on the way back.

Now I know some of you are probably in a panic mode thinking about me doing this on my own.  Well stop it, I will be fine.  We went through all this when I took off on the bike to find Flo during the Congas.  Yes this is much further and thru 2 different countries but I have my bases covered.  I have done obscene amounts of research and have covered all my bases on things that can help protect me along the trip.  Not to mention, I will be stopping the second night into Mexico in Queretaro to see an old friend that moved to Mexico 22 years ago and his wife and son.  I will spend a day with them doing a little sight seeing in SMA - San Miguel de Allende (and it will be Dia des los muertas) and then head for the airport to pick up Ismael.  Ismael is the young man who has been our caretaker for the past few years and he offered to come an meet me and drive the rest of the way with me.  He is more excited then I am as he has never been on a plane or outside of his home state in Mexico, so this is a big deal for him.  He has already been asking how to check in for his flight!  So I will only be on my own for 2 days in Mexico and then I will have a Mexican national with me for the rest of the journey.

I have all the paperwork that I need to have with me and for Kahlua.  I have installed a 4 camera(front rear and sides but can also be moved to inside, so might have video of me singing as Im driving thru Mexico) dashcam in the jeep and stickers on the side windows in English and Spanish stating as much.  The  Mexican federales don't much like being on camera when they try to get lunch money, so generally let you go.  I also have a printed letter for them, that basically states that I know my rights and how to proceed if I have legitimately made a traffic infraction.  I have put Canadian flag decals on the Jeep, so they know I'm not 'Merican, just in case they don't know where my plates are from.

I am also hoping to blog and post pictures/videos each day, so you can check in on my whereabouts and how things are going.  If anyone else is worried and wants to keep a closer watch on me, (B&B) then send me a message and I will share my live location with you.  I plan on doing this with Krystal, Lorie and my Mom but willing to share with anyone else that wants it.

The basic plan is for 3 days through the states and then 6 days in Mexico (with 1 being a rest day with my friends)  Starting on October 27th and arriving in Progreso on November 4th.

• Vancouver to Twin Falls, Idaho
• Twin Falls to Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Albuquerque to Laredo, Texas
• Columbia Bridge Crossing (just north of Laredo) to Matehuala, San Luis Potosi 
• Matehuala to Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro - staying with friends for 2 nights.
• Picking up Ismael at the airport in Queretaro and heading to Orizaba/Cordoba, Veracruz
• Orizaba to Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche
• CdC to Progreso, Yucatan

I will have my first guests at the end of November, before Dana arrives.  My fugly cousin Robyn and niece Lindsay are coming for a week from Ottawa.  It will be nice to spend the time with just them and enjoy the weather.

So this is the plan and I'm looking forward to it.  It is a different house this year that is closer to Progreso, not beachfront but does have a pool, fully walled and 5 bedrooms.  So again, if you want to escape just give me a shout and I will let you know what is available.  The most expensive part of a trip would be your flight.  With that said Black Friday is coming up so may get some good prices at that time.

Until next weekend,

Wags and Wishes from Kahlua and I.