MORDIDAS, COFFEE, AGAVE, STORMS AND TIDAL WAVES - Queretaro to Coatzacoalcos

 

MORDIDAS, COFFEE, AGAVE, STORMS AND TIDAL WAVES

Both of us woke up way to early this morning.  We both alternated hitting the bathroom around 3am and then couldn’t quite get back to sleep.  At 5am, we gave up and got up and started getting ready.  We were out the door and on the road by 530am.  It was still raining but not as hard as the day before.  We stopped for gas and Lorie got me my first coffee since last Wednesday.  To say the least, I was hyped up on caffeine almost all day but have a headache now.  We made our way around Queretaro and out to the toll road that would take us around Mexico City.  For some reason google redirected us through this little town, but when we came out we were going under the highway I wanted and past all the traffic backed up.  We went up the side and ended up jumping the line from where we would have been.  We should have listened yesterday when it wanted to redirect us and we would not have sat in traffic all day.    The rain finally stopped and we were making good time until we approached a toll booth.

A transit officer flagged us down and made us pull over.  I showed him my import permit for the jeep and had the permits for the trailer.  He informed me that according to their program “no hay circula”, I could not be driving on the highway on that day.  I continued to question him as it was my understanding that this only applied to driving within the Mexico City limits and not on the toll highways.  While he was typing a translation back to me, I looked it up on google and supposedly it did apply to the state highways as well.  Well shit, I had not read or heard anything about it being the whole state.  He was telling me that I had already committed the offence and the penalty would be $4000 pesos plus the cost of a tow and impound.  Of course I’m not letting that happen.  I asked him if I paid the fine did I get a ticket and receipt of payment or is he looking for a mordida.  He laughed.  If I wanted to pay it, I would have to go to some town god knows where and I would still have to pay the impound and tow fees.  Then I asked what the mordida would cost and it was $100 USD.  He said he would give me a safe passage ticket so that I wasn’t bothered by others.  I don’t agree with paying the bribes but I also wasn’t going to let them hook everything I own up and tow it away, while leaving the 3 of us on the side of the road.  So, he wrote his note on a hot pink sticky note and I gave him the money and we were gone.  The next toll booth we went through, I was stopped on the far side and gave him the note and it worked.  Away we continued.  Of course, the whole conversation was caught on camera.  He tried to move out of frame and Lorie moved him back into the video.  She also made sure that when she handed him the money that it was visible and not completely discreet.

 

Off we went and I missed an exit and ended up taking a detour through another town.  Mind you it was supposedly shorter.  Lorie was busy snapping pics along the way and found fields of agave and then she decided to go shopping for jeans on the side of the road.  She wanted to stop as they were only $10 and she could make cutoffs with them.

We hit Veracruz and the weather was changing.  The view coming through the hills and down the switchbacks were not as nice as it would have been in the sun but at least the rain didn’t really start until we hit the bottom.  When we got past Cordoba the road turn to shit.  It didn’t matter which way I tried to avoid the potholes and bumps; I still hit the, the poor dog was going insane due to the noise and bumps.  During all of this we encountered torrential downpours to further decrease the speed we were travelling. Finally we were about a kilometer from our turnoff and another stoppage.   This time an accident and a pretty bad one at that.  It was a double trailer that jack knifed in the road and the cab of the truck was hanging off the side completely off the engine, as well as a car and an SUV.  I hope all are okay.

We finally got to our exit but now it is dark.  The road into town was fairly narrow (at least in the dark and downpour it seemed that way) as well as marked with topes (speedbumps).  I crept along with my hazards as it was near impossible to see.  We finally got into town and there was flooding everywhere.  I hit one section and a tidal wave of water flowed over the front of the Jeep and all around us.  It scared Lorie the first time I did it and any other car backed off.

We got to our hotel and settled in, both of us had a hot shower and I made my rounds of phone calls and started this.  Tomorrow we should hit Progreso by dinner time but we are starting early again.

So, until Sunday morning (as I don’t thing I will be writing tomorrow night)

Hasta luego.

 

Frustration Day - Matehuala to Queretaro

 

FRUSTRATION DAY

We were up and out early this morning as we knew it was going to be a 9- or 10-hour drive. Kahlua was great today as I drugged her last night as she was so scared of the thunderstorm she was hiding in the bathroom and climbing all over us but did not want consoling.  She was just flat out terrified. She was still a little sedated today and spent most of it sleeping in her bed.   Everything started off well and we were breezing along.  Lorie was making a list and taking pictures of the “Paso de Fauna” Fauna Crossing.  We are not sure if all these critters actually cross the highway but they had signs for snakes, frogs, rabbits, foxes, coyotes, cows, bears, vultures and the list goes on.  Not to mention we were travelling on the Monarch butterfly migration route and yes, she got a pic of that sign also.  We have seen any Monarchs, I think we are ahead of them.

Eventually we ended up at a dead stop and had to sit and wait for about 2 hours before we moved.  Then it was maybe 100 feet, and stop, then another and stop.  Finally we got going and up to speed and we thought great to round a corner and hit the brakes again so we could sit some more.  This went on all day and after 12 hours on the road we managed to travel 375kms.

Lorie spent the day reading her book and I had a few cat naps waiting for the traffic to move.  So we really don’t have anything interesting to share today.  To say I’m not impressed is an understatement.  We ended up in Queretaro tonight and are going to try to push the next 2 days so that we still arrive on schedule.  Thankfully it was not super-hot today and the thunderstorms stayed away until our last hour of driving.

I think it is on tomorrow’s route that we go through a beautiful mountain pass covered in jungle so Lorie should get some good pics to share.  For now I’m going to sign off and get some sleep as it will be 2 long days if all goes well.

Hasta luego

Final run for the border Laredo to Matehuala, SLP

 

FINAL RUN FOR THE BORDER

We got up at 7 and got everything loaded up.  We stopped by the brokers so she could explain the paperwork to me.  They were a little late in getting there so we were delayed a bit in getting on the move.  We finally got to the border crossing and everything went really smoothly.  We went inside and got stamped into Mexico and got the Temporary Import Permit for the Jeep.  We then had to get someone to come for the inspection.  We took Kahlua out for a wander while we waited and an officer came over.  I gave him a copy of the manifest and he took a brief look and gave it back.  He asked for the import papers and I gave him those as well.  He then asked me to open up the trailer so he could have a look and check the VIN on the bike and the trailer.  All was good and he gave me a slip of paper so that I could pay the duties which ended up being only $450 and then we were out of there.

We had no problems and were making good time and eventually came to a transportation check stop and they got me to pull over.  I had it easy and was actually laughing with this officer.  He asked for my TIP and I gave it to him and he thought he had caught me in the wrong as the trailer was not listed on it.  I told him no that it was imported and he asked for those papers.  I gave them to him as well as the tramite (transit pass until it is registered in my state), then he asked to see what I was carrying and I handed him the manifest of items.  Then he asked if I paid duties and I gave him that receipt also.   Every time he asked about something, I pulled out the documents.  When he was finished having a quick look in the trailer, he jokingly gestured chocking me as I was prepared for everything.  We both laughed and he sent me on my way.  Well 2 for 2 that I was over prepared for.

The drive itself was basically uneventful except for the weather.  We ended up going through 3 separate storms that were so bad there was next to zero visibility.  The last one was rain and hail.  The rain drops were as large as golf balls.  I just slowed down and took it easy through the rain.

We got to the hotel in record time, faster then we expected and just sat and relaxed while Kahlua was able to run around in the yard.  After a string of phone calls, we went up for dinner.  Just as we were finishing another storm was blowing in with thunder and lightning.  We rushed back as we knew Kahlua would be having major anxiety.  Sure enough she was hiding in the bathroom in a full-blown panic.  I gave her some meds that the vet had given me and she finally settled down.

Tomorrow we will head past Mexico City to Orizaba and stay there.

I need to get some sleep so until tomorrow.

Hasta luego.

Border Hopping Laredo to Nuevo Laredo, MX and back to Laredo

 

BORDER HOPPING

Well, the day started off slowly and we managed to sleep in for quite awhile.  When we got up we started to reorganize the back of the Jeep so things were better situated.  Then we repacked somethings in Lories suitcases as she only used one side.  Some of the Halloween goodies we bought we put in her bags.  We made our plan on how we were going to reload things and just waited.

I finally received a call about the importation but there was a problem.  For some reason the US didn’t want to allow their driver to bring the trailer and bike back to the US for me after all the paperwork was done on the Mexican side.  She was trying to figure out the best way for me to go with the original registration to get them.  First, she thought I could walk across and come back with the driver but that was a no go.  I would have to drive over and collect it myself.

Back to the motel to drop off Lorie and empty the Jeep as I didn’t want anything with me to declare.  Then back to the brokers office to get directions and information.  They refunded me $80 for having to go and get it myself but then she was saying that their bank had not cleared my transfer yet and I would need to give a cash deposit to release it.  So now, I’m off looking for a bank machine or 2 as it ended up so that I can get the cash.  Back to the brokers office and get the directions and then head for the border.  Then I get stopped to wait for a super long freight train.  It passed and I carried on again.  Crossing at Laredo bridge 1 is a breeze, they don’t even stop you.  You pay the toll for the bridge, then go thru another gate and you’re out.  No officials to speak to or nothing.  So off I go following the map to the Mexican office and I think I did half a dozen U-turns to get to where I thought the building was but I was slightly off.  A worker there walked me down the street to show me where I needed to go but also found out that the worker was not there and supposedly would not be back until 4pm.  I called the US office and she got the worker on his way to meet me.  Finally got hooked up to the trailer and received my paperwork and was ready to head back.

I pulled out and started my way back but my old friend Google maps sent me on a weird route again.  I had to turn onto a narrow one lane road and then again onto another to follow across to bridge 2 for the return trip.  Of course, cars are coming from every direction to get on this road so, it’s a bit of a fight to cross an intersection.  I finally clear the main town area and the road opens up into a bit of a highway.  Well now I have to pull a U-turn to get to the bridge.  Well, this was a complete clusterfuck!  The return route is 2 lanes heading west and then a barricade, another lane heading west within barricades, then 2 lanes going east and another going west.  Extremely strange.  So, I pull the U-turn and end up in the barricaded lane.  I slowly creep along as it is very tight and some of the plastic barricades are pushed into the lane so I kind of push them back into place as I hit them.  As I get closer to where the booths are there is a young fellow out there and he is waving at me that I’m in the wrong lane and my response is where the hell am I supposed to go!!!  He was willing to move the plastic barricades out of my way and I handed him a few pesos that I had in my cup holder as a thanks for getting me in the right lanes.  I pulled up at the Mexican booths and a couple guards flagged me to another lane.  I told them what I was doing and showed them the paperwork I was given and they flagged me through.  I paid the told for the bridge again and then lined up on the US side.  Well damn it wouldn’t you know I picked the wrong lane.  This officer was sending everyone to secondary.  I pulled up, gave him my Nexus card and the paperwork.   He checked my plates and ran them and was asking how long the trailer had been in Mexico.  My response was not sure Monday, I think.  He filled out his little form and put it and my Nexus card under my wiper and sent me to secondary.  I was shown which bay to go to and they started off asking all the same questions to which my answer was no, nothing to declare, nothing with me, just bringing my trailer and bike back to the US to pick up my dog and friend and that we would be crossing at the other bridge in the morning.  They got me to take my purse and stand outside to wait while they checked everything out.  Eventually they were done digging around to no avail and I had to show the officer where to find the VIN on the bike.  He finished up and let me lock everything up again and sent me on my way.

Good lord that was a complete run around to get this finished and I still have to stop by the brokers office in the morning to get my deposit back and the paperwork explained to me before we leave town to head to the other crossing.  I got back and had to have a drink before we started loading.  I had pulled up parallel to the motel room door so we could reload but Lorie had to argue that she had already talked to the truck driver that was staying next door and that he would back the trailer into the door so we didn’t have to go 2 feet to the back of the trailer the way I had parked.  I wasn’t in the mood to argue so she could do what she wanted.  I just wanted it all done so that I could relax before starting the next 4-day driving marathon. Lorie changed into her moving outfit or should I say try to entice the truck drivers to do the work for us, well it didn’t work, we did all the physical labour.  So away we went and packed everything back into the trailer and back of the jeep.  We got the front loaded with smaller things around the bike and then got all the bins loaded.  We took a break as we were both getting hot and tired.  Then we finished off the rest of the smaller things and the back of the Jeep.  We did a better job with it this time so hopefully all is good on the shitty Mexican roads. 

We made a quick bolt to grab a few drinks and then back to hook up the trailer so we are ready to roll in the morning.  It was getting dark and I was having a hard time seeing the hitch so the neighbour came out and got us hooked up again.

We will have to load our personal bags into the Jeep and Kahlua’s jump box for the bed into the back of the trailer and we can roll.  Stop at the broker and head for Columbia bridge crossing outside of Laredo.  Hopefully by 10AM (wishful thinking) we will be in Mexico and on our way.  This girl is done for the day!

Hasta luego

Lazy in Laredo

 

LAZY IN LAREDO

We have had a very quiet day today as we have to wait in Laredo for a couple days before moving on.  But I have to do a little backtrack as I did forget a few things yesterday from the long days and lack of sleep.

As we left Roswell yesterday and were laughing about aliens, we came across the Mystery Machine parked in a field but it was empty.  Scooby Doo where are you?  The aliens must have left Lorie alone and instead beamed up Scooby and the gang.  Ruh Ro, this is not good, who is going to solve the mysteries now.  Lorie couldn’t get her camera out fast enough to take a picture.

We were then cruising along towards Eagle Pass and she spotted Bobbitt Ranch.  We were going to stop but decided that we didn’t want to join a cult that day or cause any harm.  If you are not a Canadian or a true crime junkie then just google Lorena Bobbitt.  When your on the road for long lengths of time, you find humour in the dumbest things.

As I said we have a couple down days while waiting for the broker to do the importation process.  I was awake early as usual and got ready to go over and drop off the trailer and bike and left Kahlua and Lorie sleeping.  It took awhile to get things done but finally after a couple hours the trailer was parked to wait its turn to go to the border.  It should be back by 2pm tomorrow.  I returned and they were both still in bed but awake.

It was too late to head straight to the vets, so we sat around for a bit and went for 130 when they opened up again.  Of course, Kahlua did her thing and was trying to escape every time the door opened.  She wanted nothing to do with the Vets office.  Then she ended up looking like an angel compared to this poor husky that came in.  He got through the door and hit the ground and dug his nails in, he was not moving.  They couldn’t even drag him in and had to pick him up and carry him.  Then a lady came in with a cat in a carrier and the kitty was crying.  Kahlua’s little tail started spinning and she went over and stuck her nose to the carrier to tell the kitty it was okay.  When we were done, she ran to the car and jumped in, she was out of there!

We took Kahlua back to the room and decided to go for a late lunch/early dinner at Red Lobster.  After lunch we decided to stop at the Spirit of Halloween store to look at decorations and get AJ, my General Manager a costume for our Halloween party/ his birthday party.  Somehow, I knew the first pic I sent him would be the one he would want and I was correct.  But lord did we have a laugh looking at the different costumes, decorations and animatronics.  Speaking of Scooby, I almost got Kahlua a costume and we would have had our very own Scooby in the Mystery Machine.  There were some pretty funny costumes there and I managed to make Lorie jump while triggering a bog monster.

We wandered around the Dollarstore and the Five or below as Lorie believed they had way better stuff then we do in Canada but I didn’t see the difference.

We came back to the room and just relaxed for the rest of the evening.  Tomorrow we will reorganize the back of the Jeep before hitching up again as the doors don’t open when hooked up.  Then we will be ready for when they call to pick up the trailer.  When we get it back, we get to reload all the bins and boxes and get ready to head for the border on Wednesday morning.  I’m getting closer and it doesn’t seem like by the weekend I will be there.

Hasta luego

Racing for the border, Roswell, NM to Laredo, TX

 

RACING FOR THE BORDER

 

Woke up at 530 to find Lorie was still in the bed beside me.  I guess her people, the aliens didn’t come for her during the night and I would have to continue to bring her along for entertainment.  We rushed around and got ready and packed up and were on the road just after 6AM.  I wanted the early start so that we would get to Laredo as early as possible to unload the trailer into our room.

We made good time to our first stop in Pecos, Texas.  The roads were quiet and boringly straight so it was easy to do.  We joked about the lack of alien abduction but were otherwise quiet as it was so boring for scenery.  The cashier at the gas stop was very nice and she may have been flirting with Lorie.  While we were getting the dog loaded back into the car she came outside and gave us both a bottle of Icelandic water for the road and wished us a safe journey.  I think she wanted to come along.

We carried on the straight route through Texas and into Carlsbad when finally, we got a little change in scenery and road conditions.  Finally, we got into the hills and curves leading us to Sanderson, Texas.  Its not much of a town besides one store I have noticed each time I have gone through that makes all kinds of metal art.  We stopped at the gas station there and they had a taco shop attached to it.  We decided to grab a bite to eat to give us some energy for when we arrived.  Well, we both asked for a burrito and received more of a soft taco.  They put the meat on it, folded it and started wrapping it.  I asked about the topping and they said there were none.  Well, that is not a burrito.  So, they added some cheese, sour cream and pico then folded and wrapped it.  Still not impressed and I’m sure it will come back to haunt me soon. 

We carried on through this area that actually runs along the Rio Grande and Lorie was taking pics like crazy.  She got pics of the border guards sitting parked up on cliffs watching the river.  Pics of a trail that they rake with tires to watch for footprints and that also leave a trail of white dust footprints when someone walks through it.  Rock formation, the endless views and a squad of helicopters that were heading over the border.  Not sure if they were just watching or if they were up to something.

We made it into Eagle Pass with the gas light on and filled up for the last time today to get into Laredo.  It was still some long straight stretches of road but at least it was mixed in with a bunch of small towns and a different landscape with lots of trees.  We were stopped at an inspection centre along the way and asked where we were heading and they told us to be safe.

We made it to Laredo around 6 and got our room.  I had called last night to make sure I could get a room that I could get the trailer close to so that we could unload it.  Well we took in our bags to find the room was a complete disaster.  The window was broken and just had a screen and a piece of plexi glass leaning on it.  There were no lightbulbs in the lights, no towels, need I say more.  I went back to the desk and asked about the other rooms at the back of the hotel.  They were more expensive as they were newly renovated but I didn’t car as the one they gave us was not habitable.  So, we took the other room and went to get the trailer unloaded.  We managed to knock that out within a half hour.  I had to do this so that the customs broker can take the trailer and the bike to nationalize them.  Then they will return them and we can reload and take ourselves to the border.

Tomorrow morning, I will take them over and drop them off, then take Kahlua to the vet to get a screwworm certificate, then we will come back and relax until it is go time again.  We will cross the border on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Laredo is hotter than hell, at 38 degrees Celsius and a breeze has started but it is a hot breeze so does not help much.  Can’t wait to get to the beach and have the breeze to cool off.  Today we travelled another 1000 or so kilometers and in total from Parksville to here, we have done 3900kms in the 4 days on the road.

That’s about all for today, I’ve showered and am going to rest now as it has been a long haul.

Hasta luego

Hunting Aliens - Springville, UT to Roswell, NM

 

Hunting Aliens

Well, I got up at 530am and Lorie at 6.  We were able to pack up and be on the road by 630AM so we could get a jump on the day.  According to the map we had about 22 hours to drive in 2 days and we want to arrive in Laredo as early as possible as we have to unload the trailer so that it can go to the customs broker for import with my bike.

We made good time and got to Moab just after 9 and found someone to help with the trailer hitch.  I wanted to turn it upside down, so that it was more of a raised hitch instead of a drop hitch as it was lowering the backend of the jeep and the front of the trailer.  I attempted to deal with it myself last night, but I could not get the trailer jacked up high enough and then thought, if I did, would I be able to loosen the nut from the ball to replace it.  So, I gave up on it and decided to find someone at the first stop.  My idea worked perfectly, now everything is sitting straight and is towing way better, especially over bad bumps.  Those bad bumps are not scaring the hell out of the dog now.

As I so fell in love with Moab when I first drove through it last October, Lorie also fell in love with the town and the scenery.  It was the first time that she was snapping pictures every 2 minutes.  She admired all of the rock formations as well as the colours in the rocks.  She thought it was a little bit of BS that I wouldn’t stop or drive up a “mountain” (I use that word loosely) to get some for her to bring home.

We had a strange detour through the Navajo reservation.  I don’t recall it last year but maybe I did take it, as the road to the turn I recalled and then when I turned off of it the gas station I stopped at was there, so maybe I did.  It was pretty rough but all was well.  We did laugh that this might not be a good place for 2 white girls to be travelling on their own.  I said it was all good cause Pops is the last of the Mohicans and he would go to war for me!!

We had a pretty quiet day, just logging the miles.  There was a lot of long straight boring roads for most of the day but we did stop in Cuba, New Mexico that is and we did have a laugh at that due to the fact we didn’t have to fly or take a boat to get there.

After passing Cuba, finally the music selection changed and we kicked into a major singsong to Shania Twain and had it cranked right up.  Of course, I ended up singing to a bunch of songs after that and scaring the dog in the process.

As we got past Albuquerque and started heading to the small town that I thought I had seen alien lights, she insisted it was the aliens and not the windmills that I discovered on the return trip home. Lorie the forest witch, started noticing the change in the plants at this point.  She saw a few cacti and the size of others changed.

Well, we were on route, she checked out motel opportunities in Roswell and picked the winner. We are staying at the Roswell Inn.  It’s a little cliché but clean and comfortable.  We got our stuff in the room and then she decided to walk down the street to get a sub and try to meet her people.  She got back and was upset that they didn’t kidnap her.  All she wants is to see an alien and get taken with them back to her home planet.

My dog is a damn miserable diva; she is lucky Lorie is here to suck up to or I would make her sleep in the car as I don’t have a doghouse for her.  Kahlua is mad at me for uprooting her and making her do this drive again.  She has not eaten her dinner since we left but she has had a bit of our leftovers and some of her cookies. 

We drove another 1200kms today.  A very close friend of mine nicknamed me "Mileage Whore" as I logged so much mileage on my bike, but I guess I can do it in the Jeep also.  We plan on leaving early again tomorrow and get to Laredo as early as possible to empty the trailer.  Monday morning we will drop it off, find a vet to get the screwworm certificate for Kahlua and then try and relax until the import process is done.  It could be the same day or early Tuesday.  Then we have to reload everything and leave the next morning.  So at the latest we will leave on Wednesday morning and it should take 4 days to get to Progreso.

It’s time to relax and get some sleep so until the next edition, I will see you at the beach.

Hasta luego.