Day 5 Monterey to Fort Stockton Texas

 Well as I said, I was going to try and have a leisurely morning but I didn't.  I woke at about 7ish and still felt tired but instead of rolling over, I got up and went and had a super hot, high pressure shower to ease the aches and pains and to wake up.  I have to say it felt fabulous!  Now that I was semi invigorated, I got stuff packed up and ushered the dog and bags downstairs.  I hailed the Jeep from valet while I took Kahlua to do her morning business.  Came back and loaded the car and realized I left my water bottle in the room, so back I went before leaving.

Leaving town was a shit show.  I swear when I checked the map location of the hotel it was right off the highway but just as last night, again I had to drive all through town to get to the highway.  I think I saw every barrio in Monterey.

I finally got on the highway and away we went to the border.  I totally forgot about this on the way down in the blog but remembered this time and got a picture.  I managed to get a picture of one of the signs on Carretera 85D but not the other.

If you can't read the picture it says "Migracion de Mariposa Monarca"  in English, the Monarch Butterfly Migration Route.  The second sign states to slow to 60kms in the presence of the butterflies. I gushed when I saw the signs on the way down and one of these days I do plan to go see them in their natural habitat in Mexico.  Its hard to believe those little wings flapping to fly all that way.

I got to the border and most of my time was wasted on returning my TIP, Temporary Import Permit for the car and getting my refund.  I had to stop at one booth and she checked the papers and the VIN and took photos.  She then gave me new papers to take to the main building for the refund.  I had to go there anyways to get my stamp in my passport for leaving as a resident.  Then I had to stand in line and wait to exchange the paperwork for my refund of $400.  It took a while but got it done.  Took the dog for a quick walk as she was antsy and of course she took a shit in front of a National Guard.  LMAO  We got in the car and got in line to cross the border.  They only had one lane going in that divided to two but it only took maybe 15 minutes.  As I drove up I showed and scanned my Nexus card and when I got to the booth, I gave the agent my card.  She asked, where I was going, roll down the back window and do I have any meat products.  Canada, ok and no and I was on my way! Easy peasy for all you US naysayers.

I headed out and had to backtrack a little towards Laredo to get gas and then I was off.  Once I got onto highway 90 I was boogying at about 140kms.  Not much to see along this stretch of road but it was in better shape then 6 months ago.

As I was driving along, there was a fly that kept buzzing around and landing on the windshield.  Well all of a sudden a spider comes out of nowhere and he is chasing the fly.  This was quite amusing since my copilot doesn't talk to me.  As I was driving I watched this insect dance several times with the spider losing and the fly spending more time on the side window.  Next thing the spider is now on the side window and the chase resumes.  Wouldn't you know but this little spider makes a jump at the fly and catches him and the fly is not bothering me anymore.  So all of you afraid of spiders, leave them the hell alone as they have a job to do and get rid of the real pests!

Anyways, I made it to the destination I had in mind.  I would have liked to have gone further but the delay at the border put a stop to that.  So I will try and do my best to put in a full day tomorrow.  I haven't check the distance yet but I'm thinking about Moab.  We will see what happens.

Until then,

Bromistas y Deseos,

From Kahlua and I