Sunday, May 17, 2009

Missing Mexico

I’ll edit this later but after crossing the border on Wed, we’re now near Knoxville, Tenn. We checked into a “resort” and it hit us when we were given the brochure that listed the “rules”. There are 20 something rules of behavior, every single one of which are common sense being a good citizen! How did we spend 60 days SOB and never received such a list? Oh, it’s personal responsibility!

Missing

  • The beautiful scenery, people, and food.
  • Temp…well, sort of…it was 100 in Catemaco and here it is 60!
  • Someone pumping the gas!

Not Missing

  • Toppes
  • Double trailers

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Run for the Border

Cartels put an RPG through the Jeep; Shot out the windows of the coach; Daniele kidnapped and held for ransom (Dinkus said he only had $700); Cops arrested me;  PEMEX pump jockeys robbed me blind; I and the dogs have pig flu but we barely got across the border at 1200.

PS: None of this happened…not 1 incident of any kind…nary a moment in 2 months where something did not just feel right.  Never a hinky feeling. 2466 miles in Mexico over 60 days. Every single person we encountered was as nice as could be.

This is a quickie update since so many of you thought that the stuff we wrote in the 1st para WOULD happen. I need to update the last few days, esp for RV’ers.

We left Cd Victoria at 0745 and arrived at Los Indios at 1200.  Daniele woke up by 2 very nice armed soldiers at the one check point. I forgot to tell them she was there…I was outside joking with the Lieutenant and Sergeants…sorry…it’s a soldier thing. I don’t know who was more surprised! :-)

Went in the Mex side to turn in Visas and hologram for the Jeep. No line at all! Took time to find the guy to come to the lot remove the hologram. Then went to the US side. 3 cars ahead of us. Very nice agent checked our passports and sent us to secondary (all RV’s go to secondary). Two very nice, yet thorough, agents walked through the coach and sent us on our way, after admiring the dogs. From the time that we arrived on the Mex side to the time we departed the US inspection: 36 minutes!!!

Now at Naval Air Station Kingsville TX restocking. Heading towards Richmond starting Fri.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Last Days at Catemaco (this trip!)

Awww…this fellow got invited to the cookout down at the beach

Fresh BBQ 

Well, we don’t know if he was the cookout, but he was at the cookout. And, it was only Friday.

We did another ride out to the beach but this time circled the entire route. Great and beautiful drive of 80 miles. The end was tiring because we were back on a main route and struggled to get past truck after truck climbing grades. Will do some pix in a slide show format for those that care.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

We Really Should Move On (?)

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MaƱana (not really)

Yep, still at Catemaco. Here’s a LINK that has interesting info on the area. We decided to stay here and explore some more, plus it will be too hot to stay at the beach. Their electric is not strong so we could not run the AC there. We’ve met some nice folks in the park. We do drives out into the surrounding areas and explore. We remain really impressed with here and think that this could become the southern command post.

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The beaches are about an hour away and the drive is beautiful. Very tropical here. We haven’t been able to get good lake pictures because of a haze that the camera doesn’t get through.

Plans: We’ll probably leave here on Sat 9 May and start working our way to the border to cross on the 13th.  From there we will  head to Richmond to help chase Eli while Chris recoups from his surgery.