Sunday, November 10, 2024

TURNED BACK TO THE U.S. AT THE NOGALES BORDER CROSSING❗❗ 🤷🏽‍♂️ Here's What We Did

 We've Taken This Route Numerous Times in A Motorhome

But This Was Our First Time in a Mexican-Plated RV
The Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, MX
Was NOT Welcoming to Us This Time!

What a frustrating and embarrassing experience trying to cross into Mexico at the Nogales Mariposa truck route! We’ve crossed in Nogales countless times without a problem, but not this time.

Day 1, October 24, 2024: First Attempt to Cross the Border into Mexico

We paid a toll to enter Mexico, and I thought all was well until a uniformed man soon waved us to the curb to wait. I was driving, so when the first Mexican border agent asked for my ID, I presented my Mexican driver’s license. He asked for the Tarjeta de Circulation card that shows my name and CURP number, Minnie Winnie’s VIN, and that the Casa Rodante (motorhome) had been legalized in Mexico. He studied them and walked away with both cards.

My Tarjeta de Circulación
ID Showing the RV Legally Licensed in Mexico

Over the next thirty or forty minutes, four Mexican border agents came to the window separately, waving the cards and firmly stating that this kind of vehicle was not legal to license in Mexico. We stood our ground, repeating that we are Mexican permanent residents and that the motorhome had been legalized with Mexican license plates for over a year before we drove it out of Mexico. We had followed all the rules and had all the required legal documents. I repeated to each agent that it was legal for us to return to Mexico with it.

There was much head-shaking and refusal to let us continue. The main guy used multiple excuses, including that the new Mexican president’s administration had changed the rules. He insisted that we had to return to the United States! The agents did not ask for or hint at wanting money, either as a fine or a bribe. However, the principal agent still held my identification cards as he told us decisively that we must return to the United States.

Crossing at Nogales, AZ (Mariposa)

I shook my head and asked for my cards back. He held them in the air and said he would give them to me after I turned the motorhome around and was on my way to the U.S. To add insult to injury, we had to pay a second, more expensive toll to enter the U.S. after we’d just paid the first toll to enter Mexico. 

Our goal was to get to our home in La Penita de Jaltemba, Nayarit, MX, before the U.S. election and any chaos that might arise. Now, we had to scramble to figure out how and where to cross into Mexico. How far east were we willing to drive to try another border crossing?

This was a blessing in disguise. This forced us to avoid Highway 15D through Sonora and into the state of Sinaloa. Our new route would bypass Culiacan, the city plagued with violence.

We drove 87 miles east to Bisbee, Arizona, a town we had always enjoyed. The Queen Mine RV Park had one site available when we called on our way there, so we reserved it. We planned to cross at Naco, AZ, after a nice dinner in town and a good night’s sleep. But by morning, memories of a previous crossing in Naco with a long, frustrating inspection caused us to change our plan again.

Queen Mine RV Park is Next to the Copper Mine Tours

Many people recommended crossing at Santa Teresa, NM. But we didn’t want to drive another 235 miles in the United States and then have to cross into Ciudad Juarez. We have never been to Ciudad Juarez and don’t intend to—that city has violence problems, too.

Day 2, October 25: Second Attempt to Cross into Mexico

We wanted to get to Mexico as soon as possible. So, on October 25, we drove twenty-five miles to Douglas, AZ, and crossed into Agua Prieta, Sonora. The agents were very polite at the Agua Prieta crossing. One agent checked my Permanent Residency Visa and Tarjeta de Circulation card, then waved us forward for an inspection.

The border dog checked our rig inside and out (for money, guns, and ammunition, not drugs, as Sally Schnurr kindly pointed out to me). An X-ray truck scanned all sides of the motorhome. One agent checked our passports. We offered her a Coke, but she said she was not allowed to accept anything. She politely sent us on our way. We happily headed for Highway 2 east in Mexico.

The Wall, Seen From Highway 2 in Sonora, MX

Mexican Highway 2 follows the United States border parallel to the wall. Ever wonder what the wall between countries looks like from the Mexican side? It’s that ugly brown scar crawling through and over the hills. It is such a sad symbol of the division between people.

We weren't stopped at any checkpoints as we drove Highway 2 east to Highway 10. But most of Hwy 2 is in terrible shape with countless potholes and steep, curvy, narrow sections where the asphalt falls away to the valley below. We had to share the road with many semis and saw no RVs for a good reason—that dangerous road requires good driving skills and a rig with excellent tires and brakes! We wouldn’t take that road again. Of course, we don’t plan to drive back to the U.S. again. Ever.

Entering the State of Chihuahua, Heading East on Hwy 2

We only made it 165 miles from Bisbee, AZ, to Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, on Hwy. 10 that day. Exhausted yet relieved to be in Mexico, we found a nice hotel, Hotel Trébol Inn, with a walled back parking area, well before sunset. Jon rented a room, explaining to the young, puzzled desk clerk that we wanted to park in the back lot for the night but sleep in our motorhome. We paid 950 pesos ($47US) and did not get a room key—the security and quiet, away from highway noise, was worth it.

Wine-Thirty in the Hotel Trébol Inn's Back Parking Lot
Hotel Trébol Inn's Pool that We Were Too Tired To Use

It Took Us About 6 Hours, With Border Crossing
From Bisbee, AZ, to Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua

Day 3, October 26: Nuevo Casas Grande to Ciudad Camargo, Chihuahua
We started driving early, which was easy since we were dry camping. We had a long drive ahead through the state of Chihuahua, a route we had never driven before, and we did not know what to expect. Hwy 10 had many potholes, so it was slow going for a short time. But the roads were excellent once we hit the Autopistas, Hwy 7D and Hwy 45D, and we drove 55 mph most of the time. Frequent toll booths slowed us down and cost us 949 pesos ($47US), but it was worth the price. There was little traffic and some mountain driving. We were not stopped at any checkpoints that day.

Autopista (Toll Road) and Mountain in Chihuahua
After 284 miles and over eight hours of driving, we stopped in Ciudad Camargo, Chihuahua, and splurged on one night at the Santa Fe Hotel on Hwy 45D, a nice place that charged us 1380 pesos ($69US). We again had wine and snacks for dinner, with our chairs set next to the motorhome in the fenced back parking lot and a view of the courtyard pool. We spent a peaceful night in our rig but were refreshed with a shower in our hotel room the following morning. The price was worth it for our peace of mind.

Staying on the Toll Roads Saves Time and is Safer

There's Minnie Winnie in the Back Parking Lot!
One of Many Darling Bronze Sculptures in the Hotel Courtyard

Day 4, 10-27-24: Ciudad Camargo, Chihuahua to Palacio Gomez, Durango (Near Torreón, Coahuila)

We allowed ourselves a late start after showers, so we only drove 190 miles on Toll Highway 45D on Day 4. Once, in the state of Chihuahua, some unidentified black-shirted men motioned us to a stop. They had a white pickup with flashing red and blue lights and generic markings on the doors. I only slowed the rig while Jon raised his phone to video. The man covered his face with one hand and waved us on with the other.

190 Miles from Ciudad Camargo, Chihuahua to 
Palacio Gomez, Durango (Near Torreón, Coahuila)

There was one official stop by police just before we crossed from Chihuahua State into Durango State. As the officer approached the window, I stopped the RV and rolled my window down a few inches. The officer asked for my driver’s license. Jon questioned the kind of official he was, and the officer showed us his ID badge. I presented my Mexican driver’s license, which he studied thoroughly. Then he returned it to me and waved us on.

Parking with the Trucks at Hotel La Hacienda

Not everything is glamorous while RV traveling in Mexico. That evening, we had trouble finding a hotel that didn't have a low archway over the driveway. We were grateful to pull into the Hotel La Hacienda parking lot in Palacio Gomez, Durango (near Torreón, Coahuila). We paid the hotel manager 200 pesos ($10US) to park with the trucks in their parking lot. It was walled, easy on and off to Hwy 40D in Durango, and quiet at night after the road noise settled. There was even a shade tree to set up our chairs and Sophie’s blanket for a glass of wine before eating leftovers for dinner.

Day 5, 10-28-24: The Durango Highway to Mazatlán

What a drive on the Durango highway to Mazatlán! So challenging! It has been about ten years since we last drove it, soon after it was completed. We’d forgotten how beautiful those mountains are. And what a masterpiece the highway it is, with so many tunnels and bridges!

We are thankful for Minnie Winnie—for an onboard potty, a fridge/freezer that stocks enough leftovers for four to five days of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and because she made that tough drive without a problem! Her new tires and brakes worked flawlessly.

We were tired after that difficult drive, stuck behind a truck for many miles and unable to safely pass. It was wonderful to arrive in Mazatlán before sunset. I’m grateful that Trailer Park Las Jaibas is still open and has a refreshing pool. We stayed for four nights to rest before driving home. It was a long but safe bypass around Culiacán, Sinoloa.

A Long, But Safe Bypass Around Culiacán, Sinoloa 

Trailer Park Las Jaibas was a Welcome Resting Place

Day 6, 11-1-24: Mazatlán, Sinaloa to La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit

It’s worth noting that we take a longer but safer route from Mazatlán to La Peñita. We prefer to bypass the small town of Xalisco, Nayarit (near Tepic) and the old Highway 200. So we force Google Maps to go toward Jala to stay on the toll highways, 15D and the new 70D. The tolls seem expensive, but the cuota roads are much safer and faster, in our opinions. We drive slower than most people, taking it easy with our motorhome, but we made the 285-mile drive in about eight hours and arrived well before sunset. Happy and healthy.

Our 285-mile Route from Mazatlán to La Peñita

Thank you for reading my blog article. I look forward to your comments below. In my Healthy Living in Mexico books, I share our other travel experiences and life as expats here. View my Amazon Author Page to see all eight of my books. I hope you enjoy them. 

Available in all Amazon Markets
Terry L Turrell, Author and Jonathan Turrell

Friday, September 13, 2024

Motorhoming from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Mexico to Oregon

 Outrunning the Heat and Wildfires to Reach the U.S. Coast

Minnie Winnie at El Mirador RV Park
At Playa Huatabampito, Sonora, MX

This is our first RV trip back to the United States since we drove our Regency Class C motorhome to Arizona to sell it in early 2020. (You can read about that trip at OUR LAST RV TRIP IN MÉXICO AND WHY! New Travel Plans) Minnie Winnie is making her first road trip from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Mexico to Oregon. As with all adventures, some unexpected events in the U.S. slowed us down.

Driving To Mazatlán, We Loved Seeing
The Green Hills and Fields from Recent Rains  

The New Toll Road from La Peñita to Mazatlan was Great!
We enjoyed most of our usual stops along the Mexico Pacific coast, though it was so hot we decided to cut each stay short. We only spent two nights in Mazatlán, one night on the beach at El Mirador RV Park in Playa Huatabampito, and then bypassed a favorite, San Carlos, Sonora. Instead, we hightailed it to Punta Vista RV Park in Santa Ana, Sonora which left us a short run to the border the next day.

Passing the Lines of Cars at the U.S. Border Crossing!!

I was uneasy about crossing the border as Americans with Mexican Permanent Resident Visas driving an RV with Michoacan, MX plates. To make matters worse, we missed the Mariposa crossing exit and drove through the center of Nogales, MX, where RVs are forbidden. Fortunately, a trinket vendor told us to get in a dirt lane along the railroad tracks because RVs and buses won’t fit through the Nogales centro entries. We received a gentle scolding from the U.S. immigration officer for not crossing at the Mariposa truck crossing, but he was kind as he checked our passports and wished us better luck following Google Maps next time.😅

Our border crossing went smoothly, and we entered Arizona! A whole new kind of heat awaited us--blistering hot and bone dry.

Driving into a Dust Storm in Buckeye, AZ

We outran the Arizona heat and plowed through a dust storm near Buckeye, AZ—we didn’t stop in Arizona except to change drivers and grab a snack from the fridge.

The Arizona and California Heat Finished This Tire OFF!

It was my turn to drive through San Bernadino, California when the heat caused a massive front tire blowout. Jon said I handled the rig well, braking smoothly and pulling safely to the shoulder. We sat there only thirty minutes after calling for help when a roadside assistance guy arrived. Jon enjoyed helping the serviceman remove the wrecked tire and put on our spare, even in that scorching hot weather!

Jon Helped Change the Flat Tire on the Side of the Freeway

It was time to buy a complete set of new tires. We drove slowly to the closest Les Schwab Tire Center in Fontana, CA, and got five new tires (darn, they didn't have all 6). The guys were great, working until 8:00 to get us back on the road. They warned us that our brakes were in dangerously poor condition and needed to be replaced.

So, we drove slowly and carefully for hours after sunset to reach our reserved Santa Barbara campsite. It was good practice to downshift and use the Tow Haul rather than our brakes to slow our speed. We were glad to have missed rush-hour traffic. 

Four Days of Driving from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit
To the Fresh, Cool Air of Santa Barbara, California

A Santa Barbara Sunset Viewed from the Wharf

I feel a special connection to Santa Barbara because it is Puerto Vallarta’s sister city. The palm trees, the Pacific Ocean, delicious fresh seafood, sunny weather, and beautiful beaches make us feel at home. The Sunrise RV Park was an excellent central jumping-off place for walks and Uber pickups.

How We Choose Our Camping Sites in July and August:

1. We wanted to be near the California and Oregon Coasts to avoid the heat and wildfire smoke typical in late summer. Our RV air conditioner can't keep the rig cool in temperatures over 82 degrees, so we're hugging the coast. (We'll be solving that later.)

2. Within walking distance of restaurants so we can get exercise and tour the area on the way to lunch or dinner. Or, we want access to bus, Uber, or taxi services to get around since we don't have a car.

3. I search for areas with views of blue water, such as the ocean, bay, lake, or river. This gives us a dose of Blue Mind (or Blue Water Effect, as I like to call it), a calming effect that improves mental health.

4. After our dash north through Mexico, I wanted campgrounds or RV parks that allowed us to stay for three to four days so our travel would be relaxing and unhurried.

Four Days in Santa Barbara and a Walk to East Beach

Two Nights at Morro Dunes in Morro Bay
Three Nights at Moss Landing RV Park, CA
Near the Marina and Several Good Restaurants
Four Nights at Casa de Fruta RV Park 
Near Gilroy, CA, Recovering From Covid
Lots of Walks in the Country

Then, it was time to find the next Les Schwab to purchase our sixth tire and new brakes for all four wheels. Minnie Winnie will be ready for many more Mexican miles after replacing all four brakes and six tires at Les Schwab.

Jon "Supervised" the Brake Replacement

He Was Amazed at How Large the Rotor/Hubs Were 

We were so glad to be able to have this work done while in the U.S., where they could obtain these parts. It was a big job, but they did it in one ten-hour day! Jon says we're rebuilding her from the ground up. 😀

Time to Get Back to the Coast of California!
Two Nights at the Porto Bodega Marina
RV Park Bodega Bay, California
Two Nights at Caspar Beach RV Park
We Caught the Local Bus From Caspar Beach To
Historic Mendocino, CA, Where We Shopped and Ate at
A Favorite Pub, Patterson's--Good Memories 💚
One Night, Walks, and Picking Wild Blackberries
The Ancient Redwoods RV Park Near Eureka, CA.
We Finally Arrived in Oregon!
Two Nights at the Brookings, Oregon Beachfront RV Park

Seven Nights In Bandon, Oregon
We Ate Lots of Delicious Dungeness Crab Cocktails
And Tony's Famous Crab Sandwiches on the Boardwalk
We finished Creating the RV Bed's Headboard
 To Match the Bedspread From Puerto Vallarta

Five Nights at the Port of Siuslaw Campground and Marina
In Florence, Oregon, One of Our Favorites
We Discovered New Darling Buildings While
Walking Around the Florence Historic
District. ❤️ The Hanging Flower Baskets
One Night Camping with Electric Only
At Three Rivers Casino, Florence, $30!
No More Free Boondocking Here
Six Nights at the Port of Newport Marina
RV Park With a Beautiful View of
The Yaquina Bay Bridge
On Another Walk, We Discovered Nye Beach
In Newport, Oregon, and Rested at
The Taphouse with a View of the Water
A Rare, Warm Day at the Oregon Coast
Sitting on an Outdoor Patio at Nye Beach
We Recommend This Restuarant on the Newport Bay!

Four Nights Over Labor Day Weekend At
The Logan Road RV Park Owned By This Tribe
Lincoln City Weather was Gray and Rainy
We Spent 42 Days On the U.S. Coast,
Between Santa Barbara, Time in RV Parks On
the Way North, And In Lincoln City, OR
We Like Leisurely Coastal RV Trips In the Summers

Time to Go Inland to Visit Our Family
Hoping For Cooler Weather and No Smoky Skies

Clear Skies Would be Hit-and-Miss as
We Dodged Forest Fires On Our Trip
Down Memory Lane in Oregon.
Burned Forest From Santiam/Detroit Fire 2020
We Found Blue Skies in Rogue River, Oregon😊

I'm Thinking of Changing This Book Cover:
To This Blue Version. What Do You Think?

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Cheers,
Terry