Getting to Mexico

Of course, we are now in Mexico, on the Sea of Cortez, enjoying a relaxing time at a luxury resort far removed from the tourist experience of Cabo or Puerto Vallarta or Cancun. But getting here had its challenges.

When we pulled away from our RV park in Indio, we fully expected to store our RV at a facility nearby – having made arrangements back in September. Ha! Weren’t we surprised when they said their renovations weren’t finished and they couldn’t store the motorhome until January or February. We called around and didn’t find anything close, but did find a place in El Centro, CA. OK, that could work, it was on our way to the border crossing at Tecate.  Panic, followed by Relief!! When we get there, they tell us they only have one place left – one place designed for a much smaller rig, but, oh well, Lew is really good at parking this thing. Oops! Was that a mirror we just crunched on the other RV? Surprise! They found us another spot at the end and we spent time on the phone as we drove into Mexico figuring out how to pay for the damages. Luckily the other people were very nice.

And then there was the border. We’ve never driven into Mexico, but we did assume that someone would meet us at the border and check our passports. Then, we could ask them where to get the FMM we needed to drive in Mexico. No one met us. No one cared that we drove in. Before we knew it, we were out of Tecate and on our way to Ensenada (where we had hotel reservations). It was getting dark, so on we went. No FMM. No stamp. No Passport control. We felt like illegal aliens.

We spent two nights in Ensenada – relaxing, but for the constant worry that at any minute they would find us and throw us in jail. We tried getting the requisite forms, but after miles of walking from one office to another and getting the bureaucratic run-around, we gave up. Got the forms online – or, we paid for them and Lew got his, but mine never came. And, of course, there is no stamp. People have told us that no one ever checks, so we are driving very carefully and hoping we can make it back to the USA next week with no repercussions. 

The drive from Ensenada to Guerrero Negro was harrowing – mountain crossings, road construction delays, teacher protests on the road, potholes, slow trucks and fast cars, and cows on the highway.  But we made it unscathed and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way when we could.

From there to Loreto was shorter and quite beautiful with an amazing array of cacti and other unique desert plants – and much less frightening. It is good to be here. Glad to see friends from Anacortes, who have showed us around, and very glad to have Sandi, Dylan, Andy, and Sarah (Sandi’s Danish helpmate) join us. It’s been a relatively relaxing week at a beautiful resort – we’ve hiked, walked on the beach, read, swum in the pools, had a few margaritas, taken trip up into the mountains to visit one of the oldest missions in Baja, and generally enjoyed ourselves. Preparations are being made for Christmas – note our little Christmas Tree. We’re hoping Santa will find us in Loreto.

 The grandkids and our tiny Christmas tree.  Santa, note the tree location

 Beachfront, mountains, quiet cove -- what could be better?