San Carlos and the trip to North Of the Border

Thursday, San Carlos

We called Joe and Christine and left a message letting them know that we had arrived. Gillian took the dogs out for a good walk up the hill to the viewpoint and then down again to the beach for Trekker to be treated to a swim.

While out she did a little shopping, including a couple of kilos of the best tortillas anywhere--thin, light and very tasty!

 Art realised that the windshield needed a proper wash, the quick wipe down last evening hadn't really done the job. Midway through he noted that a nut was missing from the dual arm wiper mechanism which meant that the passenger side wiper wouldn't work. Not that we had needed them for a while, but likely would in a week or so! A check at a couple of hardware stores found one that would do. The Oregon coast on the way home should be the proof!

Christine called us back and confirmed the plans for tonight; dinner at their place with several other Canadian couples. On the the way out we remembered to put 100 pesos on each of our Mexican phones which would ensure that we would have the same number when we returned in the fall.

Diner with Christine and Joe was as always a very enjoyable evening. We had met one of the couples before but not the others. As always, an interesting and stimulating evening of conversation.

Fortunately the evening had started at 5:00 PM so ended at a reasonable hour. Perhaps we would wake in the morning for a reasonably early departure.



 Friday, March15th

We woke in time and were on the road by 8:00 AM, half an hour earlier than last year according to the log book. This too would be a long day. We wanted an early start since we thought we might have a bit of a delay at Aduana (Customs) arranging the return of the deposit on Jeep, paid when we entered Mexico. We had had our credit card compromised and had been issued new ones, with, of course, new numbers.

A lot would depend on the state of the roads. Fortnately, they were generally in reasonable shape, even excellent shape with new concrete highways for fairly long sections, and of course, a few bits of not so great.

For the most part we were able to travel at the posted speed and made good time. It would appear that plans are in place, and being carried out, to double-lane the entire route between San Carlos and Santa Ana where we left the 15 for the 2, so of course we don't know the condition of the 15 north to Nogles.

Approaching Hermesillo we were surprised to find that the intersection which last year had directed Traffico Pesado (heavy traffic) to the right and a 30 Km detour around the city, was no longer so signed, it just indicated the route to a different town. So we carried on straight. We weren't too concerned as there were a lot of semis and other big rigs with us.

A couple of kilometers later on we discovered why we had been diverted last year: At the very busy intersection where we had to turn right there was now a very new overpass taking Centro traffic up and over the cross street and we kept to the lateral and had two lanes available for the right hand turn. For others taking this route, it is signed for Nogales, Periferico Sur, the same intersection as in previous years, turning right at the San Sebastian Hotel . There are signs for this hotel 2 kilometers before you get there as you approach Hermesillo.

It's a big city but we were through in 30 minutes, the streets being in excellent condition. Remember though the mostly 60 Km/H speed limit for many many kilometers! We arrived at the tool booth to the north of Hermesillo at 10:05.

Two uneventful hours later, at noon we turned right in Santa Ana onto Highway 2 towards the border at Sonoyta. We were hungry by this time and the log mentioned us taking our lunch break along here. As we passed a large Pemex we saw the two motorhomes that had left San Carlos just ahead of us, where they appeared to be doing the same.

We remembered there being many rest areas on this highway (a rarity in Mexico) and soon saw a sign at Km 9. However there was no way a motorhome could get in so we simply parked at the end of the merge lane at the exit. 

Here we realised that we still had some frozen chicken thighs in the freezer. Not allowed into the USA. Since the sun was shining brightly we decided to use the inverter to power our small slow cooker and filled it with the chicken, tomatoes, carrot, onion, wine and herbs, put it in the small sink to secure it, and turned on the inverter. Dinner for tonight already dealt with.

While we ate and rested the two motorhomes went past. Fed, dogs watered and walked, we moved on again, a few minutes to one o'clock.

When we first came this way the road was just being improved and there were many gravel detours. Today we find it is being improved again, this time, to a divided 4 lane highway. There were no detours, progress is being made, in fact nearing completion.

Half an hour later we decided that "discretion being the better part..." etc. we stopped in the town of Altar for fuel. The outside temperature was around 35 to 36 and it was getting a little uncomfortable inside, the dash air keeping us cool but not helping the dogs much so we had decided to start the generator and run the heatpump. The Onan runs from the main fuel tank, its pickup at the 1/4 tank level and we were past 1/3 already. We had filled up in Los Mochis, some 760 kilometers ago and with another 190 kilometers to go to Sonoyta where we planned to fuel was cutting things a little too closely.

Half an hour later arrived at the Mexican Customs point at the small town of Pitiquito, near Caborca, where we had to stop in order to turn in the temporary import permit for the Jeep. (The motorhome's permit is for 10 years and has another 5 to go). The problem here is there is no provision for parking on the north bound lane and no provision to turn around to enter the new complex!

We had checked via RV.NET with others. The advice given had been to enter via an unused exit and walk to the office and have an official come to the rig. We couldn't see where they recommeded to turn in, we think this unused exit may have been temporarily blocked off, or we simply missed it, so we went past and turned around at a nearby side road and entered from the north on a nice wide road.

As we entered there were signs directing traffic for customs straight ahead and car permits to the right. We took a look and it the permit area was obviously made for cars, but since there were very few cars there it looked like we could get in and turn around. First mistake: We didn't park in that nice wide area and walk down to check things out.

Down we went, then it began to look tight. We rounded the first corner OK but 2 and 3 looked really tough. Second mistake: We didn't stop and unhook. With a little toing and frowing we could have turned the rig around with ut the Jeep attached.

We rounded corner 2 with the Jeep riding up and over the high curb—no problem, it's a Jeep after all. Rounding the second corner the right front wheel of the motorhome also went up and over the curb. This was a triangular part so we were up and over very quickly. Then the rear wheels. Up and over, down with a bang sooner than Art had expected and it came down hard. But we made it. The Jeep followed without difficulty and we parked beside the little kiosk.

The VIN number was photographed, the decal removed, scanned and we were almost done. Normally the import deposit would be automatically refunded to the credit card it had been charged to. Since we had had a problem with our credit card and had a replacement DW had to go up to the main office to sort our the refund to a different card number. She had the folded old card and the new one, the official typed out an explanation as to what had happened which she signed, and hopefully the refund will show up. Only took 15 minutes.

I moved the rig back to the top where we should have stayed, parked against the right hand curb (heading east) just before the lanes to customs. One of the staff told Art that to leave he could just make a U turn and head out the entrance lane (which is very wide at that point) and enter the highway through a gap in the cones. Worked fine. Eventually.

In the Aduana office Gillian produced her old card, broken in half, and the new one, and the explanation. The official typed it all out, had her sign it and hopefully all will be well and the money will show up as a credit in a few days.



Some time later Art noted that the fuel gauge was reading lower than expected. He chalked it up the the extra power required by the dash air and the generator, which drew from the main fuel tank.

As time and distance went on the fuel gauge continued to fall. Then Art noted that the image in the rear view camera was becoming quite blurred, as it becomes in the rain. It didn't take too long for the light to come on: it wasn't rain, it was diesel oil! We were losing fuel! Probably due to the incident with the curbs at Mexican customs.

At the US border we were delayed about 15 minutes waiting for Agriculture, who relieved us of the few apples and oranges we had left.  We had 40 miles to go the Ajo, the fuel gauge reading about 1/3.

We had one more delay, US Border service. We noted that the vehicles ahead of us were subject to quite detailed questioning and inspection. Except for one car with BC plates.  When our turn came there were just a few questions, where had we come from, where were we going, where in BC did we leave etc and we were on our way in a minute or so.

We arrived at Ajo Heights RV Park well after their closing time but the owner came down and said that he was in a good mood tonight so we could come in! He has been known to become annoyed with later comers. Art said that he had a fuel leak and should get off his nice asphalt and was directed to a pull through space while Gillian stayed to pay the rent. We'll hope to find a mechanic that works on Saturday!