Crossing the Border 12.16.21 and Home 12.18.21

       This morning had a different flavor as we gathered for our briefing just before 8:30 am. Dave and Darlene told us that we had about a 3.5 hour drive and would arrive at the border around noon. We would be finding our way though Mexicali and it's many stop lights and turns to get to our destination. Darlene had even made copies for all of us of pictures and direction of the turns to find our way across Mexicali to the crossing. It felt strange to know the next time we hooked up would be in the U.S. and not Baja. 

       The travel up from San Felipe wound through the mountains and then would drop down and follow the coast. We saw many little settlements of trailers and homes that ranged from very temporary to more strongly built cement block houses. These coast areas are in fairly easy reach of people coming from the northern border for a stay in Baja on the playas. These areas in places looked as though they had endured some strong weather and, perhaps, a hurricane or two. As I mentioned before, it is difficult for a non-citizen to own land in Mexico, so many have long term leases which mean if they are not renewed the house you build reverts to the land owner. It is now unusual to have leases for as long as 100 years. 

     Darlene was our heroine getting us through Mexicali. Thankfully, we were able to negotiate the numerous lights without losing anyone to the city. We were all seeing huge maquiladoras that covered blocks, much larger office buildings and numerous truck distribution centers. This is the busiest place we have seen in Baja. It is a major place for commerce. The traffic was heavy and it was a busy Thursday morning. Darlene proved her mettle when we found the sign we needed to make our correct right turn toward the border was either changed or no longer there. We were by it before anyone realized it. When Darlene did, she barely betrayed any concern, just a little voice shake, as 7 vehicles were looking to her for directions. She immediately pulled up the usually trusty google maps and carried on. She brilliantly got us through heavy traffic and found a way to the border. A little glitch was that we were headed in the wrong direction to make the turn into the waiting line. So "easily" solved by a U turn by all. This included Bill and Liz Class A and our two Class C RV's. 

    Now, in line we waited, surrounded by vendors, for nearly two hours. We slowly creeped along. Kristina and Paul were behind us, holding their breathe about Kristina's lost passport. When finally began to go through the border process, each of our trailers or RV's was checked out, and Jim and I were confident that our passports and Trusted Traveler cards would have us sail through the process. Not so much! As it turned out, I thought I had activated my TT right after we got them November 2019. Mine was not activated but Jim's was so no problem. So we were held on this technicality and told to go to second inspection process. They pulled us into that area. We were asked to leash our dog and stand outside as they opened our hood and reinspected the trailer. I was standing outside the trailer with ferocious Tucker on a leash when Paul and Kristina sailed by in the cleared lane. They waved and we all had a laugh. She had had no problems with a copy of her passport, and her California drivers license. We, in turn, had over identification, one with a technical problems so we were next to last through. George and Mary with their camper shell pickup and trailer with the quad also had a more in depth looking over. 

    We now headed to the service station area over the border to meet up. We had said good bye at a rest stop before we got to the border. Diane and Kirk as well as Euclid and Ruth were going right on when they were across the border as they had many miles to cover as they crossed the midwest. They hoped to be home in time for Christmas. For Euclid and Ruth that home was in Alberta. Diane and Kirk were headed to British Columbia. Those of us who gathered for gas, some Jack-in-the Box food which tasted like cardboard to our Baja palates and said another good bye. Darlene and Dave also needed to get on the road so we separated for the last time with only Kristina and Paul going on with us to the Desert Winds RV park in El Centro.  We had some time to rest, take a good shower, and then go to a Korean BBQ place. 

    We had a very enjoyable, really fun meal. There was a propane grill in the middle of the table. We selected meats or fish that had been prepared for us to cook and share. It was all amazing food shared with a bottle of Kendal Jackson wine. It provided a lovely end to a good adventure.

    The next morning, we were up early to leave for Bakersfield and Kristina and Paul to Pomona to visit an old friend of Kristina. Frida,  the 17th, for us was simply a long drive on familiar roads with a short stop in Westmoreland for Jim's favorite date shake. We arrived a our familiar Orange Grove RV Park outside of Bakersfield. It is often our stop when we are headed south or coming back as it puts us a day's drive to home. They always have fresh donuts at 8:00 am for your drive in the morning, good dog parks and oranges for the picking. We had sweet oranges for breakfast and took a few home with us. Saturday morning, we were out by 8:30 am, with only us since the start of the trip since we had driven down to Potero with Kristina and Paul. It was with mixed feelings that we pulled into our cul de sac. It was lovely to see and enjoy the house and, most of all, Rachel, but it has been an adventure full of surprise, new experiences, and an exercise in learning about the people of Baja California Norte y Sur. It will take some time to process the many experiences. One thing for certain, I for one, will speak up about the stereotypes promulgated in the U.S. about our neighbors to the south. They for one thing have few who argue against the dangers of Covid. They wear masks, many times, both indoor and out. They have worked to make vaccinations available even in small towns and villages.