There was a
little bit of paper work to do before entry into Mexico but it was all
available on the Internet. Tourist visas cost 500 pesos and lasted for 6
months. Vehicle insurance was mandatory but turned out to be cheap; $120 for
thirty days, $125 for 6 months. Just how good the insurance was and what it
covered was debatable. Gabby and Kevin went for the 180 days. They planned to
continue on to Belize and had to also complete the formalities for a TIP,
Temporary Importation Permit; a $200 re-fundable deposit to discourage
travelers from selling their vehicle and leaving Mexico without it. Rufus and
Melissa purchased 30 days insurance but did not need the TIP as Baja California
enjoyed an exemption from the bureaucracy.
There were
several options for crossing the border; none promised a quick easy passage but
Calexico, crossing to Mexicali, looked simplest. Kevin and Missy led the way in
the Mack, westbound on Interstate 8 from Yuma after south on Highway 95, then
south on Highway 7. The Leyland Daf struggled to keep-up but was only a few
cars behind as they joined the end of the line-up for the border. RVs filtered
right and each took a lot longer and the cars in the other lines. The vehicle
examination was more of a guided tour for the Mexican customs agent, every
cabinet inside and every storage box opened but not rummaged through with any
thoroughness. An hour later the pair of trucks were heading south on Mex Hwy 5
heading for San Felipe and Pete’s Camp, the iconic first night halt for
first-time new arrivals.
Parking just
yards from the Sea of Cortez, palapas by their side the four set up camp and
retire to the restaurant for a discussion about the final plans with a couple
of wood-fired pizzas and some Tecate Light.
“We can dump
and refill with fresh water here, there are a couple of supermarkets in town.
How long can you guys stay off-grid in the Leyland Daf?”
“About seven
days. Are we going to need any tools for this digging? We got a shovel.”
“ Yeah, we
need a shovel each. So let’s say we leave tomorrow and expect to stay out there
for a week.”
Lunch was at
Cow Patty’s loncheria with an interesting conversation about shark jaws with
proprietor and his customer. Random memorabilia and an old school bus were
incorporated into a structure held together by the stickers of numerous Baja
1000 racing teams. Next stop was Coco’s Corner, overnight stop and confirmation
of nearby fossils of interest.
 |
| Coco's Corner |
No comments:
Post a Comment