We are now into the United States!

But boy, they don't make it easy. Having been to 34 different countries, we have crossed a lot of borders. The United States makes things the most difficult.

And of course we have to put up with the border circus because it's part of travel. But sometimes it just makes you shake your head. Such as it was yesterday.

We left our toll booth overnight spot in Monterrey and took the exit north towards Laredo, Texas. Easy drive that we've done quite a few times before. But we take the bypass around Nuevo Laredo to the west and go to the Colombia Bridge crossing.

Leaving Mexico.

And entering the U.S.

Doesn't look too busy, does it?

We use the Colombia Bridge crossing because it's easy, there's lots of room, and we've never seen it busy.

As you enter the border station from Mexico, there are signs that say "Cars" this way, and "Trucks and Commercial Vehicles" another way. Doesn't say anything about RVs. So we go into the car lanes. Lots of room, and the height restriction is listed at 15 feet something. Like I said, lots of room.

Kenny and Gail had carried on to use the Mission, Texas crossing, so it was down to just the two rigs... us, and James and Karen.

We're in the car lanes, and there are maybe five or six vehicles in front of us. But these two border guards come out and walk our way. They tell us we have to back up, and use the truck lanes because they want to x-ray our rigs.

Okay, so we do that. Then he points over to where the trucks are lined up and says we have to go in the line with them, and through the trucker lanes. He tells Ruth and Karen that they have to get out and go sit inside and wait.

And wait they did... it was about an hour before we got through. They give you a red sheet that you have to get stamped. James went ahead and did the x-ray (they were not x-raying any of the trucks... just us!) and the guy told me I had to get x-rayed, and then go to PC. I have no idea what PC means, but I think it might be pre-clearance. Anyhow, James got x-rayed and he was allowed through and over to where Ruth and Karen were waiting. I got done with the x-ray, and had to find "PC".  But there are a ton of buildings around, and none of them are marked PC. It's a real circus. I had to get out and ask a few people, and everybody I asked said "Why do you have to go there"?

I had no idea. Just doing as I'm told.

I finally found the desk with the guy who claimed to be PC. He took my red sheet and my passport and disappeared. Then he came back about 20 minutes later and said he didn't have the computer necessary to process my passport, and he was waiting for a phone call. I guess the call finally came and he gave me everything back stamped and good to go. No idea what that was about.

The entire process took two hours. Oh well. It is what it is.

We stopped for fuel in Encinal, and filled up at $2.39 a gallon ($0.82 per liter CAD). We purposely arrived at the border nearly empty because gas is so much cheaper in the U.S.

Then we parted ways with James and Karen, and are finally back on our own. We had a lot of fun with the group, but it's great to be able to do our own thing again.

We drove to Chaparral Wildlife Management Area. We've stayed there before. Nobody around but us!

Our spot in the shade.

GPS 28.293317, -99.388089

This Harris hawk was watching us arrive.

This little butterfly (a Hackberry Emperor), came and drank some of Ruth's rum punch.

He lost all inhibitions after that, and had no problem crawling up onto Ruth's finger!

Lots of wildflowers.

And so, we are back in the States. Mixed feelings, but we're looking forward to exploring more of Texas State Parks with our annual pass. We'll spend a couple of weeks here waiting for things to warm up a bit in Canada. Then we'll head back up to Cabri Park where we will work for a couple of weeks training the new managers. Then... north to the Yukon!

Yesterday's drive, 347 kms (215 miles).

Hope you enjoyed Mexico, and that you'll stick with us through our summer travels... lots more adventure coming up!

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