San Luis Rio Colorado and the paperwork.

Thursday Nov. 21, 2013…and Friday and Saturday.

It was a bit cold on Thursday morning so we didn’t head off on our ride to the border until about 11am.  We got all our Mexican paperwork done last year while we were in Yuma and it worked out well.  There has been a lot of confusion at the Lukeville crossing over the past couple of years as to where to get your tourist visa and then your vehicle import papers and this just simplifies things for us.  We have time and we always enjoy a bike ride anyway. 

We left the bike parked in the Chase Bank parking lot and walked over the border.

Heading down the street to the border.

Last picture before I hit the sign that says “ No cameras!”

We were quickly directed to the immigration office by a helpful Federalie who went out the back to find the front office worker.  It was now lunch time so we had to wait a few minutes.  Very relaxed at this crossing.  Our Visa’s were quickly filled out by the bi-lingual young man at the desk and we were off to the Banercito to pay.  Again very efficient bi-lingual young women at the desk who quickly handled our vehicle importation.  She did not make us go back and have our Visa’s stamped before doing our vehicle importation documents but said we could do it after.  That saved some time.  We had a conversation with a couple (Dwayne and Betty) from Drumheller, Alberta who travel to San Carlos but are interested in coming to Mazatlan.  Nice people and maybe we’ll see them in Las Jaibas.   Back to immigration to have the Visa’s stamped and we were on our way. 

It is a very convoluted walk back across the border and it would be easy to get lost.  There was a huge line-up as we approached the USA foot crossing but luckily it must have been farm workers waiting for a bus and we weren’t held up.  We met a really funny Mexican who crossed when we did….reminded us a lot of Cheech Marin and maybe smoking what he smoked too!  Funny guy. 

We had lunch at the only restaurant in Somerton and it was as mediocre as last year.  We both had a plate of Chinese food for a modest $5.95 but it really wasn’t very good.  Eric just has the worst luck with food.  His chow Mein had no noodles and was only bean sprouts and chicken.  Now he likes bean sprouts but this was ridiculous!  Last time he had carnitas and the beef was all gristle…and I mean all gristle!  We’d better find another place to eat. 

It was a good thing that we rode to the border on Thursday morning because by Thursday night we had a “Desert Storm!”  Huge sheet lightening, thunder that shook the rig and pounding rain.  It continued most of the night and then on Friday it just rained and was cold.  We could have stayed home for this!  We have never seen rain like this in Yuma but the good news is the rig and truck are now sparkling clean. 

Friday was Eric’s birthday and I gave him two things he wanted.  I bought him a new Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar for 2014 (he just loves those girls) and a new pocket watch.  I found him a watch at Wal-Mart for $10 and it is just perfect and it even has a motorcycle on it.  The good one I gave him many years ago keeps time sporadically so now he’ll know when it’s time for happy hour! 

We went over to Bill & Arlie’s for dinner last night and I cooked.  They are always very generous allowing us to  have packages shipped to them and they have us over for dinner as well.  It was my turn.  I made a big pan of chicken enchiladas before we went over to their house and then all we had to do was bake them while we had happy hour.  They were unsure what enchiladas actually were but I made them not too spicy and I think they enjoyed them. 

Today we amused ourselves by purchasing our Mexican vehicle Insurance on line.  I looked at it a couple of days ago and all our old policies were there which would have made the whole process easy but yesterday when I tried…..they were gone.  Hugely frustrating.  That meant I had to re input everything and it is a big job.  I prefer to do this myself and not have an agent do it as if any mistakes are made I want them to be mine!  In the end it was done, copied and finished. 

Next I printed out my Christmas letter and that was a huge hoopdedo as well as all the new software programs have way too many bells and whistles.  I like my programs simple and I don’t need a bunch of help.  The letters were inserted in the Christmas cards and we were off to mail them.  Done and another thing off my list.

Oh and by the way the software fix that Eric got for the TV in the rig didn’t work.  The tech says we’ll have to send it in for repairs.  Right, like that’s going to happen.  It’s a piece of junk, but it’s our piece of junk and we’ll make do for now.  Eric can usually coax it to life and it is fine once we are parked and it doesn’t get unplugged. 

Tomorrow is Sunday and I thought we’d be leaving for Why, AZ in preparation for our crossing into Mexico but…..one more day.  I need to get the laundry done and relax as all of this week has been way too busy.  That’s the good thing about our schedule….we don’t have one! 

Today the weather is cloudy with some sun and cold.  It will be better farther south.