Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

playaboy

Nov 23, 2010, 4:58 AM

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Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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Donde esta, Roberto?

mensamia

Nov 26, 2010, 6:29 PM

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Re: [playaboy] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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he logged in on the 26th.

Reefhound

Nov 26, 2010, 6:38 PM

Post #3 of 7 (4694 views)

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Re: [mensamia] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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I checked the day this thread was started and he logged in then as well. Very odd.

azheat

Nov 26, 2010, 6:52 PM

Post #4 of 7 (4685 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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I just happened to see a post from him dated today on the rv.net
forum under the RVing in Mexico thread.

Here it is (hope it is permissible to link to it?--But I also
don't seem to know how to make it a live link. Oh well.)

https://rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24593641.cfm

Looks like maybe he hasn't gotten back into Mexico yet.

(This post was edited by azheat on Nov 26, 2010, 6:58 PM)

robt65

Nov 26, 2010, 8:38 PM

Post #5 of 7 (4658 views)

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Re: [playaboy] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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Hi All,

Sorry to keep you all on edge. I am sitting it out in the McAllen area right now, waiting for my mail. I just bought my travel trailer and I am waiting for the ownership title to arrive so I can get the permit for crossing into Mexico with it. In the mean time, I have been very busy trying to get some maintenance on both the trailer and the GMC Crew Cab, new tires for both rigs, brakes checked, alignment checked, viper alarm installed on the Crew Cab, food bought, Christmas and Birthday presents bought for the family, several visits to the VA clinic in Harlingen, TX, as well as a good bout with the flu.

I have pretty much decided which route to take, but still a little concerned about it, as I am traveling solo, with a new rig and through a port I have not been through before. I never do publish my route or travel dates and times, as I am a believer that we are not really alone on here.

I do appreciate your all's concern very much. It is comforting to know there are such good folks out there. My hole reason for this last trip NOB was because my home in Kentucky was hit by lightning, the resulting fire totally destroyed the home and I had to go back to settle things up with the insurance company. As you may have guessed things are not fast when dealing with insurance companies. Had full coverage so all turned out well. Still have a bunch of paper work to complete for reimbursmet of my trip north and south back home in Queretaro, again solely for the house fire. Ins company has to reimburse for that also. Local fire department in Kentucky requires the land owner to remove all debris from a house fire by a hazardous material permitted company and taken to an approved land fill site and all as to be documented to have the insurance company reimburse for that as well. I also have to replace many lost personal items and all this takes a lot of time. Sure am glad I had the insurance though. The replacement items works out well as it allows me to outfit the new travel trailer. All it takes is time. (smiling) Sure miss the family though.

I promise to provide a full road report, when I do arrive home. As soon as that travel trailer title gets to me I am out of here! . . . . and on my way home to my great wife and daughters.

Hope you all had a great thanksgiving.

With Respect and Gratitude,

robt65

robt65

Dec 20, 2010, 5:17 AM

Post #6 of 7 (4271 views)

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Re: [playaboy] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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I crossed Saturday morning (first day of Pizano (sp)) at Colombia # 2. I saw no evidence of "Mexicans being afraid" to travel. Many of them on SUV's all decked out. Read the paper and on Friday alone over 450,000 crossed that border alone. Same or more expected for Saturdays crossing. At six AM the entire 5 or 6 lanes of the freeway in Laredo were backed up for more than 8 miles and at a standstill. I hung a left and went through the Colombia # 2 crossing instead. More cops out than you can imagine to trying to move traffic along. Some Mexican travelers appeared to be traveling in small caravans of two or three. From my expierence of several years crossing now, that was not out of the norm. Only one Aduana checkpoint before Monterrey and one military checkpoint after that on my way to Queretaro along the auto pista.

What did shake my boots a little, was the prison escape of over 125 prisoners from the Mexican pen! Maybe just a "Christmas Break" (pardon the pun) as they maybe thay all promised the Warden to be back after Christmas! (smiling)

Well I finally got home last night after a real problem came up. I initially went to cross at Matamoros and Got my immigration stamped. Had my inspection for the trailer without problems. Had all my papers finally for both the travel trailer and the GMC. Then I was stopped cold!!!!!!!!!!!! The guy issuing the car and trailer permits absolutely not allow me to drive into México. He would not issue permits.

I knew my FM 2 was going to expire when I had to go back for the insurance company about the fire. I had Jimena contact the Immigration department here in Queretaro about both that and the fact that I had medical appointment for possible surgery in the USA. The lady was very nice and said not a problem as soon as I returned to make an appointment to come and see them. I tried to tell the guy at the border that and he wasn't hearing or didn't want to hear any of it. I even offered to call my wife and let them speak about it to her. No go! The nice lady at the immigration there in Matamoros, called me aside and told me to go to another crossing and use only my passport to come in as a visitor and then as soon as possible get that appointment with immigration in Queretaro and get things resolved.

I drove another six hours and stayed the night in Laredo then went to Colombia # 2 crossing the next day. Not only did they let me in and didn't even inspect the trailer (I always have a complete list ready of things to pay duty on), but because I was using my crutches they personally assigned me a guy that put me at the head of the line for immigration, duty, and car permits. This was on the busiest day of the year for Mexicans returning to be with their family's for Christmas. Probably had something to do with the fact I had sixty feet of curb space taken up by a truck and travel trailer and had to park at a not so convenient place, for them to do their inspections on other vehicles. Anyway in a total time of about 2 hours I was through and on my way.

I saw only the one Aduana checkpoint, again which I breezed through without so much as even a look inside. The highway was packed and I came (this new direction for me) without any problems. Only one other checkpoint near Monterey and was waved through that one. Stayed overnight in Matahuala at a good hotel with great parking, in room heater and immediate and pleanty of hot water for the shower. Anyway got home without any problems and it was great to be back with my family.

robt65

Reefhound

Dec 20, 2010, 8:24 AM

Post #7 of 7 (4238 views)

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Re: [robt65] Robt65, Did you make it home safely?

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Good to hear all worked well. How did you like the Laredo/Mty/Mx57 route versus your usual route? I'm curious why you didn't just use the other crossing in Matamoros or go to Los Indios?