Nogales Border Crossing/Hermosillo

Angelina's Version
Crossing the border at Nogales was easy. In Mexico the border crossings use a traffic light to determine who they are going to search. We luckily passed the red light green light tests. It’s funny how the world can be so different one block away. I must say I appreciate the U.S. sewage systems. Driving through a shanty town, my nerves on edge I explain to Dorian who is calm from experience that I am unaware of what lies ahead. This is my first trip though Mainland, Mexico.
Thinking about California, I reminisce about my repetitive life. As blessed as I was to be working at my dream jobs for nearly nine years and enjoyed the greatest people in my life, I have now come to the realization that my unknown frustration was actually boredom from everything being so predictable.
Our drive through the northern part on Sonora, Mexico was actually greener than we imagined, although longer than we hoped. We didn’t make it as far as we planned the first night. Dorian and I were on a race to the ocean. The sun won and we found ourselves driving at night. Just what everyone told us not to do. We only drove half the distance than we ha planned. We set up camp in Hermosillo at an RV park where we enjoyed a quiet night.
As we woke, to our surprise four goats came trucking down the hillside. Ivy was amazed. I could see her little brain thinking “Wow, those are some unusual dogs.” She went to go check them out. Walking slowly with caution she decided to leave them in peace. I was happy that she showed respect for other creatures around. While making breakfast we were entertained by two lizards battling to death for our dishwater that was poured against a nearby tree. We later packed up and headed south to continue our race to the beach.

















Dorian's Version
Staring at the winding highway stretching through the Mountains of northern Sonora I feel like our trip has finally begun. After leaving our friends the Sebastians, who graciously welcomed us into their home in Tucson, we rushed for the Nogales border. We decided to enter Mexico using the commercial truck crossing where traffic would be light and the road to customs the shortest. After blazing through customs and registering our vehicle we found ourselves at the precipice of our first foreign land. Looking over at Angelina our eyes said what words could not, and I hit the gas in excitement.

Gripping the wheel I keep a sharp eye on the big rigs attempting to pass. Our recent transmission woes had taught me to appreciate a truck that actually runs, and keeping El Grande Rojo under 60 was one way to extend her life expectancy. As the trucks jet by I work hard to keep us from drifting into the steep ditch that lines the road’s edge. Glancing at the setting sun I see it is quickly approaching the horizon and that we are going to be forced to travel at night to reach Sonora RV Park. Driving after dark in Mexico can be a bit hazardous to your heath as the police constantly harass tourists under the cover of darkness. I take a deep breath and contemplate whether or not the fifty dollars stashed in the ash tray will be enough to bribe our way to saftey.

“What do the directions say again”, I ask Angelina as I stare into the dimly lit road signs. In a somewhat anxious voice she replies, “It just said after the toll look for the Sonora RV Park signs”. I immediately imagine ourselves driving deeper into the dead of night with nowhere to stay and police fast on our trail. At that moment Angelina shouts, “There it is”. The barely readable Sonora RV Park sign quickly calmed my nerves and soothed my rising blood pressure. “Thank God”, I sigh in relief.

Pulling into the park we see that the office had long since closed for the day so we take our pick of the several empty spots. We decided to pull along side a large RV that could help shield us from prying eyes. I kill the engine, open the door and get my first real glimpse of this amazing country. The stars fill the night sky as the moon outlines the adjacent hillside. The sounds of the night echo all around. “Wow”, I say to myself.

Waking in the morning I step outside the door and see all that the night had cast in darkness. Desert hillsides dotted with giant saguaros stretched into an ever expanding desert. The sun shines down with an amazing intensity as goats trickled down the adjacent hillside. I quickly make myself comfortable on our outdoor mat and begin some light morning exercise as Angelina starts cooking breakfast. Our dog Ivy also begins to enjoy her new home as she inspects the goats that just traversed the hillside. What a strange sight they must be to her.

Half way though breakfast we are treated to amazing gathering of insects and reptiles that are enjoying the small pool of water created by our use of the outdoor tap. Two lizards square off in a challenge for water hole supremacy. Angelina and I are both amazed as they these two reptilian champions enter into a struggle to the death. As the larger of the two goes for the throat of his challenger Angelina shouts, “Oh my God”! The two tumble about in rapid succession and quickly disappear into the brush. After several moments the thrashing of their struggle subsides and the smaller of the two emerges as the victor.

Pulling away from the RV park I notice a large amount of smoke rising from the hillside beyond the junkyard that borders our campsite. Turning onto the toll road I spot a wildfire eating its way through the dead roadside brush and consuming large trees higher up on the ridge line. Smoke passes into our truck cab causing my eyes to water as the sunlight fades in and out amongst passing black clouds. My mind ponders the possibilities if we had lingered for a few more minutes longer at the breakfast table. Accelerating down the road I watch as the fire disappears into my side view mirror. In 30 years I had never scene a wild fire up close.