Goodbye to Mexico for a Few Months

WHERE ARE WE? Aransas Pass, Texas

We were up and on the road by 7:30 am because although we have a normal driving day, all the hiccups that can be had at the border can drag out the time.  We stopped to fuel just down the road and as I said things can slow down.  We got in line behind a local bus that was fueling, and the attendant had the nozzle set on the lowest position while he munched on a taco.  It took about 15 minutes to fill that thing with about 100 liters of fuel.  He had no cares in the world and actually after a while the van guys got out and went inside and got themselves a taco.  Did it bother me?  Not at all cause I am now a Canexican and am becoming accustom to these kinds of things.  Only thing I did wrong was I didn't go inside to get a taco myself!!!

We were about 200 kms from the border and everything moved along quite well.  We arrived at the Banjecito about 10:30 to turn in our TIPs.  I must admit that this was the quickest and most efficient TIP return I have ever been part of.  Normally they are quite thorough with their examination of the VIN numbers and that they match the paperwork, and when he only looked at 1 place for the VIN on RRV and I went to show him the second spot, he said not necessary.  A couple pictures and processed my return and we were off.  Jeff and Fany had the same luck with theirs.

But the US border was the opposite.  It was jammed packed and we had about 20 cars in front of us.  When we did get to the booth it was quite quick.  Guns? Alcohol, Fruit or Veggies, Tobacco??  That was it.  But both Jeff and I got sent to secondary for a quick dog check.  The girl came out with some frozen meat that was disallowed and a pound of frozen bacon from the butcher.  All were disallowed and they had to take them away.  I told the girl to fry the bacon because it was the best she would ever taste!!  She assured me that it is all incinerated on site!!  That was it.  Jeff had to pay $10 bucks for a bunch of tequila he brought with him.  Great experience all around but we wasted the best part of an hour there.  Sorry to all the people who thought Trump would meet us there and detain us for weeks and take our phones and then deport us after a sound flogging!!!  Didn't happen!!  LOL.

After we got done at the border, we needed some lunch.  So you can guess where we went.  No idea why we went there but I guess after 5 months one has to have a reality check.  Yup that will do for a while.

Then we were off down the road again.  We travelled south on #2 for 50 kms or so and it was a zoo.  I don't know where all the people come from and go to.  I could not live in this hum drum but it is fun to visit.  

Here is where we travelled today.  527 kms in total.

We arrived at Port Aransas about 6:30 local time.  We had lost another hour today.  We will soon have jet lag!!!  We bought a permit for $12 and we can now camp on the beach for a whole year.

Everyone, except me, gathered on the beach for an evening chat.  I had stuff to do, so passed.  I will get lots of sitting on the beach at Magnolia.  Thats where we are off to tomorrow.  It won't be such a hectic travel day as its only about 100 kms up the road.  

It was 33C for a high and 21C for a low today and tonight.  Spring has sprung!! Good Nite!!!