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Week 5
Day twenty eight, Sunday 12/16/2007 I drove 282km from Manzanillo, Mexico, N19 06.266 W104 20.057 to Tepic, Mexico, N21 31.275 W104 55.508 When I got to Tepic I stayed in a Hotel across the street from where I stayed on the way south. I did not want to eat at the gas station again, so I walked about a mile down a side street and found a grocery store where I bought fried chicken again. I then walked back to my room and ate the whole chicken. This room did not have hot water or internet.
Day twenty nine, Monday 12/17/2007 I drove 679km from Tepic, Mexico, N21 31.275 W104 55.508 to Navojoa, Mexico, N27 05.379 W109 26.722 I have now crossed the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle, just the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn to go. Arriving in Navojoa I stayed a a Hotel near where I stayed on the trip South. I ate at the same Italian pizza restaurant as before. The Hotel had internet and hot water. The evening temperature is getting noticeably colder as I drive north.
Day thirty, Tuesday 12/18/2007 I drove 650km from Navojoa, Mexico, N27 05.379 W109 26.722 to Santa Ana, Mexico, N30 32.389 W111 06.846 This sign made me start to relax, I think I can find my way home from here. On the return trip I decided to stay at different Hotels than on the way to Panama. Here in Santa Ana I stayed across the street from where I was on my first night in Mexico. I ate at the same restaurant as before. the Hotel had internet and heat. I was freezing.
Day thirty one, Wednesday 12/19/2007 I drove 597km from Santa Ana, Mexico, N30 32.389 W111 06.846 to Yuma, Az. USA, N32 41.825 W114 36.974 Mexico, After crossing the US-Mexico border at Sonoyta. USA, I stopped in Ajo, Arizona To see the Airport named for a guy I knew in El Cajon many years ago. He moved to Ajo, and was the Airport Manager. When he died the airport was named for him. I stopped in Yuma at the same Motel 6 as before.
Day thirty two ,Thursday 12/20/07 I drove 308km from Yuma, Az. N32 41.825 W114 36.974 to Jamul, Ca. N32 43.0265 W116 52.6273 I was happy to get home and relax. Tonight I sleep in my own bed.
I made it home without any major mishaps. It took two washings to get the grime off the car. It will take another one to make it look good again.
Friday, 12-21-07 I drove the car to Tecate Mexico to get the Customs paperwork done that I neglected to do when I crossed into the USA. They would not do it in Tecate, telling me I need to go to Tijuana. Still trying to get the Car permit taken care of, I drove toward Tijuana but instead tried the Otay border crossing. They too said I had to go to Tijuana. I came on home after waiting for over two hours in the line to get across into the USA.
Sunday, 12-23-07 My wife and I drove my truck to the Tijuana border and walked across to the Customs office, trying to get them to close the permit without seeing the car. They would not do that, I must bring the car to Tijuana. It took a couple of hours waiting in line to walk back across the border. No wonder people sneak across.
Monday, 12-24-07 The day before Christmas and the last day before my Mexico car insurance expired I drove the Model A across the border into Tijuana to the Customs office. There was little traffic and the paper work was completed in a matter of minutes. The line to cross back into the USA was hours long. I decided to drive on east to the toll road to Tecate and cross there. When I arrived in Tecate only six or seven cars were in front of me. I crossed with no problem and came on home. It took me four days to get the car permit taken care of at Mexico's Customs office, when I could have driven 30kms back down the road to Customs before I crossed the border at Sonoyta.
At last the trip is now completed.
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