Coatepeque, Guatemala to Mapastepec, Mexico
December 19, 2009

Street market
Salina Cruz
Rock out of the RV
Mexico welcome

Well this was a real day to put into the memory books. We got up early and left the resort, headed for the border. This is at Ciudad Tecun Uman (?sp). Well first off we got into the area that was for trucks and cargo only. So backtrack and then go thru the city to find the aduana for the cars and buses. Got lost and wound up in the bus depot and had to turn around. Now this may seem simple to you but the two busses I had to get by left me about one inch on either side to navigate on a less that even surface. So there was no option but to go forward. Well no damage. Next down the narrow streets again to try to find the Frontera or border. Got to the border finally and did not use the border helpers this time but got my vehicle papers checked out of Guatemala.
On to immigration to get the passports signed out of Guatemala and that was no problem and only 20 Casales to pay for a municipal tax.
So we are now on our way over the bridge and into Mexico. Oh yippee yah yaaa. So first stop is the fumigation of the vehicle which means here just spraying the tires. Eighty pesos later and we are onto the Mexican Aduana to get that done. Well first is agriculture where they took all of our fruits and vegetables and eggs. I had the Aduana papers for both vehicles so no problem with that.
Next is Mexican immigration and again before leaving Mexico last I had them stamp our tourist visas for return, so we were now done with Mexican Immigration.
Upon leaving I heard a definite thump, thump on one of the tires. I was just thinking yesterday that we had had no tire problems on the whole trip and that was really fortunate. Ok Bev we have to get off the road as soon as possible something I think is really wrong here. Fortunately we spotted a Pemex (gas) station about 100 yards up the road. Pulled over and checked the tire pressure on all of the tires and everything was ok. All right Bev get in the RV and pull forward slowly. Front tires are good, so pull forward and I will check the rear tires. That’s when I spotted the problem, a rock about 6” long and 3-4” wide wedged between the rear drivers dual tires. Now what to do?
I tried to hammer the offending rock out from the two tires with no luck so then I had Bev jack up the rear of the RV (fortunately we have hydraulic levelers) and tried again. Still no luck. So then deflate one of the tires and try again. Still no luck in getting that bolder out of there. So lets back up to the tire pump so that we can re-inflate both tires later and deflate both the dual tires. Well that finally worked and after 1-2 hours of pounding and getting under the RV and over and under the tires I looked like a regular grease monkey. Bev offered me a clean shirt.
So now it was off again after re-inflation of the tires although there compressor only got me to 81psi so we will have to find a tire store or truck place to go to 86 psi.
The roads in Mexico got decidedly better than Guatemala and after a couple of stops for paper checks we were good to go. One of the stops wanted to fine me for going into the car lane instead of the truck and bus lane but after a few minutes and talking to the supervisor it was dismissed. Got to really love the bureaucracy everywhere in the world.
Now we are on our way north and only had to ask for directions mucho times and then not sure you are going the right way but signage is better and the road is really better.
We looked for a place to stay the night and there were no hotels that I felt we could fit into. Then the distance between towns got longer and so we finally wound up in a Pemex station for the night. Not my favorite spot but safe and there are no armed guards in this part of the world so safety is not as much of a problem. Tomorrow WE WILL NOT TRY TO GO SO FAR!!!