Hi guys, we made it to the USA Wednesday morning.

After a good night rest and breakfast we left towards SL Potosi.

Stopped on Mexico 80 to admire the beautiful pottery but decided I didn’t need any more. No problem going through the city got on 57 to Matehuala where we fueled up at a Pemex. There were a bunch of guys hanging around who started to wash the windshield right away. I gave them a tip and when we paid for the fuel which came to $330 he didn’t want to give us back the change for $400. No change he said. So Hans took $100 from him and I gave him 50 instead and it took a while before he gave us a handful of small change. Kind of scary so I suggest don’t stop for fuel in snake country.

Had one military checkpoint and one agriculture one but no problem. Before Monterey we were 7128 feet high and were driving in the clouds visibility was poor and they had little lights flashing in the shoulder of the highway. There was also a car off the road so it was slow going. The temperature dropped considerable. In Monterrey we headed towards the Mex85 when al of a sudden the traffic stopped and we were stuck for 1 ½ hrs. There was an accident but also road and bridge construction so line up for kilometers and mostly trucks. When we finally got moving it was still drizzling so we didn’t feel like camping and kept going till about 150 KM before the border at El Rancho Express Inn. A busy place but nice.

Today we reached the border after yet another slow going for about 20 min. At the border they checked the Van and found eggs and a tomato which we were not allowed to bring into the US so she took the eggs but left the tomato!! We went on the US 57 towards Corpus Christi a very strait and boring road with one border control stop. This part of Texas is still very much like Mexico until you get to Alice. We stayed at Goose Island State Park in Rockport after a nice ride over several bridges. We are also right on the beach and took pictures of the sunset here and we were thinking of you guys down in la Manzanilla. I must say Texas cannot tip on the mexican scenery and weather.
From there we went to Galveston SP also nice but still cold. Today we made it to New Orleans where we stay at a hotel in the French quarter. Walked the famous Bourbon Street which is very lively and busy because it is Mardi Grass until early Feb. Heading for Florida after this. Glad to hear that the coconuts are gone!! Hans & Rita

Posted on January 20th, 2008 by Poolio
Filed under: General