The car is in Mexico and we are in the States!
So this was it. The day had arrived after nearly a year of planning and organisation. We were on our way to Mexico.
We had arranged to meet three of the HERO cars, as well as Bob & Thelma Howells, at the shipping agent on the US/Mexico border, south of San Diego, at 12 noon. This meant a 7am start from Malibu for the 150 mile journey south. We were going via our hotel in La Jolla where we would be staying for the next two nights, after delivering the car to the compound where it would be stored in Tijuana.
It was an easy drive on the freeways south and we missed most of the rush hour traffic in LA. As we had two in our car we could use the Carpool lane and whenever there was traffic backed up in the other lanes, we sailed past it! Two and a half hours later and we were in La Jolla, checking in to the La Valencia Hotel. We dropped off our bags and waited for Bob & Thelma to arrive from the Toyota dealership where their car was being serviced. Once we had met up with them we drove the 35 miles to the border. Jingers Riley, Arne Herz (who had done the route survey) and Hans were already at the agent. The five of us then went through US Commercial customs to get the Temporary Import Bonds removed from the cars. $125 had to be paid for the privilege!
Then, we all drove out of the States into Mexico. A short stop at Mexican customs, with them querying why there were so many medical supplies being carried by one of the HERO cars. Once our agent, Cynthia, had explained to the customs all about the event, we were waved through and into the traffic chaos of Tijuana. It reminded me of China! Cars coming at you from all sides with little regard for traffic lights. We needed to go to the Temporary Vehicle Importation offices to get the cars into Mexico. This turned out to be on the other side of Tijuana. The drive took us along the border which looks like a prison. High walls and fences with barbed wire and cameras, and then the sobering sight of hundreds of white wooden crosses on the wall, each cross with a name written on it. Written in large figures was the number, 4,043. Cynthia told us that this is the number who have died attempting to smuggle themselves into the US. The number is regularly updated.
The drive to the offices to import the car, took us nearly an hour. Once there we spent several more hours attempting to overcome Mexican bureaucracy! $400 had to be paid as a deposit (refundable when we exit Mexico) and $60 for the issue of the car and Tourist Visa permits. We then were told the compound to store the car was back at the border crossing! Now we were in the middle of the Tijuanan rush hour, not something I would wish on anyone! With Cynthia in her car leading us, the five cars attempted to follow her through the traffic. Amazingly we managed it and we all arrived at the compound together. With the cars parked up, we headed back across the border. We walked through and hired a taxi on the US side to take us back to La Jolla. Jingers, Arne and Hans returned by car and had to brave the horrendous jams trying to clear US customs to enter the US. How long they had to wait at the border I have no idea. We will find out this evening when we meet at the Jamieson's house for the party being hosted by them at their house overlooking the Pacific in La Jolla. It should be a great way to start the event.
Tomorrow we take a taxi back to the border and pick up our cars and then drive the 100kms or so to the hotel in Ensenada where the tour starts on Tuesday.
I will attempt to post the first of the photos I am taking of the trip in the next couple of days.
We had arranged to meet three of the HERO cars, as well as Bob & Thelma Howells, at the shipping agent on the US/Mexico border, south of San Diego, at 12 noon. This meant a 7am start from Malibu for the 150 mile journey south. We were going via our hotel in La Jolla where we would be staying for the next two nights, after delivering the car to the compound where it would be stored in Tijuana.
It was an easy drive on the freeways south and we missed most of the rush hour traffic in LA. As we had two in our car we could use the Carpool lane and whenever there was traffic backed up in the other lanes, we sailed past it! Two and a half hours later and we were in La Jolla, checking in to the La Valencia Hotel. We dropped off our bags and waited for Bob & Thelma to arrive from the Toyota dealership where their car was being serviced. Once we had met up with them we drove the 35 miles to the border. Jingers Riley, Arne Herz (who had done the route survey) and Hans were already at the agent. The five of us then went through US Commercial customs to get the Temporary Import Bonds removed from the cars. $125 had to be paid for the privilege!
Pacific from our hotel in La Jolla, California
Then, we all drove out of the States into Mexico. A short stop at Mexican customs, with them querying why there were so many medical supplies being carried by one of the HERO cars. Once our agent, Cynthia, had explained to the customs all about the event, we were waved through and into the traffic chaos of Tijuana. It reminded me of China! Cars coming at you from all sides with little regard for traffic lights. We needed to go to the Temporary Vehicle Importation offices to get the cars into Mexico. This turned out to be on the other side of Tijuana. The drive took us along the border which looks like a prison. High walls and fences with barbed wire and cameras, and then the sobering sight of hundreds of white wooden crosses on the wall, each cross with a name written on it. Written in large figures was the number, 4,043. Cynthia told us that this is the number who have died attempting to smuggle themselves into the US. The number is regularly updated.
The drive to the offices to import the car, took us nearly an hour. Once there we spent several more hours attempting to overcome Mexican bureaucracy! $400 had to be paid as a deposit (refundable when we exit Mexico) and $60 for the issue of the car and Tourist Visa permits. We then were told the compound to store the car was back at the border crossing! Now we were in the middle of the Tijuanan rush hour, not something I would wish on anyone! With Cynthia in her car leading us, the five cars attempted to follow her through the traffic. Amazingly we managed it and we all arrived at the compound together. With the cars parked up, we headed back across the border. We walked through and hired a taxi on the US side to take us back to La Jolla. Jingers, Arne and Hans returned by car and had to brave the horrendous jams trying to clear US customs to enter the US. How long they had to wait at the border I have no idea. We will find out this evening when we meet at the Jamieson's house for the party being hosted by them at their house overlooking the Pacific in La Jolla. It should be a great way to start the event.
Tomorrow we take a taxi back to the border and pick up our cars and then drive the 100kms or so to the hotel in Ensenada where the tour starts on Tuesday.
I will attempt to post the first of the photos I am taking of the trip in the next couple of days.
posted by Tim at 7:49 AM
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