Day 12 Ensenada to USA Border via Tecate to Santee - 112 miles

Day 12  Ensenada to USA Border via Tecate to Santee - 112 miles

There is a list of items we are not allowed to take back into the USA - potatoes, apples, blueberries, peaches (all stone fruit), raw eggs, pork, poultry.  So last night everyone was checking their rigs for prohibited items.  Everything not permitted back into the USA was given to the Green Angels.  They were so happy to receive these food items!!

Although this was the last leg, it was one of the most nerve racking.  There was a tremendous amount of traffic on the road today.  We had to stay very alert as cars and trucks were hop scotching from the rear, and there was also a lot of on coming traffic.  The people here seem to play "chicken" while passing.  Many times they did not have a clear view (plus double yellow lines on the road), but they would pass you anyway.  Luckily, we all got through ok.

One of our members was stopped by a Mexican motorcycle cop close to the border.  He said they ran a stop sign and wanted them to follow him back to the station.  They just kept saying that they needed to stay with the group and cross the border; but the officer wasn't having any of it.  Luckily the Green Angels were still with us and spoke to the officer and got him to let them go.  But the officer was not too happy to do so.  The couple was really lucky, as the Green Angles were actually leaving us at that point and the Tail Gunner was able to quickly call them back.  If the couple had to follow the officer back to the station it would have been a huge fine and a big delay for them.

The border crossing was very smooth.  As usual, the list of allowable foods was not up to date, and so we all had to hand over our limes.  We were also asked about chicken and  the inspector said he was supposed to take our chicken lunch meat (that we bought in the USA and never opened!!) but he was going to let us keep it.   He was really a very nice guy.   He even let the Wagon Master keep the sausage and eggs (that are for our pancake breakfast tomorrow), once she explained that she needed to feed us all!!  Those items were very high on the no go list, so he looked at them, closed the frig door, and said "I never saw it".

Back in the USA.  Phone service again!  Whoo hoo!!!  We all got settled into the campground pretty quickly and easily.  Collected our jeep from the storage lot and was very relieved to see the kayak and bikes just as we left them. 

  I spent the afternoon catching up with our kids and friends.   Dinner tonight was provided by Fantasy and it was a fabulous catered meal.  Of course, we also had the obligatory Margaritas!!!  We have drunk more Margaritas on this trip than in our entire lives!!!!