Punta Banda, Mexico (near Ensenada)
08 January 2017 | Punta Banda (Ensenada), Mexico
Sunny, 75*
We all left the park at 8:30 am, en route to the border. It was going very smoothly, then quickly became a "frog show" by the time we crossed the border. Imagine 8 RV's trying to stay together going through a busy town. We all have radios and we are constantly in communication so that we can stick together. However, if you get separated from the group at a red light for example, or if you get pulled over by the police, it really throws a wrench in the process. One RV, #6, got pulled over and got a ticket within one block of the border. Numbers 7 and 8 got separated for awhile, and we rarely heard from #8 so we presume he was too far back for the radios to work. We are really glad that we are #3 and usually close behind the leader. We are one of the smallest rigs and very glad to be small. With road construction, narrow shoulders, narrow lanes, cars weaving in and out, big pot holes and "topes" (speed bumps) our rig is plenty big to handle. Not sure how the guys with the big rigs do it, but they do. We had a lot of laughs today.
This area of Mexico was a big surprise to me. The mountains are green and the valley is full of beautiful vineyards, tasting rooms, and modern looking structures. I guess Mexico is no longer just for beer and margaritas, there is a booming wine industry developing. And it is a short distance from California, a possible day trip.
On January 1, Mexico deregulated gas/diesel prices causing a 20% increase. During the last week we found out that there have been protests, road blocks and widespread fuel shortages. We were actually expecting that the trip might be cancelled, but our fearless leaders said all would be fine. After crossing the border, sure enough, most of the Pemex Gas Stations were closed. By the time we got to Ensenada there were quite a number of stations open. The expectation is that the fuel shortages and protests should be ending soon. The goal is to never get below a half tank, so we have plenty of time to search for fuel.
It seems like it's been a long day. I think everyone is getting the hang of being in a caravan and I expect things to start going more smoothly as we get the hang of traveling in a group. It will also help when we aren't traveling through urban centers.
All in all a fine day, full of adventure and surprises.