Yesterday we crossed from Texas into Mexico at Progresso. At first I was amazed at how easy it was – we just drove right through. Then, when I thought about it, there was something wrong. That was too easy. To be sure we did it right, we pulled around the corner and parked in front of one of the many Dentists offices, pharmacies and plastic surgeons that are packed into the first few blocks beyond customs. I went and tried to sus out what we missed.

I figured out that we had missed a turn and needed to pull the bikes back onto the bridge, do a U turn and then go through the import process. There were kids (Federales) with machine guns all over and one up in a tank watching us as we pulled into the  out-bound lane. I explained to the guy in the toll booth that we had made a mistake and just wanted to go back into customs. He just wanted his money. My understanding of numbers in Spanish isn’t that great – and I was nervous. I heard $23 for each on us. NO WAY! We (I) had made a mistake and I wasn’t going to pay $46 for it. I asked if there was another way. Yes, go back the way we had come.

OK. So, we pulled around the toll booth and up to the “in” lane. There wasn’t much traffic and I explained to the kid with the machine gun what we we wanted to do. He was fine with it and started making hand signals to the guy waving traffic through. This man was older and wearing a pressed white shirt, an obvious sign of seniority. He was having none of it. Now I’m starting to get worked up because this is getting silly. They said go back and pay. I got all bowed up and said “NO!” Then lots more guys with machine guns started to come over to see what was happening.

Shannon said we just needed to eat the fee call it a lesson. OK. We pulled through and what I heard as $23 was really $2.30. Oops.

Now, with our paperwork complete, I tried to call Roberto, a friend in Monterrey. My phone told me that I couldn’t make international calls. What? I had spent whole days in planning getting the phone problem solved. Well, no one told me that I needed to have ATT service for 3 months before I would be granted the privilege of paying$3/min roaming to talk with family and friends. If you thought I was mad before, you should have seen me on the phone now. I’m sure Shannon was laughing at me. As huge trucks rumbled behind us kicking up dust clouds, I was jumping around, arms swinging and yelling at this poor lady. There was nothing I could do but cancel my service. I am truly amazed at how nearly impossible it is to get a phone and service that will work outside the USA.

We hit the road, and after some more stressful dealing with toll booths and traffic we arrived in Monterrey at dark. We found a place to stay and today we are meeting Roberto to ride in the beautiful mountains behind the city.

Day two should be a little more smooth. Or at least have fewer guns-