I blasted through Mexico very quickly. I heard it would take 3-4 days and I made it in 2. Needless to say I did not stop to smell the roses nor wake up and smell the coffee, I just got in the truck and drove. I met some friendly people, to be fair, but most of the people I encountered wanted my money simply because I had it and they didn’t. “La Mordida”, the bribe or literally “the bite”. I got bitten a couple of times. No blood or rabies involved but I was pissed. The first time was the worst. After that I learned to stand my ground and negotiate. Haggling, if you will. If I didn’t cave in and instead stared them down, usually there was a little fear in their eyes. Or when I confronted one official he sheepishly admitted he wanted a handout. I felt better that I was making a “donation”.

Other memorable moments along the road: Pick-up trucks with 25 people standing in back. Small children playing next to the highway. Courteous truck drivers signaling it was okay to pass regardless of a solid yellow line or blind curve. Numerous speedbumps in every little town and village like trying to drive over 4 inch steel pipes. Two different maps that seemed to be for two different countries. Plenty of potholes and dozens of detours.

With a multitude of last minute items completed here in McAllen, I’m ready! The truck is ready! I’ve assigned her the moniker “Baby Blue” in reference and homage to “Big Red”, my father’s hunting and camping vehicle when I was a kid. She carried us safely across the Mexican border many a time on our way to campouts at the beach. Happy times and great memories. I look forward to the same with Baby Blue.

I chose this particular vehicle for several reasons. There are many Toyotas in Latin America so repairs and parts will be accessible.

The exterior is thrashed so as to blend with the third world landscape and not attract any unwanted attention from the bandititos. Reliability, gas mileage and resale value in South America were also considerations.

I made it to McAllen, Texas, the border town where I will cross into Mexico. As I drove through town my odometer passed 255555.5. (What a great Toyota comercial if I reached Tierra del Fuego at 299999.9!) Now I don’t know numerology. And I’m not that superstitious. I think people generally make things mean what they want them to mean. I certainly reserve my right to do so. So I’m making this mean good luck and godspeed across this border and all those to come!