I had not planned to take such a long hiatus from the road recently, and as a result, my permit for Baby Blue in Peru expired. Not a big deal, so I thought. Pay a fine; perhaps couple extra bucks at the border. I only wish it had been so easy. There were specific instructions on the back of the permit in case I had to leave the country without my vehicle. (in plain Spanish!) Not following them was grounds to have the vehicle confiscated! Oops.

But this was not the definitive document. This document was supposed to go the northern border town where the permit was issued. Apparently no one in the Capital or in a Southern border town would have any jurisdiction over the passed due permit. A judgement or decision would be made as to the outcome of the case and the fate of Baby Blue in Tumbes and Tumbes alone. "This is crazy! This can?t be!" I thought. Tumbes was two days north and being on the road could risk confiscation. Mail could take weeks and the outcome still uncertain.

I was forever being pulled over to have to explain that in my state and country we are only issued plates for the back. I was tired of explaining this and didn't want to risk unnecessary inspection of my defunct document. I was proud of the work and grateful for a taxi driver with access to a computer with a printer.

So I thought. At the border I was not allowed out of the country.  The next day the Central office of Aduana informed me that the Tumbes office, now four days north would need to be contacted for this infraction. Two days later, Baby Blue has her own attorney and I'm going nowhere fast!!

I'll keep ya posted.