We drove to Can Cun, Mexico Throwing warnings and fears to the wind - by Roberta Balfour

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Kamloops BC to Can Cun, Mexico is approximately 8,500 kilometers - 14,500 via Key West, Florida. But let's start at the beginning. The children moved out, the dog died, we sold our business and bought the R.V. In the fall, we left Kamloops just ahead of the first snowfall in search of the Endless Summer and some adventure. The trip took us down the west coast of the USA. We kept as close to the Pacific Ocean as possible, crossed California, Arizona and Texas to follow the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Key West, Florida. The weather was sometimes warm and pleasant and sometimes cold. Snow surprised us New Year's Eve in Texas. We were still looking for real summer and real adventure. We didn't find either in the Florida Keys although it is a beautiful area, but that's another story. We decided to head to Brownsville, Texas, which is usually the hottest area on the weather maps. Well, January 2nd, it was 10 degrees Celsius and raining. Where was the warmth? "Mexico", says my intrepid husband and principle driver. "Let's drive into Mexico!" Oh, oh, that's a different kind of adventure. One for which I, the co-pilot was not quite prepared. Those heel marks visible at the border crossing near Brownsville are mine. Adventure on this trip was my goal, but 'risky adventure'? Not much information was available from folks we met at campsites in the US. The statements went like - "We would never drive in Mexico. It's dangerous. You need a caravan. You shouldn't drive alone. Wow, are you brave!" I sure didn't feel very brave that first day. First, there was the two hour paperwork marathon at the border. I was hoping this bureaucratic nightmare would discourage my driver, but no - he just joked with the officials. I soldiered on; we were headed for Tampico for the first night, about a six hour drive, or 600 km. of careful driving. First impressions are usually the most lasting it is said. Well, those first impressions on that first day of driving down the east coast of mainland Mexico will last a while in my travel memory bank. Everyone it seemed was carrying a machete. Why? To rob us, rape us and leave us by the side of the road? To slash tires? To protect themselves? From what? All these negative thoughts were scurrying through my overactive imagination. We had been warned: Don't drive at night! Be very careful if it rains! Never stay anywhere but in an organized campsite! Oh. Oh. The first night we drove around for an hour trying to find the one and only campsite in Tampico which was listed in the guidebook. The fact that we knew only a few words of Spanish like - Dos cervazas por favor amigo - didn't help. We didn't need two beer - we needed to find the TRAILER PARK! We also discovered, saying it louder didn't help. The nice people we asked still could not understand our English. Even now that we have learned how to ask in Spanish - Donde esta el estacionamiento para nuestra casa movilles? - we have problems because the folks now think we can understand Spanish and rattle off an answer so fast we still are confused. But I digress .... We were in Tampico looking for the trailer park. It is now after dark and raining AND the pilot is having trouble keeping the co--pilot calm and able to navigate. We finally give up and ask if we can park at the Pemex gas station at the side of the highway. No problem. We back up against a fence. Now, all through the night, this still nervous co-pilot hears noises which sound too much like T.V. type gunshots. In the calmer light of dawn, it seemed these sounds were just some old trucks and busses backfiring as the business of commerce continued through the night in this very busy industrial city. My life's companion was smart. He said, "Let's try it one more day and if you don't like it, we can turn around. We are still not too far from the border." I agreed to go on. I didn't want to be the spoilsport. I wanted adventure didn't I? The second day was more relaxing, especially when we met up with a south-bound caravan of eleven other RVs from Canada and the US and spent the night at their prearranged camp area in the fairgrounds of Tuxpan. We compared notes. They were all bound for the Yucatan peninsula and Can Cun. Then the negatives came up again. "Are you going alone? Do you have a gun? What if something happens? Wow, you are brave!" The third morning, we decided we would still rather travel alone and have a positive attitude. So, we soldiered on. We had crossed the US/Mexican border on January 4th and were camped near a beautiful Caribbean beach by January 10th. This was it - -Endless Summer - warm tropical breezes, hot days, cool nights, good snorkeling, and friendly people kept us there for two months. We drove a total of 8,500 kilometers in Mexico. Covering the east coast in January and the west coast in March on the way home. En route we saw some enthralling Maya Ruins, beautiful scenery, interesting cosmopolitan cities and some fabulous beaches to enjoy the Endless Summer for which we were searching. We really like the Mexican people, their relaxed, family-oriented way of life and now, me, with the heel marks at the border just a few weeks before, can't wait to get back to enjoy another Mexican experience. Would we drive through mainland Mexico again? You bet! Definitely! There is still so much we have not seen. We have yet to venture inland and see some of the old colonial cities in the mountains. After the first two days of my apprehension, we had fun and felt very adventurous. We met very interesting people at the campgrounds. We have Mexican friends now in the Yucatan State with whom I correspond - in rudimentary Spanish -and are taking Spanish lessons to help us converse with our Mexican amigos. The next time my driver says "Should we drive to Mexico?" my answer will be 'vamanos' - let's go! (By the way, those machetes which were so visable the first day are used by much of the population, men, women and children of all ages. to earn a living, chopping vegetation, clearing road frontages, cutting down coconuts, etc.)