south of Zacatecas |
Mazamitla to Zacatecas black is prior trip click to enlarge |
Hildago del Parral
south of Parral |
Once north of Durango, there are hardly any trucks and very few towns, meaning very few topes. The roads are in great shape and speeds of 50-70 are the norm. And only one military checkpoint, which I get waved through. Parral is another town I had been to on my first trip and I chose to stay in the same convenient hotel, the American Inn, also clean and secure.
Ojinaga
on the way to Chihuahua |
towards Ojinaga |
This is the border town northeast of Chihuahua across from Presidio, Texas. It's fairly remote which means it should be quieter and easier to cross. And there aren't any drug dudes around here, at least that's what I read. More free road north of Parral, all safe and fast two-lane going through desert country with few towns. The full trip takes 5-1/2 hours and 289 miles, with about 45 minutes of that used to wend my way through Chihuahua and buy gas.
my last checkpoint |
Past Chihuahua, still more good two-lane with little traffic. About 35 miles out, there is a new toll road option that I elect to take. Anything to make the ride through this desert go faster, and it only cost $7. Finally arrive in Ojinaga, known locally as OJ. It's like a fricking frying pan here. And I run into the only military checkpoint of the day, surprising to me since I've been driving in the border area for a while. This is a pretty serious one, all camo. and rifles and face masks (note the guy next to my car in the photo - click to enlarge). They even look around in the car.
my last border...B14 |
the 715 miles from Zacatecas to Ojinaga |
I buy more gas - it's less than $3 here - and head to the border on the river. I had forgotten to pay for my tourist pass when entering via Belize so I lost close to an hour fixing that. You also have to be sure to cancel out the vehicle pass if you want to ever get back in, which I do. After that, I simply drive over the Rio Grande (there's a 21 peso toll), and I'm back, back in the U.S.A.!!
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