Well we didn’t actually drive all the way back to Maine to re-register BaseCamp as an RV, like the Mexican border agent demanded — or did we? Well there was the additional detail of Maine summer employment, so we had ourselves a 2 birds/one stone journey north.   Here we were in January 2023 — one year later— back at the Mexican Border town of Piedras Negras, after a 6000 mile detour to clear up paperwork and earn some dollars.  New RV class registration in hand I climbed the steps to the Banjercito office to get our TIP (temporary import permit). I was pleasantly surprised to see no line, but my confidence wavered when I recognized the woman at the counter. It was the same mujer that sent us packing last round. “Never mind last time,” I thought as I handed her my paperwork, “we’re good now.” There was a long uneasy silence as she analyzed the registration. She looked up at me — Did she recognize me, the dejected bus guy? She spoke, “Voy a necesitar ver su vehículo.” Things we...

  Third Time’s the Charm!   Sorry Base Camp, you’re gonna need to sit this one out… After drowning our sorrows in guacamole at a Mexican takeout joint on the US/Texas side of the border, we hatched Plan B. Leaving our beloved, overweight-by-Mexican-standards Base Camp in Big Bend National Park, we would ford the Rio Grande, and make our way on foot, or by burro to the small village of Boquillas. How to Visit Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico, from Big Bend National Park If you’re exploring  Big Bend National Park  and looking for a unique cross-border experience, a visit to  Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico , is a must. This tiny village along the Rio Grande offers authentic Mexican cuisine, handcrafted souvenirs, and a glimpse into rural life in northern Mexico. This guide covers  everything you need to know  about crossing the border from  Big Bend National Park to Boquillas del Carmen , including logistics, entry requirements, and tips for a seamless tr...

Upon our return to Maine for the summer we were invariably asked by everyone, “What sorts of adventures did you all get up to this time?” We could have focused on Base Camp, our school bus that we bought from the local district, and converted into our magic carpet ride, when our sailboat Tiny Bubbles II sold. We could have focused on the manatees that accompanied us as we swam in springs in Florida, the epic climbs of Hueco Tanks, just outside El Paso, or the glorious time we got to spend with friends and family— we could have focused on that… What stuck in our minds were our failures. We had failed in our search for our next boat, and we had failed to enter Mexico. It’s true, Mexico told us we were, “demasiado pesado,” or too heavy. Too heavy?  “Sí.” We had already been rejected at the previous border town of Ciudad Acuña, but we were told our luck could be better 50 miles south in Piedras Negras.  So Close, Yet So Far — Piedras Negras Border The woman in the border office th...

There were a lot of requests for a Cliff Island summer, followed by requests for a Cliff Island fall — complete with apple season, birthdays, Halloween, deer season, and more time with our Cliff Island family. Heidi and I needed this as much as the boys, so it was an easy, “Yes, Yes, YES!”