Monday 5th June 2017......Getting settled in!!!

OK here we go with yesterday's post first and then today.....

I told you I had not been sleeping well since I left Nanaimo waking up early...I bought some medication and had being taking it as prescribed and Saturday I was just about all packed and went to bed around 11 pm and wouldn't you know it I slept right through till 7.15 am....I quickly got my food and drinks ready and was out the door by 7.45 am of all days this is one day I  would have liked to be on the road by 6 am to avoid the heat of the day oh well!!!!

My first surprise was when I went across the Bridge to Mexico...not a single vehicle in sight!!

Then when I got to the customs there was only one lane open and there was no one there...so I drove through very slowly and then I turned right and then there was a choice a turn that led out of the area onto the street...or to go through 3 lanes where they were search tables and two customs officers at the far end talking to each other..they never even gave me a glance so again I slowly turned into the lane leading to the street expecting to be shouted back but Nada!!!    So I was in to Mexico quite amazing!!!!

At km 21 there was another inspection station where I was waved right through!!!

After a short while I was on toll highways just like this!!!!

The area around Monterrey is very beautiful but a lot of smog!!!

The speed limits vary on the highways sometimes for no apparent reason I rarely see Police radar but took no chances and I followed this vehicle for many hours he was just going a few km over the limit so I felt safe!!!

Another reason why you have to be vigilant!!!

I stopped for gas and had a few stretches....I also stopped twice to do what little boys do and have a cold water face cloth wash.......whilst I was doing this I could hear a Meow Meow  ..and thought that somewhere there is a stray cat but did not see anything!!!!

Finally into my home State!!!

It was a 9 hour drive which went really well and I felt not too bad.

I first went to Gracie's house because I had some stuff for her and also to get my casita keys!!!!

Gracie was just going out to a dinner event and she left me the keys for her casa.....

I drove into her garage and when I turned the engine off I heard the Meow again and again......I have no idea how but now I knew there was some animal under my bonnet and he/she was not happy!!!

I did not know what to do I did not want to raise the hood and the cat or what ever jump out into Gracie's place...so I unloaded her box and then reversed out of the garage closed the door and was brave enough to open the hood with a stick in my hand I will admit...but nothing!!!!!   There was nothing in there.

Next I went back into Gracie's garage and sure enough behind the washing machine was this very angry small kitten!!!!!!!  I could not believe it......I really did not know what to do so I opened the garage door and managed to get the kitten out of the garage and he/she went darting off and never saw it again!!

The only explanation I can give is that on Saturday afternoon at the airbnb in Laredo I opened the hood and filled the windshield washer container and I heard or saw nothing....then I stayed home all evening..so what I think happened is this kitten climbed into the engine compartment when the huge thunder and lightening strike came and  stayed the night and then took the drive with me......how it survived with the engine heat is beyond me!!!!   Why it did not get out when I stopped for gas or stopped to take a break I do not know that either as obviously he/she could get out as it did in the garage........can you believe that I transported a cat across borders without Immigration papers good job I was not going into the USA I may have been arrested as a catoye!!!!!That is a joke get it????

Coyotaje

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coyotaje is a colloquial Mexican–Spanish term referring to the practice of people smuggling across the U.S.–Mexico border.^[1] Smuggling should not be misinterpreted to mean human trafficking. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) define smuggling as the "Importation of people into the United States involving deliberate evasion of immigration laws. This offense includes bringing human beings into the country, as well as the unlawful transportation and harboring of immigrants already in the United States."^[2]In short, human smuggling centers on the willful, illegal transportation of migrants into another country. The word coyotajes originated in the early 19th century, where it was used to describe a person that employed Mexican immigrants for labor in the United States. During this period the United States had a demand for Mexican workers, therefore the first form of coyotaje was created. The Coyote’s main job would be to recruit hard-working Mexicans by traveling to Mexico and transporting them to the United States or hire the workers once they arrived in the U.S. Most of the coyotajes that worked in Mexico were either natural born Mexicans or Mexican-Americans that would convince workers that lived along the border due to their ability of speaking fluent Spanish and their common appearances. Due to the labor conditions improving, a policy was implemented by the U.S., which enabled the workers to go back to their home towns and their word of mouth spread about job opportunities in the U.S. This system was known as enganche (the hooking). The enganchaderos(hookers) would decrease the recruitment possibilities and the practice of enganchadores by informing their family and friends of the employment opportunities. Their main focus would be border towns where contractors hired workers who were pursuing employment.^[3]

Autonomous migrants pay coyotajes a fee to guide them across the border. Fees are normally collected once the migrant arrives to a pre-determined destination— most likely border cities in California, Texas, and Arizona. In recent years, the proportion of migrants hiring human smugglers—"coyotajes," also known as "polleros,"—has increased drastically as a result of intensified surveillance along the border.^[4]

I e mailed my hostess in Laredo to see if she is missing a kitten but no..so it is going to always be a mystery!!!

So today just sorting my stuff out and it feels wonderful to be home and to resume my activities....I still do not feel 100 % but much better...

Gracie invited me over and she had made a wonderful beef stew, hit the spot thanks!!

So what do you think of this tale???

Yashi Kochi!!!!