briansue
on the road
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Update – follow up to another post of a week or so ago.
We crossed at Columbia around 4PM on Saturday March 10, 2012 in a 40’ motorhome towing a Honda CR-V.
There is a Pemex to the west side of the road going to the border off MX2 probably less than a mile from the border. See it on Google Earth at 27.683701 -99.768468 .
On the Mexico side they told us they just scan our car VIN and scan the paperwork and take the sticker off and scan that and the rest is all automatic - the credit card will be credited - we do not need to go across to turn in permiso visas or whatever.
On the US side.........
There were no trucks anywhere and there were gates across the truck lanes.
There were no signs of any kind telling us where to go.
We held back a bit to watch what others were doing and to see if the officials provided any direction or instruction. Passenger vehicles pulled around us to go to the car lane. No other lane was open. We joined the car lane waiting in line. I even blew the horn so the officials knew we were there. NOTHING. We got all the way up to where we were next to go through and they came and told us we can’t go through that line because it is too narrow for vehicles over 8’ wide.
By now there was a line of cars behind us. With our toad we cannot back up. So we had to unhook the toad and back up about 50 yards while several officials came out to get the cars behind us to get out of our way.
They then went and opened a gate seen on Google Earth at 27.701540 -99.743017 and told us this is where large RVs are supposed to go. NO SIGNS of any kind. No one to direct us prior to getting in line even though we waited for instruction before getting in line.
If you look on Google Earth prior to going to this crossing you will see the trucks lined up to the right – there were no trucks – not one – and the gates to the area they are supposed to go to was closed.
The only lane open was the car lane to the far right of the largest terra cotta tile colored buildings. There were traffic cones in all the other lanes. There were no red or green lights showing open or closed lanes – no indication of any kind where anyone was supposed to go.
After we went through the gate they had to open for us they gave a relatively quick inspection as we had a list of purchases prepared – but they wanted to look at the statue of a virgin Sue bought which was stored under the bed so we had to raise the bed and dig around for that. They did not inspect any basement compartments.
I maintained a pleasant disposition throughout all of this nonsense until we were done and then I spoke to the officer in charge about the lack of signs or direction of any kind. I plan to write a letter to whoever is in charge of border crossings.
http://www.briansue2.blogspot.com
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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Good report. Sorry, I had told Barb that you could go through the car lane. We are less than 8ft wide so it was never a question. I'm glad all went well. It is a good crossing and a good way to avoid both Laredos especially if you are heading north on the I-35 using the Texas Toll 255.
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2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog
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Graydon
Somewhere on the road
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Briansue.. When we crossed there was an official that directed us to the far left lane where the car lanes makes a "Y" And as you say, no signs. This is typical on all U.S. border crossings both coming from Mexico and Canada.
Whoever is in charge of these things is sure not an RVer. If you find a name, please let me know as I will write to them also.
Graydon
Graydon
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CREATO
Beautiful Harvey N.D.
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Graydon wrote:Briansue.. When we crossed there was an official that directed us to the far left lane where the car lanes makes a "Y" And as you say, no signs. This is typical on all U.S. border crossings both coming from Mexico and Canada.
Whoever is in charge of these things is sure not an RVer. If you find a name, please let me know as I will write to them also.
Graydon
The U.S. Canadian crossings at Portal N.D., Pembina N.D., Sweet Grass MT, and North of Detroit all have sinage for Trucks.
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Graydon
Somewhere on the road
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Creato..They all have signage for trucks... What they don't have is signage for RVs.. That's what is needed !
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moisheh
North America
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The truck signage @ Pembina would take you through the commercial crossing. BAD IDEA! Fortunately @ Pembina an RV can cross in any of the car lanes. Most US crossings are one mass of confusion with concrete barriers in the worst possible places!
Moisheh
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crandle
Campbell River, BC, Canada
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Our first time through Columbia Crossing we drove up to the car lane and they made us turn around and go off to the right and the truck lanes and x-ray machine. The next time through we just turned towards the truck lanes and they stopped us and made us turn into the car lane where we barely fit through. I think they do it just to keep us off balance.
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slowlyiturn
niagara falls
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Crossed at Columbia March 20th. Easy trip except for the head wind all the way from Monterrey. Very helpful with turning in your documents on the Mexican side. Great crossing on the Mexican side but a lot to be desired on the US side. Went thru the far right car lane (as it was the only open lane) with a 35' 5th wheel, very tight & twisty, no signage and no help from gov't personelle. Cursory inspection and on our way. 1 hour total crossing time. Can't wait til next year.
2 retired canadians
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orchardhill
USA
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Just came across Columbia today, what a zoo. Almost no vehicles at 4:00 pm and was the only RV, small fiver this time, about 7 agents and a dog and if Chaplin was alive today, he would make a hit film.
No directions or anyone seemed to be in charge. Sent to x-ray, not working, backing up 3 times to move around, over 2 hours later finished. Asked for officer in charge, no one seemed to know who that was or where to complain. Either the dog or the officer was filthy as tracks all over inside. Saw little to no RV traffic either way in 14 day trip.
But, in all fairness I use airports frequently and this amature hour, unprofessional operation is in line with the other standard of homeland security operations.
Let me know where to complain and I'm in.
Kinda stumbled on to little travel tip. Turned left to soon to go north on 35 and was on service road on the west side of 35. Went right past the long line at the inspection station, go a few miles and go under 35 at the Love' service area.
A little update, Hotel San Ramon has and is spending quite a bit of time and effort to upgrade, their park enterence road has been remodeled to get a large unit in and branch's trimmed. No poles to needed to lift power lines.
Juan, is adding as we speak 20-25 new spaces in the back where the old campgrounds used to be, has the Mexican camping ass. coming April 1 for a month. While I was there, there were 2, 40 footers and had no problem getting in or out.
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northsloper
North & South
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So...is there a better choice crossing North coming from Saltillo, heading to Arkansas
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