can’t do that here in the U.S. So I drove off! I know bad idea …right! Nerves already on high alert and we haven’t even reached the gate yet. We go through the gate and there are two lights… red lights meaning you have to stop for inspection and green lights meaning you can just drive through. Catching the red we stopped for inspection and had to open the trailer, which at this point, was still empty. They approved everything in a few minutes and let us go and now I felt better and thought to myself well that wasn’t THAAAT bad. These are always famous last words. We were only going maybe two or three miles past the border to the International Temporary Property Exchange building. Two blocks south there was a canopy set up and another checkpoint on the side of the road. Juan says to us, “Ok from here we don’t stop for anybody not even uniformed cops, here’s where people try to rob you!” This statement causes my nerves jump back up on high alert! As were pulling past the “checkpoint” men that we did not know were yelling in Spanish “Para! Para!” which means stop! Juan says don’t stop keep going. So, I keep driving but I can see this guy right away in my mirror get on his phone and immediately makes a call. He is calling the bad guys. Juan is in the back seat giving directions and he says two more blocks were making a hard left it’s almost a U-turn. We get to the turn and its only two lanes, one coming and one going. On my right there was a tall chain link fence, and on my left, I could see a river. Also on the left was another drivers lane and another fence. I want you to understand that were in something called a fatal funnel. Juan says were two blocks away and just then three trucks pass me on the left side and get in front of me and slam on their brakes. Keep in mind I’m pulling a cargo trailer that is 8 feet by 16 feet long. He said don’t stop for anything, so I jump in the left oncoming lane and punch on the gas, but they get in front of me again and the lead truck turns and blocks both lanes. We can see the building from where we are but now were stuck! I was going to hit the truck in the rear axle and push him out of the way, but Juan said just stop they got us. My emotions are all jacked right now. Brandon looks at me right away with eyes wide open and says, “What’s happening?! I now see two more trucks behind us. I left my gun why did I leave my gun? Now the assailants are surrounding us of which I count eight guys with guns. The apparent lead guy keeps saying in Spanish to get out of the car, another guy keeps hitting the hood of the truck with a gun pointed at us, the others are on lookout, my heart is racing out of my chest, and I grabbed B’s arm and tell him no matter what don’t get out of the truck. I rolled down my window and the guy keeps yelling at me in Spanish asking where were going? What are we doing there? What’s in the trailer? All I can think to say is, “What I don’t understand you? Were from Texas, what? (Side note I’m completely bilingual) After an exchange of about 2min of horrible communication he said ahhh these are white people (gringos) and they finally spoke with Juan in the backseat. They finally let us go with the understanding that they were going to see what we were picking up after the transfer of property on the way back. I realize now that no, this drama is not over! They cleared the road for us, and we headed to collect J’s bike and property. I asked Juan’ WTF was that about? He says it’s probably the cartel in this area running everything. We spent about an hour and a half there doing the paperwork for Juan property release. We’re now loaded with two motorcycles and a very expensive dining table and are substantially heavier than before. This is awesome; I’m driving a heavy load that a bunch of armed guys want to take from us. Just then a policeman was getting off duty and was about to leave the parking area. He turned his lights on and began to pull around us. Juan still on crutches hops over in a major hurry yelling, “Let’s go hurry up that guy is leaving, and we can act like he’s an escort to get out of here!” So everyone jumps in, and I stay so close I can see the bugs on his license plate. I decide that no matter what goes down on this time no one will stop me come hell or high water were getting home! We get to the turn and drive by the trucks that stopped us where all this started, and I flip that right turn back north and I hit the gas steadily watching my mirrors. We get on the bridge crossing back over the Rio Grande River and I can see the border. As we pull up to the gate and the officer comes over a sigh of relief and the sight of the American Flag comforts me. I’ve been all over Mexico, 99% of the time they have all been wonderful memories. This particular trip it hasn’t changed my mind about vacationing in Mexico, but I’ll never drive across the border again. That’s a fact, and for anyone planning a trip south of the border I would recommend flying to your location. What is has reminded me of is the Freedoms that we have and often take for granted in this country. Our constitution and freedoms that have been fought for, and won, by our brave men and women and we sometimes forget the sacrifices that our ancestors old and new have made and continue to make to secure these freedoms. Not until your personal freedom and rights are in jeopardy do you realize what it is to be an American. What powerful value it is to love this country and love your neighbor. I love the fact that I can travel all over this land free at my will and share it with my family and friends. I will forever bleed RED, WHITE, and BLUE. This a true story told and written by Lorenzo Vigil, Global One Adventure Traveler
87.
2022
www.globalonemag.com
