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If I was camping or RV'ing near the Texas/Mexico border you can be sure I would be armed. In fact I can't think of any reason to go to the border zone at all.
 
If I was camping or RV'ing near the Texas/Mexico border you can be sure I would be armed. In fact I can't think of any reason to go to the border zone at all.
For me, there is nothing down there I'd want to see that is worth putting my life or my family's life in danger. I'd rather hop on a plane and head to Maui, personally.
 
If I was camping or RV'ing near the Texas/Mexico border you can be sure I would be armed. In fact I can't think of any reason to go to the border zone at all.
Man neither can I.
Kinda like these idealistic people who go travel to well known dangerous areas of the world for whatever reasons and wind up Kidnapped, killed or never heard from again.

Sometimes you grow up in AZ. You don't exactly travel far from home when you first get your wheels. The Organ Pipe National Monument area is absolutely beautiful and it's spitting distance from Rocky Point.

Kitt Peak isn't right on the border but that's where the observatories are...great place for seeing the stars.

Spent some time at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista as well (as JROTC) and also did Baja desert racing (dirt bikes) down that way.

Basically, you could start at the west end at Organ Pipe, head to Kitt Peak, cut over to Bisbee, head up through Tombstone, and get back to Tucson and you'd have seen a good bit of southern Arizona and yea...some of that is real close to the border.

It shouldn't be only for the "idealistic idiots" to explore one's own backyard.

And yet they somehow think it should become my problem. Enough that they invade my camp while wearing their cool clothes, hip clothes, or biz casual. Somehow I'm supposed to become their guide because they are too stupid to learn something about being in rural areas and instead must rely on locals to pull their butts out of the campfire. :rolleyes:

We help them, but that doesn't mean I won't :rolleyes: once they go on their way!!!

When I used to backpack, ya think we just groped around trying to find a lake/trail we had never been to before? ... Nope, we bought one of those topos you mentioned.

That's pretty much why I liked backpacking in remote areas. If I see someone else there, especially at night, then I'm on guard as it should be a statistical improbability that I meet anyone. Also used to hike in AZ summers, which makes it doubly so that I shouldn't see anyone...cause most people can't take the heat.
 
Long time RV'er myself and pretty much the same but I'll admit to 'friendly but cautious' as opposed to 'not very friendly'.

My impression is that a lot of people, especially older ones, like the "fellowship" experience of RV travel. They find new friends to play cards with at night, etc. So acts of violence take a toll on the idea of promoting fellowship among travellers. Times change. When I was a minor living with my parents in the 50's and into the 60's, they liked to travel with a small trailer. This was pre-motorhome days. My memories of that travel was one of openness and camaraderie with our trailering neighbors in campgrounds all over the west. So it gives rise to wondering what has caused this change. Surely in an era when employment is full and hunger in the US is relatively unknown, you'd think there would be less violence. The long-standing idea was that poverty is a major driver of crime. Maybe we ought to re-think possible causes. Like a society that has become overly permissive in so many ways that now bad behavior has become normalized.

Another thing to think about is that some violence and law-breaking is being imported. People come here from other places that have lower societal values.

Shoot, man, no one knows about maps these days...
let alone a compass...

I've been teaching my grandson how to use a compass. We haven't gotten to the maps yet but that will come. My idea so far is to give him a method to find a way out if something happens to me. "The main road is to the east, keep to that compass bearing."

In fact I can't think of any reason to go to the border zone at all.

I find it difficult to disagree with this. There are some people who just want to see stuff for the sake of travel experience. Prudent people don't willingly enter into danger. There are lots of places in urban areas that I wouldn't go into, you have to know where not to go. I know places in Seattle that I won't go into at night.
 
Spent some time at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista

Fort Huachuca was one of my "stations of the cross" when I was a Regular Army soldier. That was in 1969 and while I was there, Operation Intercept was underway. Which was a big anti-drug smuggling deployment involving various federal assets. Violence is no stranger to the area. But while I was at Ft. Huachuca, the biggest threat was from other soldiers. This was also an era of racial unrest so there was that component. At night, we had to go out on patrols in our company area. When it was our turn, we'd go over to the orderly room where they'd issue us each a helmet liner and a night stick. We went out in pairs, thank Heaven. I still remember the guy I patrolled with, who spoke Spanish. Oh boy, those were the good old days.
 
For me, there is nothing down there I'd want to see that is worth putting my life or my family's life in danger. I'd rather hop on a plane and head to Maui, personally.

When we stayed in the LTVA just south of Quartzsite AZ, we used to like to go down to Yuma and cross the border for the shopping and medicine at Los Algodones. It was fairly safe, almost as safe as Yuma. They had to protect those tourista $$ and there was no road travel, it was right there across the border. Kinda like TJ is to San Diego. We used to go to TJ for carnitas, my bros were old enough to remember the donkey shows, but safe.... Never!!!
 
When we stayed in the LTVA just south of Quartzsite AZ, we used to like to go down to Yuma and cross the border for the shopping and medicine at Los Algodones. It was fairly safe, almost as safe as Yuma. They had to protect those tourista $$ and there was no road travel, it was right there across the border. Kinda like TJ is to San Diego. We used to go to TJ for carnitas, my bros were old enough to remember the donkey shows, but safe.... Never!!!
There's a horror story of a middle aged gal getting her meds down there.. got kidnapped by the police, the maximum daily withdrawal on her bank card was incurred for a few years by the police. She was released, almost dead, when the balance reached zero.
 
There's a horror story of a middle aged gal getting her meds down there.. got kidnapped by the police, the maximum daily withdrawal on her bank card was incurred for a few years by the police. She was released, almost dead, when the balance reached zero.

Sounds familiar...

We stayed away from the popo and Federales. Enjoyed the food, my wife got her eyes examined, we bought some cheap meds, and enjoyed real Margarita's!!
 
We belonged to Good Sam for awhile, went on weekend outings... that's a whole different thing from being on the road and having strangers approach at a roadside rest, or trying to stop us for some kind of emergency.

Also when we were in the LTVA at Quartzsite, we knew, or got to know most of our neighbors. But we were there for at least 4 months of winter, so it's pretty easy to observe and make an evaluation. One neighbor asked us to watch their RV and spot while they were gone for Christmas... then brought us Godiva chocolates when they got back... yeah, that's a whole diff thing. The "clothing optional" area at the LTVA is not something I reach out to either... guys think they can strut outside that area for shock value. "Dude, nobody wants to see your junk and my wife has a pellet gun but I don't know if she can aim because she's laughing so much right now!!"
 
Most of the RV parks and areas I have been in lately are populated by well to do travelers who have 500K in a motor home or 200 in a fifth wheel and pickup. I have very little in common with these folks, and really staying in an RV park is like living in the parking lot of an apartment. The wife and I lived in a couple of RV parks this fall and summer while working on our house.

The residents did not like my 2006 trailer, they did not like my 97 Powerstroke starting up at 6:30 am. We said the hell with it, and moved to our property the minute we got our water hooked up. We can live without 110v just fine. We did go on a couple of dry camping trips out to the high desert and stayed for 3 nights. Well armed is an understatement.

We were trekking in the Coast Range a couple of years ago around Barney Res. Just exploring and taking pictures. Came upon some individuals who were obviously drunk and very hick like and acting stupid. They passed us on a back road, two vehicles of them, pulled over and then started following us again. I told the wife something is up, I am going to kick it hard around the corner, stop and get my AR out of the backseat. You get the Remington 12 gauge out and make sure they see us doing this. They came around the corner about 70 yards away and saw me charging the AR and the wife slinging up the Remington. We got back in the rig, went down the road and never saw them again.

We both had hand guns on us as well, I simply will never go into the woods like that without a long gun, or two, or three.

Left the area and contacted OSP who was looking for them in regards to some thefts. Told them what I did, and they said these individuals were some bad dudes and I did the right thing, gunning up and getting out of there. What is the world coming to.
 
Check out this video about the Mormon's (Mitt Romney's relatives) taking back their towns from the Mexican drug cartels. Really well done video imo.


Thank you for the video. I enjoyed watching it.

Aloha, Mark

PS.....Since some of you have mention Algodones.

Well, this summer I took a trip out to Yuma, AZ and Algodones, Mexico. If you've going that way...…..stop at the Q Casino outside of Yuma. Actually, it's just a short distance West of Yuma and a little bit East of the CA border. Anyway, it's easy to spot being that it's right off of the Freeway/Highway. Go to the Casino for a break.

If you feel up to it.....
Just on the East side of the Casino's parking lot is the road to Algodones.

Los Algodones - Wikipedia

I suggest going in the day time. So then, travel down South on that short road to Mexico. You could enter Mexico by car. But, I don't suggest it.

So then, just before the border check point, near the end you'll find a large parking lot (to the right) that is owned by the Casino. Park there, it's fenced and only costs a few bucks. Don't forget to lock up and store your valuables out of sight. No taking firearms into Mexico please. And, don't forget to bring the proper documents to get back into the US.

Then, walk across the border to Algodones. Mexico from the parking lot.


So then.....my GF and I enjoyed our short little day trip there. We mostly looked around, didn't eat (personal choice) and we brought our own water. Yup.....tons of cheap eye doctors, dental clinics and perhaps a few medical doctors. Along with the usual stuff for sale. After a few hours of exploring, we walked back across the border to the good ol' US. Now I can say that I took her to Mexico. LOL.

OMG! One day perhaps, I'll tell you guys about the GF's passport problem and how she was almost stuck there.
 
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Sometimes you grow up in AZ. You don't exactly travel far from home when you first get your wheels. The Organ Pipe National Monument area is absolutely beautiful and it's spitting distance from Rocky Point.

Kitt Peak isn't right on the border but that's where the observatories are...great place for seeing the stars.

Spent some time at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista as well (as JROTC) and also did Baja desert racing (dirt bikes) down that way.

Basically, you could start at the west end at Organ Pipe, head to Kitt Peak, cut over to Bisbee, head up through Tombstone, and get back to Tucson and you'd have seen a good bit of southern Arizona and yea...some of that is real close to the border.

It shouldn't be only for the "idealistic idiots" to explore one's own backyard.



That's pretty much why I liked backpacking in remote areas. If I see someone else there, especially at night, then I'm on guard as it should be a statistical improbability that I meet anyone. Also used to hike in AZ summers, which makes it doubly so that I shouldn't see anyone...cause most people can't take the heat.
I once drove from Organ Pipe across the border and then west to San Luis. On the way we were stopped at a checkpoint by the Mexican army. The nice young man with the Bushmaster M4 kept asking us questions, and though we were fluent in Spanish, we kept smiling and saying "No sabe." He eventually got frustrated and waved us on. We returned north to Phoenix after having tacos in San Luis.
 
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When we stayed in the LTVA just south of Quartzsite AZ, we used to like to go down to Yuma and cross the border for the shopping and medicine at Los Algodones. It was fairly safe, almost as safe as Yuma. They had to protect those tourista $$ and there was no road travel, it was right there across the border. Kinda like TJ is to San Diego. We used to go to TJ for carnitas, my bros were old enough to remember the donkey shows, but safe.... Never!!!
1978 was a long time ago, but this sticks with me because my family had been camping near Quartzsite that spring

 
I once drove from Organ Pipe across the border and then west to San Luis. On the way we were stopped at a checkpoint by the Mexican army. The nice young man with the Bushmaster M4 kept asking us questions, and though we were fluent in Spanish, we kept smiling and saying "No sabe." He eventually got frustrated and waved us on. We returned north to Phoenix after having tacos in San Luis.

I'm surprised; figures saying, "no sabe" would clue them into you knowing a bit.

I had a buddy that was straight up Irish lookin' who use to say (and I'm writing to try to get the pronunciation communicated), "NO ha-blow ess-panel." (But of course he was fluent) ;)
 
and enjoyed real Margarita's!!
2 parts tequila (blanco or reposado)
1 part lime juice
1/2 part grand marnier
1/4 part dark/raw agave syrup

Add over ice. Shake. Strain into glass (I'm actually fond of martini glasses as the wide rim is good for holding salt and the above makes just under 5oz if using 1.5oz shots, which fills a martini glass to the brim).

There. I just saved you a trip to Mexico ;).
 
Which is why you always keep your head on swivel and only trust those the you truly know.

starts at home too!

this happened and I logged it about two weeks ago. More was said than the message to the wife showed but this is the mentality we need to have in these days.

7ABF8A52-C33F-4353-AF3B-F62641C8503E.jpeg
 
since it has been brought up a couple times.

My youngest brother owns the closest gun shop to Fort Huachuca he does a booming business between firearms and his Motorcycle repair shop.
Chosin Cycles and Firearms in Huachuca City
 
2 parts tequila (blanco or reposado)
1 part lime juice
1/2 part grand marnier
1/4 part dark/raw agave syrup

Add over ice. Shake. Strain into glass (I'm actually fond of martini glasses as the wide rim is good for holding salt and the above makes just under 5oz if using 1.5oz shots, which fills a martini glass to the brim).

There. I just saved you a trip to Mexico ;).

U.S. bars generally make sucky Margaritas because they use mix instead of real lime juice etc. But I do like big punchbowl glasses and crushed ice. Oh well.
 

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