Mexican Boarder

We arrived in Arizona late in the day, careful to stock up on supplies and water for our remote location. We rented a wonderful cottage with sweeping views of high desert and distant mountains marking the Mexican border. I had estimated the border to be10 miles away, my Airbnb host said the mountains were almost 25. With the clear Desert air and lack of visual cues, judging distances here is hard.

Although the actual border is of course heavily guarded, we are in a strategic area for the Government to stop the drugs and illegal immigrants before they disappear into America. This zone is heavily patrolled and under constant surveillance from tethered massive white dirigibles hanging in the sky at around 2,000 feet. We passed thru an intimidating checkpoint where every vehicle is stopped and surrounded by several armed Border Patrol agents wearing body armor. Dogs carefully circled my truck sniffing as nervous agents watched. They are determined to catch those who made it across the border a few miles South. Our Airbnb host said the Cartel controls the Mexican side of the border here. The whole scene is deadly serious, this is not the Canadian border.

Our Airbnb hosts were very kind and generous, he’s a local Minister, she works at a school. Our cottage was spotless and the view went on forever, we won’t forget this place. We had planned to hike the Southern tip of the Arizona Trail ( much like the Long Trail) but smugglers and illegal immigrants have rendered the trail unsafe. We opted for a nearby State Park. The Desert hiking was great despite the usual scary signs. The Cactus were beginning to bloom as were the wild flowers, a great time of year to visit. The dry desert air is void of any moisture. Karen hung a load of wash outside at 9 o’clock at night, it was completely dry at sunrise. Bread left out will dry out in minutes, so different from Vermont!