Border crossing tomorrow

We left Tucson afternoon on Friday, a later start then expected, and cycled out of town to Sahaurita where we took our first break. The plan was to head east and hit the highway south to Sierra Vista, but the sun was setting and we decided to camp at a private golf course/subdevelopment in the middle of the desert (what a waste of water, disc golf would be more appropriate). We found a small refuge/restroom and set our first camp in a pretty ideal location. We got the boot early the next morning and continued on toward Sierra Vista over the Santa Rita mountains. Breathtaking views of the high mountain desert were accompanied by the dry air and intense sun that goes with the territory - you really do see and experience the land you travel across better when going by bike.
Unfortunately, biking can also be treacherous - Andy got blown into a guard rail by a motor cycle, an accident that torqued his front rack into his wheel, breaking some spokes in the process. Luckily, he was uninjured and we had the necessary parts to repair the wheel on the roadside. That experience set us back a bit, but good fortune returned when we met Paul and Becky, two generous (motor)bikers that offered up a place to stay and even shower.
Andy ordered a new rack and had it shipped to Bisbee, our next big destination.

We left late after a big breakfast prepared by a friend of Paul's and headed out. We passed through Sierra Vista, where we once again camped right outside of town, this time in a desert area being used as a junk yard. We were close to the border and the border patrol blimp that likely watched us from above served as a not so friendly reminder of this fact. We rushed off at 8am yesterday morning and biked a solid 36 miles to Bisbee before noon. On route, we followed a road that ran perpendicular to the border, just a few miles south. We passed many border patrol vehicles and skywatch towers, part of a new high-tech security effort led by Boeing Co., a project that will earn them $67 million and is expected to cost $2 billion over the next six years. Despite these efforts, Pxl spotted a group of people sneaking north along the San Pedro river as we crossed. The vast resources going into "securing" (read militarizing) the border will do little to stop the flow of people heading north toward their dreams of economic security.

We are taking a much needed rest day in Bisbee today and will be heading off to cross the border tomorrow morning in Naco. The political situation in Mexico seems to be deteriorating, with bombings in Mexico City (D.F.) claimed to be executed by APPO supporters demanding the resignation of Oaxaca's Governor. The killing of indymedia journalist Brad Will and others by anti APPO forces has increased the tension and police and military buildup in the area. It seems as though the left is building collations and a popular revolution is brewing. We will be extra perceptive and sensitive as we travel through Mexico, especially so as we find ourselves in more southern areas.

Manana Vamos a Mexico!