Panamerican Highway – week #31 – let´s go to the US

July 4, 2024 d k

[26/06/2024 – 03/072024[

Our Last Week – Whenever you read it

On the 26th of June, no document appeared in my inbox. I even wrote an email to the guy from EPA, and while he was rather responsive the last time I wrote this time no response whatsoever. 27th of June in the morning and still no movement on my inbox. Knowing that Michigan (supposedly where the EPA guy is sitting) is 4 hours to the east, we decided to prolong our stay for another two nights in Puerto Penasco.
Well about an hour later we had THE document for both our bikes and where theoretically ready to go, but know we got two more nights in Puerto Penasco. Thursday we did not do much except for being happy, and i felt like a huge weight was lifted. I mean Stefan has been grumpy the past two days, and i did not want to show how tense I was. I did not even realize it, how tense I was up until the point where we had both documents in hand.
Friday was used to print some documents, EPA letter of exemption, insurance papers for the US and Canada, some additional form, fill out the I-94 document, and in general get ready for the next day. The evening we spent with yet another stunning “sea of cortez” sunset which was crowned with the start of a Falcon 9 – SpaceX – rocket out of Vandenberg Space Force Base. Never seen a multi staged rocket fly and it was definitely awe inspiring.
The day of the border crossing and remembering the last time being in front of a US Border Patrol Agent, I was not overly looking forward to it. My last time was 2020 end of February, and aside waiting in line for about 90 minutes, the questioning felt like an hour as well, even though it was over in about 5 minutes. Back then I came with a plane into New York, this time I will be at the Mexican – US border with my own motorcycle. Oh and you can see the border wall from like 30 km out, which does not necessarily give you the warm and fuzzy feeling of being welcome.
Long story short the whole affair was over in like 5 minutes, including the wait. Fastest border crossing we had this far and no documents needed, not even for the motorcycles (still not convinced but that we will find out once somebody asks for it). Very friendly Border Patrol Agent. And we are now in the United States of America. The second to last country we are going to visit.
First thing we did after crossing the border was the “Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument”. We have read up before about the US national parks, and they do offer a seasonal pass – valid for a year – for 80.-$. We were just a bit unsure where to actually get one, we still do not know if they are sold in all national parks, but at least in this one they are sold and they are valid for all federal national parks. The park fee for a motorcycle would have been 25.-$ and as we are here for a bit, I am sure in the end we will have made a good deal. Stefan is a fan of cacti, so a few weeks back when I looked where to best cross the border I thought this park might be right up his alley. Yep I was right, was a bit like watching Alice in Wonderland ;-).
The night in Gila Bend, well we got the first impression how the prices will be in the US, and I am pretty sure that we will spend a shitload of money doing the same like we did all the time south of the border. As we already took care of the motorcycle service, we could forgo Phoenix and after another look at the map, I stumbled upon Sedona, which is where we went on our way to the Grand Canyon. What can I say Red Rock Country and on the way there we passed through the granite mountains. Nice and bendy roads (at times) just the speed limits are strange. 25 mph if there is something that only resembles a turn, remembering hairpins in the alps you are allowed to go with like 60 mph this feels a bit excessive.
And then we went to the Grand Canyon. The ride out of Sedona was spectacular, and as well the arrival in the Desert View Campground, which Stefan was able to book just this morning. We are now five days in the US, and the ride has been a spectacular one. Don´t get me wrong nothing (thus far) rivals Patagonia and the Atacama, but yeah this is pretty close, and we have just scratched the surface of our stay in North America.
The Grand Canyon, I ll just let the pictures and the video speak for itself, as I do not have the words to put together a halfway decent description. And then there was the nightsky, with a wonderful view of the Milkyway to the east.

Stefan mentioned yesterday that while we were in Mexico waiting on the document, he thought, going back to work – aka sit somewhere in front of the computer – would be ok. After having been to the Grand Canyon, not so much anymore. Good as there is still a lot of road ahead of us, with the next stop being Las Vegas.

Wednesday: Puerto Penasco

Go for a run and write an email to the EPA asking if they could give us an ETA on the document besides the 14 – 21 business days.

Thursday: Puerto Penasco

Prolong the stay in Puerto Penasco and short after getting our long awaited documents.

Friday: Puerto Penasco

Prepare the border crossing and going out for the last sunset Corona in Mexico. Witnessing the start of a Falcon 9 rocket.

Saturday: Puerto Penasco (Mexico) – Gila Bend (USA)

One thing that is worth mentioning is, that we had to give a 400.-$ deposit for our motorcycles when we entered Mexico. In order to get this deposit back you have to drive 30 km from the Sonoyta border crossing into the desert. And those 30 km are not on the way from Puerto Penasco to Sonoyta. So in total a 60km detour to the Banjercito. Interestingly the way we were told to do the border crossing by the Mexican officials, we did not even stamp out of Mexico and for the US you anyway do not get a stamp. When I asked the Border and Customs Agent, she told me we are allowed to stay 90 days and our motorcycles are fine as well. Somewhere in the back of my mind I am still not convinced.

Sunday: Gila Bend – Sedona

As you can see on the video it is always raining somewhere and it looks quite spectacular. We have not had the misfortune – yet – of riding through one of these thunderstorms, just gracing one, but I am pretty sure the day will come.

Monday: Sedona – Desert View Campground (Grand Canyon East)

The morning started in Red Rock Country, with a lot of green around, and in the afternoon the scenery changed to a deserty pastel tone. And the evening and night, sunset and stars ´nough said