The Range returned from Rocky Point this weekend full of stories you’ll be able to enjoy in the weeks to come, including a look at how CEDO, the field research station located in Las Conchas, has to raise a quarter-million bucks by the end of the year to prevent their headquarters from being turned into more condos. Plus, we’ll tell you about more adventures in the upcoming “Tales From the Outskirts” issue.
But we wanted to touch upon the worst part of the trip: The two-hour-plus wait at the border, where cars were backed up in two lanes for more than a mile. It was excruciatingly boring, even with a book to read, and the sheer inconvenience left us wondering why on earth so many people are flocking there. Surely, as rental prices for houses and condos keep rising and water becomes more scarce, people are going to realize that California offers a lot more. At least when you’re in Cali, you’re not told that you shouldn’t flush your toilet.
Even more disturbing than the line at the border, though, was the story we heard from TW staff writer Saxon Burns, who was pulled over on his way out of Rocky Point by one of Penasco’s finest. The officer, who said Saxon’s buddy Mike Silvers was “driving angrily,” spent a lot of time digging through the car before sending them on their way. That’s the kind of shakedown that the town authorities should put an end to if they want to encourage tourists to spend their money.
More on how Saxon was hassled by The Man in this week’s Range.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2007.
The place is a drag; more trouble than it’s worth. There aren’t even waves to speak of.
Perhaps the delays at the border were caused by our crack Homeland Security Customs Agents being super careful not to let any terroristas through. After all, they were clearly embarrassed last week when they “waved through” some American dude with Tuberculosis although he had been placed on a DO NOT ENTER US list. Just a thought.
You don’t strike me as a surfer Red Star. What’s the drag again? No matter, please, if you own an ATC, ATV, a gnarly golf-cart with flames on the side, please stop going to Rocky Point. Mr. James Nintzel is correct, San Diego is best for ya’ll. Shoot, Peñasco don’t even have an In-N-Out Burger!
You left out Padre Island.
Places like this, they suck. Two hour delay headed North or South, don’t matter…Baja both sides a mess.
But it’s all a rite of passage thing, travel editors being what they are n all.
When is the Tucson Weekly going to do a story on the impact that vastly increased use of Colorado River water has had on the river’s outlet to the Gulf of California?
I waited one hour Monday evening to cross. To add insult to injury, only 2 of the 3 lanes were open. It is simply irresponsible for our so called leaders, who try to top each other as tough on national security, to constantly erect barriers to travel in the name of security and not also increase the size of the systems needed to handle the additional time required. Ridiculous waits at the airport while guards look at shampoo bottles and xray our shoes and the coming requirement to have a passport just to walk across the border to shop are ineffective charades designed to show the public that the government is doing “something”. In the meantime, thousands cross our border illegally every month or overstay their visas-all without the hassle we go through just travel. Unbelievable.