| Author | Message | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A |
Don't ask why. My wife isn't asking either.. Ok, it's in Harlingen Texas, near Brownsville on the bottom little tip of Texas. I have to pick it up next week, and drive it home to San Diego. Question: All I've ever heard about Californians driving in texas is that it's trouble. So I've always avoided that state. Since I'm now going to have to cross the whole darned state, any suggestions as to towns to stay away from? Should I be sleeping at truckstops or wal-marts, or should I just keep on the road 'till I get into N.M. It has me a little concerned... Oh, and is there any particular route I should take or not? I'm guessing get to 10 in San Antonio, out 10 to El Paso and just stay on 10 till I get to I-8...??? Then, getting from Harlingen to San Antonio, is it better to skirt the mexican border all those miles to Laredo, or would it be wiser to head up to Corpus Christi and go in to S.A. from there? ...Apparently, it never ends....  | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
I moved my sister to San Antonio from Reno and was told don't stop or break down (as if I had a choice) On 10, after Tuscon all along the border until way after El Paso. Lots of "cross border" activity. Was followed by 3 dirt bags in an El Camino for about 6 hours. When I stopped at a Motel, the dirt bags pulled off the Fwy with me and parked across the street, more or less staked out. I mentioned it to the man at the desk who got a grim smile on his face, picked up the phone and called the police. slept well, they weren't there in the morning, never saw them again. Seems these types of predators were seen frequently. Take Care! | ||
| jimmci9 #2 Rating: N/A |
take us hy 77 north to corpus, then get on i-37 to san antonio... then i-10 west to el paso.... i would'nt try heading thru laredo... too much bare country with no resources in case you do have any problems... i'm in victoria, 90 miles from corpus........ don ks/tx is jusat south of weslaco..... and i'd buy some sort of road servive, AAA or good sam's befor i went after the bus | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Hey Gary, plan on a stop at my house, I live in La Feria, which is actually a suburb of Harlingen directly on the West side of Harlingen. If you are flying in I can pick you up even and transport you around down here. Am looking forward to meeting you. We can discuss routes more at that time. | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
Rating: N/A |
I live just north of Houston... I didn't know we had such a reputation? I would not "skirt the mexican border" in a bus. You would be inviting yourself to be stopped often (that's my speculation not experience). The route jimmci9 suggested sounds pretty good. So long as you drive the speed limit you shouldn't have any problems. The way you feel about Texas is the same way I feel about Louisiana. (this came from experience not rumor.) Mike | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A |
From past experience the real problem area of your trip is when you cross into CA, at Yuma on I-8. I have done the FL/CA route several times and allways use I-10 and I-8. Side trips to Tucson, Yuma, Phoenix, 'Vegas, and Kingman, AZ (to visit The Mad Brit), on the way to San Diego. Carry a cell phone, get large vehicle road-side assistance insurance, carry a loaded, large caliber pistol, and have a nice trip. Truckstops are safe. Buy fuel and tell the girl at the fuel desk that you're tired and want to pull around back and take a nap. I've never had a problem, and that's in over 25k miles in 37 states in the last 5 years. Good Luck, and Cheers...JJ | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Rating: N/A |
I have to ask... What did you buy? That is the most favorite part of the "I bought a bus" post for me! :-) Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Doggone John, you need to catch up. I did 30k just last summer alone! :-) And Mike, I USUALLY skirt the border on purpose! Friendly people, great places to stop for repairs, food, fuel, campgrounds or Wal Marts, almost as fast and not as boring as that long trek on the interstates. Really folks, it apparently has a very undeserved reputation for problems. With a lower geared bus, you feel foolish on the Interstates screaming along at full throttle trying to keep awake. | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
Rating: N/A |
Don, I didn't know that about the border area. I have some friends that ride their motorcycles around Big Bend and they really like the area. I guess I'll have to get over that way next year and check it out myself. Mike | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
possible 2 dogs ambushcade!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A |
Gary, the highway patrol is vigilant about checking plates for commercial vehicles in Big Springs, Texas. I think they get a lto of revenue that way. Other than getting looked at, I was not pulled over or hassled. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
Take Hwy 90 West if the bus is in good shape. I 10 will be closer big truck stops and garages, but US 90 from Del Rio West to where you rejoin I-10 near El Paso is not to be missed. No traffic at all and nice 2 lane highway with 75 mph speed limits. All the curves and hills are gentle enough to allow you to keep the pedal to the floor. We drove that route in August and did not see a semi but once in 300 miles. Often there was not a car or pickup truck in either direction to the horizon. I assume US 83 and US 277 are also nice. I would take the border roads (US 83, 277, 90) and feel very safe. The border people on both sides are good people. Near El Paso and Juarez it will be more like Tijuana. Plan a stop in Alpine Texas and blow through El Paso. Alpine has a 13ft 1 inch underpass. If your bus is not already converted with a roof raise and roof top air conditioners your should have no problem. If your arrangements allow picking up the bus in March, I hear the wildflowers are unbelievable in West Texas in Spring. Have a great trip. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
You will go through border stops that check every vehicle every few hundred miles. They are Border Patrol and they are only checking for illegals, just like in California. They will not be checking your registration and all that, just looking at a big empty bus and seeing no illegal immigrants. I don't think you will have any Border Patrol problems. Those guys have NO authority over US citizens and they are very polite. Just be prepared to open your bays and show them there are no people in them, if they ask. | ||
| DonGeneda
Rating: N/A |
I am trying to get him to take some scenic routes too Stephen, at least go up 83 and catch I 10 later. However he is trying to hit the road at night almost as soon as he gets in, and is in a heck of a hurry, so would miss all the sights anyway during the night except for hitting an occasional armadillo or deer. I usually try to avoid I 10 until Ft Stockton, nice easy drive from here to there. | ||
| Don Fairchild
Rating: N/A |
Gary; I am headed to fortworth tx on sat the 10th. I will be traviling the I-10 to the I-20. The I-10 and I-20 split east of kent TX. I'll be driving my Pickup Pulling my work trailer and hauling my tools. If we can work out the timming on the way home I would be happy to meet you some where on the I-10 and follow you to the I-8 in case you had a brake down. You can call me at 661-301-4648 Don | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
I picked up Gary at the Harlingen Texas airport last night around 6:30, we went directly to his new bus in McAllen since he was in quite a hurry to head back home. Took us almost til midnight to get it running, when I left him he was still trying to get some brakes on the old girl and head towards San Diego in the dark. You can bet he will have an interesting story of his journey in a few days! |