warning, avoid nogales on Jan 10

What is a "Green Angel"? I gather it is someone who helps run a caravan?

The Green Angels have been around for a very long time. Last I heard there are a couple thousand of them. Basically mechanics in government trucks who travel many of the numbered roads all over Mexico to help motorists who have problems. They carry some tools and basic parts and fuel. Another of the great ideas and things we love about Mexico. You can Google to see lots of pictures of them and go to these websites to try learn more about them. Call 078 on your cell phone to get help from a Angeles Verde. They now have little travel trailers to pull behind their trucks so they can go with caravans in case there is a need for their assistance. The service is free but parts or fuel must be paid for. They will also try to get you to the nearest repair facility if your needs are greater than their capabilities.

http://av.sectur.gob.mx/

http://sedetur.qroo.gob.mx/index.php/tramites/angeles-verdes

is it still possible to get all the necessary permits at the nearest Mexican consulate?

We checked on all this a couple years ago. I believe it is possible to get the FMM (some call visa but not) online but not the vehicle permits which must be done at whatever crossing. This may have changed but the last we heard you still have to stop and do some sort of paperwork if you are going beyond the free zone. I could be wrong but we have not figured a way to make the crossing simple - as it is going into Canada.

What is a "Green Angel"? I gather it is someone who helps run a caravan?

Tequila, is it still possible to get all the necessary permits at the nearest Mexican consulate? I have never done it online, but I might the next time. I always went to San Bernardino, Ca., some twenty five miles away from my home, and got everything I needed there, so I never had to stop at kilometer 21.

moisheh wrote:
Your warning shows an amount of arrogance. Reads like this: We will be there stay away until we are gone as we deserve special treatment. It is incumbent on you as the wagonmaster to make sure that this caravan does not interfere with traffic flow and borders. If it requires baby sitting then do it! Caravans suck!!!!

Moisheh

Moisheh, with all due respect, I am simply providing a heads up so people avoid that morning. I do not want to inconvience anyone and certainly 17 rigs showing up at km 21 is going to do that. We will go through in 2 groups to try an make it efficient, hold 1/2 back at the Pemex station so we dont fill the entire parking lot. There is only so much you can do when you have a group this large and I felt that it was courtesy on my part to warn people on this forum, many of whom probably plan to cross around this date that we will be there. I could have blindsided instead, and i am sure you would also dump on me for that. The wagon master for this trip had to back out due to a medical issue. The orignal plan was for me to tail-gun and take half the group through several hours later, Unfortunately I am now it, except for Green angel in the rear, and we have to go as a block. I was simply trying to be considerate and let people planning to cross around that date, that this would be happening. I did not expect you to dump on me for being considerate.

The company is actually contacting Banjercito to see if we can pay overtime to have 2 normally schedueld off officials dedicated just to our group so we do not inconvenience other travelers.

I have learned 2 things after reading these posts. #1. Stay away from Mexico, #2. Never join a caravan. :S

tony lee wrote:
Babysit through a simple on-line application??? Surely that option would be just part of the pre-trip WRITTEN instructions and information pack that you would give everyone several weeks before they leave. No?

Must admit my knowledge of US Caravan procedures is confined to one amusing experience down in Mexico when a caravan arrived with much huffing and puffing of certain individuals and a belated realisation by some that they really should have practiced reversing a fiver or big MH in something smaller than a 5 acre field before they left home, followed by an hour of the senior huffer and puffer haranguing everyone sitting around in a big circle followed by three hours of bingo - all done through a cheap PA system turned to maximum volume and maximum distortion. Guess they eventually did get to experience a little bit of the local 'flavour' to compensate them for the huge costs of their adventure.

as long as we can all make it to Faustos in hermosillo before dark

which would be assured if all had their FMM and TIPs already in their sweaty hands when they lined up to get them stamped. 17 rigs each saving 15 minutes of paperwork is ----- a loooonnnng time.

We do not encourage on line. We have so far had 2 cases where people had to back out at the last minute and canceling a permit is a 6 month process and a huge headache especially since most people are Canadian and live 2000 miles from the border. Yours truly had to spend hours trying to facilitate it with going to the police and gettign letters attestingn the vehicle was still in Canada, etc. When you are dealing with retired people it happens a lot. It is almost impossible to cancel a permit by mail and you cannot get another until you do. You have no idea what a headache it is. By the time the permit gets cancelled the $400 deposit is also forfeit.

Don't know what caravan you observed Tony, but we have none of that. probably because we dont move to a new spot each day. That sort of excursion is certainly not for everyone, but it doe shelp keep RVing in Mexico alive. I orginally got into it simply to helped out a few parks which were suffering who have become like family to me, like the one in Huatabampito. If they close, everyone who loves RVing in Mexico loses. I don't do it for money, I don't need it. I get expenses covered, but my main reason is to introduce new people to the country I have come to love. Not to mention I see everyone who retired with me, dying from sitting around doing nothing. That is also the reason I do it for a Mexican based company, not na American or Canadian one.

Wm.Elliot wrote:
The people that lead the caravans (wagonmaster?) should get hazardous duty pay. I can't imagine dealing with all that angst.

Two thumbs up on that post! In the month of February alone we will host more than 110 rigs in Peñasco

The people that lead the caravans (wagonmaster?) should get hazardous duty pay. I can't imagine dealing with all that angst.

Might be my inexperience, but I think it might be cool to be part of a caravan.

Depends on your personality type and in many cases on your traveling style. Talk to the rear-enders (assuming the huffer and puffer allows people to lag behind a bit) and you will find they end up either nervous wrecks or angry and resentful because they are forced to exceed their driving comfort zone or aren't able to stop and smell the roses. Not everyone can handle a 6 hour drive with the right side of the vehicle 6" from a 3' construction dropoff for 20 miles at a time or even a 6" drop which is pretty much standard on any non-toll road.