Westie Across the Border
By Dorothy Bell
So we were waiting in the US entry line in Nogales trying to cross the border when I said “Bill the van is running a bit rough….?”
“Na” he says. “It’s just missing a bit.”
Less than 5 minutes later the van had stalled and Bill was revving and revving and trying and ….. nothing was catching.
We were beyond the point of no return and there were no roads back to Mexico or even a place to pull off to look at the engine. It was just a solid ugly lineup of people and cars, surrounding us in a sea of humanity, waiting to cross the border. Busy as any Mexican border, Nogales that night was chock full of vendors selling fuzzy blankets (with pictures from the Lion King, Cinderella, a rainbow with some unicorns or perhaps a big fat eagle), trinkets, bread, magic tricks, and candy. And of course the beggars.
So….
I ran to the front of the line and two border agents approached me like I was America’s Most Wanted. Long guns across their chests.
“Lady you don’t come running up here. You can’t be charging us.” Charging…Christ I have a dead van on my hands…. (Get back to your van they tell me…We will deal with you when you get here.”
So……
Bill and I push the Westy up the line. It wasn’t too hard considering that it has lots of stuff inside it as we move north. We wait and then push and finially make it to the front of the line. Then it rolled backwards and my front door was wedging it into a pole. The border patrol then helped us and started pushing…
It was a strange experience – we were rolling as they processed us.
Imagine the van being pushed as we were asked the following:
“Canadians”
Yes sir.
“No firearms? Merchandise for sale? Fruits or vegetables?”
No.
“No cigarettes, alcohol?”
Alcohol yes. 2 liters.
“No more?”
No more.
“OK your good. Roll on. Welcome to America. “
On the other USA side of the border we rolled down the street of downtown Nogales and parked. The AutorZone was within the block and Bill tried additives, testing etc but it appeared to be a fuel problem – perhaps a pump.
The AutoZone folks said we could park in their lot until morning and they would help us phone a mechanic and get him to look at what is what.)
So that’s what we did. That next morning I was in a Motel 6 and Bill took a taxi and headed towards the Westie.
I must say that it was the easiest border crossing in years and certainly the quickest and most memorable.”
Bill note…it was burnt out coil, that was causing misfires…we waited in Nogales for a week for the parts to arrive.