How did the IBA go?
Was this the 3 Flag; if it was, who and where did you get your document signed for MEX? Did you take photo; if so, would you post?
Thanks
It wasn't the 3 Flags Classic ride -- which, I believe, is only northbound from Mexico to Canada. I did a
Border to Border to Border Insanity ride starting and ending in Canada.
Made sense... I live less than 150 miles from the US/Canada border. Seemed pretty silly to not do the full meal deal -- since I'd nearly have to ride back to Canada just in the process of coming home from either a Canada to Mexico ride, or, [Seattle to] Mexico to Canada ride.
All that I did in Mexico (allowed by IBA) to document the border crossing was establish that I'd been in the area on the US side (an ATM withdrawal receipt) and then get a time/dated receipt from a gasoline station (actually supplemented by a machine-generated receipt from the parking garage at the airport) on the Tijuana side of the border. Did get one photo, which I don't have on my computer, of the bike (from the saddle, using camera in my cell phone) in the line to get back across the border.
It helped that a kind soul who posts here on the board documented that I'd been in San Diego -- when he reported in my ride thread having helped me with a minor problem with the scoot (burned-out low beam headlight bulb).
When I was doing my ride planning, I used Google maps (and Street View) to find a gasoline station near the border crossing -- so I didn't waste time looking for a place to get a computer generated receipt. Plus, I reasoned that an international airport (less than a mile from the gas station) would likely have a parking garage that would have a computer-generated receipt for payment of the parking fee.
If I'd done a
Border to Border ride "only", IBA will allow you to have your witness on the US side of the border, provided you have some supplementary evidence (like the aforementioned receipts) that you crossed the border.
I did email a couple of folks, using IBAs witness list, to see if they would sign a Witness Statement. It really wasn't convenient for them since they'd have to wait around on the US side of the border until I got through the line -- which could mean (and would have given the amount of time it did take) sitting around for an hour to 90 minutes. Or, would require them waiting for me to call -- and heading over to the US side of the crossing on short notice. I did this on a weekday, crossing the border during the day (wasn't stupid enough to consider crossing -- and riding around the border area of Mexico as a female, unaccompanied by another rider, and alone on a scoot), so it would have been a major inconvenience to an eyewitness.
The ride was successful. I got back to Canada in 69 hours and change. Less than the 72 hours alotted to do it. I got about 3 or 4 hours sleep the night between days 1 and 2 (on about 6 hours down time), and about 6 hours sleep (on 8 hours down time) the next night. Plus, I didn't ride the most 'efficient' (read fast) route on the way home. I stopped to see my boy just back from the sandbox (he was on leave, spending time with my ex -- and seeing his former high school buddies), as well as to hit a couple of bucket list stops: the house I lived in a child, my elementary and middle/junior high schools, and my college alma mater -- as well as a photostop at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge in SF. The ride certification just arrived from IBA on Friday: 2944 miles in less than 72 hours, starting and ending on the Canada side of the border, and crossing into Mexico long enough to document being there.