My Garmin has Mexico Maps from these folks. Much better than that, though, is that the man we bought our condominium from is meeting us at the border and will ride with us to Ajijic. He has arranged for me to hire a driver who is a professional used to handling big rigs and dealing with Los Transitos, the Mexican highway patrol. That school bus is a MONSTER to drive, 5-speed manual transmission with 2-speed rear axle, no power steering, and a turning radius comparable to your neighborhood Costco parking lot. We will actually have to block off the main road through Ajijic so we can back-and-fill to make the right-angle turn onto Colon street.

McAllen was chosen over Laredo on the recommendation of the driver. We will travel about 100 miles further overall, but will be on better roads and avoid the worst of the mountain passes. We will be on toll roads the whole way, figure about $300 in tolls for the two vehicles (the bus and SWMBO's Honda) but the money spent is well worth it in terms of easier passage, available services, and peace of mind.

Fuel range isn't a problem. At current prices, the bus holds about $225 worth of gas (75 gallons) and will go nearly 600 miles on a tank. The Honda only holds $30 worth of gas, but it will go 400 miles. We will only have to refuel one time in Mexico before reaching our destination.

As for accommodations... I have no idea. That's SWMBO's department. She will be ranging ahead (she won't want to go at the bus's snail pace) and making the arrangements. I will probably sleep in the bus as a security measure. We'll only have to make one overnight stop, in any case.

tanstaafl.