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warning if you are going to Nogales this week.


bmh

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Update: we hade it through on the 25th, stayed in Mazatlán the 23rd and Cd. Obregón the 24th, checking www.uniobregon.com for updates along the way. That shorter alternate route posted above hadn't been posted yet when we went through very early on the 25th, leaving before 7 AM. I'd heard from a friend who'd gone through at the beginning of the blockade that he made it with a Mexican friend in the car asking directions taking dirt back roads through Vícam for about 10-15 blocks but they had since closed that shorter loophole. We took the route that the locals told us was open via Esperanza, Hornos, and Rosario over potholed but tarred mountain roads toward San Nicolás. At the intersection before the town, you encounter a military checkpoint and I thought, here go the pesos! They were hidden all over the car in preparation. There were about 15 of them in fatigues standing around looking bored as there had not been much traffic on that bypass that we'd seen anyway. They superficially poked through the car which had very little in it, two days' worth of clothes and totopos/drinks. They asked where from and where to and I said "taking the car back to Phoenix." They opened my passport wallet and thumbed through the $800 pesos and $100 US in there as I made an obvious effort to peer into the car and watch what he was doing. He stole nothing which was refreshing. We pulled off the road just past them but within full view and ate our breakfast, then continued on to Hermosillo on a nice two lane paved mountain road that was fun to drive in my Mini Cooper. The bypass was 350 km instead of the normal road which would have been 260 km. It took us about 5.5 hrs to traverse as I was not going to break an axle on those serial potholes and the good road had enough switchbacks that you couldn't get up a lot of steam on them either. Turning in the TIP took all of 2 minutes and crossing at the new Mariposa Road facility about 8 minutes at 4:30 as there was only one car in each portal when we arrived. Drove 82 mph all the way to Phoenix and arrived at 7:45.

Given my druthers and looking at the route, I think I'd try the shorter dustier one to the west posted above. A waiter I know here in Phoenix at the Good Egg is from Navojoa and just did the same route we did on the weekend too. I think a lot of people were either waiting or had found the shorter route by Tuesday, as we hardly encountered any opposing traffic during our drive.

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We drove down here from Phoenix this weekend. Left Sun am, spent the night in San Carlos.. got stuck in blockade Monday morning, but they saw we were americans with a family and we were escorted thru the blockade.. (after being given water and offered breakfast! FOR FREE!) Night in mazatalan and then home to mirasol!

Now to recover!

short story.. blockade is inconvenient, but no big deal...

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  • 4 weeks later...

I'm planning on driving this route in 3 weeks. I'll assume the blockade is still ongoing, unless someone knows better.

The question I have is the Nueva Ruta Alterna al Bloqueo de Vicam this an available option?

Any updates would be welcomed.

Gary

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The road is open between Noon and 3pm and 7pm and 8am so you may be able to use it if you plan around the hours it will be open. Vicam is where the blockage is. That is the news for this week.

I have not hear from anyone about the other roads

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There is an article in the informador where the Yaquis are threatening to shorten the hours of the blockage after the 7th of August. if their demands are not met-http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2013/475273/6/yaquis-amenazan-extender-bloqueo-en-sonora.htm

Sorry I misread the article the blockage is already on : they have increased the hours by one hour and this will be in effet until the 7th of August next wednesday.

New hours when the road will be closed 8am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm

If you are travelling in that area stay tune to the news ...Semanat was given until the 7th to come up witha compromise or decision..

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Here is the blockade summary from www.uniobregon.com where you can get the most current article by clicking on "Cd. Obregón" or putting "bloqueo" in the buscar box.

Even with the most rudimentary Spanish skills most folks should be able to read this table. "Se aumente" = will get increased. "Desfogue" = venting off or relief of blockade

Rojo Valencia comentó que para el viernes, probablemente se aumente una hora más al bloqueo, es decir, cerrado de 8 de la mañana a 2 de la tarde, dejando sólo una hora de desfogue, de 2 a 3 de la tarde.

Horarios de bloqueo para hoy jueves:

De 5:00 a 7:00 bloqueo

De 7:00 a 8:00 libre

De 8:00 a 13:00 bloqueo

De 13:00 a 15:00 libre

De 15:00 a 19:00 bloqueo

De 19:00 a 5:00 libre

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Mexico is so full of fun and games. How sad none of this takes place NOB and you can simply go where you want when you want. Maybe when NOB gets more Mexicans and becomes more like Mexico they can have this kind of fun too :)

You might want to reread what you wrote. There are some potentially troubling notions going on, IMHO.
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