The adventures of my former 1969 Patrol

[Edgar]

Thank you for sharing. I am bee-lining it to the basement now to work on Edgar. This is motivational!!!

[moore_rb]

So we loaded up the Patrol with tools and extra parts and followed an old Spanish trail ("Camino Real") that led from the copper mines near Silver City across the desert flats into Mexico as we could follow it. These were the days before Google Earth or quality GPS', so navigation was hit or miss. here is a segment of the trail on the US side of the border:

Great pics- Nissan Patrol, in it's natural habitat...

The only thing about exploring in the mountains of Northern Mexico today, is that there are Mexican military checkpoints set up just about everywhere that the roads come within a mile of a mine, or a proven, surveyed mineral deposit...

and, if you do happen to see another vehicle off in the distance, you better be able to ID it as a military truck, because if it's narcos, then your next course of action better be finding a good hiding place...

still lots to explore out there, but you gotta be alert and aware today, a lot more than back then...which is a shame

[Daner]

I didn't see any military checkpoints on this particular trip, but agree that Mexico, in particular the border area, has become sketchier over the years which is a shame because it is beautiful country with kind people. I still travel extensively in Mexico but have not been back to the Sierra Madre in 20 years.

[Daner]

To back up a tad, by the time we made it to the border, we were completely baked by the desert sun (even with spf70 sunscreen). So, we did something that to this day is the cause of contention in our household....we bought two ugly vaquero hats at a zapateria. Iirc, we spent something like $6.00, and to be frank, we looked pretty silly. Despite the fact my wife hates when I wear it (and has tried to sneak it into the trash), I still have that hat and wear it whenever we are out in the sun.

Before:

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After:

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[jwgreen]

I think the hat looks GREAT!!

[moore_rb]

Me too !

Go check out my own Mexican flea market straw hat; which is also about 15 years old...

[Esteban]

Great pictures and stories, Daner. Thanks for sharing.

[Daner]

Thanks, good to know that I’m not alone in wearing cheap hats to keep the desert sun at bay....now, if only I could finalize the purchase of the 62 ragtop, we could be twins.

[Daner]

...Still looking for pics of the Patrol down in the Sierra Madre of Mexico, but did find a couple of more of the Patrol tracking the old Spanish trail through the desert. In most places, the road is still occasionally used by ranchers, so it is easy to follow. In other places it veered off the modern track and was more challenging. Looks like not everyone who drove the old trail made it out:

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[Esteban]

Awesome pictures! The contrast against the carnage is great!!