October Border Watch comes to an end

Postings by other Minutemen
http://forum.minutemanhq.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4490
http://forum.minutemanhq.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4118

An interesting, must read, by every Patriotic American
http://www.saneworks.us/comments.php?aid=205&cid=35&b=Immigration-category-35.htm


Thursday night on the Sierra Bravo line was the first night I actually saw Illegal Aliens running through the desert, in the pitch black of the night. Not only was it dark, it was COLD. It got down to about 40 degrees that night. I heard footsteps off in the distance and upon looking through the Night Vision Goggles I had been issued, I counted 8 bodies running through the desert approximately 100 yards off in the distance. I radioed into our com center and reported my sighting. The Border Patrol was notified and responded to my location approx. 20 mins later. Of course the illegal invaders were nowhere to be found by then. The PB located their footprints but then reported that they had scattered and he lost their track. Oh well. I did my best. I was the only one on any of our lines that shift who actually sighted any illegals. I took Friday night off, then worked the day shift on Saturday, my last shift of the October Border Watch Operation. Saturday afternoon we had a B-B-Q and Sunday we had cleanup day and Closing Ceremony. Monday I will head north to Sun City to close escrow on my new, little home.

Pix from the Border

I'm ready for my shift at the border.
The view from Bravo 6.

My partner Ron.

This is why I'm doing what I'm doing at the Border!!

Interesting night on the border

I spend last night on X-ray 5 post and I had a few interesting conversations with local residents in the area. One interested resident inquired what we were doing. I was honest and told him we were with the Minutemen. He said he was sorry to hear that. He basically accused us of being responsible for the deaths of all the illegals out in the desert, from exposure. I assured him we would assist the illegals by giving them water if they need it, then we would call the Border Patrol who would further assist them. I was a bit late in thinking of this response, "Not ONE IMMIGRANT has ever died coming into the United States legally through an official Port of Entry!" Next time I'll be prepared with that answer. Another resident kept asking me where I was from. For some reason I said, "The Phoenix area." When I told another resident I was from South Dakota he told me to "Go home!" Next time I'll say "I'm from the United States of America!!"
Unfortunately no illegals were spotted on our line last night, though another line spotted 8 I think, but I haven't heard the outcome of that sighting yet

Pictures at the Border

Police helicopter scouts the desert











My partners Sera and Allan













Beautiful desert sunset

New Home Owner and Border Watcher

During a short stay in Sun City West visiting my Mom, I purchased a small home in Sun City. While waiting for escrow to close I headed to Robles Junction, not far from Tucson, AZ and not far from the U.S./Mexico border to volunteer my time. So far I've gone out on three 4-midnight observation operations assisting the U.S. Border Patrol with the apprehension of illegal aliens invading our country. I myself haven't spotted any, but others on the line have. When we spot invaders we radio the information to our communication center volunteer, who phones the Border Patrol office, who hopefully dispatches agents to the location to apprehend the invaders. Sometimes it all works out well, sometimes it doesn't. But I, and all the other volunteers, feel like we are doing something to help our country.
Sitting out in the desert, in the pitch black of the night, can be a bit daunting. One night I heard some critter snorting not far from me. I could't see anything, but I heard the snort, then soft clomping. I guess it could have been a deer or possibly a Javelina. I wish I had lit it up with my spot light so I would know for sure, but I didn't, so I just go on wondering. Packs of coyotes serenade us throughout the night, and the incredible display of stars continue to facinate me.
Staying awake after the sun goes down is getting a little easier each night, but it does get cold and a bit boring. I find myself hoping for some sort of excitment, either at my spot, or another one down the line, just for some sort of diversion from just sitting, listening, and trying to "see" in the dark. We are suppplied with radios, large spot lights, and some are lucky enough to be issued night vision glasses and infrared scopes that illuminate anything giving off heat. One night my partner and I watched a cottontail enjoy his late night snack of some sort of vegetation. Even the trees give off heat.
I will try to continue volunteering my time here at the border until the end of the month. Then I will return to Sun City to close escrow on my new little home and start the updating projects I have planned. I'll continue to do a bit of traveling off and on this winter with the WIN RV club until Feb. then spend 3 months finishing up my house.

California to Nevada to Arizona

I spent a few nights at the Paiute Palance Casino in Bishop, CA. One night I listened to rain tapping on my roof and the next morning I was treated to the beautiful view of the sprinkling of snow on the mountain tops of the Sierras.
My friend Marlene and I treated ourselves to a tasty sandwich at the famous Schat's Bakkery in Bishop. I also took home a loaf of their delicious cinnamon raisin bread.
Another night was spent at a roadside area in Beatty, NV.
The next day brought a short drive to Henderson, NV and a long day of shopping. After a night at the Henderson Elk's Lodge, we continued on to the Temple Bar area of Lake Mead. Since I had no internet service there, I stayed only two nights.
I spent one night at the SKP park in Congress, AZ then moved on for a visit with Mom, and some house hunting.



My rig and Marlene's rig
parked at the Paiute Palace
Casino in Bishop, CAHoover Dam

Snow capped Sierra Nevadas
after a night time snow fall.

The view from my rig at Temple
Bar, Lake Mead
Another view of the snow capped
mountains