Much of California, Arizona and New Mexico had, explained the storekeeper in Boulevard, once been part of Mexico proper. But, if the border had ever been on shifting sands, it was now firmly fixed. A stark, high fence. But not continuous. Gaps on some of the steep hillsides.
Heavy US Customs and Border Protection presence. Vehicles frequently parked up in the scrub. Part detection part deterrence. Accounting for close on half the traffic on the highway. Roadside checkpoints. Whether the focus was counter-narcotics or people-trafficking I wasn’t sure. Either way, it didn’t bear well for wild camping.
