We came South down the coast, Los Angeles, East to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, The Salton Sea, on our way to Baja California. We got “randomly” searched by border patrol at a check point somewhere outside San Diego, didn’t like the look of us I guess. Kept asking “where’s the marijuana?” After they were done running ID’s he threw them back at us and walked away, saying nothing. That was a long time ago. Can’t imagine things are anymore pleasant today. Either way, we crossed the border into Mexico that evening.
No. 0254_00 - The Grapevine, Southern California 2013
We stayed at this place near Ensenada, some retired ex-pat from San Jose had this compound on the coast she was renting out. We arrive and she says “you should meet the dogs if you’re going to be around for the weekend.” Turns out she’s got about 9 dogs in her place, six of which were hers, the rest are up for adoption from the makeshift rescue she’s running out of her place with a couple friends. At that point this goofy Chihuahua-Terrier mutt walks up and instantly latches on to Joanna. We’re told the dog is looking for a home and we can borrow her for the weekend if we want while I’m thinking in the back of my head please stop talking I don’t wan’t to end up with a Mexican beach dog.
No. 0251_28A - Baja California, Mexico 2013
Anyhow, we ended up borrowing the dog. She followed us around the beach for 3 days, no leash, no collar, we could’t leave her. So that’s how we ended up smuggling a Mexican beach dog across the border, which is infinitely easier than you’d imagine. She was less than a year old when we found her. That was almost 13 years ago now. We named her Frida.
No. 0280_32 - Frida Fur Pants. San Francisco, California 2014