Crossing into Mexico at Dawn: The Story Behind the BorderLands Gravel Parade Lap

At 6 am, we gathered at the port of entry between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Mexico. The sun had not yet cleared the horizon. Months earlier, when we planned the international parade lap, no one realized how dark it would be at that hour. The air had that familiar desert chill, and riders rolled in one by one, some with lights, others trusting the street lamps to guide their way.