Cielomar
Junior Nomad
Posts: 71
Registered: 12-5-2010
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Trip Report 1/1/11
I drove the length of the Baja from Tijuana to Cabo over Christmas again this year. In general, the road is in much better shape than it was this
summer. The bridges are all but done, some dangerous sections have been given shoulders and except for two sections, construction has ceased.
From Ensenada to El Rosario there is a 3-5 mile section south of Santo Tomas that is under construction and the going is slow. About 27 km south of
Santo Tomas is the last remaining unfinished bridge in the extensive bridge building program. The drive around is paved and in good shape.
Down south from Todos Santos to Cabo the road is still torn up for about 20km between Todos and Pescadero with many unpaved and dangerous sections.
Go slow!! The bridges are in however.
The rains over Christmas have brought out the green in Northern Baja and all the way to Guerrero Negro is a garden. Beautiful!
I had only one minor hassle the whole trip and that was on the way back at the military check point north of El Rosario on New Year's morning about
8:45 AM. Some of the soldiers asked for "presents". I gently refused and they didn't make anything out f it. As others have posted, keep your
wallet/purse on you and watch as they go through your stuff.
Going south the military just waves you past after a stop. Headed north they make you get out and check the vehicle fairly thoroughly. For the most
part still polite and professional. Enjoy!!
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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good trip report !! we were waved thru all the checkpoints coming back from San Diego. Smooth sailing the whole way ....
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Bajaboy
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Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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We had a similar negative vibe yesterday at the same checkpoint. At most of the checkpoints, the soldiers are great...especially when they see our
kids. We get a few laughs, a cursory look, and then are waived on. But yesterday, the solider was terse, unfriendly, and moved very slowly....maybe
he was hungover or bitter about working on New Years Day.
Great bumping into you along the highway yesterday even if you did almost kill me
Zac
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
We had a similar negative vibe yesterday at the same checkpoint. At most of the checkpoints, the soldiers are great...especially when they see our
kids. We get a few laughs, a cursory look, and then are waived on. But yesterday, the solider was terse, unfriendly, and moved very slowly....maybe
he was hungover or bitter about working on New Years Day.
Great bumping into you along the highway yesterday even if you did almost kill me
Was a post a while back (Russ??) about that checkpoint. Seems a fair amount of cash was stolen from the vehicle. |
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krafty
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Registered: 8-23-2010
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I also read that post-did not have that experience there, but it was 3 days after the post so perhaps they had gotten their hands slapped, as I
believe it was reported-did make us all more aware thru all the ck pts. which was a good thing.
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woody with a view
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Registered: 11-8-2004
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i'll be coming north sun/mon. is it wrong to put a folded $20 in the center console with the words "yo soy bruto" in black marker on it? if/when it is
missing after i get in the truck i can start a commotion and YELL for the commandante/jefe and then explain what the problem is. problem solved????
BTW, home depot (u.s.) has some small l.e.d. flashlights on sale 5 for $15 (with batteries). i picked up 2 packs and plan to hand them out to the
soldiers who inspect the interior after they pass "the test!"
"muchas gracias, Jefe." or something like that.....
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
i'll be coming north sun/mon. is it wrong to put a folded $20 in the center console with the words "yo soy bruto" in black marker on it? if/when it is
missing after i get in the truck i can start a commotion and YELL for the commandante/jefe and then explain what the problem is. problem solved????
BTW, home depot (u.s.) has some small l.e.d. flashlights on sale 5 for $15 (with batteries). i picked up 2 packs and plan to hand them out to the
soldiers who inspect the interior after they pass "the test!"
"muchas gracias, Jefe." or something like that..... |
Will you reward the US Border Patrol agents as well
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