BajaNomad - Nightmare waits at San Ysidro

Nightmare waits at San Ysidro

BornFisher - 4-22-2007 at 08:56 PM

I was just talking to someone who had a 2 1/2 Hr wait recently at San Ysidro. This was on a Sunday afternoon during Easter Week.
Once my daughter gave up and went back to our place @ K-38. She said she didn`t move for an hour and saw people sleeping in their cars!!
A friend said that over Thanksgiving, 3 people from the park left on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, and they all returned, just giving up after waiting forever just to get in line!
Sooooooooooooo................... heard any stories???

Hook - 4-22-2007 at 09:14 PM

We watched a couple's dog while they rode the big bike race yesterday. They crossed at 2pm at SY and had a two hour wait.

I thought that was pretty incredible for a Sunday following the Rosarito-Ensenada race. I've waited longer than that on a nothing weekend.

SDRonni - 4-22-2007 at 10:20 PM

Thank God for our Sentri passes!

SYsidro traffic

BAJACAT - 4-22-2007 at 10:50 PM

Lately that has been my port of entry Otay has come to be a pain in the rear lately.I was there for the Rosarito & Ensenada race my son participated on the event,we got to San Ysidro around 6:00 pm the line was all the way to El centro cultural(CECUT),At 6:47 I was crossing the border I was surprise how quick it was for that manny cars.

[Edited on 4-23-2007 by BAJACAT]

Bajacat&poweraid.JPG - 46kB

Minnow - 4-23-2007 at 07:18 AM

You want a nightmare. Try Tecate on a Sunday. 3 hours minimum.

Dave - 4-23-2007 at 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT
I was there for the Rosarito & Ensenada race

How did the girls ride their bikes in those heels?

turtleandtoad - 4-23-2007 at 08:44 AM

I've never had more than a 45 minute wait at Tecate. But then, I've never tried to cross on a Sunday or at the end of a long weekend.

HotSchott - 4-23-2007 at 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Minnow
You want a nightmare. Try Tecate on a Sunday. 3 hours minimum.

Returning yesterday from Canon Guadalupe and the wait was about 50 minutes at 12:30. It was actually the best it has been since they opened the new crossing. But everyone should still go to TJ and Otay.

$$

David K - 4-23-2007 at 10:08 AM

How about a trip report Steve? Any rain for you... Saturday was nice here and most of Sunday, too...

bajabound2005 - 4-23-2007 at 06:48 PM

The answer is SENTRI pass! We never had to wait even 30 seconds!

capn.sharky - 4-23-2007 at 08:13 PM

Why not hire a coyote to cross. They don't seem to have any trouble waiting in lines. The Migra seems to ignore them. The Migra (our Migra at that) only wants to hassle U.S. Citizens. That way we think they are really doing something about illegal crossings. Ever notice how surly the border guys can be when they want to. Better yet, put a towel on your head and wear a bathrobe---they will pass you right through as they don't want anyone to think they are profiling. :lol:

Baja&Back - 4-23-2007 at 08:22 PM

January 3rd, we waited 5 hours,10 minutes at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales, after hotdogging it all the way from puerto Vallarta!!!
Seems all the Mexicans with Temporary Residence Permits had to be back from Xmas visits at the same time as us.

What a mind numbing experience. :fire:

BAJACAT - 4-23-2007 at 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT
I was there for the Rosarito & Ensenada race

How did the girls ride their bikes in those heels? ;

They rode with me :lol:

I wishhhhhh

[Edited on 4-24-2007 by BAJACAT]

BornFisher - 4-23-2007 at 08:30 PM

O.K. here`s another-- A friend told me he was going to party in TJ. He crossed over with his girlfriend, took a few wrong turns, and wound up back at the border, this time northbound toward San Diego!!! He was stuck in line and had to cross back into the US! He told me the gaurd asked him if he anything to declare. "Yes", he said, "I`m an idiot"!!

Dave - 4-23-2007 at 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BornFisher
took a few wrong turns, and wound up back at the border, this time northbound toward San Diego!!! He was stuck in line and had to cross back into the US!

I....have.....done......that.

After drinks and dinner at an expensive TJ restaurant with a another couple in the back seat...trying to get back to Rosarito. You cannot imagine what I had to endure while waiting to cross. :rolleyes:

Minnow - 4-24-2007 at 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back
January 3rd, we waited 5 hours,10 minutes at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales, after hotdogging it all the way from puerto Vallarta!!!
Seems all the Mexicans with Temporary Residence Permits had to be back from Xmas visits at the same time as us.

What a mind numbing experience. :fire:

BandB. My wife and I crossed there the exact same day. We only waited about 3 hours though. We were coming from Hermosillo and got an early start. When we finally got to the front of the line we realized what the big hold up was. The border lady was brand new and had to go through her entire routine, that she could not remember, with every car. The supervisor there must be a total arse. :fire:

Smoke - 4-24-2007 at 05:49 PM

Lots of info but as a newby I am assuming all the references to crossing were going back into the US.
I am going to Baha May3 can go through about any time but had planned on entering through Tecate at light O-Clock. The only reason I picked Tecate was because I new of a place to stay the night before. Any sugestions.

spelling is not my long suit

Smoke - 4-24-2007 at 05:56 PM

before I get laughed at too much I know it is "Baja"

turtleandtoad - 4-24-2007 at 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Smoke
before I get laughed at too much I know it is "Baja"

As far as a place to stay the nite before crossing, are you talking Hotel or Motel or camping or RVing :?:

Or maybe just sleeping in your car :?:

bajabound2005 - 4-24-2007 at 07:46 PM

and does that border crossing close "after hours"?? Anyway; crossing IN TO Mexico is not a problem; it's going back in to the great US of A. Coming IN to Mexico; you might hit a 5 min delay during commuter hours (after 4:00 pm - before 7:00 pm)...

David K - 4-24-2007 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Smoke
before I get laughed at too much I know it is "Baja"

Smoke, welcome to Nomad!

Spelling and typos are a big problem with me at times... fortunately Baja Nomad allows you go back and fix your posts! Just click on the EDIT button that is next to the box where you read your posts!

If you edit more than one time, you can delete the notice that appears at the bottom saying it was already edited... that way several edited by lines don't remain... just one.

BAJACAT - 4-24-2007 at 08:17 PM

How do you guys know that he mispell the word BAJA, maybe he meant to spell it that way?.BAHA. I know because I almost did while triying to get my personal plates,BAJACAT, was already taken, so I try BAHACAT and didn't like it, the whole idean of the personal plates was to have the Whale tail and the BAJA word in it. So I had to change it to BAJA KT :no:

chino - 4-24-2007 at 08:32 PM

Best boarder crossing I ever had was letting the " "old lady drive and I got in the back of the camper and ate all of the dog food and raw pork and drank the remaining beer and watched the dog and pony show from the back!!

staying in RV

Smoke - 4-24-2007 at 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by turtleandtoad

Quote:

Originally posted by Smoke
before I get laughed at too much I know it is "Baja"

As far as a place to stay the nite before crossing, are you talking Hotel or Motel or camping or RVing :?:

Or maybe just sleeping in your car :?:

Smoke - 4-24-2007 at 08:45 PM

We are in 26 ft 5th wheel

Wal - Mart

bajaguy - 4-24-2007 at 09:01 PM

Smoke, I would do an internet search and find the nearest Wally Martinez (Wal-Mart) parking lot to the San Ysidro crossing, find a quiet corner of the lot, take a good nap, grab a cup of AM-PM wake-em-up, and get an early morning start across the line.

Smoke - 4-25-2007 at 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Smoke, I would do an internet search and find the nearest Wally Martinez (Wal-Mart) parking lot to the San Ysidro crossing, find a quiet corner of the lot, take a good nap, grab a cup of AM-PM wake-em-up, and get an early morning start across the line.

Smoke - 4-25-2007 at 07:17 AM

Thanks much, I should have thought of that but my mind is overflowing with dorado,stripeys,Roosterfish,sierra,pacifico,shrimp tacos and shrimp omelets at El Viejo , so there was not room for logical thought processes like that.

fdt - 4-25-2007 at 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
I would do an internet search and find the nearest Wally Martinez (Wal-Mart)

I thought it was Walberto Martinez :saint:

Bob and Susan - 4-25-2007 at 07:41 AM

walmarts near the border

DO NOT!!! let you stay in the parking lot overnite!!!

be prepared to MOVE!!!

bajaguy - 4-25-2007 at 08:07 AM

welllllllllllllllll then....in that case, my next choice would be one of the side streets just south of Brown Field on Otay Mesa Road. Maybe Cactus Road or Britiannia Blvd or one of the laterals (do a map quest search).

There are several 24 hour stop & shops there. Should not be bothered with a 5th wheel rig, then cross at Otay and take the Boulevard 2000.

Or maybe the Home Depot lot on Palm Avenue, just off of and west of the I-5 in Chula Vista.

[Edited on 4-25-2007 by bajaguy]

DENNIS - 4-25-2007 at 01:55 PM

Home Depot off Palm Ave. is also off limits to overnighters. That would be just down the street from WalMart. All probably because there is a Starbucks between them and temporary homeless in their parking lot would be bad for their image.

Bob and Susan - 4-25-2007 at 02:00 PM

that's the spot baja guy
lots of trucker street parking right there off the 905 at otay mesa
my choice :lol:

DENNIS - 4-25-2007 at 02:28 PM

Taking the 2000 road from Otay is a good plan. Just came back from the States and there is a new roadblock on the border fence road set up by heavily armed Fed Highway Patrol. Heard about it the other day and who knows how long it will last.
Anyway, a couple of miles further and you get to go through the Army roadblock. These are minor inconveniences unless they pull you over and I dont know of anybody who has been. It's just looking more like Beirut every day.

Walmart in National city

BAJACAT - 4-25-2007 at 09:36 PM

the one on Highland lets rvs stay the night.I see them all the time...

Bob and Susan - 4-26-2007 at 06:28 AM

just got kicked out 3 weeks ago...nope

the security guy was a bad dude too....

turtleandtoad - 4-26-2007 at 08:07 AM

If you use the Tecate crossing, there is a Outdoor World Resort & RV park on Hyw 94 that can handle everything from the Big Rigs to tent campers and even cabin campers. Also, there are numerous smaller RV parks along Hwy 94 in the little comumities like Campo, Potrero, Jacumba, Dulzera, etc.

Or you can stay overnight in the parking lot at the Golden Acorn, an Indian casino on I-8

Or, if you're a nudist, there is Deanza Springs at Jacumba.

All of these are less than an hour away from the Tecate border crossing.

toneart - 4-26-2007 at 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by turtleandtoad
If you use the Tecate crossing, there is a Outdoor World Resort & RV park on Hyw 94 that can handle everything from the Big Rigs to tent campers and even cabin campers. Also, there are numerous smaller RV parks along Hwy 94 in the little comumities like Campo, Potrero, Jacumba, Dulzera, etc.

Or you can stay overnight in the parking lot at the Golden Acorn, an Indian casino on I-8

Or, if you're a nudist, there is Deanza Springs at Jacumba.

All of these are less than an hour away from the Tecate border crossing.

Hey! I was born nude.....can I get in?
Seriously, whats the deal at Jacumba. Last time I was there it was owned by a German and was getting pretty run down. That was good though because it wasn´t very expensive. The thermal pool was great and the indoor jacuzzi was funky but hot.:moon:

turtleandtoad - 4-26-2007 at 09:16 AM

Haven't stayed there in years (I stay at Deanza Springs), just driven by, so I'm not sure if anything, including the owner, has changed.

Deanza Springs has 2 pools (one indoor), hot tub, restaurant, health club, tennis courts, Horseshoe pits, Basketball courts, game room, bar, clubhouse, WiFi, Lots of desert for nude hiking, etc. So I've never had the urge to stay anywhere else.

DENNIS - 4-26-2007 at 01:10 PM

Well, that's it. I've done a lot of things in my life but, I havn't walked around the desert nude. I always wore a hat. In retrospect, I should have worn shoes as well. Ouch----Ouch-----Ouch

just a quick report on our last trip return crossing.

Bedman - 4-26-2007 at 02:47 PM

We left on the April 9th and returned on the 20th. Driving into Ensenada on Fri. the 20th, the rain started to come down hard. Seemed strange driving in Baja in the rain. Traffic was pretty normal........until we exited the toll road. Still pouring rain and traffic building as it was 3 pm. We dropped off the Big Hill and onto the border road. Got to the bottom of the hill and traffic all but stopped. The South bound side was slow and go and every time a car went by , water splashed off the road and onto the North bound side. North bound we noticed the water level was rising pretty quick. after 10 minutes the road was gone and a river in it's place. Another 10 minutes and 1/4 of a mile and the water was 30" deep in the right hand lane. The left lane was 40" and getting deeper by the minute. We came up to a lady standing in the middle of the right lane (left lane was now totally abandoned due to water depth, about 48") she was trying to slow down cars as they passed her house. The water was up over the curb and waves from the cars trying to go too fast was washing into her house. She pleaded for us to slow down and so we did. I crawled along at 3 miles an hour. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the long string going back up the hill and no one in front of me as far as I could see. We passed the first right turn available and after we passed it I wondered if I should have taken that turn to avoid the rising river. 5 minutes later I was pretty sure I should have turned. Water Water everywhere!! (and deep too!!). Finally, we came to another right turn and I took it. Didn't matter if it was a through street or not, I had to get to higher ground. After I turned I looked in my rear view mirror and realized There wasn't any body behine me!! where'd they all go?? Didn't matter, we were on higher ground and for the moment safe.

After wandering around the inner bowels of TJ for 45 minutes (and turning down a one way street, the Wrong way) we manged to find the back way to the border. We crested the hill that is normally crowded with cars and looked down at an unbelievable sight. There was only one car in the 7 lanes in front of us!!!!!! One, no that's not a typo, ONE. We crossed in 2 minutes, but of course we got sent to secondary, as usual. All motorhomes go to secondary. Fastest crossing we have ever had.

Bedman

[Edited on 4-26-2007 by Bedman]

fdt - 4-26-2007 at 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bedman
After wandering around the inner bowels of TJ for 45 minutes.
[Edited on 4-26-2007 by Bedman]

Fuchi, caca :barf:

Bedman - 4-27-2007 at 12:14 AM

Ferna,

The wandering part was really a Hoot! We had people waving at us, Honking there horns, Whistling and Mothers hid their babies. I'm not a total stranger to TJ's innards. The absolute best part was when my "Darlin Wife" said "Quick, make a right here!!" I, being totally PW and lost, did as "She who must be obeyed" commanded. Whoaaa!! Everybodies going the Wrong Way!! Nope, it was all me. hehehehe

Bedman

P.S. Cool, my 400th post!! Do I get a cigar?

Bob and Susan - 4-27-2007 at 05:53 AM

i think when it rains that border road always floods...

i too was detoured in the rain to take the tour of the inter workings of tijauna....

kinda hard with a trailer attached

i too had a "darlin wife" who "MUST be obeyed" tell me ALL the turns...

good thing is...
you'll find your way out...
someday...
at least WE DID :saint:

oh yea...then it get dark.... :wow:

fdt - 4-27-2007 at 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bedman
"She who must be obeyed" commanded. Whoaaa!!

Bedman

I know exactly what you mean.

David K - 4-27-2007 at 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bedman

P.S. Cool, my 400th post!! Do I get a cigar?

Steve, no cigar... not even when you have 11,000 posts!! :lol: