Baja Road Report - La Paz to Tecate

Yes, please post the list... scan it if possible. I got one about 10 years ago and have posted it here in the past. Interested to see if anything has changed.



Close Up:

Quote:

Originally posted by Angelos At one of the military checkpoints, officials did a really thorough search and we even had to open our slideouts, let them climb on the roof, etc.



You're pulling a 5ver? How long? How many slides? Never heard of this.

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Angelos - 8-2-2012 at 07:29 PM

Yes - we're pulling a 5ver and I honestly think the guy at the checkpoint was more fascinated by RVs than he was suspicious. He was very nice and wanted to get into cabinets that could only be accessed by opening the slide out. He could see there were cabinets behind the slides and wanted to check them.

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A Interesting Trip Report (From Another Forum) VERBATIM

DavidE - 8-3-2012 at 07:04 AM

Posted: 08/02/12 10:55am Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Leaving La Paz on 7/29 and arriving at the border 8/1 notable road conditions follow:

Most significant area of construction was north of Santa Rosalia up to Cuesta del Infierno (Hell's Grade). Road is rough pavement to loose gravel. The grade itself is still under construction but is paved. We were flagged to stop for construction vehicles on the grade itself (stopping was the easy part).

Military checkpoint out of San Ignacio - officials asked to see our insurance papers (not registration).

Camp sites along Puerto Escondido and Bahia Concepcion were really busy with local Mexicans in tents; few RVs.

The stretch of road north of GN that was under repair is almost complete and now just a small stretch of gravel remains.

At one of the military checkpoints, officials did a really thorough search and we even had to open our slideouts, let them climb on the roof, etc.


The border crossing at Tecate:

US CBP Officials were polite and professional this time

Did not need to surrender dog food or nearly the items we did last time

We were given a list of items we could and could not bring across for future reference. If anyone would like me to type in the list, let me know.

Crossing at Tecate - detours are gone.

Time from getting in line to getting through secondary was about 30 minutes.


It's nice to be in cooler climate - now we just have to get past sticker shock at the diesel pump.

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pointdog - 8-3-2012 at 08:02 AM

Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before.
Anyone else????

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David K - 8-3-2012 at 09:16 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by pointdog Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before. Anyone else????



Never, ever... The military is charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs. Some of the checkpoints they do write down your name (and may look at your ID to spell it correctly), and car year model.

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bajaguy - 8-3-2012 at 09:50 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by pointdog Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before. Anyone else???? Never, ever... The military is charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs. Some of the checkpoints they do write down your name (and may look at your ID to spell it correctly), and car year model.






DavidK.............If you are stopped at a military checkpoint and the military asks you for your FMM, your US Passport, your vehicle registration, your vehicle insurance or your drivers license.........are you going to tell them....

"Gee, your job description says that you are charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs"

Methinks not, methinks you will comply............you REALLY do not know what their current assignment is, so just go with it.

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David K - 8-3-2012 at 10:31 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy Quote: Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by pointdog Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before. Anyone else???? Never, ever... The military is charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs. Some of the checkpoints they do write down your name (and may look at your ID to spell it correctly), and car year model. DavidK.............If you are stopped at a military checkpoint and the military asks you for your FMM, your US Passport, your vehicle registration, your vehicle insurance or your drivers license.........are you going to tell them.... "Gee, your job description says that you are charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs" Methinks not, methinks you will comply............you REALLY do not know what their current assignment is, so just go with it.



Guy, I am reporting on what they have asked for to me personally. Anything else is just speculation, right?

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bajaguy - 8-3-2012 at 10:46 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy Quote: Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by pointdog Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before. Anyone else???? Never, ever... The military is charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs. Some of the checkpoints they do write down your name (and may look at your ID to spell it correctly), and car year model. DavidK.............If you are stopped at a military checkpoint and the military asks you for your FMM, your US Passport, your vehicle registration, your vehicle insurance or your drivers license.........are you going to tell them.... "Gee, your job description says that you are charged with searching for guns, ammo, and illegal drugs" Methinks not, methinks you will comply............you REALLY do not know what their current assignment is, so just go with it. Guy, I am reporting on what they have asked for to me personally. Anything else is just speculation, right?






Then you might want to say.....the prime mission of the military checkpoints are to search/look for weapons, ammunition and/or drugs however there may be other requirements depending on local situations.

The only speculation is that none of know for sure what each checkpoint is tasked to do on a certain day.

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DaliDali - 8-3-2012 at 03:39 PM



Quote:

Originally posted by mulegejim Came from Mulege to San Quentin today (Thursday) road in great shape - work on the Santa Rosalita grade but no problem as even the dirt sections were well graded.Jim



Is the gravel deep and loose going up the grade?
I am thinking of taking a heavy road moto (Harley) up that way soon.
Deep, loose gravel is a no go for me.

thanks

[Edited on 8-3-2012 by DaliDali]

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oxxo - 8-3-2012 at 03:58 PM



Quote:

Originally posted by pointdog Insurance papers? I've never heard that one before. Anyone else????



Just passed from Tecate to Cabo last Mon/Tues. Some of the military checkpoints had police inspectors too. They just waived us through this time, but in the past we have been asked for various paperwork including a valid visa.

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Angelos - 8-3-2012 at 05:15 PM



Quote:

Is the gravel deep and loose going up the grade? I am thinking of taking a heavy road moto (Harley) up that way soon. Deep, loose gravel is a no go for me.



We were pulling a 5th wheel (about 12,000 - 14,000 pounds) and we simply took it slower. You should have no problem.

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David K - 8-3-2012 at 06:43 PM



Quote:

Originally posted by DaliDali Quote: Originally posted by mulegejim Came from Mulege to San Quentin today (Thursday) road in great shape - work on the Santa Rosalita grade but no problem as even the dirt sections were well graded.Jim Is the gravel deep and loose going up the grade? I am thinking of taking a heavy road moto (Harley) up that way soon. Deep, loose gravel is a no go for me. thanks [Edited on 8-3-2012 by DaliDali]



It is now paved... It was gravel southbound on July 15, and new pavement when we were northbound on July 24...

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Angelos - 8-3-2012 at 06:51 PM

DavidE - The other trip report is from RV.net and that is also me. I posted in both forums since we are RVers traveling the Baja.

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mulegejim - 8-4-2012 at 01:39 AM

Drove from San Quentin to Tecate on Friday - some road work in various places but even the dirt parts were well graded so no problems. Left SQ about 5:00 AM - traffic was light all the way so very short delays at the check points. Crossed at Tecate - in line at 9:50 AM and cleared the border at 11:00 AM. Passed some large police/military operation just getting started about 5 miles north of the Mex 1 to Mex 3 turnoff. No idea what was happening or about to happen, however, there were quite a few buses so maybe some type of demonstration was getting started. I just wanted to clear the area though. All in all road in very good shape. Jim

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mulegejim - 8-4-2012 at 02:00 AM

Passed some large police/military operation just getting started about 5 miles north of the Mex 1 to Mex 3 turnoff. No idea what was happening or about to happen, however, there were quite a few buses so maybe some type of demonstration was getting started."

Just found out what was happening - glad I made it through when I did or may have been in for a long delay.The president was visiting.

http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/27762/Mexican-president-...

[Edited on 8-4-2012 by mulegejim]

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oxxo - 8-4-2012 at 06:59 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by David KIt is now paved... It was gravel southbound on July 15, and new pavement when we were northbound on July 24...



Actually no. We passed through on July 31 and the bottom of the grade is still torn up with about 2 orf 3 miles of compacted gravel in both directions.

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DaliDali - 8-4-2012 at 07:45 AM



Quote:

Originally posted by oxxo Quote: Originally posted by David KIt is now paved... It was gravel southbound on July 15, and new pavement when we were northbound on July 24... Actually no. We passed through on July 31 and the bottom of the grade is still torn up with about 2 orf 3 miles of compacted gravel in both directions.



Please confirm paved or not paved and hard packed gravel passable with a heavy motorcycle.

Thanks

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Angelos - 8-4-2012 at 08:08 AM



Quote:

Please confirm paved or not paved and hard packed gravel passable with a heavy motorcycle.



On July 30th we passed through and it was not paved. But, like I said we went through pulling our 5th wheel and had no problem. Just need to allow more time for this particular area and drive slower.

I only mentioned the construction because it is important to allow more time in these areas as you plan your trip.

Good luck!

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David K - 8-4-2012 at 08:16 AM

Interesting, southbound it was gravel/ unpaved (on the steep grade), just as I had read here. However, northbound, new asphalt had been applied (on the steep grade, Cuesta del Infierno). They were working on it, sure, but tires never were off pavement on the grade. Perhaps you mean between the bottom of the that grade and the coast, which is actively under construction?

In any case, no truck, RV, or anyone was unable to drive up it either time we were on it.

Edit: Jumping ahead of my trip report, but here are photos on Cuesta del Infierno July 24:









Maybe they applied a layer of sand on the fresh asphalt after these were taken so it looked like dirt?

[Edited on 8-4-2012 by David K]

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Angelos - 8-4-2012 at 08:38 AM



Quote:

construction was north of Santa Rosalia up to Cuesta del Infierno (Hell's Grade). Road is rough pavement to loose gravel. The grade itself is still under construction but is paved.



Yes - the northbound side of the grade is paved. I believe now (if I remember correctly) even the southbound lanes were paved as well.

Construction continues with machinery and men along the grade but it was an easy pull for us. The only thing we didn't like was having to stop on the grade itself (even though it was paved) for construction vehicles to cross the road. We're in a truck with standard transmission pulling 12,000 pound 5th wheel so we needed to keep vehicles from crowding behind us because we knew we could roll backwards just a bit when starting again.

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DaliDali - 8-4-2012 at 10:09 AM

Oxxo says it is not paved.
David says it is paved
Angelos says it is paved.

Two out of three...maybe it's paved?

DavidK provides photo proof....looks paved to me.
Maybe Oxxo is down the hill farther?

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Angelos - 8-4-2012 at 10:23 AM



Quote:

Actually no. We passed through on July 31 and the bottom of the grade is still torn up with about 2 or 3 miles of compacted gravel in both directions.



Maybe I'm missing something, but I think we are all correct. The bottom of the grade - before you start up is not paved. As you start up the grade it is paved. Aren't we all saying the same thing?



Quote:

Road is rough pavement to loose gravel. The grade itself is still under construction but is paved.



Bottom line is that it is all passable, but because of construction vehicles, gravel places, and men working you will need to go slower.

Charlene

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Angelos - 8-4-2012 at 10:39 PM

Notice we received at the border:



[Edited on 8-5-2012 by Angelos]

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David K - 8-4-2012 at 10:50 PM

reducing image to under 50kb is only for using Nomad to host your photo. Use pbotobucket or another web site and the only limit is pixel width of 800. If you would email the full size image, I will post it here for you.

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