BajaNomad

La Paz to Sacramento, route questions

WideAngleWandering - 6-12-2013 at 04:08 PM

Well, my 10+ month trip is coming to a close and I need to be back in Sacramento, CA by the 20th. I'm lounging in La Paz after the long drive up the coast from Guatemala and planning my last few days in Baja.

Thursday 6/13 - Isla Espiritu boat tour (there have been Orcas sighted) and then drive to Loreto

Friday 6/14 - Loreto to Bahía Asuncion. Is this reasonable for one day? If not, overnight in San Ignacio.

Saturday - Monday 6/15-17 - rest and relax with Shari and crew in Bahia Asuncion.

Monday 6/17 - drive to Ensenada. I think this is too much for one day. Opinions? If not, overnight somewhere, but where?

Tuesday 6/18 - drive to Mexicali or Tecate and cross the border.

Then, start the run up to Sacramento.

Thoughts?

RenoJoe - 6-12-2013 at 04:21 PM

Crossing at Otay Mesa would make it a shorter trip unless you like longcuts.

shari - 6-12-2013 at 04:30 PM

Oh good, you will be just in time for a little dinner party tomorrowat Kevin's old digs across from Campo Sirena...AND the Father's Day party on Sunday.

I drive from BA to Ensenada in a day no sweat with an early start....look forwarding to hearing about your trip dude.

David K - 6-12-2013 at 04:33 PM

Tecate yes, Mexicali no... unless you want to do the 38 unpaved miles to the pavement near Gonzaga Bay to experience that region, then continue north to Mexicali?

If no to Gonzaga Bay/ San Felipe... then continue north just past Ensenada to Hwy. 3 for Tecate... When you come to the train tracks, near the baseball field in Tecate, turn right follow signs to GARITA, USA, etc.

Overnight at Baja Cactus in El Rosario unless new rooms filled, then Baja's Best B&B or Turista Motel on the south end of town (you passed by to reach Baja Cactus on the north end, 2 miles).

El Rosario to border is about 225 miles, Tijuana, Otay or Tecate... 5 hours. Or overnight near Ensenada to hit the border around noon to early PM (ideal time, if you can call it that)!

Have a safe trip back north!

DaliDali - 6-12-2013 at 05:28 PM

My buddy in Loreto is wondering where you are!! (Wednesday 6:30PM June 6th.

[Edited on 6-13-2013 by DaliDali]

durrelllrobert - 6-12-2013 at 07:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WideAngleWandering
Well, my 10+ month trip is coming to a close and I need to be back in Sacramento, CA by the 20th. I'm lounging in La Paz after the long drive up the coast from Guatemala and planning my last few days in Baja.



Monday 6/17 - drive to Ensenada. I think this is too much for one day. Opinions? If not, overnight somewhere, but where?


Thoughts?

I've done Loreto to Ensenada in a day pulling a 23 ft boat.

durrelllrobert - 6-12-2013 at 07:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RenoJoe
Crossing at Otay Mesa would make it a shorter trip unless you like longcuts.


After crossing at Otay take the off ramp for 125 N (toll road and stay on it until you get to highway 52W at Santee. Get off the 52 at I 15N just south of Miramar. Stay on I 15 until you get to I 210 E (or N?) in San Bernardino and follow that to I 5 N just south of the pass going to Magic Mt. NO CITY TRAFIC ANYWHERE until you get to Sacramento and Otay to Sacramento is only about an 8 hour drive via this route.

mulegemichael - 6-12-2013 at 07:36 PM

we just made the mulege to mexicali run this past week and it was really nice...well...at least nice....what it DID do, is completely bypass san quintin to ensenada and all jungle between...that nasty strip where ya gotta git yer fists at 2 and 10 and pay attention!!....we turned off at chapala, aired down, and just coasted through gonzaga bay, up the coast to san felipe......yeah, the first 40 miles or so is unpaved..but it is just beautiful..AND ..no buses, no semis, no pool, no pets....we saw/passed 4 cars between chapala and gonzaga bay at alfonsinos....then we got easy at the checkpoint just past alfonsinas and gave away a pound of pistacios and 4 non gluten beers...little did they know!!!....no stinkin gluten for you, mr marino!!....for a time we weren't in a hurry so we appreciated this leg of the trip.....since the hurricane in october, this is our 5th roundtrip driving from mulege to the olympic peninsula in wa. state...mama just seems to need more "stuff"...our "baja pile" is already growing and we've been back three days now.....this last trip back the high temps chased us to mt. shasta where, a few nights ago,it was in the high 90s after hovering in the high 100s for most of the week....109 in bakersfield during this trip...our dog wouldn't even get out of the car....neither would rosalind!!!...

vandenberg - 6-12-2013 at 08:50 PM

Made that trip just 2 weeks ago. Through Tecate. 1/2 hr wait. Then 94 to Interstate 15. Up to 395, turn left at 58 into Bakersfield to 99. From there a cinch to Sac. Been doing this for 20 some years. Tried all different ways. This is the only way to go, with the least aggravation. Believe me !!:biggrin:

WideAngleWandering - 6-12-2013 at 10:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
Oh good, you will be just in time for a little dinner party tomorrowat Kevin's old digs across from Campo Sirena...AND the Father's Day party on Sunday.

Tomorrow I'll be in Loreto but Friday I should make it to Campo Sirena. I am thinking about camping but the Swedes are almost certainly looking for a room. I'll send you an FB message about that.
Quote:
I drive from BA to Ensenada in a day no sweat with an early start....look forwarding to hearing about your trip dude.

Good to hear. More time in Asuncion that way :)
Quote:
david k
Tecate yes, Mexicali no... unless you want to do the 38 unpaved miles to the pavement near Gonzaga Bay to experience that region, then continue north to Mexicali?

I drove that way on my way down and loved it. Unfortunately (or I guess fortunately really) I've picked up a couple backpackers for the drive and they definitely need to get to Ensenada so I'll be stopping there on the way up.
Quote:
dalidali
My buddy in Loreto is wondering where you are!!

Is that Don? I just sent him an email. I'll be swinging by his place for a cold beer and camping in his front yard. Great folks!
Quote:
durrellrobert
I've done Loreto to Ensenada in a day pulling a 23 ft boat.

That sounds kinda nuts to me but hey, surely I can do it in an '84 Landcruiser with 3 people and a surfboard. No boat.
Quote:
mulegemichael
what it DID do, is completely bypass san quintin to ensenada and all jungle between...that nasty strip where ya gotta git yer fists at 2 and 10 and pay attention!!....we turned off at chapala, aired down, and just coasted through gonzaga bay, up the coast to san felipe

That is a really nice drive. I did that on the way down and enjoyed the hell out of it. So much cactus! Beautiful place. This time around I guess I'll be at 2 and 10 and paying attention. Haven't driven that stretch of hwy 1 before.

Thanks all. I'll process the rest of the detailed route information after I get some sleep. Gotta be sharp for the orcas tomorrow (if they're still lurking around La Paz).

As always, nomads know their territory. Good stuff all.

Geez

Bajahowodd - 6-13-2013 at 05:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by WideAngleWandering
Well, my 10+ month trip is coming to a close and I need to be back in Sacramento, CA by the 20th. I'm lounging in La Paz after the long drive up the coast from Guatemala and planning my last few days in Baja.



Monday 6/17 - drive to Ensenada. I think this is too much for one day. Opinions? If not, overnight somewhere, but where?


Thoughts?

I've done Loreto to Ensenada in a day pulling a 23 ft boat.


Just how long was that friggin' day?

WideAngleWandering - 6-15-2013 at 10:10 PM

Posting from Asuncion. Loving it here. Next stop, Rosilillita, then either

* Ensenada->Tecate->Sacramento or
* Gonzaga->San Felipe->Mexicali->Sacramento.

We're 50/50 on which route.

How bad is Mexicali on a weekday mid-morning vs Tecate (wait times)? Is it going to be difficult / chaotic to find the aduana & immigration offices to cancel my tourist card / vehicle import permits?

fish101 - 6-16-2013 at 07:20 AM

Good luck on your travels.. Sorry I missed you at Don & Karens while you were in Loreto..I was at Campo Serena with my motorhome last year while you were there along with Don & Karen....Glad you finally completed your travels...

motoged - 6-17-2013 at 03:33 PM

Sounds like you have been traveling enough lately to figure out your last several days :biggrin:

Hopefully your visits will work out....it is so hard sometimes returning from a good trip :saint:

WideAngleWandering - 6-17-2013 at 11:20 PM

Difficult indeed. I don't wanna go back but the bank account says otherwise.

I'm sure I can figure it out, but unlike all the other border crossings I've been to, I recall Mexicali being rather chaotic, at least from the perspective of finding the aduana (i.e. Banjercito) & immigration offices. Lots of folks don't have to cancel vehicle permits or tourist cards so it's not really laid out for that. I'm afraid I'll end up in the wrong lane and find myself driving back into the states and missing the offices entirely ...

WideAngleWandering - 6-18-2013 at 11:50 AM

We skipped rosalillita (no surf) and went on to Gonzaga. Campo Sacrificio is nice if you split the cost of the $60 cabaña. Now we're in San Felipe. The bus from here to Ensenada/Tijuana is pretty long so I'm thinking about dropping the Swedes off in Mexicali or taking them to Ensenada and crossing in Tecate. First I need to see a mechanic; poor Betsy has suspension/steering problems (noisy / squeaky) and there's an air leak somewhere (I can hear it hissing - vacuum or intake - I'm not sure).

The locals are telling me Mexicali will be a long crossing on Wednesdays because of a swap meet in Calexico. I bet Calexico East will be easy.

If I go to Calexico East, will I find a Banjercity/Aduana that can cancel my vehicle permit and give me my $200 back?

What about Tecate? Can they handle the vehicle papers there?

I should have done this in La Paz.

[Edited on 2013-6-18 by WideAngleWandering]

WideAngleWandering - 6-18-2013 at 12:31 PM

I would like to do Tecate but I'm finding a lot of conflicting information about turning in the TIP and getting my $200 back.

Yes you can do it links:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=834888 (last post)
http://www.sanbornsinsurance.com/vehicle_permit.php

I found numerous threads on Nomad and ADVRider that say you cannot in Tecate. Hmmm, maybe I"ll just go for it and see what happens. The worst case is I spend a day driving around various border crossings along California/Baja and I get to write a nice ranty post about the experience.

That said, has anyone recently seen a Banjercito office in Tecate?

WideAngleWandering - 6-19-2013 at 09:01 AM

The aussies I was traveling with before report that there is a Banjercito that can handle the TIP paperwork but it's on the "entering Mexico" side so you have to be careful not to accidentally enter the United States and then have to drive back. Wish me luck ...

motoged - 6-19-2013 at 10:00 AM

Bueno suerte :saint:

durrelllrobert - 6-19-2013 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by WideAngleWandering
Well, my 10+ month trip is coming to a close and I need to be back in Sacramento, CA by the 20th. I'm lounging in La Paz after the long drive up the coast from Guatemala and planning my last few days in Baja.



Monday 6/17 - drive to Ensenada. I think this is too much for one day. Opinions? If not, overnight somewhere, but where?


Thoughts?

I've done Loreto to Ensenada in a day pulling a 23 ft boat.


Just how long was that friggin' day?


Left Loreto at 0400 BCS time (to get ahead of truck traffic up the mountain grade) and arrived at my house in Punta Banda at 1830 BCN time. 632 miles / 12.5 hrs = 50.5 mph average

David K - 6-19-2013 at 04:58 PM

That's good Bob... no matter what, I think 50 mph average on Hwy. 1 is the best way to figure. If towing or a motorhome, then no more than 40 mph, yes?

Funny you should ask....

mcfez - 6-19-2013 at 06:25 PM

We just went down to the L.A. area a few days ago......and drove back last night. I am from Sacramento......

Don't take the 99! There was construction of the freeway from right before Stockton........off and on every ten miles there is road construction going on. All the way........literally to Long Beach :-( 405 is a real mess.

I went home on 5.............construction in Stockton, otherwise clear going. 5 is thy most boring highway in America!

Heavy CHP presence from the rest stop south of Stockton to the outskirts of town.

shari - 6-19-2013 at 07:40 PM

oh you poor dear man having to go back to reality after such an enriching viaje the last year. I feel for you but know you will figure out how to live life fuller now.

It was wonderful having you and your hitchhikers here and sad to say hasta luego.Our walk to the arches was nice...I look forward to seeing your photographs fom that day.







I was moved by you gazing around breathing in what seemed to be the essence of Asuncion before you left.



Here are the kids pulling out of Asuncion..and poor ole Betsey did NOT sound healthy and I wondered if you'd make it to the border and ...ahem...I dont imagine getting your money back will be a cake walk...cant wait to hear THAT story!



Poor guy had to put up with those dang Swedes and their super buff bods!!!:lol:





Bueno amigo...que le vaya muy bien y ...hasta pronto