BajaNomad

XMAS crossing Northbound

tjsue - 11-26-2013 at 11:49 AM

I've heard that the day after the holiday isn't a good time to cross into San Diego.

I can be scheduled to work the Poinsettia Bowl, which is December 26 this year. Kickoff is at 6:30, but when I cross the border, I leave early in the morning.

Should I take my chances, or forget about it?

woody with a view - 11-26-2013 at 12:34 PM

last night was 2.5 hours at 8:30pm at TJ, FWIW!

DavidE - 11-26-2013 at 12:52 PM

Pack a lunch and a big empty bottle. That day may be the busiest of the entire year.

tjsue - 11-26-2013 at 01:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
last night was 2.5 hours at 8:30pm at TJ, FWIW!


It normally takes me 2 hours to cross anyway. If I left at 5 or 6am, what do you think it would be like, or should I forget it.

woody with a view - 11-26-2013 at 01:42 PM

you should have plenty of time!

Bajahowodd - 11-26-2013 at 06:00 PM

Might be out of the way, but you may wish to consider crossing at Mexicali, simply because the drive West toward San Diego is all freeway.

SY and Otay will be a marathon wait, and since Tecate has few lanes, it will be almost, if not more backed up.

We really ought to start lobbying Homeland Security because this whole situation is just plain political crap.

woody with a view - 11-26-2013 at 06:09 PM

we counted 12 lanes closed last night, multiplied by two booths each at 8:30pm equals 24!!!

they are NOT trying to make the wait times shorter.

David K - 11-26-2013 at 06:23 PM

I sure would rather be driving than idling in a line of cars for 2 hours... If you feel the same:

Go to Tecate if you can cross during the day or early evening (they are not open 24 hours). Border waits can be as long as Tijuana, but usually are not.

Nice drive north from Ensenada, east from Popotla (Rosarito south), west from Mexicali. It is the same distance from Ensenada to the U.S. border at either Tecate or Tijuana (70 miles). The additional miles are from Tecate USA to San Diego.

woody with a view - 11-26-2013 at 06:33 PM

well, you sure are entitled to do whatever works for you. after driving for 12.5 hours i was sick of watching the road go by. the drive to TKT and back to the 805 in So. SD easily takes 3 hours, not to mention the wait. i've done it a fistful of time. even Blvd 2000 to Otay and back is another hour PLUS GAS!

I don't know when the last time you bought gas SOB but it is now 11.7 pesos/liter which isn't any cheaper than NOB.

sancho - 11-26-2013 at 06:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Might be out of the way, but you may wish to consider crossing at Mexicali






Mexicali, really? She is going from TJ to Qualcom Stadium
in Mission Valley San Diego, 20 mi. or so, you suggest
driving from TJ to Mexicali, is what, maybe 100 mi., more or
less? Are you suggesting she drive 100mi to Mexicali, sit
in the Mexicali line and drive 100 mi. back to SD to Qualcom?
I should delete this reply, I think I may just have bitten
the bait
On second thought, Bajahowod, the above post contains some
choice of words I should not have used, excuse my
rudeness

[Edited on 12-3-2013 by sancho]

freediverbrian - 11-26-2013 at 10:33 PM

If it was bait I would have bit. Your correct TJ to Mexicali an hour and a half, wait in line one to two hours and the drive back another hour and a half. Four plus hours plus fuel cost???bad advice

tjsue - 11-27-2013 at 10:40 AM

I only cross at SY. I don't go to Tecate, Mexicali or Otay, and have no reason to cross any other way. I'll be leaving early in the morning, between 5 and 6, and should be ok.

I'll also be crossing at SY for NYE, and also leaving early in the morning, but will be staying overnight for NYE, and coming back NY afternoon.

Bajahowodd - 12-1-2013 at 05:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Might be out of the way, but you may wish to consider crossing at Mexicali






Mexicali, really? She is going from TJ to Qualcom Stadium
in Mission Valley San Diego, 20 mi. or so, you suggest
driving from TJ to Mexicali, is what, maybe 100 mi., more or
less? Are you suggesting she drive 100mi to Mexicali, sit
in the Mexicali line and drive 100 mi. back to SD to Qualcom?
I should delete this reply, I think I may just have bitten
the bait


My suggestion, as weird as it sounds, is for specifically the holiday period. You can drive without traffic to Mexicali and cross in much less congestion, and take I-8 back West. I would consider that the whole drive would be less than the border wits at SY and Otay. And Tecate has the built in problem of so few gates.

Just a suggestion, inasmuch as I have never encountered a wait longer than 20 minutes at Mexicali.

tjsue - 12-1-2013 at 06:39 PM

I'll state this again: I have no reason to go to Mexicali, Tecate, or Otay at all.

I work event security, and during football season, I work at Qualcomm. I ONLY cross at SY, no other way, and I'm not about to drive 100 miles out of my way from Tijuana to cross the border.

I'm used to sitting in line, because I don't have a Sentri pass yet. I should be ok leaving at 5am, and can leave earlier if necessary.

DENNIS - 12-1-2013 at 06:59 PM

At this very moment, the time shown for SY, regular lanes, is 4 hours.

http://www.garitacenter.com/

bajadock - 12-1-2013 at 07:23 PM

http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=...

5:25 user reported at San Ysidro. Big bladders only, ouch.

tjsue - 12-1-2013 at 07:29 PM

At this very moment isn't 5am. It took me 3 hours to cross yesterday, and I left at 8am. I normally leave at 6am, but had to wait for my next door neighbor. Consequently, it took 1 1/2 hours longer than usual.

Tomorrow I can't cross until 9:30 or 10, because a rescue is coming to pick up the Doberman that was left behind a former tenant. Since I made all the arrangements for her to go to rescue, I have to wait for them.

DENNIS - 12-1-2013 at 08:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue
At this very moment isn't 5am.


It is in Kiritimati.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiritimati

DENNIS - 12-1-2013 at 08:38 PM

Sue...you either need SENTRI or a pair of crutches. Better yet... a wheel chair.

tjsue - 12-3-2013 at 12:13 AM

I have appealed my Sentri denial, and also being sent to secondary every time I cross. I hope to hear something by the end of January. Today was a four hour crossing.

dasubergeek - 12-3-2013 at 01:15 PM

The suggestion to go to Mexicali is still not a good one, regardless of whether it's only for the holiday season. First of all, it takes two hours to get to Mexicali on the Mexican side from central Tijuana (meaning Zona Río, Libertad, downtown, etc.). It costs 154 pesos in tolls so that it doesn't take even longer. Then you get to wait (and my wait times pre-SENTRI at Mexicali were more like 45-60 minutes), then drive back on I-8. That's 250 miles of extra driving, which would cost $35 in gas plus $12 in tolls.

She said pretty plainly she doesn't even want to go as far as Otay, which is generally faster, so why on earth would she spend nearly $50 to drive all day to Mexicali and back?

Moot point

bajaguy - 12-3-2013 at 01:24 PM

She ONLY wants to cross at SY

Maybe early morning will be ok, if not, be prepared to wait

End of story

PS: Let us know how the crossing was

Christmas Day Going North

J.P. - 12-3-2013 at 06:41 PM

Last Christmas morning I broke my vow to never cross at San Ysidro going north ever again. I had to pick someone up in San Diego 10 o'clock Christmas morning,If it hadn't been for this person in front of me I would have been able to cross quickly but at the double stacked booth's he was in front of me in a old raggedy station wagon with more crap in it than you could imagine. So I had a nice chat with the Officer while the other Officer Gingerly Sifted through the Crap.
WE WERE THE ONLY ONES IN LINE. :wow::wow: