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bigzaggin
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Registered: 5-27-2004
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Mood: way too ites
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Awesome intel. Thank you guys. I'm sure once I do this I'll have the "should have done it all along" epiphany everyone else does.
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
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Udo and Blanca- my 2 cents is : I have personally lost a RV mirror to an oncoming 18 wheeler and I know of at least 5 other RV'ers who have had the
same experience. All in BajaSur south of San Quintin and before Santa Rosalia. There are literally miles of the hwy on that stretch with not only no
shoulders but enough of a drop off to roll a motorhome that moves to the right of the pavement. On the other hand I don't know of anybody traveling in
Baja Norte who has lost a mirror due to the inability to move to the right to give an oncoming 18 wheeler room to pass.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Baja Geoff posted a video of using Hwy. 3 to Ensenada so see it.
The border does not close at 10.
There is no grace period if you are even one car from the border when the closing time comes (11 pm sharp), you will need to wait until the next
morning to cross here (5 am)!
Tecate USA is tiny, so don't expect much before you get to the border. Once you enter Mexico, you continue straight (it is downhill) to a big
intersection with an overhead signal structure. This is Hwy. 2 and the city park is on the other side. TURN LEFT (east) for just 1 block then TURN
RIGHT (south again), along the side of the park. There are NO MORE TURNS to make for the next 70 miles! It is too easy!
Coming back north here is a bit more complex, as you come towards downtown Tecate you will head east along the RR Tracks (well signed), fork left away
from the tracks and go east until the border access road signal, where you turn left (north) to go to the USA (Garita) Border.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Not an 18 wheeler but..
| Quote: | Originally posted by absinvestor
Udo and Blanca- my 2 cents is : I have personally lost a RV mirror to an oncoming 18 wheeler and I know of at least 5 other RV'ers who have had the
same experience. All in BajaSur south of San Quintin and before Santa Rosalia. There are literally miles of the hwy on that stretch with not only no
shoulders but enough of a drop off to roll a motorhome that moves to the right of the pavement. On the other hand I don't know of anybody traveling in
Baja Norte who has lost a mirror due to the inability to move to the right to give an oncoming 18 wheeler room to pass. |
On two different occasions I have lost my drivers side mirror on the road to La Buffadora to a car hogging the centerline. No room to pull over there.
Bob Durrell
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bigzaggin
Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Baja Geoff posted a video of using Hwy. 3 to Ensenada so see it.
The border does not close at 10.
There is no grace period if you are even one car from the border when the closing time comes (11 pm sharp), you will need to wait until the next
morning to cross here (5 am)!
Tecate USA is tiny, so don't expect much before you get to the border. Once you enter Mexico, you continue straight (it is downhill) to a big
intersection with an overhead signal structure. This is Hwy. 2 and the city park is on the other side. TURN LEFT (east) for just 1 block then TURN
RIGHT (south again), along the side of the park. There are NO MORE TURNS to make for the next 70 miles! It is too easy!
Coming back north here is a bit more complex, as you come towards downtown Tecate you will head east along the RR Tracks (well signed), fork left away
from the tracks and go east until the border access road signal, where you turn left (north) to go to the USA (Garita) Border.
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Thank you David. Just watched Geoff's video...awesome. Looks pretty easy.
[Edited on 1-18-2014 by bigzaggin]
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Don't know where you are heading, but..
| Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
| Quote: | | 5.) How long is the drive from the 805 turnoff to Tecate? |
I think it is about 30 miles, maybe a little more.
viaje bien |
...If you are heading towards north county there's no reason to go to the I-805. The 94 westbound out of Tecate hooks up with north bound hwy 125 in
Spring Valley and you can take it to I-8 east or west' or continue on to Santee where you get on the 56 west bound to the I-15 north or south by
Miramar, or continue on to the I-805 or I-5 by La Jolla. Miss all the San Diego traffic.
Bob Durrell
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oxxo
Banned
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
...If you are heading towards north county there's no reason to go to the I-805. The 94 westbound out of Tecate hooks up with north bound hwy 125 in
Spring Valley and you can take it to I-8 east or west' or continue on to Santee where you get on the 56 west bound to the I-15 north or south by
Miramar, or continue on to the I-805 or I-5 by La Jolla. Miss all the San Diego traffic. |
That is exactly what we do! Easy peasy!
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EnsenadaDr
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Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Hwy 3 is beautiful driving at night. The moon and stars are incredible!! (Hey we are in Baja so let's enjoy the desolation!!) I drove from La Mision
to the shortcut today to the free road (get off at the Oxxo by Punta Piedra and then make a short left, the road is really bumpy but evens out after a
few feet). The traffic south to Ensenada was ok, though I believe the Tecate road is much nicer driving than the free road from La Mision to
Ensenada. Kept at a good pace driving south, not much traffic. Headed back to Tecate and there were trucks, because I hear they are diverting all
trucks off the free road through Tecate. The truck etiquette was phenomenal. The big double axle trucks which include the beer trucks with the
Tecate logo on them practically pull over the side of the road to let the faster traffic by. I have never seen such driving etiquette in my life!!
Made pretty good time to Tecate.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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I drove from Fco. Zarco to Tecate yesterday and I'll echo the truck etiquette—it was absolutely a sight to behold. Cars, too—MX-plated cars that were
having trouble going uphill would pull right and put on their left blinkers (you do know that a left blinker means "safe to pass" and not "I'm turning
left" in rural Mexico, right?). CA-plated cars were jerks.
If you can hack Campo Rd. (CA-94) through Jamul, Dulzura and Barrett Jct. on the US side, then Hwy. 3 will be no problem at all. The road surface is
not as glass-smooth as CA-94 but even in the hilliest parts descending into Palm Valley and then into Francisco Zarco, it's not as twisty as the US
side.
There is construction in Tecate and you'll be sharing the northbound lanes; it's not a problem and far better maintained than most roadworks projects
in Baja, but it is there and the police are waiting for you to screw up.
Speaking of the Tecate Municipal Fundraising Force, I was followed by three separate police in Tecate, all the way from the bottom of the hill until I
turned off on Culiacán for the border. Stopped just long enough at the stop signs, eventually they lost interest I guess. The line was backed up to
the left turn from Culiacán onto the border road; it took about an hour to cross.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Entered Mexico through Tecate 2 days ago, on A Saturday at 7am. Chose "nothing to declare lane" and got the green light but were asked to stop for
inspection, which hasn't happened in many years. She opened every door and drawer inside the travel trailer, checked in the bathroom and behind the
shower curtain, looked in the microwave and oven and fridge. Asked to see the TT registration and we were on our way. Curious what valuables people
have tried to smuggle in via a trailer microwave- the size of a shoe box?
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J.P.
Super Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
Entered Mexico through Tecate 2 days ago, on A Saturday at 7am. Chose "nothing to declare lane" and got the green light but were asked to stop for
inspection, which hasn't happened in many years. She opened every door and drawer inside the travel trailer, checked in the bathroom and behind the
shower curtain, looked in the microwave and oven and fridge. Asked to see the TT registration and we were on our way. Curious what valuables people
have tried to smuggle in via a trailer microwave- the size of a shoe box? |
How about CASH $$$$
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oxxo
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
Curious what valuables people have tried to smuggle in via a trailer microwave- the size of a shoe box? |
Gun! A friendly member of the Army told me a couple of years ago at one of the stops that older Americans (he emphasized "older") are frequently
caught, not with drugs, but with personal guns which is a big "no-no." Shoebox is about the right size for a hand gun. He said that Mexicans are
rarely found with guns but more often with drugs going north.
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Mayne8n
Newbie
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Registered: 9-12-2012
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I am crossing at Tecate in a few weeks. I will be hauling a 17' cargo trailer and I am sure I will be pulled over for inspection. Can anyone tell me
what the parking will be for a truck and trailer? Thanks
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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They will direct you to where they want you to park.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It is a 'tiny' border (1-2 lanes open into Mexico)... Why a lot of Nomads like it!
Not open 24 hours! Don't get in the line northbound too late in the evening, at 11:00 pm SHARP, the gate closes. Southbound you will likely drive
right into Mexico with no wait... or very short.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It is a 'tiny' border (1-2 lanes open into Mexico)... Why a lot of Nomads like it!
Not open 24 hours! Don't get in the line northbound too late in the evening, at 11:00 pm SHARP, the gate closes. Southbound you will likely drive
right into Mexico with no wait... or very short. |
Title is the "latest"
when was the last time you crossed?
Today going south it was very busy and every one being checked.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
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7 months ago. Did I say anything inaccurate?
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
7 months ago. Did I say anything inaccurate? |
yes. southbound only one lane and a wait. every vehicle checked,
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oxxo
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
yes. southbound only one lane and a wait. every vehicle checked, |
Yes, that is the latest and most accurate.
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
7 months ago. Did I say anything inaccurate? |
I lost track.... 
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