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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Southbound crossing at San Ysidro a mess
On our return trip from the States this afternoon, we experienced a 45-minute delay on the 5 south. We stopped at the duty-free store to pick up some
sodas, and it took the full 45 minutes to get back on. The 5 itself seemed to be backed up to National City!
The reason is reconstruction of the Mexican customs facilities. The two lanes closest to the "something to declare" lane are torn up. Once you pass
through, two or three lanes on the left side are occupied by the military.
We experienced this at 3:00 p.m. If you hit it much later, say 5:00 when all the commuters are heading south, I would guess you'll need to be prepared
for a very long wait.
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bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
Member Is Offline
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GEEZO, to quote another nomad neighbor.
My typical shopping commute to SD is longer than ever. My trip 2 weeks ago had same hassle as Bajamigo getting back ON I-5 from duty free. Just
short of one hour wait way past 805 intersection on I-5 at 18:00.
I'm headed to SD tomorrow/thursday. Wish I could get everything done by 2PM-ish, but no way. I attempt to pack as much of my needs and neighbors'
items in as possible and that means I'm at SY to TJ crossing during rush hour.
Maybe I should use my boat?
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Buena suerte.
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
Member Is Offline
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Any idea how things are before noon?
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Couldn't say, but in the recent past traffic has been pretty light at 3:00 (our usual crossing time after our shopping trips). If 9:00 am traffic
patterns are similar, the delays might also be the same.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
Member Is Offline
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Well, they had better get their act straightened out before 3pm on Wednesday, July 15th  OR ELSE!
Or else  we'll be sitting in it practicing our patience like you all did.
Thanks for the heads up.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
Member Is Offline
Mood: getting ready!
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I crossed at 945 am this morning heading towards Rosarito and Ensenada there was 7cars and lost of fresh cement being laid down. Don't recommend
crossing after 4pm probably crazy there and you'll probably pull your hair out....
READY SET.....................
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Use the Otay crossing and take Blvd 2000
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
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I'm guessing Otay will have the same mess. They are "remodeling" the entry lanes to allows screening of all vehicles entering Mexico. Not sure what
"screening" details but it's in the works. We'll wait for your report tomorrow Bajaguy...and Otay precludes a Duty Free stop unless you want to shop
at UETA, which does not have the best prices.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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it's not hard to imagine all the mexicans returning home from work/school/shopping right about, oh i'd think 3pm. kinda like trying to cross
northbound at 6am......
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Terry28
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 8-25-2007
Location: S.Calif mtns.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Thirsty
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We crossed northbound yesterday.....over a 2 hour wait......no bueno...on the good side we had perfect weather for 5 days in Rosarito....no problems
of any kind....and decent surf!!
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
Posts: 516
Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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The peak hours for entering MX on weekdays are 3pm - 7pm. Otay can be just as bad. 
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
Member Is Offline
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Had the same experience a week ago at 5:10 pm. Ugly.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Fred-o
Junior Nomad
Posts: 84
Registered: 7-6-2008
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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As Rick said to Elsa in Casblanca:
"We'll always have Tecate"
Not a bad route these days, especially Northbound.
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MikeLikeBaja
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 2-25-2009
Member Is Offline
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Crossed today (thursday) at a lil after 3. Stay away from the 2 far right lanes. 10 minutes max to get across. I am sure a lil later and things are
ugly.
Sorry. crosssed into Mexico today at the San Yasidro port
[Edited on 7-10-2009 by MikeLikeBaja]
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bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
Member Is Offline
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Hit TJ northbound crossing at 9:40 and backup was significant, likely 90 minute wait by my subjective marking experience. Jumped over to Otay first
time in 6 months. Thanks for construction warning neighbors, but Otay was only 42 minutes at 10AM this morning.
13.10 exchange rate in TJ this morning.
Otay guard was intelligent, witty and kind as I presented my Colorado driver's license, S.D. registration and photocopy of my passport showing my
Cleveland birthplace. These 3 documents have driven them crazy last 2 times crossing, as I lost my passport last month on a trip back east last
month. Today's Otay guard acted like he was greeting an old high school buddy. He was curious how I retired early and what it's like living in
Ensenada.
After gate, was guided to a "random vehicle inspection". Approx 10 vehicles got in line at the secondary area and instructed to leave our keys in
vehicle and step to a corral to the right. Only thing I saw was a large truck move along one side of the row of vehicles. This may have been random
or the vehicle may have a new SCMODS(Blues Brothers) xray detection system.
5 minute wait, no question, no vehicles opened and I was relieved to get closer to bladder relief.
14 stops today, including my new favorite place to get rid of my retirement funds, West Marine on Point Loma.
Successfully "imported" 2 cases of wine and 2 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon as I returned south to Ensenada tonight. That's right, PBR used to be my
standard house beer in Denver. Try it, you'll like it, and you can try it for free if you stop by next 7 days. Pacificos always available.
Crossed SY/TJ southbound at 19:42, just like the good old days w/ approx 10 cars ahead of me. Ensenada toll gate at 20:43. Home on Punta Banda at
21:38. That's right, I drove in Baja at night. Prefer daylight driving, but... Lots of state and federal police, lots of flashers on and trucks
speeding ahead. Show or go, I dunno, but they were flashing their presence this evening in TJ, Rosarito, La Mision and at downtown Ensenada entry all
the way to the beach at Casa Country.
Loads of stuff for neighbors "imported" today, Lowe's stuff for my house and I'll sleep well after an adventurous shopping day in SD. zzzzz
[Edited on 7-10-2009 by bajadock]
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Cyanide41
Nomad
Posts: 303
Registered: 1-7-2009
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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The other day I noticed a long line as I walked over the 5. They were stopping cars maybe 100 yrds from the border and letting them go in groups. I
couldn't tell who was actually stopping people.
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bigboy
Nomad
Posts: 239
Registered: 12-28-2003
Member Is Offline
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I like PBR but have a hard time locating that brand. Where do you buy PBR?
One of my favorite watering holes, Joe Jost's in Long Beach, served PBR tap beer for years but recently switched to another brand. I think it may be
Bush Bavarian but not positive.
When I was a mere child, they served Eastside old tap larger beer and then about 30 years ago switched to PBR. I just love a frosted 20oz schooner of
beer along with a Joe Jost's special and pickled egg.
We will cross the border this afternoon and hopefully not get stuck in south bound traffic.
[Edited on 7-10-2009 by bigboy]
[Edited on 7-10-2009 by bigboy]
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cyanide41
The other day I noticed a long line as I walked over the 5. They were stopping cars maybe 100 yrds from the border and letting them go in groups. I
couldn't tell who was actually stopping people. |
I cross frequently and hit one of these improvised US border guard inspections a stone's throw from the border a few weeks ago. Really slowed things
down. I've also gotten the Mexican red light recently. Don't know if they have increased the sampling size. I was asked for ID in secondary and had to
pay import fees on a new computer I had in the trunk. The Mex official was not what I would call typical. He was young, bilingual, sounded sharp, and
acted very suspicious (of me). Things are tightening up.
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bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
Member Is Offline
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PBR is surprisingly served via tap or bottle at lots of places. Hash House A Go Go is one spot in S.D., but a "pabst on tap ________(your city)"
search will provide lots of beverage establishments.
Vons always has it on sale throughout San Diego.
Note how border crossing hassle frequency is directly related to improved beer sales?
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