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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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The Tectate Crossing - (Northbound)
TECATE ROAD - HYW 3
These photos were taken June 3, 2010.
We drove my pickup (3/4 ton-8ft bed) towing ...a beautiful, salmon-tuna-dorado-halibut-yellowtail-pinto-walleye-catching 19ft Yarcraft tiller boat
with a great 115hp Evinrude E-tech... north from Conception Bay, Mulege. 650 miles from my driveway to US turf at Tecate.
Ensenada: Going north or coming south...for a few decades, I've always taken the Tecate Road (Hwy 3).. regardless of any road
construction delays. I'm Baja-ized, and don't hurry anymore.
Now, you may ask..?
Why not take Hwy 1..the toll road.. to US border?
Because raw sewage is bad for brake linings..and my chest waders leak. 
Other reasons are:
-Hwy 3 is the Ruta del Vino. Wine Country..tours..free tastings..golden opportunity to shop for case deals going south for the season.
-Quail hunts
-My favorite roadside hot dogs
-Two favorite restaurants on Hwy 3. Mustafa's and Laja
-Lots of history and interesting museums
-The last time I drove TJ 1, I had multiple flats from spent ammo casings....9mm.
As you come into this turn..look to the left and see the best road side hot dogs this side of Yankee Stadium. HARD TO
PORT!! The Pemex station is convenient, too...hay diesel.
Coming into Tecate and looking for the US crossing? Follow these photos.
No!..you do not take Hwy 2 Tijuana cuota. (I think 'cuota' is slang for sewage.. ?)
.
Lotsa stop signs at bottoms of grades..duh...they hired flunked-out civil engineering students.
Just keep following the signs..up to MacDonald's and then RIGHT. You'll have time for a Big Mac..double-sized with fries...chocolate
malt.....wha?....Hey! Co-pilot! Why didya throw that out the window?.....Why?...why?...sob..sniff
No dreaded cuota..HARD RIGHT..follow those signs. They will take you to another signs soon enough.. US Border
Crossing...there you will bend to the LEFT..and come upon...
The road boundary with Welcome-To-America fence on the north side. We drive up the hill. Ahhh... it looks typically empty ...as is always the case
for Tecate....
.
WRONG! All these glowing reports on Nomads about using the Tecate Crossing rather than the TJ Crossing have caused this to became a
traffic nightmare! AVOID USING TECATE AT ALL COSTS....
The good thing is..I bought all my Xmas gifts for this coming season while waiting in line.
The bad thing is..we were robbed at gunpoint twice... by the same churro vendor.
(The first time he took all our money. The second time he took all my Xmas gifts.)
Note the time on my radio...We got in line at 9.
We finally make a fender-crunching turn into US customs....We were WAY TOO LONG to make such a turn without damage.
Then we were sent to secondary to be questioned about Co-pilot's Italian passport. Can't imagine why, but it seemed to puzzle them?? Maybe
she fits the profile of certain terrorists..or a pasta smuggler?
...On second thought, she IS a terrorist in the malls..
THEN after an hour's wait in that ridiculous situation at US Customs, Tecate, we were told to get out of the vehicle so they could X-ray the pickup
and boat for illegal aliens.
Trying to brighten the mood, I told the official that while they were X-raying my fishing boat, most likely 1500 illegals had just climbed over the
fence just a few hundred yards behind us.
He did not smile.
.
.
When you finally do make it thru US Customs, brake for this turn (left or right) or you will fly/bounce down into some nasty thorn bushes.
.
HAVE A SAFE DRIVE HOME..and be sure to write about your trip.
Hasta la vista, baby...
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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KAT54
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Posts: 263
Registered: 3-7-2006
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Are there any gas stations along this route?
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Bajahowodd
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Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Great tutorial, Roger. I can't imagine anyone reading this post could ever get lost on their way to the border. From the date, it appears that you are
there on a Thursday morning. 2 1/2 hours is about the longest wait we ever had at Otay, and that was in the afternoon. But you make a good point about
the pleasant scenery and roadside opportunities.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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Hola pompano,
thank you for posting the tecate route. i always found it but usually by accident as i could never remember where to make the right turn at macdonalds
or the left along the gate.
hopefully, i won't get lost around october.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT NAVIGATIONALLY IMPAIRED and unfortunately, i don't have a co-pilot...thank you again.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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tecate ruta a ensenada beats the pants off the TJ a ensenada ruta either way coming or going hands down in my opinion.
i hope to NEVER drive TJ to ensenada again, cuota rode, libre road - any road.
it sucks, the scenerie is boring after one time, and you don't have the great roadside attractions in the guadalupe valle.
drink up shriners....
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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knuckles
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Registered: 9-15-2009
Location: I am never sure anymore :)
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I think you are the man! Wonderful trips, stops at all the main attractions, and if you take me to the mall I am yours.
Co-Pilot must be a lucky gal.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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"WRONG! All these glowing reports on Nomads about using the Tecate Crossing rather than the TJ Crossing have caused this to became a traffic
nightmare! AVOID USING TECATE AT ALL COSTS...."
Absolutely
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
"WRONG! All these glowing reports on Nomads about using the Tecate Crossing rather than the TJ Crossing have caused this to became a traffic
nightmare! AVOID USING TECATE AT ALL COSTS...."
Absolutely |
Actually I think Pompano already brought that up. There are way fewer booths at Tecate. So, it really boils down to whether you would enjoy the trip
through the Guadalupe Valley and all its roadside attractions, or you just want to get home fastest. We usually switch off between ports of entry for
the sake of variety. There's no denying that the road to and through the very picturesque town has a value of its own. All depends on expectations and
priorities.
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David K
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Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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The Tuesday after the 4th of July and last Tuesday, both times about 7:30 pm... 10-15 min. wait.
The right hand lane is now used by daily crossers to park their cars and thus be early in line the next morning! They park in the roght lane, and a
friend gives them a ride home... Saw this the past two times in line... As you come to the end of the line, get into the left lane... The first time
(July 6) we soon became aware that the right lane was NOT moving!
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Dave
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Word to the unwashed
While this might be tolerated at SY and Otay...
Don't EVER try to cut in line at Tecate!!!
One morning, traffic was backed up over the hill and I made the mistake of following behind a car in the left lane. Turns out he wasn't
crossing so I was stuck. I found a spot at the bottom and pulled in. Then all hell broke loose. I was told that if I didn't return to the back of the
line the police would be called. These people were royally peeed.
I was shocked, mainly. I've been in Mexico going on 12 years and it's the first time I'd ever seen any regard for the rules. 
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Udo
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Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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One thing will have to get used to @ the Tecate crossings...everyone is very polite while patiently waiting. However, the line cutters (be it
inadvertent or on purpose:fire are looked on very dimly, and I have
heard of people actually getting beaten up for cutting in line.
Tagging on what David stated...I did not know that people parked their cars on the right hand lane for the early morning crossing. I usually cross at
about 10 a.m. and the right hand lane is the only lane used.
On second thought...my last crossing was at Otay. It was considerably faster than Tecate.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
While this might be tolerated at SY and Otay...
Don't EVER try to cut in line at Tecate!!!
One morning, traffic was backed up over the hill and I made the mistake of following behind a car in the left lane. Turns out he wasn't
crossing so I was stuck. I found a spot at the bottom and pulled in. Then all hell broke loose. I was told that if I didn't return to the back of the
line the police would be called. These people were royally peeed.
I was shocked, mainly. I've been in Mexico going on 12 years and it's the first time I'd ever seen any regard for the rules. |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Otay
SENTRI crossing......Zoom-Zoom!!
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David K
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
SENTRI crossing......Zoom-Zoom!! |
Ah... YOU must be a beautiful man! Hooray Beer! Hooray Sentri!
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The Tuesday after the 4th of July and last Tuesday, both times about 7:30 pm... 10-15 min. wait.
The right hand lane is now used by daily crossers to park their cars and thus be early in line the next morning! They park in the roght lane, and a
friend gives them a ride home... Saw this the past two times in line... As you come to the end of the line, get into the left lane... The first time
(July 6) we soon became aware that the right lane was NOT moving! |
Do not get into the left lane unless directed. Read Daves post above. I saw the police pull someone out of line last week for trying to squeeze in
from the left lane. They took him off downtown somewere
[Edited on 7-28-2010 by rts551]
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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If the right lane is full with PARKED CARS, the only lane that moves is the left lane (of the two going into the U.S. ... No government directive
needed, use common sense.
The lane Dave is talking about is the THIRD lane (for local traffic), not the border entrance lane. This is the lane that people parking their cars
along the fence (right lane) walked over to and got into other cars to drive them home.
The parking along the lane and closing it may be just a weekday thing and maybe they will put a stop to it.
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Dave
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The lane Dave is talking about is the THIRD lane (for local traffic), not the border entrance lane. |
David, there is no third lane. See the above pictures. When the border is open the right lane is for regular 'border only' traffic. Left lane
for commercial vehicles and local through traffic.
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rts551
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If the right lane is full with PARKED CARS, the only lane that moves is the left lane (of the two going into the U.S. ... No government directive
needed, use common sense.
The lane Dave is talking about is the THIRD lane (for local traffic), not the border entrance lane. This is the lane that people parking their cars
along the fence (right lane) walked over to and got into other cars to drive them home.
The parking along the lane and closing it may be just a weekday thing and maybe they will put a stop to it. |
You are not even close. hope o one listens to you on this one. I use this crossing every couple of months and know.like Dave says. look at your own
pictures as well as the ones in this post
[Edited on 7-28-2010 by rts551]
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David K
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Okay sure... I am talking about Tecate, Mexico... near the U.S. entrance... 2 lanes are normally the ones that move into the U.S. There is a third
lane for local traffic the final few blocks... and the last two times crossing north THIS MONTH, on Tuedays, the right lane was blocked by people
parking their cars in the evening (7-8 pm) to be 'in-line' the next morning.
Edit: Just looked at Pompano's pics above, and the THIRD lane is seen... In the photo with the semi going towards Pomp... the concrete dividers
seperate the two U.S. bound lanes from the third, local traffic lane... Facts are facts, no matter how much they try and spin them!
[Edited on 7-28-2010 by David K]
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DENNIS
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | | Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
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David, there is no third lane. See the above pictures. When the border is open the right lane is for regular 'border only' traffic. Left lane
for commercial vehicles and local through traffic. |
That's right, almost...until the lines of traffic reach the gates, at which time they cross each other, passenger vehicles taking the left gates and
commercial vehicles going to the right.
There is no through traffic in the mix. They are on the other side of the K-Rail.
[hope no one is relying on this thread for knowledgeable guidance]
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
the right lane was blocked by people parking their cars in the evening (7-8 pm) to be 'in-line' the next morning. |
WOW...That one's new to me. Didn't know they did that. I never cross at that hour.
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