Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Crossing time on a Friday at SY
I know it probably is a silly question, but I am going to ask anyhow.We will be leaving Estero Friday Morning, thinking after the work traffic has
passed.From what I read here, there is no "better" time to hit the border.What about late nite Thursday? Hate to lose those precious hours we have ,
but just hoping to avoid the border stress.I think I know the answer.I haven't done the crossing in at least four years.Any and all help, comments,
like which lanes are better, welcome and I won't hold you responsible !!!(if it isn't so)
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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If you do the late Thurs. crossing, you will save 30 minutes or so as compared to Friday. So I`d stay and have a longer wait on Fri.!!
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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If you find the 'Secret' time, let me know. We crossed
last Mon. 11 am, at Otay, 1 3/4 hr., don't know if Mon.
is any different than Fri., I assume, right or wrong,
that Otay, generally, is perhaps 30-45 min. shorter,
so I 'm taking a stab that Fri. morn SY would be
2 1/2hr, as you said, you are not holding me to it
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Baja California M�xico
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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So..........
How is Mex 3, from El Sauzal to Tecate these days? Take it starting 3 years ago and compare that to today. Have they softened any curves, repaved any
long sections, or widened the roadway?
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
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Location: OC So Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
How is Mex 3, from El Sauzal to Tecate these days? Take it starting 3 years ago and compare that to today. |
I've been to Ensenada a couple times in the past mo.,
took Hwy 3 to Tecate form Sauzal, I don't have any
history on that rd., a couple 200 yd. dirt detours,
otherwise fine, 1 Military checkpoint, crossed Tecate Sun.
12 noon, crossing just at 3 hrs., I'm sure it is a good place to
cross mid week, due to the fact that it wouldn't have
daily crossers, + workers, + 1 million residents or so
like TJ, I peg the drive to Tecate at maybe 25 mi. or so longer than SY,
that is I ballparked the mileage from El Sauzal up Mex Hwy1 thru
the border at SY to Interstate 5 and the 94 close to
downtown San Diego, and compared it to El Sauzal/
Tecate to the same I5 and the 94
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3858
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"Have they softened any curves, repaved any long sections, or widened the roadway?"
You would be thrilled with the new changes in the past couple years along the entire highway. TWO LANES! Very impressive road building. Probably
still working on some stretches which slow you down a bit for 10 minutes or so, but not too inconvenient.
RE: a secret time to cross? I'd pick thursday night and cross at Tecate. Or about 1:00 am in SY.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Tecate last fri at 5pm... 15 mins.
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
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Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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Otay Ready lane 10am Friday, 23 minutes.
Otay Ready Lane 3:30pm Saturday, 27 minutes.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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tecate at 3:30 P.M. this past friday, about 20 cars and 18 minutes !!!!
a first for me.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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We are back from our trip.We had lots of fun and made some great memories but every day we had something unexpected happen to us.We left my house
(Capo Beach) at 8;30 am on Sunday.The whole trip was like driving on a ghost freeway! Right thru the border (SY) and down to La Fonda.Had to stop and
show the G-girls and have a Margi! On to Estero, still no traffic.I cannot beleive how much Ensenada has grown.It was kinda depressing for me.All my
old landmarks were unrecognizable or gone.its been four years since I have driven down.Estero was stunning as always, and deserted.We left yesterday
due to a really bad fall I took, my daughter getting some strange sinus infection and stopped at La Fonda for lunch.We thought about staying the nite
but they wanted $86 for a ratty little room and wouldn't budge on the price.We had a great lunch tho and drove for the border.There is No sign or
signs to direct one to the SY border after the "fence road".We drove aruond Zona Rio, asked a taxi guy, a girl in a store and finally after an hour of
bad directions, we found a policia and he steered us toward the right way.Even that was a b***tch! Past the shops,almost to the border! There were so
few lanes open! 20 mins and we were two cars next up.All of a sudden, a bunch of CBP guys are surrounding the cars and us telling us to turn off our
engines.Silence.Then really loud yelling."Put your hands above your head!!""Turn around and sit!"They had pulled a huge guy out of that car, and he
was reaching in his pockets!! I told the G-girls to get on the floor.It was all very smooth and well handled by the CBP guys, the cuffed him, and we
were almost thru.Guns were drawn and the kids saw it, scaring them , but we had altogether, 40 minute wait time, even with that!! This was at 4:30
pm!!Carpool most of the way home, a breeze.I' ll post a trip report tomorrow with "dining' reports and our adventures.Never a dull moment this trip!!
Sally
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1468
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
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Stop at Las Rosas for breakfast and get the pass.
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
Fri. morn SY would be
2 1/2hr, as you said, you are not holding me to it |
Especially since this is the start of a 3 day holiday weekend. Otay and Tecate will also be much longer than usual.
Hope you guys enjoyed your stay at Estero.
[Edited on 8-31-2012 by durrelllrobert]
Sorry, I didn't notice that you posted on 8/23 which meant you were going to be crossing on 8/24 which was not the start of a 3 day holiday.
[Edited on 8-31-2012 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
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lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1468
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
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Sorry, I didn't notice that you posted on 8/23 which meant you were going to be crossing on 8/24 which was not the start of a 3 day holiday.
Ooops. Estero Beach also has the fast pass for guests. All you gatta do is ask! Friends of mine stayed there a month ago and they came back on a
Sunday afternoon. The line was L O N G but they crossed in 30 minutes with the pass.
THANK GOD I HAVE SENTRI!!!!
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Well thanks anyhow.No one told me about "the pass"! I asked you guys about info for our trip in plenty advance time.Now you tell me...It is ok, I
realized that no one here had the info we needed, or so it seems.I won't be going south anytime soon.Only reason I would go would be to find my
Grandaughters.That is another story..
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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