Ensenada to Tecate border crossing - 70 miles
We had planned to catch up with Damasovi in the morning so that he could ride to the border with us. He could not make it because he had to baby sit so we headed over to Hwy 3 and northeast towards Tecate. We chose to cross the the border at Tecate since it was the simplest crossing available to us. We had arranged for Phil's parents to meet us at the border so we could transfer Paul's bike to the trailer and return the rental truck to Tijuana.
We took Hwy 3 through the vineyard region and it was a cold but beutiful ride to the border. We went through the final military checkpoint a few miles before the border and stopped to warm up a bit. I gave all of my left over snacks to one of the soldiers at the checkpoint. Phil asked to take a photo of them but they wouldn't allow it. We rode to the border and waited in line with Paul. Motorcycles get to go to the head of the line (we were told this many times while waiting in line) but we chose to wait with Paul in case of complications bringing the rental truck across the border. We had no problems and made it across the border to the States by about 10 am.
A few pictures I poached from the internet of Ensenada. I met Damasovi in town beneath the flag.
Phil at the border fence.
Paul exiting the border station in the rental. We made it!
Once back in the U.S. we had normal cell coverage and got down to business of checking in with family and work. Phil's parents were not supposed to meet us until 1 pm so we found a sandwich shop to get some brunch. We'd skipped breakfast in Ensenada so we were hungry. Just about the time we finished our meal, up pulled Phil's parents. We went out and loaded the bikes onto the trailer in the parking lot. My total mileage for the trip was 2541 miles.
We made a plan that Phil and Paul would cross back into Mexico and take the direct route over to Tijuana to return the truck and Phil's parents and I would drive to the border in San Diego on the U.S. side. It was a good plan. Unfortunately, I hadn't been to the border in San Diego in about 20 years so Phil's parents were giving me directions. We made it to San Diego without problem and headed south on the 805 freeway. The freeway is about 4-6 lanes wide and has a fair amount of traffic. As we neared the border we discussed where to park. Phil's mom thought there was a parking area just on the U.S. side of the border, she was incorrect. So.... we got funneled across the border into Tijuana since there was no where to turn off the 805. We turned around in Tijuana and got in line to cross the border again. Luckily, Phil's parents had brought their passports. We waited in line for about an hour and a half and enjoyed the freak show of hawkers and beggars who troll the waiting vehicles. Phil and Paul were able to return the truck and walk across the border before we crossed back into the U. S. We kept in contact via cell phones and I picked them up in San Ysidro.
Phil took over driving at this point and we hauled butt back to Yucca Valley and had dinner with his parents. We got up really early the next morning and drove in shifts all the way back to Colordo. We got home around midnight and went directly to bed.
Here is a Link to one of the travel advisories about the dangers of Mexico.
