Arrive in Ensenada
this day did not go as planned. We left the hotel and had a lovely drive to Tecate…well, I did get stressed out with the grooves on the highway but once off the main hwy then road94 was a nice drive. Got to the tecate border and were told that the bank was closed and we couldn’t pay our tourist card fee and more important couldn’t get the motorcycle paperwork. If we stay in baja we don’t need anything special for the bikes but to go to the mainland we must. So the border guard says we must cross at Tijuana! That means going all the way back!!!!! We had wanted to cross at tecate to avoid the yuck of Tijuana and such. Now we had to go back. So back we went… Though in an effort to avoid the highway I found another route on my phone map thing (actually very cool app) that ended up taking us on a 5 mile dirt road and then a toll road, all very unexpected.
So, we get to the insanity of the Tijuana crossing having ridden a total of 80 unnecessary miles and couldn’t find much help at all. We stood in line for an hour to pay out tourist fee and finally with the help of a stranger in line we got directions to the vehicle imputation office which is totally outside of the whole customs area. Then we think things are going well again even though the traffic is a chaotic mess. We get stamped on our immigration papers and sent to the bank, all in the special place. We hand over all the paperwork, passports, registrations, tourist card, etc and the person says no…. The registrations are both in mikes name as owner. We say yes, two motorcycles, two drivers and we are married. She says then show me your marriage certificate and we say it is at home in Seattle so not possible. She sends is to talk to someone else and that woman in no uncertain terms was going to ok the situation without our marriage certificate and no there is mo work around or anything. She was mean. So we left without the paperwork we need in order to take the ferry to Mazatlan. I was so flippin’ pissed I can’t even say.
Now it is almost three and we need to get the he’ll out of Tijuana so we head out and run into a ton of traffic and crazy detour. Finally on the toll road south trying to make tracks. Before it gets dark. By the way we really hadn’t eaten and somehow we both kept our wits about us employing the camp buddy system. In the end we are now in Ensenada at a cute hotel with the bikes safe in the courtyard, we are finally warm (after getting chilled during the last hour of the drive) and are bellys are full. Took ducati for a walk and now I write this with one finger on my phone.
We are going to try our paperwork luck in la Paz and if it doesn’t work we will be shifting our travel plans and stay in baja the whole time until Overland Expo.
Sounds so frustrating! Glad you guys & Ducati are safe and warm though.
Ah the joys of travel. I’m sure it will all work out in the end, but I hope this is the worst gov’t trouble you encounter.
Aw, what a tough day! Good luck in La Paz!
Nothing like a little extra adventure on your adventure! Sounds just it’s happening just as it should in an uncertain borderland culture. Stay safe, Derby Sister!
Sorry for the duplicate post (above). My browser was acting goofy.
Could you get “remarried” in Baja? You could use your new marriage license since you don’t have an original. What a hassle though.
Stay safe. We’re watching. Ron and Cathie
couldn’t (mike m.) we fax you your marriage certificate?
See why you should have invited me along for the ride? I could have worked those customs jerks over in no time with my smooth talking. And by smooth talking I mean bribing.
Glad to hear you’re now on your way…smooth sailing!
Hey not a bad idea -the extra marriage ….shouldn’t bother you guys!…hell I hate Tijuana! just remember to say every time you are frutrated by small brain official “It will all be worth it in the end”….make it your Mantra!:)