September, 1999
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Contributed by
Fred Metcalf
. . .
I would characterize the road condition on Route 3 as
fair. There were numerous sections of moderate
potholes, and little indication of pending repairs - although
there was a sign at the Ensenada end announcing grand things to
come for the highway.
I'd not been on the road for well over ten years, and I was
quickly reminded of how this road is a major truck route to Ensenada.
The truck traffic is very heavy, and caution should be exercised
in the winding sections through the mountains.
Another old-time memory was that the road is popular with
bicyclers, and there were several on the road the day we were driving
north. In one instance, a truck swerved across the center line
to avoid a bicycler rather than slow down. This forced me over to
the side of the road momentarily, and was a bit scary.
At one point near the Guadalupe Valley there was an accident.
The highway police were present, but no effort was being made to
rescue anyone from the overturned car. Apparently fatal to
those inside.
I think the highlight of our trip along Route 3 was a winery
stop. We spent a couple of hours at the L. A. Cetto winery in
the Guadalupe Valley. They have a very nice tasting room and
outdoor seating. Our tour of the facilities occurred during the
harvesting season, and allowed us to taste both the fresh grapes
and the juice being squeezed from them. The entrance road to L.
A. Cetto is just across from the larger Domecq winery.