RV’ers pick up stories to tell, and taking your house on wheels across a country border may generate one. Especially if you are dragging a pickup truck along with you.
In the Vancouver area, there are two border crossing a few miles apart. Trucks have to use the Pacific Border crossing. Passenger vehicles can use either the Peace Arch crossing or the Pacific Border crossing. Our destination was the Pacific Border RV Park, just across the border at 175th Street and 0 Avenue. 0 Avenue is the border. One of us has a gut feeling that we should mix in with all the other tourists at the Peace Arch crossing, because maybe the other one has more staff to search trucks, increasing the likelihood we would be searched. But one of us points out that our RV park is actually on border, next door to the Pacific Border crossing. We go to Pacific Border.
First there are the usual questions; where do you live, where are you going, where are you staying, why, how long. How long have you been traveling and where have you been since you left home. Then, do you have a gun. Apparently, he’s thinking; An American with an RV and a pickup truck; he’s got to have a gun.
No, we don’t have a gun. Do you own a gun? Yes. You don’t have a gun in that truck? No. Why? Because I didn’t want to bring a gun into Canada. You have been traveling extensively across the western United States, you didn’t have your gun with you? No, we didn’t bring a gun.
He doesn’t believe me. “That officer will show you where to park. Take this paper into the building and go to Counter A.”
Different officer. Repeat of the normal questions. He takes our passports and keys and tells us to have a seat. For the next 45 minutes, three border guards go through the truck and through every drawer and cabinet in our motorhome. There has to be a gun in that sock drawer, right? At one point, an officer comes in and says they can’t get the slides out. Jane offers to show them. After she opens the slides, she asks if she can stay. They tell her to go back into the building.
We didn’t hear, “Welcome to Canada,” but we were given our passports and keys and told we could go. Our destination, Canada! We made it!
We know our way to the Pacific Border RV park because we had checked it out when we visited Emily and Stuart back in February. We did not have an RV at that time, but had decided on the one we were going to get. Besides, the RV park is literally on the border. While we set up, Emily and Stuart are on the way to see us. We enjoy showing them the RV and we have a celebratory glass of wine (or sip, as appropriate). The air is good, the sun is out. We’re elated.
Have to have a lot of prayer and patience to make it through.
Maybe if you would take the: http://www.americanmethod.com/assets/images/items/Keep_Honking_Im_Reloading_sticker.jpg
bumper sticker off the Toad, the Canuck’s would be a might more friendly!
Glad you guys are having a great time.
Emily & Stuart – What a great looking couple!
Several times a year, when I visit back home in Buffalo, we frequently go over into Canada for any number of reasons. Every couple of years my brother, a few friends, and I go waaaay up into Canada to fish. Each crossing (whether at the Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, or Lewiston Bridge) into or out of Canada is, as Forrest Gump put it: “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” The Canada Border Services Agency guards almost always check us for guns on the way in. They truly believe that all Americans travel with guns – all the time. I don’t think that the Canadians realize that there are plenty of states that are not gun-friendly. In the early 70s, when I was in high school, we’d go over at least once a week to drink beer. They were good about serving minors back then. They asked us 3 questions: 1. Where were you born?; 2. Where are you going?; and 3. How long will you be here? Times have truly changed.
Thanks, Stephen. Jane and I first went to Canada by car in 1981. We didn’t even have a passport. They didn’t ask about guns. Yes, things have changed.
Hello-o-o-0 you two adventurous travelers. I must say you have far surpassed us in our adventures out west. No way can we top what you have experienced. I was thinking this morning it had been quite a while since I had seen your post but our daughter has been visiting this week & I haven’t been as attentive to computer. So, I was relieved and excited to read what all you have been doing. It tickles me to see those smiles on your faces.
We visited friends in Saskatoon, SK and drove across provinces to the International Peace Gardens near the border where we planned to be on 9/11. It was a moving experience. Yep! the border crossing was a moving experience, too, but much more pleasant than yours. However, it was not a busy one so maybe that made the difference. They let us keep our tomatoes once we told them they were given to us at the Peace Garden by one of the horticulturists. At one crossing we had to move to a set of scales & yes they also boarded the RV but we were allowed to stay inside the rig.
Once again, happy to catch up with you two again. I realize you are out of range lots. And, what a happy day to see those kids! Love reading about your adventures.
Thank you so much, Bette and Jim, for your love and support and sharing of our experiences. Yes, we’ve had the adventures, but still have a lot to see and learn, and to learn from you.
I’ve heard other stories about trying to get into Canada, about them taking all your alcohol, throwing out veggies and fruit. I don’t plan to go.. I would get in trouble. I always travel with a firearm. I certainly would not try to take one across the border. If that man asked me if I even owned a gun I would tell him it was none of his damned business what I had in my home.
I also don’t want the bastards going through my coach.
Again, I don’t plan to go to Canada,
Unless I park the coach and drive the toad in
Jane was already worried about the way I would behave at the border if things didn’t go well. I chafe at authority and security. But I knew that it was a privilege to enter their country and not a right, so I had practiced having a compliant attitude. The officers on the other side are the same or worse. I’ve heard the audio of a problem when a Canadian couple was attempting to cross the U.S. border to go shopping. The Canadian man had an attitude, and things went from bad to worse. The situation was resolved when one officer grabbed the man and another grabbed his wife and they were both taken into custody.
I simply cannot believe that you would not tell the unbelieving border agent “Sir, I am a member of the bar – a lawyer – would I lie to you about this?” Duh.
Of course, it could just be that one of your legion of fans called ahead and told them to BOLO.
Will you get up to Whistler/Blackcomb? Beautiful. TD
Once their computer reads the code in your passport, I think their screen tells them everything about you. He also asked me if I had a carry permit and I think he already knew the answer.
Did they ask if you were a son-of-a-gun? Glad you made it. What an adventure.
Thanks, Chuck.
Sign of the times, right?