Boy, at 75, do I ever know what you mean!

John
On Jul 22, 2015 9:54 AM, "bernie" <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:

> I was crossing into the US several years ago
> in my westy. The agent asked what I had aboard and in one of those senior
> moments
> where you momentarily forget a word and another one with quite a different
> meaning comes out instead I tried his patience.
> The conversation went like this.
>
> Agent: What are you bringing across?
> Me: Not much really just personal artifacts (I meant to say personal
> effects the word effects just evaporated from my mind).
> Agent: After a period of silence and looking me in the eye "What kind of
> artifacts"?
> Me: "I mean just my personal stuff".
> Agent: Shaking his head slowly "I can't believe you said artifacts. Go
> ahead"
>
> Bernie
> Vancouver BC
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 7:33 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I have flown back and forth acroos US and Canadian borders in small
> planes
> > many times. always a cordial interview with customs, a few questions, a
> > cursory look into the airplane cockpit and I was on my way. Sometimes
> > getting across the Canadian border back into Alaska was problematic,
> mostly
> > because of the time it took. US Customs at the TOK airport was a little
> > slow, mostly because there were oter things they has to as well as
> customs
> > work, but there ws never any real problems.
> >
> > Dick Rutan, brother to BURT RUTAN, designer of the first plane to fly
> > around the world, flew one of their planes from down in the states (can't
> > remember where he started - mid-west somewhere) across Canada into ALASKA
> > nonstop all the way to ANCHORAGE.. Customs was really upset on both sides
> > of the border for a while, but since he didn't land in Canada there was
> no
> > rule that he had to clear with customs. Eventually the argument went
> > silent. There are probably rules about that now. Dick and Burt changed
> the
> > fuel tank out in that plane, and then Dick flew it non-stop from
> ANCHORAGE
> > to BERMUDA. The final goal was the VIRGIN ISLANDS if he could make it
> but I
> > don't remember if he got there or not. He DID make it as far as BERMUDA,
> > however.
> >
> > John
> > On Jul 22, 2015 1:44 AM, "Mark Tuovinen" <aksyncronaut@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > The only time we were ever searched was entering Canada from Idaho, I
> > > figured it had to do with a guy with a ponytail driving a VW van and
> even
> > > then they only did a half hearted job, went through our luggage but did
> > not
> > > even attempt to search the van.  Its a different world on the Border
> > > between Alaska and Canada, not much smuggling going on there which
> makes
> > > for more relaxed crossing.  We have never been searched there in either
> > > direction or asked about food items, sometimes alcohol though often
> they
> > > don't mention it either.  We are always asked about weapons, Alaskans
> and
> > > their guns you know,  but don't usually have any, they don't want you
> to
> > > bring bear spray unless you are backpacking the Chilkoot Trail, etc,
> then
> > > its ok.  Unlike other travelers Alaskans with pets don't have to
> provide
> > > proof of the animals health this is due to the fact that to get to or
> > from
> > > some parts of the state to others we have to go through Canada.
> > >
> > > The biggest question crossing the Border is which guard do you get the
> > one
> > > that follows the letter of the law and has the time to ask and search
> or
> > > the one that asks the basics and makes a judgment call, plan for the
> > first
> > > one and you are ok.  Each one will find something different to
> challenge
> > > you on, last time through I crossed six times going from Anchorage to
> > > Skagway and back, four by road, once hiking the Chilkoot Trail, and
> once
> > on
> > > the train back to Skagway.  A Border Guard at Beaver Creek entering
> > Canada
> > > questioned me regarding my stepdaughter Julia whom was traveling with
> me,
> > > our names are different but she was 18 and he had her passport showing
> > that
> > > in his hand.  He said nothing about Brandon a friends 14yr old son whom
> > was
> > > with us and did not ask for documents proving I had permission to take
> a
> > > unrelated minor out of the USA.  A few hundred miles later entering
> back
> > > into Alaska on our way to Skagway the US guard said nothing about Julia
> > but
> > > did about Brandon.  In Skagway you get your Chilkoot Trail pass and
> they
> > > check ID there but once on the trail the Rangers never checked us and
> on
> > > the train that takes you from Lake Bennett back to Skagway they stopped
> > us
> > > short of town walked through the cars and had us hold our passports up
> > and
> > > open so they could match the photos but that was all.  Crossing back
> into
> > > Canada at Fraser on our way home the Canadian guards took Julia into
> > their
> > > office and grilled her about me and how we were all related but
> probably
> > > got tired of the story as knowing her she started at the beginning when
> > her
> > > grandparents met Brandon's grandparents back in the early 60's or how
> her
> > > mom, my wife, was my sisters roommate in college about 1980.  The final
> > > crossing at Beaver Creek back into the US was our typical there," where
> > are
> > > you headed?", "home", and away we went.
> > >
> > > Mark in AK  - wishing I was on a road trip!
> > >
> > > On Tue, Jul 21, 2015 at 7:44 AM, bernie <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > A friend  from Vancouver was recently fined
> > > > 200 dollars at US border because she had some foods in her westy that
> > she
> > > > was not aware were not allowed. I bring nothing across to US but some
> > > > tinned food and oatmeal. It's your responsibility to know what you
> have
> > > on
> > > > board.
> > > > They are becoming more sticky in this regards and very intolerant of
> > > people
> > > > "forgetting" what they have aboard. The link below addresses what you
> > can
> > > > bring into Canada. I have never been asked about my prescription meds
> > but
> > > > they are in original container. In general coming into Canada is less
> > > > restrictive in the food area than returning to the US. Presently
> Canada
> > > > doesn't want uncooked chicken because of bird flu. See the list
> below.
> > > > Coming back to US if agent asks about food  indicate that you
> > > > have no meat no fruit and no vegetables (Make very sure you do
> not!!!)
> > > > Stating that right off the bat is big positive in their view. In one
> > > > statement you are showing
> > > > you know what you have on board and you don't have
> > > > any restricted foods. There is little reason to bring food
> > > > back from Canada anyway as it cheaper in the US.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990
> > > >
> > >
> >
>