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I'm feeling particularly grumpy tonight, and feel the need to share some war stories about crossing the border into Canada. Now I don't want to offend my Canadian friends, and nearly all that I have met have been wonderful, friendly people. I do have to throw in one bad American for good measure though. Now I think that I look like the old grandfatherly type, but apparently not to the guards. Now to crossings gone bad.
Story #1. Wife and I are driving a mini van and pulled up to the gate, which was attended by a young lady in her 20's. Here's how it went. Her: Pull off those sun glasses! Me: Sorry ma'am. Her: what business have you in Canada? Me: Oh just going over to Lethbridge to see the sights, then back to the U.S. today. Her: Do you have any weapons? No, I left them back in Montana, nothing illegal in the vehicle. Her: Pull over there now! She motioned to a parking area. I said why? She said Pull Over There Now! I said OK and complied. Two more guards came boiling out of the guard shack and proceeded to take the van apart. I said what are you looking for? No reply. They took it apart! Not a word spoken. Finally when they came to her dirty undergarments in the laundry bag, I blew up and told them to stop now, and just what in the hell were they looking for? They apologized and told me I was free to go, that they were looking for weapons. Apparently the young lady was having a bad day and reported me. I left mad to say the least. When I came back to the U.S. the American guard asked the usual questions and told me to have a nice day.
Story #2. Different crossing. Left the U.S. and into the area I call no man's land, as the guard shacks between the U.S. and Canada were about 100 yards apart. Started up to the Canadian gate, which had a line of cars, and decided I had better back up and move over to the restroom facilities. I figured I would be held up a bit, and needed to use the facilities. Well, I started to back up, and here they came reaching for their weapons. They were motioning for me to come forward, and looked quite serious about it. So, I pulled up, and the guard asked just what in the hell I thought I was doing? I told him, and he said well you don't pull up to our border then turn around. Looks to us like you are trying to hide something. Bad deal. I said no sir, just wanted to use the restroom. He said well you can wait until I tell you, you can leave. OK sir. The guards inside were looking, pointing and laughing. Didn't do much for my mood. Anyway, he finally wave me on through. Coming back to the U.S. no problem. Usual questions and waved me on through.
Story #3. Crossed over at Niagra Falls. Canadian guard very nice, waved me on through after usual questions. Coming back, U.S. guard comes out with his clipboard and a very serious look on his face. Little runt of a man with glasses on, and a bad attitude. Asked me the same questions three or four times, trying to trip me up. Wanted to search my truck. I told him I was an American citizen, and had been over in Canada looking at the Falls. He kept asking the same questions, plus where I was staying, location, name of the hotel, how long I had been there, when I was leaving, etc. I thought he wasn't gonna let me back in! Finally, I guess he figured out that my wife, ladyfriend and I were not ax murderers from Canada, trying to slip into to the U.S.
I crossed over into Mexico, shopped and came back with virtually no questions asked. Just something about the U.S. and Canada I guess, or maybe I have the look of a criminal.
Story #1. Wife and I are driving a mini van and pulled up to the gate, which was attended by a young lady in her 20's. Here's how it went. Her: Pull off those sun glasses! Me: Sorry ma'am. Her: what business have you in Canada? Me: Oh just going over to Lethbridge to see the sights, then back to the U.S. today. Her: Do you have any weapons? No, I left them back in Montana, nothing illegal in the vehicle. Her: Pull over there now! She motioned to a parking area. I said why? She said Pull Over There Now! I said OK and complied. Two more guards came boiling out of the guard shack and proceeded to take the van apart. I said what are you looking for? No reply. They took it apart! Not a word spoken. Finally when they came to her dirty undergarments in the laundry bag, I blew up and told them to stop now, and just what in the hell were they looking for? They apologized and told me I was free to go, that they were looking for weapons. Apparently the young lady was having a bad day and reported me. I left mad to say the least. When I came back to the U.S. the American guard asked the usual questions and told me to have a nice day.
Story #2. Different crossing. Left the U.S. and into the area I call no man's land, as the guard shacks between the U.S. and Canada were about 100 yards apart. Started up to the Canadian gate, which had a line of cars, and decided I had better back up and move over to the restroom facilities. I figured I would be held up a bit, and needed to use the facilities. Well, I started to back up, and here they came reaching for their weapons. They were motioning for me to come forward, and looked quite serious about it. So, I pulled up, and the guard asked just what in the hell I thought I was doing? I told him, and he said well you don't pull up to our border then turn around. Looks to us like you are trying to hide something. Bad deal. I said no sir, just wanted to use the restroom. He said well you can wait until I tell you, you can leave. OK sir. The guards inside were looking, pointing and laughing. Didn't do much for my mood. Anyway, he finally wave me on through. Coming back to the U.S. no problem. Usual questions and waved me on through.
Story #3. Crossed over at Niagra Falls. Canadian guard very nice, waved me on through after usual questions. Coming back, U.S. guard comes out with his clipboard and a very serious look on his face. Little runt of a man with glasses on, and a bad attitude. Asked me the same questions three or four times, trying to trip me up. Wanted to search my truck. I told him I was an American citizen, and had been over in Canada looking at the Falls. He kept asking the same questions, plus where I was staying, location, name of the hotel, how long I had been there, when I was leaving, etc. I thought he wasn't gonna let me back in! Finally, I guess he figured out that my wife, ladyfriend and I were not ax murderers from Canada, trying to slip into to the U.S.
I crossed over into Mexico, shopped and came back with virtually no questions asked. Just something about the U.S. and Canada I guess, or maybe I have the look of a criminal.