JohnnyT
Goshen New York
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JcoFS3500
East Central OK
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flyswamper wrote:Trap wrote:
Unfortunately those search's can happen going either way accross the border. Happens to us to trying to go into the US. Just a part of travel.
He's right on this. Sometimes it's just your turn for the random "deep" search. Being an Okie that lives in Canada though, I am under the firm impression that if your car or passport indicates you are from certain US states then you are much more likely to be suspected of having firearms (and searched accordingly). Oklahoma and Texas would be among those states that get a little extra scrutiny. I'd also venture a guess that the "deeper" your southern accent the more the odds of a search go against you as well. I figure it's just a result of being from God's country (Oklahoma) or being it's neighbor (TX).... he he... all in good fun bud!
To the original poster..... If rest stops don't work for ya but your looking for quick-n-free overnighter kinda thing.... be aware that Wal-Mart does exist up here. 
My only trip to Canada was pre-9/11, back before passports were required and I had no problem getting into Canada. A few questions and a wave and I was on my way. Getting back into the US was a whole different story. Lots of questions and search the car. No idea why. Enjoyed Canada except that I hit it during a heat wave and the motels didn't have air conditioning. Beautiful country for the parts that I saw.
'93 Jayco FS3500 TT behind a '92 Dodge D250 powered by 5.9L Cummins
'94 Vogue Prima Vista powered by 8.3L Cummins w/ 6spd Allison
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RangerJay
Northern Ontario
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You don't indicate where you are crossing the border or how much time you will have along the way to Dawson Creek.
Presuming you are crossing @ Buffalo then you may want to consider:
- Niagara Falls (very commercial but a must see if you haven't been there before)
- Niagara Falls to Tobermory to Chi-Chemaun Ferry to Manitoulin Island to Sault Ste. Marie (very country drive - Tobermory is a really neat coastal town - underwater park with lots of shipwrecks - the ferry gets you up close and personal with Lake Huron)
- North shore of Lake Superior (lots of Canadian Shield scenery and parks)
- Thunder Bay (Sleeping Giant Park, Terry Fox Memorial, Old Fort William)
- Hwy 17 to Winnipeg (lots of Boreal Forest - a few parks)
- Trans Canada to Calgary (Prairie, prairie and more prairie)
- Calgary to Edmonton via Banff/Jasper National Parks (stunning parkway drive)
Have a great trip.
Jay
2002 Bambi 19' - the "Toaster"
2003 Nissan Pathfinder - the "Buggy"
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jmcarp
Colorado
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Here's some possible alternatives to rest stops or pull-offs:
http://freecampsites.net/canada/
http://freecampsites.net/usa/
Jim
'04 Provan Tiger CX
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joe b.
Florida
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Over the year of traveling in and through Canada, I have come to enjoy the small towns. Many of them will have a low cost to free campground. Sometimes run by the town, but most often by one of the town's service organizations, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Possum Lodge or some other group. I have stopped at the city/town hall if I get there before the standard 5 PM closing and asked where in town I could park for the night. I have been sent to the city park's parking lot, back Bering city hall, over by the school, etc. I have also stopped at the local police station and asked the same question. Don't remember ever being told no. If yo do this, just note the name of the person telling you it is OK so if anyone later asks, you can tell them.
Generally I find that the more obvious I am about parking, the less issue it is for anyone. Hospital parking lots have seen me and other semi public places. But the many campgrounds usually work just fine for us.
Last summer we drew the lucky brass ring coming back into Canada at the Beaver Creek Customs and got the full search. Since we had nothing to hide, I just plain enjoyed the experience. Made my wife a bit uneasy though. As a former LEO myself, those guys and gals are really good at their jobs. It is always fun for me to watch a real professional at work, at any trade or job. They didn't make a big mess at all, barely could tell they had been going through it for the hour. The bed covers were messed up a bit, stuff in drawers was moved around, some clothes in the closet were not where we kept them but just not a mess. They were very polite, only refusing to let me take photos of them in action. Some sort of rule that prohibits it, especially any that could identify the officers. This was the first full search I ever received, had them walk in and open the fridge before but not the full 9 yards. After an hour they brought my keys back to me and told us to enjoy our stay in Canada, which we sure did.
Searches are just part of the crazy world we all live in anymore. I would rather have them search me and a dozen others, than let us all go unreached and have one of the others be planning something real naughty to do to innocent people. We were on vacation, so what does an hour of free entertainment for me, hurt? Just see it as a part of travel in todays world. I will probaly, I hope, be back in Canada this summer. If I get searched again, so be it. I still won't have anything for them to find.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC
www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Alaska-Colorado - photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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colliehauler
Mc Pherson KS USA
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I wonder if they ever search the black tank?
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wagonmaster2
northcentral oklahoma
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crasster wrote:All I know is they gave my family HELL when we crossed the Canadian border. I have no idea why. I was respectful, courteous. We had our 5 children with us knew our destionation... They pulled us all out and searched the RV for 3 hours.
I'll never go back to Canada.
I'm with you. No way do I want a bunch of strangers tromping across my carpet with their parking-lot dirtied street shoes, pawing through all my clothes drawers, shuffling around in my closet, digging through the kitchen drawers and pantry, etc. with hands that heaven knows where they've been or handled before the search. Many people tell how violated they feel after a home burglary and I'm sure that's how I'd feel after a complete search. I've been into Canada back in the 70's with an automobile and realize how beautiful the country is, but so is the U. S., which makes it not worth the hassle going in either direction across the border. And as was stated, being from Oklahoma is like have a big sign on your RV, "Search Me".
The Canadian Director of Tourism (think that was his title) several years ago remarked in the Motor Home Magazine after reading about many complaints of searches that he encouraged the owners to accompany their guards during an RV search, but I've yet to hear of anyone that was allowed to do this. Upper management has no idea what's going on down the line in the real world.
Wagonmaster2
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paulj
Seattle
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I realize this boarder searching topic deviates from the OP's question, but I'll make a couple of observations. Growing up I traveled to and from South America a number of times by air, and knew searches were a normal part of passing through customs. I even had a search and pat down on a domestic flight, when I traveled with a backpack shortly after the DBCooper incident.
Traveling to Canada by car I've had a half dozen searches, and many more uneventful crossings. For a while I thought it might have been my appearance (beard etc), and started to let my wife do the driving when we crossed the border. Or it could just have been the luck of the draw. Unless you are trying to hide something, it would be a shame to let a search, even an hour long one, spoil your enjoyment of the trip, or deter you from returning. Don't take searches personally.
But now that the thread has been moved to the Canada/Alaska section, we probably won't see more of the 'never again' posts.
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crabbin cabin
on the road
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Hopefully you realize that the Trans Canada Highway does NOT go to Dawson Creek. Several choices for northbound highways from the TCH; #16 through Edmonton from TCH near Portage La Prairie in Manitoba.; north from Regina Saskatchewan to hit #16 ,; north from Calgary to #16 in Edmonton; north on #93 at Lake Louise in Banff national Park to 16 at Jasper and back east to Hinton the $40 to Grand Prairie. You can also go all the way into BC to Cache Creek and the #97 to Dawson Creek.
Your choice - just enjoy the trip!
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rvrepairnut
bc
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crabbin cabin wrote:Hopefully you realize that the Trans Canada Highway does NOT go to Dawson Creek. Several choices for northbound highways from the TCH; #16 through Edmonton from TCH near Portage La Prairie in Manitoba.; north from Regina Saskatchewan to hit #16 ,; north from Calgary to #16 in Edmonton; north on #93 at Lake Louise in Banff national Park to 16 at Jasper and back east to Hinton the $40 to Grand Prairie. You can also go all the way into BC to Cache Creek and the #97 to Dawson Creek.
Your choice - just enjoy the trip!
Make sure you go # 1 right through to cashe creek or you will miss the most most beautifull part of canada.Going through the rockys from calgary to sicamouse is second to non.
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