[Paddlewise] US to Canada and back

I taught kayaking in Ontario [I live in Illinois] for fourteen years.  I 
have probably had, at one time or other, every combination of experiences 
that have been related in this string of comments.

The best advice has been given:  carry receipts and know where on the boat 
the place of manufacture is listed, if it is.  I would usually take two 
boats with me, one of which was US made and one Canadian made, so I was open 
to abuse at both crossings.  With receipts and a submissive attitude I got 
through every time. This was before the days of Illinois requiring canoes 
and kayaks to be registered, so I didn't have that to help.

The one time I had a problem was when the Candian offcial insisted that I 
have a current chest X-ray with me because I was working at a children's 
camp.   Only I wasn't, but the name Madawaska Kanu Camp [since changed to 
Madawaska Kanu Centre just to avoid problems like mine] made the woman 
decide that a kiddy camp it was.  Nothing I could do, not even calling the 
camp and having them explain that kids can't usually afford the cost of a 
week-long session, worked.  I finally went back to the US, waited for what I 
hoped would be a shift change, and got back in with no problem.

But that really is another story.

The only real scrutiny of boats I got was when I had just bought the 
Canadian boat and it looked too new to the US customs guy.  When I showed 
him my work permit and receipt and explained that it was a "tool" used in my 
trade, I got through with no duties paid.

Jim Tibensky

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