This minor incident happened when crossing back into Canada a few weeks ago: we were delayed only a minute or two, but there may be some useful learning. After 3 weeks of great paddling in the Charleston S.C. area I hosed all vestiges of saltwater off my 2-year old Gulfstream, gave her a nice polish, tied her down with the smart new straps I had picked up in Charleston and set off homewards. At the Fort Erie crossing, in pouring rain, the polite lady from Canada Customs seemed interested and impressed by the boat. "Looks just like new" she said. I beamed with innocent pride, "Thanks, it's a couple of years old, but I try to look after it." I replied. "No," she went on, "I mean it looks really new. Do you have a receipt?" As a person who considers it a triumph to remember to take a passport, a receipt was not likely to be in my papers, so we chatted a little more. Perhaps it was the same pouring rain that gave my boat it's slick, brand-new appearance that also discouraged her from venturing out of her hatch; anyway, she waved us through. Moral: either carry receipts for major items or keep pride of ownership in check when crossing borders. Keith Rodgers *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Different people different approaches. 5 year ago I bought in Corpus Christy a brand new Windsurfing equipment with board, sail, boom, centerboard and everything. It is a fantastic German brand called HyFly, for 1/2 the price of other similar performing systems. In order to carry it to Mexico on top of my car, knowing that I am able to bring one sports equipment with me, but not certain that they would think that I am bringing it down to sell it to others, I took it to a section of Corpus Christy bay, two blocks from the store, and washed it with the oily, muddy sand and water nad even some kelp, and placed it on top of my car. Everybody asked what it was, but nobody considered even the possibility that I just bought it. I was asked for the purpose of my trip to the USA. I said Windsurfing in Corpus Christy, and I passed three custom review stands in the road, without any further questions. I was doing a legal thing but did not want to awaken suspicion and trouble. Coming back home I had to do what you did before crossing the border. I had to wash it carefully to get rid of all the mud and oil, and polish it and wash the dacron and mylar sail and let it dry, etc. . After a thorough job it looked brand new again, and I still have it and use it. Best Regards, Rafael Mier Maza el cayuco chief www.mayanseas.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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