June 9 Crossing the Border

June 9, 2014

We left Helena and headed for Canada.  Now; we knew we couldn’t bring firearms and we knew they would allow bear spray.  Bear spray is in a really big can and can stop a bear in its tracks.  If you follow the blog you know George knows that first hand.  So, in my opinion, a little tiny key chain mace spray can should be safe to bring across the border.  It’s just nice to have it on the dog leash or in your pocket when you walk the dog.  Right?  Well, they didn’t lock me up but they did confiscate my mace.  It left me speechless (only for a moment).  What is with that?

Nice thing is I wasn’t strip searched and they didn’t search our truck.  I had a second little container and I voluntarily turned that in too.  They said they would hold it for 40 days for me though.  Getting across the border was not as big of a deal as I thought.  I had it pictured with guys searching through your stuff with dogs and the whole nine yards.  I guess I was picturing Mexico.  Nope.  Just like going through a turnpike booth and handing over your documents and answering if you had any weapons, goods to sell in Canada or any tobacco or alcohol. 

Now exchanging currency.  Don’t do it at the border.  They are like ticket scalpers.  Lethbridge had a bank that did it for free.  We got $1,059 for $1,000 US dollars.  We made money!  Now at the border, they wanted $10.00 for every $300.00 you converted.  Ticket scalpers. 

We ran into a thunderstorm complete with hail.  Beautiful super cell just to the west.  Guess who was driving?  George was snoozing but the sound of hail brought him to life.  My kids can attest that I could be a storm chaser but I have to admit I was concerned about the windshield.  George wanted me to keep going and outrun the storm.  So I turned the wipers up full blast to help divert a possible major hit and save the windshield.  Who knows if that tactic worked or if the hail just wasn’t that bad? 

I have to say the drive to Calgary is like going through western Kansas.  We can see the Rockies way in the distance.  The beginning of the AlCan hiway begins in Dawson Creek at mile marker 0.  My granddad helped build it so I am excited to get to the museums there.  I brought some of his old pictures to compare with the landscape.  My grandma is 101 and went to a nursing home last year.  Grandpa died in 1959 when I was only 7.  Grandma didn’t know much but said she kept a journal.  She always tells me it’s in her dresser but I have never seen it.