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Jake21 · 06-19-2018, 10:16 AM

Any experiences with clearing customs from the Port Angeles ferry into Victoria?

wnytaxman · 06-19-2018, 10:33 AM

Being from the Buffalo area and crossing at the Peace Bridge on a regular basis I can tell you that the time you waited is not real unusual. The Peace Bridge is one of the busiest border crossings between the US and Canada so there can waits and, at times, those waits can be long. As much as I may hate to admit it, the fact that you are from the South may also be part of the problem. Some Canadian Customs folks believe that anyone who is from anywhere south of Pennsylvania are used to always being armed and dangerous. Most are pretty good but some can be real overly officious in their duties. Usually you will have more of an issue coming back into the US. We have been boarded and told to hand the agent the keys coming into the US and we even have Nexus passes.

The stretch of the Thruway that you mentioned is mired in a dispute between the Seneca Nation of Indians and NYS. At one time the Senecas actually shut down that stretch of the highway. Most of the Thruway is pretty good but that one stretch is really, really bad. The tolls can be high but if you would have obtained an EZPass ahead of time you would have saved some dollars.

Polyian · 06-19-2018, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake21

Any experiences with clearing customs from the Port Angeles ferry into Victoria?

Done it many times, they question you after you drive off the ferry before you leave the compound... goes fairly quick as they want to keep the cars rolling off the ferry.
Welcome to the Island.

Jake21 · 06-19-2018, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyian

Done it many times, they question you after you drive off the ferry before you leave the compound... goes fairly quick as they want to keep the cars rolling off the ferry.

Welcome to the Island.

Cool. I should have said that we will be in a 40 foot with a toad.

Cooperhawk · 06-19-2018, 02:19 PM

Got searched on time in Fort Francis Ontario and they did the "sit on that bench routine", while they slammed doors and drawers in the MH. After that going into Canada has been stress free, but coming back into the US is different.

At Baudet, Mn. they must have been having a slow day. Two agents told me to open all the compartments, which I did, while two more searched the inside with my DW watching. After I had all the compartments open they looked into one and told me to close them up. Meanwhile one of the agents inside tried to confiscate my DWs lemons until she pointed out that they were plastic decorations.

Seems like the US folks are more dedicated to their jobs or something.

Polyian · 06-19-2018, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake21

Cool. I should have said that we will be in a 40 foot with a toad.

Should have suggested a reservation, it gets busy and you might have to disconnect the road without as res

Jake21 · 06-19-2018, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyian

Should have suggested a reservation, it gets busy and you might have to disconnect the road without as res

Cool. Thx

bharrisv65 · 06-22-2018, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnytaxman

As much as I may hate to admit it, the fact that you are from the South may also be part of the problem. Some Canadian Customs folks believe that anyone who is from anywhere south of Pennsylvania are used to always being armed and dangerous. Most are pretty good but some can be real overly officious in their duties.

The stretch of the Thruway that you mentioned is mired in a dispute between the Seneca Nation of Indians and NYS. At one time the Senecas actually shut down that stretch of the highway.

I agree with you, they're pretty educated on what areas of the states allow guns or are gun-friendly versus ones that aren't.

A lady at the toll booth in the section you mentioned said something similar about the Indians when I jokingly told her to please tell the right people to spend some of the toll money on the roads. She apologized and said there wasn't a lot they could do. Next trip I'll do more research as far as routes and passes go. For what we spend in gas and during the vacation time, tolls are a very small part of that, although the amount seems a lot just for the "privilege" to drive on the roads!