Oh Canada!

We got up bright and early this morning, full of excitement and headed for Canada.

We planned to cross at Port Huron, Michigan and go to Niagara Falls, Ontario.

After 3 days in Niagara Falls we'd go back into the United States and travel through New York; continuing on our way to Nova Scotia.

Of course I was taking photos all along the trip.

Our first snag occurred as soon as we crossed the bridge to Canada.

The woman at the entry booth was not at all happy about the camera. She stated that this was not a time for photos and asked what I was taking a picture of.

"You" I replied.

Wrong answer.

She asked if I'd taken her picture and I answered "No." She then asked for the camera and checked to make sure I'd told her the truth. When there was no picture of her she gave the camera back.

She was looking at our passports when she asked what our license plate number was.

Neither of us had a clue.

She then wanted to see our registration for the truck and trailer. We still have temporary ones because of our recent move to Texas, and that didn't improve her mood.

She then asked if we had any firearms and we answered truthfully "Yes, a shotgun."

"You know you have to have a permit for that?"

Well, no we didn't. We knew we couldn't bring in any handguns and had left them in storage in Kansas.

We were directed to pull over so the shotgun could be inspected.

The customs agents went through the RV and got the gun, searching the bedroom dressers and closet.

When the numbers on the gun checked out they warned us it couldn't be used for protection and sent us in to get the permit.

That ended the most pleasant part of the experience.

Inside a young woman took our passports and asked if we'd ever been arrested.

We both answered "No".

BIG mistake!

When the computer kicked out John's 1983 DUI arrest she was outraged!

John explained he'd gone through diversion and really hadn't thought of it.

Didn't count.

She'd asked about "arrests, not convictions! Why'd you lie!"

She found an arrest for "illegal discharge of a firearm" (also dismissed) when he was twenty-five and the gig was up!

Bear in mind that John has a concealed carry permit. He was fingerprinted and cleared by the FBI before the permit was approved. The end result?

We were denied entry to Canada!

They don't want us in there!

We had to turn around and limp back to the U S

(who wanted to know why we'd been rejected)
feeling completely mortified.

We cannot claim racial profiling, as we are neither black nor
mid-eastern looking; but we can feel their pain.

We spent the next two hours muttering about our tenth-grade English teachers who'd warned us about our permanent records.

We thought we'd be spending this evening listening to the roar of Niagara Falls, but we are in an over-priced KOA in Sandusky Ohio; licking our wounds and slamming down the fourth round, trying to find the romance of being roving desperadoes.

John has vowed to never eat Canadian bacon again.