International border crxings & passports

[Irulan]

We cross a lot at these miniscule crossings on the WA/BC border. They used to practically wave you through but of course not any more.

I have two great border stories.

(pre 9/11)We have soem friend that used to have a rustic cabin about 1 mile S of the BC border into the US. DH went mountain biking and of course ended up in BC as there's no fence; the border is just a clear cut up there. Eventually he came back on the highway. A guy on a mountain bike shows up in lycra, shirt off (tucked unto the back of his shorts) no pack, no ID no nuthin. It took him about 45 mins to talk his way back in doing something like "We are staying at that cabin, RIGHT THERE!!!

(post 9/11)
Some good friends were doing wildernes rafting way up in the remote section of BC when "it" happened. They got to the border and literally did not understand what had just happened in the world. They had a big van, plus a trailer full of raft gear. Now, if any of you have ever done wilderness rafting you know about the groover or honey bucket.... ( you can see where this is going). A bunch of scruffy looking folks, and the customs agent says, sit down ,shut up and don't say a word. The guy pokes through everything. As he gets closer to the honey bucket ( rocket box used for human waste, cleaned out but the stink never goes away and it's really, really, really bad) they are whispering..."should we say something?" "No,he told us to be quiet".... Finally the guy gets to the rocket box which actually has a sticker on it that says, "Sh*t Happens", opens it, sticks his head in it to inspect it, gags, and retches and just starts screaming "what the hell IS that? Get the heck out of here...."

So of course they drove off.

[shootingstar]

The guy pokes through everything. As he gets closer to the honey bucket ( rocket box used for human waste, cleaned out but the stink never goes away and it's really, really, really bad) they are whispering..."should we say something?" "No,he told us to be quiet".... Finally the guy gets to the rocket box which actually has a sticker on it that says, "Sh*t Happens", opens it, sticks his head in it to inspect it, gags, and retches and just starts screaming "what the hell IS that? Get the heck out of here...."

So of course they drove off.

LOL -- he probably will change his inspection tactics in future.

Probably many many areas where you can walk through controlled wilderness between Canada and U.S. We did stroll across the border between 2 national parks, each in Canada and the U.S.with obvious signage and clearcut of trees/bush to signify the 49th parallel international border:

A well-know hiking trail in Waterton National Park in southern Alberta that immediately goes into Glacier National Park in Montana.
Round trip hike was at least 10-12 kms. and we didn't go deep/far into Montana because we were running out of time and didn't want to get stuck in the U.S. This was 2005.

To give those of you unfamiliar what a clear-cut international border looks like through forested areas, here I am if you scroll down half way and see me with an concrete obilesk and the line of cleared trees and bush.

http://cycling-touring.thecyclistweb...eline_Walk.cfm

It'a beautiful area and the customs/immigration authorities are fine there. Of course we were only carrying some snacks and little else on us.