Border Security

Thanks, Vancouver! but it's time to move on!

So the dinner conversation during our last night in Vancouver before heading South into Washington State was all about our great luck at the border! Since setting out in July, we have crossed the border many times into the US and back into Canada without fail; the most we would ever get was a few questions and a wave of the hand with either a "Safe travels!" or "Welcome home!". Well, you know what they say about Murphy's Law?! Yep, it happened to us!

Friday morning we set out early to pick up the RV. We were excited to get going again, looking for another big adventure. The drive to the border was a familiar one as we had just crossed, without incident, two weeks earlier on an outing to Seattle.  We approached the port of entry and got into one of the many lanes to check in with a border service agent, assuming everything would be smooth sailing once again. 

As we pulled up to the wicket, the agent very curtly told us that we should be folding in our side mirrors when approaching the window. Okay.....we had never, ever been asked to do this before but you don't argue with the people who are going to let you into their country so we smiled and acknowledged that that WAS a good idea. No big deal, we thought, let's just get on with this now so we can get going.

The next question was the standard, where are you going today? That was easy! But the NEXT question wasn't difficult but also one we had never, EVER encountered at a border crossing before; can I see all your paperwork for the RV, please? Hmmm....again no big deal because Steve had the license, registration and insurance, as well as other important documents, all at his fingertips. He unbuckled his seatbelt and quickly retrieved the folder from the back closet. Boy, this guy was thorough! As Steve rifled through the documents looking for what was needed, Mr. Personality proceeded to chastise us for not having the paperwork readily available when requested. As he eyed every move Steve was making over the top of his gold rimmed glasses while drumming his fingers impatiently on the cubicle window, Steve was beginning his second attempt at trying to find the documents that now appeared to be missing!!!!!! This was not good! Before we knew it, an orange sticker was slapped on our windshield with the command to "go to Secondary!" followed by "and make sure you have all your paperwork in order the next time!" 

As we took the right hand turn into a parking lot known as "Secondary" we could see all of the other poor souls who also didn't pass the "Entry Into America" test. Sniffer dogs and stone-faced border agents could be seen diligently checking cars. Steve DID find the papers to the RV (thank God!) when a rap came on our window from another agent who commanded us to take the orange sticker, our personal belongings and any money we had and go inside the building for processing. Processing?? What did that mean? As we slowly entered the building and stood in line with the other border rejects, this place became eerily familiar. And then it occurred to me......we were starring in our very own episode of Border Security!!! Yep, there were no cameras around, but this was it...this was the place where our fate would be decided!

Before too long, we were summoned to the counter where we had to declare, in front of two more agents, anything and everything that we were bringing into the United States and then we were requested to surrender our keys so they could "have a look!" We took a seat and watched as our little home-on-wheels was boarded and searched; our tag along trailer was also opened and inspected for the first time ever. And yes, they found and seized 3 potatoes and one apple from our fridge and never did request to see the paperwork for the RV!!