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#1
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Uncrowded waters due to fuel prices, diving dollar, and border hassles.
Back from the second leg of our summer cruise, one that carried us
well up Desolation Sound before making the reluctant U-turn and heading for home. Most of the Canadian harbormasters we spoke with reported a sharp downtun in the number of US boats this year. Moorages and marinas that are usually very crowded were wide open in many cases, with slips going begging over a three-day weekend at Secret Cove, Port Sidney, and other normally crowded destinations. Theories commonly advanced included the price of fuel keeping more US boaters down in Puget Sound, the plummeting value of the US dollar effectively "raising prices" about 25%, and the increased difficulty fo getting back *into* the US at the border (Canada lets you check in by phone, will accept a driver's license as ID, etc....but you'll have a huge hassle trying to get back into the US with just a DL). We *were* turned away from Friday Harbor on Sunday morning. (My reputation preceded me?). Turns out that spaces were hard to come by at Friday Harbor because the locals were staying put for the weekend. We found a guest dock more than half empty at Fishermen's Bay on Lopez, just 7-8 nm from Friday Harbor, and even on Labor Day weekend that guest dock never filled completely. We assumed we wouldn't find any space at LaConner yesterday. Wrong. The guest docks were about half full last night. We didn't see a real crowd all week until we got within about 20 miles of Seattle today. The weekend fishermen were out. One guy weaving back and forth up a channel while trolling called me a "Stupid f**k" for passing him at a reduced speed of about 5 knots and "screwing up my fishing!" I knew right then I was back in the general vicinity of a big city. :-) |
#2
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I think a lot of it is the border crossing red tape. We were within 25
miles of the Canadian border on our cruise to eastern Maine this summer and elected not to go further because we didn't want to deal with the aggravation of returning and clearing back in. Imagine that, returning to a country where you were born, lived all your life, and served in the armed forces at one point, only to be treated as one step above a criminal suspect. Unbelievable. |
#3
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#4
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DSK wrote: wrote: I think a lot of it is the border crossing red tape. We were within 25 miles of the Canadian border on our cruise to eastern Maine this summer and elected not to go further because we didn't want to deal with the aggravation of returning and clearing back in. Imagine that, returning to a country where you were born, lived all your life, and served in the armed forces at one point, only to be treated as one step above a criminal suspect. Unbelievable. And the worst thing is that the borders are largely porous, with over 2 million people per year coming across. The times we've returned into the country, we've been treated relatively curteously & professionally (always at airports) but it still takes time better spent on other things, it's aggravating, and it's ineffective. We've been talking to a number of people who cruise into Canada each summer on the Great Lakes, and they say things like "the paperwork isn't too bad." Fair Skies Doug King Paperwork into Canada: Arrived in Bedwell Harbour on a Sunday. Nobody at the customs dock. Pick up the direct dial phone and connect to Sidney. "What's your vessel ID #? How many people on board? All US citizens? Any firearms? How much booze and tobacco? Any pets? Ok, welcome to Canada. Write this clearance number on a slip of paper and display it in your dockside window." Paperwork back into US: Surprisingly easy......but only because we traveled with our passports. First thing the customs officer did was to scan the computerized info on the passports, consult a computer, and after about 15 seconds of typing something she asked, "How long were you in Canada? How much money did you spend on things you're bringing back? Any beef, chicken, pork or fruits and vegetables on this list? Any Cuban cigars? How much booze and tobacco are you bringing in? Did anybody give you anything to carry across the border? OK, I guess we'll let you back in- but you have to buy a $25 customs decal because your boat is over 30-feet." The $25 bucks is a hose job. Ticks me off every year. If my boat were 6-feet shorter, I'd get back in for free. If Paul Allen comes across with his 190-footer, he also pays just $25. :-) |
#6
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#8
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On 5 Sep 2005 22:56:09 -0700, wrote:
PocoLoco wrote: On 5 Sep 2005 16:50:44 -0700, wrote: Back from the second leg of our summer cruise, one that carried us well up Desolation Sound before making the reluctant U-turn and heading for home. Most of the Canadian harbormasters we spoke with reported a sharp downtun in the number of US boats this year. Moorages and marinas that are usually very crowded were wide open in many cases, with slips going begging over a three-day weekend at Secret Cove, Port Sidney, and other normally crowded destinations. Theories commonly advanced included the price of fuel keeping more US boaters down in Puget Sound, the plummeting value of the US dollar effectively "raising prices" about 25%, and the increased difficulty fo getting back *into* the US at the border (Canada lets you check in by phone, will accept a driver's license as ID, etc....but you'll have a huge hassle trying to get back into the US with just a DL). We *were* turned away from Friday Harbor on Sunday morning. (My reputation preceded me?). Turns out that spaces were hard to come by at Friday Harbor because the locals were staying put for the weekend. We found a guest dock more than half empty at Fishermen's Bay on Lopez, just 7-8 nm from Friday Harbor, and even on Labor Day weekend that guest dock never filled completely. We assumed we wouldn't find any space at LaConner yesterday. Wrong. The guest docks were about half full last night. We didn't see a real crowd all week until we got within about 20 miles of Seattle today. The weekend fishermen were out. One guy weaving back and forth up a channel while trolling called me a "Stupid f**k" for passing him at a reduced speed of about 5 knots and "screwing up my fishing!" I knew right then I was back in the general vicinity of a big city. :-) Welcome back, Chuck. This place has been relatively quiet and restrained while you were gone. No name-calling, to speak of, no bad-mouthing of the president, to speak of, and no Clinton-flames, to speak of. Maybe we were all just worried about you! Anyway, welcome back! -- John H "All decisions are the result of binary thinking." Thanks, John. Don't know if it's a good sign that when I'm off line there's no name calling, no bad-mouthing of the president and no Clinton flaming........ :-) I brought back some good stories that I'll share when I get life reorganized. Boat show next week, and another deadline looms closer by the day. Looking forward to them. -- John H "All decisions are the result of binary thinking." |
#9
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wrote in message ups.com... Back from the second leg of our summer cruise, one that carried us well up Desolation Sound before making the reluctant U-turn and heading for home. Most of the Canadian harbormasters we spoke with reported a sharp downtun in the number of US boats this year. Moorages and marinas that are usually very crowded were wide open in many cases, with slips going begging over a three-day weekend at Secret Cove, Port Sidney, and other normally crowded destinations. Theories commonly advanced included the price of fuel keeping more US boaters down in Puget Sound, the plummeting value of the US dollar effectively "raising prices" about 25%, and the increased difficulty fo getting back *into* the US at the border (Canada lets you check in by phone, will accept a driver's license as ID, etc....but you'll have a huge hassle trying to get back into the US with just a DL). We *were* turned away from Friday Harbor on Sunday morning. (My reputation preceded me?). Turns out that spaces were hard to come by at Friday Harbor because the locals were staying put for the weekend. We found a guest dock more than half empty at Fishermen's Bay on Lopez, just 7-8 nm from Friday Harbor, and even on Labor Day weekend that guest dock never filled completely. We assumed we wouldn't find any space at LaConner yesterday. Wrong. The guest docks were about half full last night. We didn't see a real crowd all week until we got within about 20 miles of Seattle today. The weekend fishermen were out. One guy weaving back and forth up a channel while trolling called me a "Stupid f**k" for passing him at a reduced speed of about 5 knots and "screwing up my fishing!" I knew right then I was back in the general vicinity of a big city. :-) Glad to see you made it back safely Chuck. I hope you and your wife are well rested and had a terrific time. |
#10
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wrote in message ups.com... One guy weaving back and forth up a channel while trolling called me a "Stupid f**k" Hell, Chuck. You don't have to leave rec.boats to get called a stupid f**k. |
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