This is the second in a continuing series about our trip through Canada to Alaska
Our caravan was ready for our great adventure early this morning, and most of the dozen rigs got off in fine fashion. Oh, our tailgunner awoke one couple telling them that one of the tires on their SUV was flat, but that was a minor inconvenience since we were in town rather than on the open road.
All went smoothly from there as we traveled scenic Washington roads for 135 miles when we arrived at the Canadian border crossing. Several of the 
members were told to dispose of the onions that they declared, and one couple was asked to pull into a separate parking area and report to the officers inside the building. That couple was us.
We think the brief, serious interrogation was triggered by our admission of having bear spray aboard, a natural defense for inveterate hikers, but we answered their questions, stood by while they did a computer background check and then we were on the road again to reach our first Canadian campground. Just in time for the evening social and update on the plans for Friday.
Let’s back up a few miles. About 16 miles north of last night’s campground at the Town of Soap Lake is the immense, deep canyon called Dry Falls, featuring “plunge holes.” I think every member of our crew stopped there for a few moments to appreciate the power of geological forces.
A Plunge Hole Below Dry Falls Visitors Center, Washington
Our route then took us to the Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River. We have been to several dams in our travels, and although this one was more interesting than most, it’s not a wonder of the world that stops most people in their tracks. It did us, but then it got better.
And this is where the two types of travelers separate. Many are destination-seekers, with planned stops. The rest of us travel to enjoy the scenery along the way, particularly unexpected discoveries like this.
These may be cherished memories or forgotten until you look at photos or videos years later, but if you’re not ready to trade time for destination, you won’t have these moments in your memory bank. Across the United States and Canada, there are treasurers hiding around every turn and down every side road.
Once we crossed the surging Columbia and entered the information plaza, we discovered a labyrinth, a place for silent contemplation and appreciation of the flowers and flowing water. No big deal, but for us, it is an enrichment of life. You might want to keep your eyes and, more importantly, your mind open to stop at unheralded spots along the road.
Walking the Labyrinth
It’s Thursday afternoon, the sun is shining through menacing clouds. We look for the blue.
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.
Lenore Slater
It saddens me to hear such disparaging remarks about Canadians. I was taught here in Canada that it is prejudice to paint a whole nation with one paint brush because of the actions of one person. Whatever happened to the concept of ‘Hands across the Border?” We should remember this was one large land and the borders were put in much later, separating whole families, my family being one of them. My genealogical study of my family shows that people crossed back and forth many times, and my family is your family. I would like to see more Americans speaking up for their neighbours and a few thank yous would not go amiss! The Canadians do not hesitate to jump in and help when the many disasters occur in America. The Canadians are probably the Americans best friend and it is a great puzzle that we do not hear a whole lot about that from the Americans.
To the moderator of this site I ask, Did I wander onto the wrong site? Is this site intended for Americans only?
Rebecca
Have been wading through the customs site searching for what we can and can’t bring when crossing into Canada. Didn’t find much that was helpful. This site was exactly what I was looking for. Although we have taken our RV into Canada, it has been a while and I pretty sure there had been some changes. I guess the best bet is to leave the fresh stuff behind and get it after we cross. That’s fine. I am assuming that canned & frozen goods are okay.
We have traveled in and out of Canada for 40 years and have never been treated badly by the border agents or anyone else except one surly waitress n Niagara Falls years ago that we still laugh about.
Any other tips for travel into Quebec would be welcome. Thanks!
BJ moffett
what can you take in to Canada in the line of food? We are thinking of going in 2013. Have a 35ft. 5wheel
tom connor
hi tom becher,looks like you have had a bad experience, i hear all kinds of stories of the treatment canadians get from usa border guards,then i read about there attitude toward the border guard what one gives expect to receive.
my trailer is permamently in washington state so we go there quite often,never have i ever felt not wanted ,but always welcomed.
there is nothing we can bring across the border we always have to stock up our larder in seattle and likewise coming north we know the rules and stick by them.
if you believe all the stories you hear you would eat all you see.
camping is supposed to be a fun thing not confrontial.
enjoy life its short
Stan Zawrotny
To answer the question about how late to go to Alaska, we went last year in August to get away from the crowds. Turns out August is the rainy month and we had rain every day. By late August, many of the campgrounds are almost deserted. We didn’t see hardly anyone heading north on our return trip. Many of the campgrounds said they were closed after September 1. The owners were headed for Florida, California or Arizona. Our next trip will be in June.
Colleen
This is an answer for Kay who wonders how late in July she can head north and how late in Sept. to return. I’ve driven out as late as Dec. 10 (leaving Anchorage), so it can be done. My parents were snow birds for years and they made sure they were on the road by Sept. 10. Summers in Alaska are short and cool, but it can get downright hot in the interior (Fairbanks). June is the nicest month weather-wise, by mid July the rains begin. By the third week in August there is often mild frost at night, even in Anchorage.
If you are looking for fish and going up late in the summer, you might try for Silver Salmon on the beach in Seward toward the end of August.
In ’72, my first trip to Alaska, there were 1500 miles of gravel roads. After 30 years living there and many trips driving in and out, the road is all paved now.
And a note for Sheila, there are places where the roads are not as wide as you find in the lower 48, especially in the Yukon, so meeting an 18 wheeler on a curve or bridge can be a bit unnerving at times, you can certainly time those events by adjusting your speed. The last time I drove out was in a Class A 32ft Airstream. I live in the lower 48 now that I have retired.
I’ve never gone with a caravan, preferring to make my own schedule, but for some people the peace of mind of “safety in numbers” thing should be worthwhile.
See ya down the road.
Thomas Becher
Too much hassle going across the border.I thought with Nafda and being almost brother,sister things would be smoother. They treat you like a criminal. Too many things to see in the states to bother with Canada. Even with the exchange rate they rip you off, if you don’t have any canadian money. No thanks. If I feel the need to go to Alaska, I’ll flly and then rent a camper.
Kay
A trip to Alaska that was to have started in late May has unavoidably been delayed. How late into July can we leave and still have enough time to make the trip in a somewhat leisurely way? How late in September can we return and not have to worry about now in the Rockies as we make our way East??
Chip
Barry and Monique – I just wonder how everyone in the caravan are keeping in contact onthe road. Are you using the FRS radios with some kind of net control. Are there any Ham radio Operators among the caravan.
BTW, what is the cost of diesel fuel in Canada?
have a great trip and keep the details coming – its awesom!
Shelia
I would love to go to AK but my hubby has a fear of taking our 40ft motorhome across the border into Canada and than into AK/USA. Any motorhomes of great length taking the trip up north with you? Let me know how all fair on the travel across the roads. I hate to have only planned stops, I’m the type that wants to find the natural native places along the route. Those surprises are the ones you will remember. Have fun!
Sucie
Mr. Clark,
You mentioned 9-11, as a proud yet humble American I want to take this moment and say Thank-you to the Canadian people for assisting the many people that landed that fateful day in Nova Scotia during that tragic time in our history. May the Canadian people be blessed many times over.
Sucie
Frank Howard
Being stopped by border officials could also simply be a random inspection, designed to catch violators who are aware of what characteristics the officials
are looking for. The officials may be inspecting, say, every 20th visitor who comes through.
Chris Clarke
Regarding the border crossing incidents, just a few comments:
When we head south and cross into the US we basically have taken to having nothing in our refridgerator, no fresh fruit, nor vegetables. This is because of having had it all confiscated one time or aqnother by the US border officials on previous trips. So don’t feel too bad about losing a few apples and yes, we do grow them up here. We get the same line fed to us going south.
Our first stop on the US side is usually at a supermarket to stock up the fridge and the pantry. (Oh, and yes, I have had my 5th wheel turned inside out because the agricultural inspector wanted to look into “all of the hiding places” that he knew us RVers use to stash our contraband oranges and steaks, and milk.
The bear spray is sort of a moot point. I carry mine all the time when I fish or hike in the mountains and I think that our border officials should cut some slack on that one inspite of the fact that it has become a weapon of choice in assaults and muggings. (We don’t carry firearms up here – we don’t seem to need them, or at least the risk of needing them is pretty low.)
Sorry if you ran into one of the more uncouth border officials – there are many good ones as there are heading south. Too bad some of these folks make our crossing experiences less than fun in either direction.
Perhaps some of our folks are smarting over the heavy criticism that we Canadians have been getting regarding border security from some of your prominent politicians in spite of the fact that the 9/11 bad guys did not come through our country. Some of the critics have been down right rude. We are grateful for the fact that most of the 350 million of y’all are damn fine people.
I hope that you don’t let some boorish behaviour spoil what should be a great adventure for you. Sometimes I guess that some people just get out on the wrong side of the bed. There are just too many beautiful places to see and experiences for you to have on either side of the 49th to allow a less than smooth crossing experience cause to sour.
Happy trails!
Dick and Cindy
We went a year ago. At our border crossing they got all the apples we had just stocked up on. They were offended and said “We have apples in Canada, ya know.” Will enjoy comparing experiences. Hope you get to Laird Hot Springs. We enjoyed that a lot – both directions.
Jan
Barry and Monique – Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. We’d love to make the trip to Alaska someday. We also travel with enjoying all the side adventures on the way. Wondering what kind of orchard or field we are passing, what is that smoke stack in the distance, where does that road in the middle of nowhere lead, what is a plunge hole (thank you John), walking a labyrinth someone took the time to build, etc Not that we always have time to investigate each thing, but traveling with the explorers curiosity really opens the trip to memories, meeting the local people and an education for a lifetime and underlines the reason most of us criss cross North America in our RV’s. It’s like Lewis and Clark’s push to the ocean, the miner’s quest for gold; it must be in our blood? Looking forward to your next trip itinerary entry.
PS
Chief Joseph Dam is the second largest hydropower-producing dam in the United States.
John Ahrens
This link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Falls, briefly speaks to the formation of the Dry Falls. It doesn’t mention plunge holes specifically, but the plunge holes are the area at the bottom of a falls where the falling water leaves a deep hole. Incidently, at the height of the flood, the surface of the river probably one varied a few inches as it went over that falls.
Stan Zawrotny
Your Canadian crossing was better than ours. A guy with a chip on his shoulder made me turn my pockets inside out, dumped my pill containers out on a dirty table, while his team rummaged around our travel trailer trying to prove that we were lying when we said that we had no booze, guns, tobacco, vegetables, etc. They found nothing. Didn’t make us feel too welcome to their country.
G Finley
Tell us more about this plunge hole. What are they and why did they happen? Thanks in advance for the posting. Sure is interesting. We have driven part of your trip in a car. Beautiful country !!!!.
susan
Barry and Monique…we find you travels very interesting…please keep posting, like bbwolf we are deciding whether or not to make the trip one day…as of now we are leaning toward it, and love reading about your travels..
Sue
Jerry Criswell
Wish you had told us what a “plunge hole” is.
JC
bbwolf
Barry & Monique, just wanted to let you know that my co-pilot and I are following your posts with interest. Please don’t leave anything out, as you are helping a lot of us decide on making this trip ourselves one day soon. Thanks for posting your travel!