Written By: Margaret Kosiba
After completing my photography course at Madeline Island, Wisconsin where I had my very first experience with putting my Plateau TS on a ferry, I decided to take Highway 2 across Minnesota and North Dakota. I planned to enter Canadian Customs at Portal, North Dakota, which would allow me to drive to Estevan, Saskatchewan on my way to Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat. Banff and Jasper would be just a hop and a skip beyond Medicine Hat. But I was nervous. This was my first trip to Canada and Alaska.
The night before entry I had stayed at Jan’s RV Park and Lodge in Leeds, ND. Jan was very helpful. I used my Passport America membership and stayed for $20.00. This was such a restful place to stay overnight. In the morning, I stopped at the diner in Leeds for an early morning breakfast. I think I was procrastinating about the customs process. They were open at 8:00 am! Immediately after ordering a hearty breakfast, a fellow camper with a pickup and Airstream sat next to me at the counter. During our conversation he noted that he had dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, and he knew the Customs process like the back of his hand. His advice: They are going to ask you four questions: 1) why are you going to Canada; 2) how long are you staying; 3) where are you going after that stay; and 4) are you carrying any guns or ammunition? He cautioned I should not volunteer any information not requested, and, by all means, use as few words as possible to answer any questions. Armed with that sage advice, I felt prepared to cross into Canada.
I arrived early morning at the Portal, ND entry south of Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada just shortly before 10 am. I was the only person in the line, with one recently processed truck up ahead. The U.S. Customs person was my first stop. He only wanted to know 1) was I travelling with anyone else, 2) why was I going into Canada and for how long, 3) where was I going after Canada, and 4) was I carrying any firearms or ammunition? Very brief and to the point. But he also wanted to know if I was carrying anything in my vehicle worth more than $10,000. I asked him to clarify. He said, “cash or money.” He then sent me to the Canadian customs officer up ahead, a young woman possibly in her late twenties. She seemed cautiously nervous as she very politely started her questioning.
1) Is anyone else traveling with you in your vehicle?
2) Are you traveling with any pets?
3) Why are you coming into Canada?
4) For how long will you stay in Canada?
5) Where are you going after you complete your stay in Canada?
6) Have you ever been to Canada before?
7) Have you ever been to Alaska before?
8) Are you carrying a gun?
9) Are you carrying any ammunition?
The next question tugged at my very soul and caught me off guard!
10) How are you going to protect yourself in Alaska? Have you ever been there before?
At this point I began to feel like she had just taken off her customs agent hat and put on her mother hat — just like my family and friends. Gosh, you cannot be 77 years old and travel alone to Canada and Alaska. How are you going to do this? This is not wise. I have heard it over and over and over.
I took a brief moment of hesitation and then responded that “I guess I will just have to count on my intuitive gauge of common sense and my usual good judgment.”
Then, disobeying the good advice of my fellow camper in Leeds, I decided she needed more information. I advised that I have a prepaid reservation at very nice RV parks every night in Canada and Alaska through September 9th. I volunteered to allow her to see my detailed daily itinerary. I assured her I do not hike alone, that I carry bear spray which I did have in my vehicle, and I count on taking group or organized tours in a safe manner to stay out of trouble from both humans and wildlife.
Amazingly, at this point she started the questions all over again.
1) Are you traveling alone in your vehicle? (My Pleasure-way Plateau TS is 23’9” long and probably longer than most single women drive.) I broke the rules again and advised that I used to travel with my Norwegian Forest cat; however, after 4.5 years, he unfortunately passed away from severe kidney disease. So now I am truly traveling alone.
2) Have you ever been to Canada or Alaska?
3) Are you carrying a gun?
At this point, I very calmly noted that “I have been traveling for almost five years in this manner, and I do not own a gun.”
4) Are you carrying any ammunition?
Again, I said “no”. But I said “I am definitely carrying bear spray.”
With that, she finally said, “Ok, you may proceed. Have a great time in Canada. Be careful.”
It took me a few hours of replaying the above discussion in my head as I observed how beautiful Saskatchewan was. Was she just trying to persuade me to declare that I really did have a gun (which I did not have) or that I was carrying ammunition for a gun I would purchase in Canada? Or, was she just truly concerned for my personal safety?
I concluded that I answered the questions honestly and it was now time to enjoy Canada!
Canada and Alaska, here I come!
The drive to Moose Jaw was uneventful and looked amazingly like Minnesota with grazing land for cattle and farms. I stayed at the newly designated KOA there, but it rained/sprinkled the entire time. The only wildlife I saw thus far was a precious squirrel who lived in the trees of my campsite here. She begged for food for nearly 20 minutes. I finally got out of my RV and talked to her for about 10 minutes, explaining to her that I simply could not give her any food (despite what other campers may have done), and that she had to find her own food in order to survive the next Moose Jaw winter. She seemed satisfied with that bit of attention and climbed back up the tree!
On to Medicine Hat in the persistent rain. Saw my first moose crossing sign on this Trans Canadian Highway, which was a better road than most in the U.S. The terrain changed to look more like North Dakota, then western Nebraska, and finally a little like the high desert in Arizona. The Gas City Campground was impressive and well managed, just a bit difficult to find in heavy traffic.
Driving to Banff was uneventful except for more rain, rain, rain. It was foggy and sprinkled the entire time. My photos of Banff entry highlight the true story. I stopped first at the Lake Louise Visitor Center. There was only one single ticket available to see Moraine Lake within the next three days, but I had an hour to get to the park and ride site to catch the shuttle (the only way anyone can now get to Lake Moraine). It was sprinkling, but this was my only chance to see the beautiful Moraine Lake. There were so many people present, but in between I was able to take a few pictures.
The Lake Louise Campground is the perfect spot to see everything in this part of Banff. The next morning, I got up very early and was at the Lake Louise parking lot by 5:30 am! The parking lot was ALMOST FULL! The parking ticket charge was $36.75 CAD, and you must walk a long distance to pay for the ticket and then take it back to your vehicle. Place the ticket prominently on your dashboard. Be sure to have your license plate number handy or you will have to walk back to your vehicle twice!!
But I walked the entire lakeside trail; it was delightful. Remember to take rain gear for these walks/hikes! Interestingly, up to today I have seen NO wildlife whatsoever. I took a photo of a three-toed woodpecker, but it was quite blurry in the rain!