September 8, 2008

View of the day-We're back in Canada and parked out at Carlyle, with a welcoming committee...what a day!

We were up bright and early to get things settled up and battened down for the last leg of the US wheat harvest. Al went out to the farm while Marilyn got the trailer road ready, then it was time to hit the road.

We started off with the General/combine and pickup/camper/shop trailer. We had a bit of a NW wind, but nothing to keep us out of the 'tall one'...high gear for you automatic transmission folks. We made the USA/CAN border and stopped at the US side to get our stuff cleared, then went over to the Canadian side...oh, dear...

Marilyn had always had her paperwork in order when crossing the border...all receipts in categories, divided by vehicles, two extra copies, all required forms filled out on the computer...perfection, really. A few years back the regular officers had said we didn't need these forms and receipts any more...Marilyn kept filling them out anyway. Not having them done felt like not wearing a seat belt when you have done it all your life...like you will fall out of the seat. The one time she doesn't have it done...there is a new woman at the crossing...not just a novice...an expert on all rules pertaining to declarations.

Well, an hour and a half later we left the border, blank forms in hand for the next trip through while we wondered where we had gone wrong. On the bright side, she had us pull so far ahead of the crossing so we would be out of the way of the other traffic and because she was so busy with the other people trying to get through, she never looked in any of our vehicles or trailers. Unlike the poor couple who were just going home in their car...she opened up their luggage and riffled through it...lucky us.

We got to Carlyle, parked the General and it's load, then found a level spot to park the camper...within wireless range, of course. After that we turned around and headed back to Kenmare to get the Freighliner/tractor/grain cart and header. On the way down we had to go through the US port again...oh boy, the friendly lady on that side waved us to move up to the gate...then walked away. It was quitting time for her, and who should be taking her place? Mr. Happy...and the first thing he did was take our passports and tell us they weren't valid...what??! We had just gotten them in the spring...yes, he said "but you haven't signed them"...whew. And we were on our way.

We got to Kenmare, fueled the rigs up, then headed back north. At the US side this time, we dealt with one of the old regulars, while Mr. Happy had his supper. On the Canadian side, Marilyn pulled up and the officer came out to find her with a hand full of forms that had been filled out...as requested by the morning shift...and he said..."that's a load of crap(translated), have a nice day"...he waved us on and walked away. He had come on shift just as we were leaving the first time, so apparently he knew what was going on. Marilyn wonders if it is possible to phone the border to find out who is working to save on the grief in the future...

Back in Carlyle, Al got the Freighliner parked just in time to catch the second quarter of the first NFL game. After supper with the landlords...Marilyn's sister Marg, her husband Kim and their son Gordie...Al continued on with football, while Marilyn got the camper set up and the dish aimed. There is wireless internet here, but it seems we are just on the fringe, so it is not unlike dial-up.

Tomorrow we move the router...and maybe do a test...