Border crossing decisions

[MoBar]

We're heading to the Escape Rally and we're planning on driving up Washington State Highway 20 to Highway 97. Question is how are the driving conditions on Highway 20?

Thank you for the info and safety travels!

Moe

[Mucram]

Originally Posted by MoBar

We're heading to the Escape Rally and we're planning on driving up Washington State Highway 20 to Highway 97. Question is how are the driving conditions on Highway 20?

Thank you for the info and safety travels!

Moe

Me too from sandpoint idaho.

[sjnuss]

Loaded up and ready to go-leaving early tomorrow and taking our time.

See y'all soon!

Steve

[dfandrews]

We used US-395, then WA-20, to go from Spokane to Kettle Falls to Tonasket, then US-97 to Osoyoos for the Escape rally. Figure on 30-40 mph and a beautiful drive on 2 lane highways. Be prepared to stop along the way to upgrade your knowledge of local history. We over-nighted at Kettle Falls Campground (S. of WA-20 on the east edge of F.D.Roosevelt Lake/Columbia River). We caught the forest pollen, so in the morning our tow and Escape were completely dusted to a golden hue.
By the way, the Grand Coulee Dam over 100 miles away forms the F.D.R. Lake, which extends past Kettle Falls to the Canadian Border. More history: read about how the massive floods of Lake Missoula and Lake Columbia carved out much of the region's geology.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

... More history: read about how the massive floods of Lake Missoula and Lake Columbia carved out much of the region's geology.

...and if going that way check out Dry Falls State Park about 50 miles east of US 97 just off US 2. It would make a great overnight on the way to the rally if coming from the east.

Dry Falls were larger than Niagara falls before the Columbia river changed course after the Missoula Lake floods in the last ice age. Now you see the massive cliffs and gorge that was carved by the river.

https://parks.state.wa.us/298/Sun-Lakes-Dry-Falls

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by MoBar

We're heading to the Escape Rally and we're planning on driving up Washington State Highway 20 to Highway 97. Question is how are the driving conditions on Highway 20?

Thank you for the info and safety travels!

Moe

... back to your question. We came back that way from last year’s rally and it was a very pleasant drive. No safety issues at all.

We camped at Ross lake then headed across to Whidbey island, took the ferry to Port Townsend then down to Bremerton. No interstate the entire trip. Very relaxing.

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'd like to point out that that applies to firewood too. Often see notices about trailer rallies where people are asked to bring firewood. They should absolutely not do that. BC's forests, for instance, have been decimated by spruce budworm.

Funny I can't and shouldn't move firewood around and yet there are logs going up to Quebec from CT, MA, VT and NH all the time

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ian and Sue

Funny I can't and shouldn't move firewood around and yet there are logs going up to Quebec from CT, MA, VT and NH all the time

And, those probably have a bar code stapled on them that traces where they originated, kind of like cattle ear tags, so mad cow disease can be tracked and stopped.

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

... the first method will see a lot of Escapes coming and going and will be more familiar with the rally and thus less suspicious of our trailers....

Yeah, all those shiny trailers from BC look very suspicious!

[MyronL]

Leaving Sunday for the rally, have my 3 day 1600 mile drive plotted out. Boondocking plans are mostly firm, with one exception. I see in Boise, Idaho all the WalMart super centers look to be hostile to overnighting trailers. One reviewer told of a 2am knocking at their door and a warning to move out in 5 minutes. Cabela's also unfriendly. Anyone ever overnight park at the Cracker Barrel in Boise?

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

And, those probably have a bar code stapled on them that traces where they originated, kind of like cattle ear tags, so mad cow disease can be tracked and stopped.

And a forester whose job it is to look for diseased trees.

[Greg A]

We used Cracker Barrel for overnight in Boise. There are two about 15 min apart and both allow it.

[MyronL]

Thanks, Greg, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear.

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Thanks, Greg, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Good breakfast in the morning too, Myron.

[richardr]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Got it, thanks. Made no sense to me either, but....for some reason when plotting this on Google maps, instead of turning right in Canada onto the Crowsnest road they prefer dropping down back across the border then coming back up route 21. ( ) Wondering if Crowsnest road there is dirt, or too cranky.

Never mind.

So I've been wading through the Tips for driving across the border things not to even think about bringing, and it seems to include fresh foods of any kind, firearms of course, more than ten thousand dollars (no problem there), and, any and all Cannabis products. Guess that rules out my favorite THC salves, oils, jellies, tinctures and hard candy.

What about my bags of frozen Bertolli or other pre-assembled bags of uncooked commercially froze foods?

If I remember right, no eggs or anything with egg products may be taken into Canada.

[EdColorado]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Leaving Sunday for the rally, have my 3 day 1600 mile drive plotted out. Boondocking plans are mostly firm, with one exception. I see in Boise, Idaho all the WalMart super centers look to be hostile to overnighting trailers. One reviewer told of a 2am knocking at their door and a warning to move out in 5 minutes. Cabela's also unfriendly. Anyone ever overnight park at the Cracker Barrel in Boise?

Black Creeks rest area. Overnight parking is OK.
43.479317. -116.105087

[Hollybee]

Originally Posted by sclifrickson

T-Mobile does plans with service in Canadia and *no* contract. You can buy one of their SIM cards if you already have a phone that will work on their towers. Not that it matters, but the service in Canadia is actually provided by Canadian carriers via contract with T-Mobile.

Woopee..we have Sprint and heard recently that they were gonna be bought up by..T-Mobile..is that true and IF so maybe we can get a temporary deal to allow our two new phones to op across the border awa in the US What say ye?

[cpaharley2008]

I was sort of glad our 2 phones had no service for a week that we were in Canada.....sort of relaxing and not missed.