We are Home

Saturday | 25 August 2001 | We are home. Actually, this morning when we woke, we weren't sure what we would do. We wanted to leave our bad luck of Vancouver behind, but the weather was so nice... we didn't leave the campground until 9:30 a.m., and were headed to the nearest border crossing when I phoned Phil to say goodbye. Phil said - hold on - and checked the border cams and told us to not cross at I-5, as the wait was 90 minutes - but to take a few minutes detour to Aldergrove. I tell you, Phil is a wealth of information. I should sell his email address.

So, there we are, crossing at Highway 15, with only about 50 other cars. DT pulls over, so I can run inside to get our GST refund. Normally when in Canada we do not bother with the GST refund because it is just that. But with the tire and a few other large-ticket items, we decide this time it is worth the effort. So, there I am at the counter with all my receipts, passport, forms, and documentation of all sorts. The woman behind the counter is completely lacking in personality or humour. She either has a wicked hangover or was just an uptight English immigrant seriously needing a good hangover... I can't decide. She flips through my receipts, as if she were critiquing my purchases. She immediately tosses any diesel and food receipts as non-eligible. (Oh, the list of eligible and non-eligible purchases is quite long and quite confusing.) She comes to our quite large charge for 4 nights at the RV Park in Vancouver and says "not eligible". I say to her: "It says right here in your brochure that charge is eligible." She stares past me and says "NOT ELIGIBLE!" I say: "But it clearly says on the sign right above your head that charge is completely eligible." NOT ELIGIBLE!! Goodness. It was for $11 Canadian, so I wasn't going to get her knickers in a twist over it. Maybe customs/duty can have a fight with the parking garage where we owe a $35 fine and they can have a good old time! She was quite interested why we had paid over $400 for a mirror and over $350 for a tire. She also refused the $60 GST we paid to the Canadian Government for an American mirror shipped over the border, bolted to an American RV and driven back across the border. But, crossing into the US was a breeze. Same questions: How many people on board? Citizenship? Where have you been?

We continued south. We stopped for breakfast/lunch at one of those places where you order an omelet and it comes with hash browns, pancakes and toast. I told the girl I just wanted the omelet. She didn't seem to understand why I would not want all this food, as it came all-inclusive. Something told me she may be related to the GST lady at the Canadian border, so I didn't argue and had buttermilk pancakes, sourdough toast and hash browns with my omelet. Total price $6.49. American dollars. It was enough food for a family of four, and most of it was left on the table. What a waste.

But, as usual, I was still in good humor and happy to be heading home. It was a beautiful day and we made good time getting back. We spoke with Lisa and she is home from her rafting trip and getting ready for class to start on Monday.

Website wrap-up: Every word and photo was posted using my cellular modem! 30 nights. 2,755 safe miles (less one mirror and tire). 11 campgrounds. We saw the glory of World Track and Field Championships and the Glory in natural wild beauty: mountains and Grizzly! We had a wonderful week with Lisa in Edmonton and have clocked-off 200 nights in the motorhome already! Canada is a wonderful, huge, diverse and beautiful country! You should visit one day soon, eh?

Until our next adventure, I remain, your "There's No Place Like Home, Except Your Motor Home" correspondent.