Border crossing

Yesterday I crossed into Saskatchewan Canada in a little border town called Portal.  I was making good time until then!  I have never had any difficulties crossing into Canada until now.  Now I did expect a problem because I was bringing my Remington 870 shotgun with me on this trip but I had all the required paperwork filled out and handed it to the customs agent as required.  She started asking me all the normal questions including my employment and then true to every other crossing she asked me “Do you have a handgun?”  I told her no and she snapped back at me “Don’t lie to me, I know you have a handgun” Biting my tongue I told her that I have several handguns but NO I do not have a handgun with me.  She then told me to pull off to the side and go inside to register my shotgun and pay the $25.00.  So now I am handed off to a different agent and after he is done registering the shotgun he asks where my vehicle is.  Then he has me pull it into the garage for inspection.  So now I pull it in, unlock everything and he has me have a seat as he shuffles through the trailer.  Finally satisfied in the trailer he starts in on the truck, when he get to the camper cap he says to me “Where is your handgun, she told me you have one”  I told him that I told her I have several handguns but none with me, only the shotgun.  He shows is first bit of emotion, one of disgust and hands me back my passport telling me I’m OK to go.

So I finally make it out of customs.  On the map they are showing a camping spot only a few miles (km) away.  I find the sign and turn down the road, after about 10 km I finally find………. A golf course, thinking they will not let me camp there I turn around and head back to the highway.  The next town up is Weyburn and they have a campground but surprise it is closed!  Tired and needing to find a spot to stop I see Walmart and I see a couple other RV’s in the lot.  For those that do not know Walmart is a very RV friendly store more then willing to let travelers us a corner of there lot for the night.  I go inside and as the greeter who I should talk to about staying in there lot for the night, he tells me no problem just go to any place out of the way of customers.  Simple rules apply like do now set up awnings, expand slideouts etc.

This morning I was up early, largely due to a semi that decided to park across from me and left his engine running so I was on the road just before the sun came up.  I made good time going across Saskatchewan stopping in Moose Jaw and again in Saskatoon.  I stopped early tonight in Lloydminster, Alberta.  I stayed at Weaver Park which is a small campground with a new very nice bathroom facilities, hot water and very good pressure which felt good on my neck.  Bonus, great wifi so I could start this blog!