We are crossing into Canada next week at Holton, ME. We hope to spend a week or so exploring Brunswick and nova scotia. Any important issues or warnings for crossing over (and more probably) crossing back? Also, what great spots should we plan on seeing!
Thanks
Chris
no guns.... fill your tank in Maine before you cross. don't screw with the border guards, yes sir and no sir.
Make sure you bring your passport or you won't get back into the US. Do some math before you go to convert miles to kilometres for speed and distance, feet to meters for bridge clearance, etc. Most truck stops are card-lock only on the commercial pumps, they don't take normal credit cards, so you may have to ask for help or simply use the retail pumps out front to fuel. Call ahead for reservations at camp sites, this is right at the end of season and things are shutting down. Depending on where you are, expect frost at night. Snow is possible but unlikely. Other than that, enjoy!
Brian
One of the first trips we are going to take when I retire is in the bus to Canada. We intend on shooting ducks and Canada geese on the opening week of whatever year that is. Then hit every opening weekend in each state back to Texas.
Chris, you shouldn't have any problems crossing at Houlton. Watch the signs, to be sure you're in the proper lane. If I recall, going into Canada, keep to the medium (not far) right, there's a lane now for RV's. Coming back, crossing into the US, the signs are terrible -- you won't see them in time. I think you keep to the far left lane.
Northern Route 95, especially north of Bangor, watch for wildlife (particularly moose). You don't want to hit one.
I agree with the above, fuel in Houlton. Plenty of places, and beaucoups cheaper than across the border. After across, don't do the math to convert $/litre to $/US gallon, unless you have your pacemaker tuned up. Most places took US currency, I only ran into problems with places like hardware stores. We don't convert our cash into Canadian, then back to US any more. If we run into somewhere that won't take US, we use a credit card (and then pay their foreign currency fee).
Right after crossing into Canada, swing into the Visitor's Center/Tourist Bureau (it it's still open, see my comment below about the end of the season). Pick up maps, brochures, and get information from the staff on where to go, what to see. Be aware, it's a pretty good hill going up into the Center.
If you go to Moncton, don't drive down Main Street. There's a 9-foot bridge. I was in our 4107, and wondered why the Codiac transit drivers had funny looks on their faces -- until I saw the 3 meter sign. "We're taking the next right, no matter what!"
This year, we went up the first week of August (annual Mother-in-Law trip, plane from Texas, car from Massachusetts), and the season was almost over then. Tourist stuff already 50% off. So, don't anticipate that everything will be open.
Make sure you hit the Hopewell Rocks, on the Bay of Fundy. http://www.thehopewellrocks.ca/ (http://www.thehopewellrocks.ca/) Plan to go at low tide. If I recall, the New Brunswick Railway Museum is on the way there, if you're going down from Moncton. If you're in that end of the Province, you might also want to go across to Prince Edward Island. Be prepared, the 9-mile Confederation bridge is pricy -- but they do take credit cards. You pay the toll only coming off the island.
Arthur
We just came back from Quebec City and had a tour of the Prevost Factory at St. Claire near Quebec. The tour was great and they let us stay in the lot with electric hookups for three days as we visited Quebec City. Anyone with a Prevost is allowed a tour for about an hour. They had about 50 buses in different stages of assembly as they completely assemble them there with 240,000 feet of space. They also have another factory with 170,000 feet of space that weld up the XL model frame and then put them together at this plant.
My friend has a 1955 GMC with no paint that he has had for 12 years and many of the workers came out and wanted pictures of the engine, etc. He was the star of the show. They all have Volvo engines. It take 13 days to assemble one.
We went through the border at Jackman, Maine. They completely seached both buses. It took about 30 minutes with two on each coach on the way into Canada. No guns, weapons. No citrus fruits on the way back into the U.S. No potatos and smile alot. Don't give them anymore information than they ask for. On the way back to the U.S., they only came on and looked in the refrigerator.
Bring lots and lots of gas money. I was in Canada for a month in the summer and I was paying between $1.15 and 1.48...a LITER. :(
i think you might be able to buy a 100 gallon tank at a good-price for extra fuel if you have the space.... still cheaper than $1.30 a liter
http://www.newbrunswickgasprices.com/ (http://www.newbrunswickgasprices.com/)
Campgrounds are closing quickly so call ahead. Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Rocks - must see. St John's, Moncton and Truro all have reversing falls. Where the incoming tide overwhelms the flowing stream/river in St John's. A visit to the Gaspe Peninsula is a great trip. Approach the Gaspe from the south and go counterclockwise. This keeps the ocean on the right side of the coach. You will find several fairly short but steep grades, 12% plus. There is a 16% going north out of Perce but there is a bypass around the hill. Prince Edward Island is again worth the trip.
Nova Scotia rescinded the law against camping outside of campgrounds. It had cost them a lot of revenue.
Enjoy the fall color. Central Maine is just starting to turn. Kind of muddy color this year. We'll have to see what full color brings.
Bill
Fundy NP is awesome, The Isles, and do eat some mussels for me @ PEI - HTH
EH?
pay close attention to your own country's rules about what you can and cannot bring back.
Both types of goods and total value.
And what happens if you go over.
Those folks at your border are there to protect America, and collect taxes.
The folks at the other side do the same for Canada.
Both of their target$ are their own people coming home.
polite, and cooperative.
They do have the power to strip search, and probe cavities, if that turns your crank, be one?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on September 28, 2011, 07:49:03 PM
EH?
They do have the power to strip search, and probe cavities, if that turns your crank, be one?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Oh my! Mexico & now Canada. :o
no firewood into Canada
No, I was warning about the American supply of surgical gloves.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Great Suggestions Bill B/Bus. I've added those to our bucket list. Now tell me more about your Nova Scotia comment about rescinding camping laws? Is there a lot of dry camping in Nova Scotia?
Also, I'm glad to hear there is still some fall color in northern Maine. We were sad that we passed by Vermont 2 weeks too early.
Chris.
Quote from: Bill B /bus on September 28, 2011, 05:16:56 PM
Campgrounds are closing quickly so call ahead. Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Rocks - must see. St John's, Moncton and Truro all have reversing falls. Where the incoming tide overwhelms the flowing stream/river in St John's. A visit to the Gaspe Peninsula is a great trip. Approach the Gaspe from the south and go counterclockwise. This keeps the ocean on the right side of the coach. You will find several fairly short but steep grades, 12% plus. There is a 16% going north out of Perce but there is a bypass around the hill. Prince Edward Island is again worth the trip.
Nova Scotia rescinded the law against camping outside of campgrounds. It had cost them a lot of revenue.
Enjoy the fall color. Central Maine is just starting to turn. Kind of muddy color this year. We'll have to see what full color brings.
Bill