Even though we've crossed the border to and from Canada quite a few times, I was a little concerned about our crossing this week because we had been out of the US for nearly 3 month and, of course, we had been in Canada where marijuana is now legal.  As a result, I was fully prepared with everything including a typed list of purchases, registration and insurance cards for both our MH and our toad, etc.

To my surprise, not only did we approach the border crossing at the Thousand Islands Bridge to find a completely empty lane, the border agent was pleasant and professional.  After I showed him my list of purchases, which totaled well below the allowable threshold, he asked if we had purchased any alcoholic beverages and I truthfully told him what we were carrying (which was above the tax-free limit).  To my surprise he asked if we had enjoyed our summer on PEI and waved us through. No questions were asked about fruits and vegetables or about cannabis. Total time <10 minutes.

Edited August 31 by docj

That has been our experience also over the years.

It has always amazed me that there seems to be more issues with people crossing back and forth into Canada, or at least negative experiences, than crossing our southern borders.  Glad it was a good crossing for you guys.

  On 8/31/2019 at 9:49 PM, FL-JOE said:

It has always amazed me that there seems to be more issues with people crossing back and forth into Canada,

A month ago we had to drive back to Calais ME in the CR-V (not the MH) to get Rx refills at Walgreens. We were in the US for less than an hour.  When we went back across into Canada I was tempted to say that we had come to the US "just to buy drugs!" but I decided there was a better way to phrase that statement!  ?  Sometimes the problems are of our own making!

  On 8/31/2019 at 9:55 PM, docj said:

Sometimes the problems are of our own making!

Much, if not most of the time. 

  On 8/31/2019 at 9:49 PM, FL-JOE said:

It has always amazed me that there seems to be more issues with people crossing back and forth into Canada, or at least negative experiences, than crossing our southern borders.  Glad it was a good crossing for you guys.

IMO you have to be semi-insane to drive an RV into Mexico and I think that opinion is widely shared. Thus few go across that border and if they do, it's a day trip with the vehicles and RV's left in the US. So since few cross there are few complaints. If I did cross I would expect a justifiably intense search.

  On 9/1/2019 at 4:13 AM, agesilaus said:

IMO you have to be semi-insane to drive an RV into Mexico and I think that opinion is widely shared. Thus few go across that border and if they do, it's a day trip with the vehicles and RV's left in the US. So since few cross there are few complaints. If I did cross I would expect a justifiably intense search.

There are MANY RVers crossing into Mexico who spend the whole season.  There are many RV parks full.

OK you obviously know more about this than I do. But I'm still not pulling my RV across or my truck. I'll cross to one of the border towns, Nogales or whatever, on foot if we get down that way. For a few hours. We have in the past. But with the current situation I would not cross into Ciudad Juarez for example. Northern Mexico is a good example of a failed country, lawless and corrupt.

11 uneventful crossings AB-MT, AB-AZ by air, and BC-WA so far this year. Small Ports of Entry are preferred. Documents ready, questions answered briefly. I don’t expect a foreign country to be like home that’s why I visit. 

We just spent some time on the southern border.  I don't take my RV across the southern border.  But anyone who travels or lives in these areas know that the U.S. Border Patrol still has check stations at different locations north of the actual border.  

We went through a couple southern border patrol check stations last month, once in the RV and once on the Harley.  The officers working were courteous and professional.  On the other hand, last year we crossed the Canadian border on the Harley just for a day trip, the Canadian officers were friendly and helpful, coming back the U.S. Customs officers were total jerks.

This just has been my experience in my limited recent dealings. 

I have never had issues with crossing the Canadian Border. Lots of times! I have never had problems with crossing into Mexico, mostly in the sixties and seventies, lots of times. I would travel to Baja today probably not other parts of Mexico. They only issues where with the US Border Patrol coming back to the US. Issues in El Paso, TX and the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley. Yes, in my many years of crossing the US Borders the only assholes were US Border Patrol. Sad to say that!

  On 9/1/2019 at 8:48 AM, agesilaus said:

OK you obviously know more about this than I do. But I'm still not pulling my RV across or my truck. I'll cross to one of the border towns, Nogales or whatever, on foot if we get down that way. For a few hours. We have in the past. But with the current situation I would not cross into Ciudad Juarez for example. Northern Mexico is a good example of a failed country, lawless and corrupt.

You're correct. There are much better crossings than Juarez.  Nogales and Lukeville are two easy crossings.

  On 9/1/2019 at 11:31 AM, FL-JOE said:

We just spent some time on the southern border.  I don't take my RV across the southern border.  But anyone who travels or lives in these areas know that the U.S. Border Patrol still has check stations at different locations north of the actual border.  

We went through a couple southern border patrol check stations last month, once in the RV and once on the Harley.  The officers working were courteous and professional.  On the other hand, last year we crossed the Canadian border on the Harley just for a day trip, the Canadian officers were friendly and helpful, coming back the U.S. Customs officers were total jerks.

This just has been my experience in my limited recent dealings. 

Please expound on total jerks comments 

  On 9/1/2019 at 8:33 PM, palmeris said:

Please expound on total jerks comments 

Since 9/11 our border patrol officers and customs agents have been more rigid and less friendly, but I still believe that those who experience inspections by a jerk nearly always bring it on themselves. The officers there are doing the job that those in command expect of them and doing so the very best way that they can. It has been my experience at numerous border stations and airport customs areas that if you simply answer the questions asked and allow the officer to do his job without comment or unnecessary action you will have no problems at all. Your own attitude will have more to do with how your experience goes than any other factor, so long as you are not attempting to sneak something through. 

So you've not experienced the " total jerks " scenario?