Forum

1.Are you driving to Alaska?

     A. If you are driving, have you driven here before? 

     B. Which route will you take?

     C. Which part of the world are you driving from?

     I have driven many times from the east coast(Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio).  Several times I visited friends in Michigan.  It is a long trip and on many of these trips by the time we had gotten back to Alaska we had driven nearly 13,000 miles.  This was when we went to Michigan.  Upon our arrival in Michigan the second day we got there it dropped 22 inches of snow.  Needless to say we were there a little longer than we had anticipated.  Real friends will welcome you as though you were family or at least the friends I have did.

2.Do you have your passport/or passport card?

    We got a passport card as we dont plan to go further than Canada.  I have no intentions of going to Mexico which is the other country you can go to with the card.  It took 3 weeks to get it and cost 35 dollars.

3.Are you coming to Alaska nearly broke?

     Surely you wouldnt travel nearly broke as you may not make it up here.  If you are traveling with so little money or nearly broke as I have stated then you shouldnt come up here.   And also if you are nearly broke you shouldnt let the canadian border know this as they will not let you come through their country.  The reason for this is you may break down and get stuck in Canada and become a liability for them and they have enough people in Canada they think.  In the event you have troubles and you have no one else to call you can call us.  If we can help you with anything we will be glad to help.  Before you start out on your trip here to Alaska , simply email us at rozami999@yahoo.com and we will give you the phone number to call or go to www.tobysgold.com  under contact us and you will find our phone number.  We hope you dont have trouble but in the event you do it is sad to be out there not knowing what to expect or do.  I dont claim to be expert but I have traveled 250,000 miles over that road and I could give some help and too, I have friends in Canada all along the way.

4.Are you traveling with pets? 

     If you have traveled to Alaska before then you wont need to read this as you already know..... You pet will need current Rabies vaccination or current health record.  Unlike when you are flying it doesnt have to be within the last 30 days but try to have it as current as possible.  They were really concerned with Rabies when we traveled with our pets.  Unless they have changed they werent as concerned with cats.

5.Do your pets have their current health papers? 

     Well, I have already addressed this above.

6.Are you planning on traveling with firarms or pistol in your vehicle?

     If you are traveling with a rifle or shotgun you will need to make sure you stop at the American Customes and have fill out the paper work on your guns.  If you dont do this prior to crossing the Canadian Border, they will send you back to the American Customes to do this and today going back could be expensive and a waste of gas and your time.  So take my advise stop at the American Customes side and get your paperwork.  I believe we paid 25 dollars for all the guns to go through Canada.   Now, be warned if you have a sawed off shotgun they will take it or make you mail it back to your home.  They do have a legal barrel length and being sawed off wont pass in Canada. 

     Another thing,  unless they have changed things you can not take a pistol through Canada.  Dont try to be sneaky and hide it.  These people are good and know  matter how good you are they will see the guilt in your eyes.  Dont ruin your trip.  Mail it to a gun dealer.  We have one here in Tok, Alaska. Three Bears Outpost. This is the first community of size you will have to pass through when you come here.  You cant go to Anchorage unless you come through Tok.  You cant go to Fairbanks unless you come to Tok.  You can go to up the Taylor Highway to Chicken and then on to Eagle without coming to Tok.  If you have shipped your gun to Tok you will have to wait to go up the Taylor.  It is another 12 miles to Tok from the old 40 Mile Roadhouse. 

7.Are you traveling with citrus fruits?

    You never know what they are looking for so it has been my experience not to bring oranges or lemons or fresh fruits of any kind.  Now I may tell you this and they let you in with a whole bag.  Just be prepared to eat the bag of whatever or donate them to the Canadians.

8.Are you traveling with 10,000 or more cash?

     They for some reason maybe you know or can figure it out want you to travel with 10,000 or more dollars in cash. In turn, as I mentioned above they dont want to know you are traveling with to little cash.

9.Are you traveling with cigs or tobacco?

   In the past they have said 1 carton of cigarettes per person that smokes and no more than 2 cartons.

10.Are you traveling with alcohol?

     Know how much and what brand you have and as with cigarettes there is a limit I am sure of that.  I am just not sure of limit as I have never traveled with any as I dont drink. 

11.Are you traveling with children?  If yes, read on below.

     A. Do you have sole custody of child or children?  If you have sole custody you will be ask to show paper work to that fact. If you dont have court ordered custody and you are just traveling without the other parent to the child/children then you can have a letter notorized/certified from him/her stating that he/she knows you are bringing that child to Alaska. (Parental Kidnapping has happened and worse).

     B.Do you have permission from guardian to take child or children through Canada?        Just make sure all of these issues are addressed with custody.  You would hate to be turned back because you couldnt prove the child you raised was your own.  Just think it over and put yourself in their shoes.

       C.They may ask your child/children to get out of car and come inside with them and call the guardian to prove what you have told them is true, if you do not have sole custody of child or children or have your court ordered visitation rights stating the other party knows you are traveling to Alaska with these children.

Well, I am sure I have forgotten something.   I will check over this but, I feel pretty good about its content.  It is nice to go on a trip.  It is even nicer to go with all you ducks in a row.

Hope my spelling and changing of colors hasnt distracted you.

Sharon Eddy