More Travel Restrictions for British Columbia

Indeed, we're berthed in Victoria.

We went to Sidney last weekend and at most counted 10 boats (not including fishing vessels) on the water. Pretty quiet out there, which is great if you enjoy anchoring/mooring buoys.

I understand that a lot of people south of the border really want to come to BC, but now is definitely not the best time. Infection has shifted from the old to the younger ones and numbers are still very high and not receding.

It looks like this summer will be very similar to last summer.
 
We are up in Blaine, WA, just below the border with Canada.
We are hearing that the border will reopen on 21 June. Let's hope so!
Lots of revenue lost on both sides with the closure last year!
 
bluestreak":2zgjj50u said:
We are up in Blaine, WA, just below the border with Canada.
We are hearing that the border will reopen on 21 June. Let's hope so!
Lots of revenue lost on both sides with the closure last year!
Click to expand...
From what I understand, that may be overly optimistic. Every month at about this time, the decision has been made to extend the closure for another month. So it was just announced that the closure would extend another month to June 21. That’s not at all to say that the border will open on Jume 21. Talks are starting between the US and Canada but many don’t expect the border to open until fall. Apparently a recent survey shows about half of Canadians support continued closure, so Justin Trudeau has little incentive to open up. Vaccination rates are significantly lower in Canada than the US so he wants to wait till that can be increased—which I understand but it is disappointing, I’m sure on both sides of the border.

John
 
Hi John,
Just going by what was published in the "The Northern Light", the community newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay.
Not holding my breath on anything one way or the other.
And darn we left our passports home in Utah.
 
bluestreak":5juvcqzp said:
Hi John,
Just going by what was published in the "The Northern Light", the community newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay.
Not holding my breath on anything one way or the other.
And darn we left our passports home in Utah.
Click to expand...
Looks like you have access to some inside scuttlebutt. Just looked up the article you mentioned and it had information I hadn’t heard. Apparently there is word that the US will unilaterally open its border with Canada on or about June 22—which means Canadians can travel to the US but not yet vice versa. But according to the article that will put significant pressure on Canada to reciprocate. Also it apparently allows Canadians who cross to the US to have access to vaccinations. Here is the link to the article:
https://www.thenorthernlight.com/storie ... e-22,16610?

Thank you, Bill, for the new ray of hope! Hope you can get your passports somehow if things open up.

John
 
Thanks John.
The US is pressuring the Canadian government to full open the border.
The Canadians coming here can do so freely, it appears, but will be out through hoops going home.
Kind of a raw deal for them I think.
Better off to leave it closed until it is equal for both sides, I think.
 
FWIW - A Slow Boat flotilla in now on day 5 of their trip up the inside passage to SE Alaska. Their post for Day One explains how they arranged the trip and rules set forth by CBSA.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
In all honesty, although the border is closed, the Canadian Government has no way to enforce "illegal" border crossers in Canada, until you stop at a marina or a fuel dock and people overhear conversations about your origin.

On the other hand, the USCG being part of Homeland Security is very strict in their enforcement and will board any vessels without any need for cause.

My advice, as much as it sucks, is just wait it out.

I was in Van Isle Marina a few months ago getting fuel and a 70 footer from the US was at the custom dock. Border agents and RCMP were onboard, tearing the place apart and from what I heard through the grapevine at work, they got heavily fined, banned from entering Canada for a prolonged period of time and escorted to US waters and handed over to the USCG.

I wouldn't take my chance, unless transiting through to Alaska.
 
Despite yesterday’s extension of the border closure, there is reason for optimism that things will open up in late summer. And all you veteran PNW cruisers know that September can be gorgeous, with very mild days, calm winds, warm water and uncrowded anchorages. We spent two weeks in Desolation Sound a few years back in September (one of the years with no fires) and found it perfectly lovely most of the time, but with a hint of fall in the air.

I can only imagine what the first day of allowed border crossings will look like. A bad boat race to Bedwell Harbour?

Hope is our current, and only, strategy, since there is little we can do about it. Kind of like the weather.
 
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