Crossing Border To Go To Canadian Coin Show; Advice Welcome

Well, everything went pretty well with my Canadian coin show visit, although I did have a little trouble getting there.

When I crossed INTO Canada, I had to pull over and get my car searched. The two guys basically took about 10 minutes, mostly just checking the trunk. Then I had to take paperwork they gave me to the customs office to get stamped and given to them.

After that, I found that the 'fancy' Garmin I bought last fall does NOT work in Canada; even though when I bought it I was 'guaranteed' it worked in all of North America; with included Canada and Mexico. So anyways; I got lost! What should have been a ten minute drive took a full hour until I finally found the actual street (and building) the coin show was at; and that was mainly due by using a PAPER map that I was able to get at the 'Visitor Center' I stumbled upon during my search. (Nothing better than an old fashioned paper map).

Anyways, once I got to the show everything was great! It wasn't really big but I was able to find lots of items. The Canadian selection was far superior to any coin show (even the major yearly shows) I've gone to here in the US.

I didn't bring enough cash (normal with my income) to get most of the Victoria's I needed (and no; I didn't see the 1906 small crown quarter which is on my want list), but I was able to pick up some beautiful modern commemoratives.

I acquired a 2008 O'Canada gift set, and a 2006 Toronto Maple Leaf gift set; even though I really only need the quarters in them. I also got a 1997 specimen Loon dollar, along with a 2010 Royal Canadian Navy BU silver dollar. I was mainly looking for a proof navy dollar, but the price was so good (ie: cheap) that I couldn't resist. My best pick-up was the 2007 enameled Thayendanegea proof silver dollar. It looks great and the price was even better!

I ended my trip by driving to two Walmarts in the outskirts of Windsor to check on 2019 Hot Wheels cars I buy for my disabled friend. I found both stores but they didn't have any new cars there. I did stop at a McDonalds for lunch; found out they DO NOT have a dollar menu in Canada. What normally costs me $4.24usa here cost me $10.80can there. Well, at least it was tasty, and I used more of my 'junk' Canadian coins to pay for my meal.

There's another coin show in Windsor on May 5th, and I'll definitely be going to that one too.

Glad you had a good time in the Great White North and found some good deals, with the exchange at what it is right now I'm surprised more US aren't coming over.

As for the GPS when you got it did it ask you what you wanted for maps when you started it up, if not go in and reload the maps for US and Canada in your area.

Mine works on both sides but I did have to load the right area.

Was it a signal issue or did it just not have the maps?

If you are going to cross the border twice (going, and coming back), ask what the regulations are, when crossing the border on the going trip. Get printouts of any regulations that may affect you.

I have had bad experiences with petty officious border officials before, but that was in India.

Nevertheless, I feel that there will be few or no problems in your case, when crossing the border either way.

I'll stick to US coin shows.

I guess the only reason anyone has had any border crossing trouble is due to the overall value of the coins. I think I will NEVER have that problem, as I rarely have more than $100 cash to spend on a coin/coins.

As far as my Garmin problem; yes, I probably didn't load the thing correctly when I initially installed the maps.
The last time it 'spoke' to me that day was when it told me to make a U-turn in the middle of the tunnel. It must have thought I was driving over the edge of the United States!

I still think that's true; which is why I've decided to start crossing the tunnel to Canada. There are coin shows almost every weekend here in the Detroit area, but I can't remember the last time I've actually seen a Canadian dealer at any of them. There are two dealers that sell mostly Canadian coins, but they are from the states (one from here in Michigan and the other from Ohio), and I've basically bought anything they had that I needed from them already.

Good luck! Let us know how you do.