Canada - Here We Come Ready or Not!

Getting Ready for the Kayak Race

June 19 (Winnipeg, MB)

Jon took us to the little airport and we took off for Winnipeg, Manitoba, where we were going to stay with Don & Kathleen Rempel-Boschman.  There was only about 3 ½ hours of flying, but it  took a lot longer than that because we made three stops – once to wait out some weather going through, once to pick up a package that Roger had sent to an airport, and once to go through customs right at the U.S./Canada border.  The first stop at Staples, MN we got self-serve fuel (which we’ve done every time so far) and then waited about 90 minutes or so until a cell moved passed and we could continue.  Roger had to fly around some storms but we got into Park Rapids, MN and went to the office where Roger had arranged to have an engine instrument on warranty overnighted to so he could install it before we entered Canada and had to deal with customs etc.  The package was there and Roger spent about 30 minutes or so installing it and testing it, and we were on our way again.  We landed at an interesting airport to clear customs.  It is built across the US/Canada border and is jointly owned by the two countries.  The northern ½ of the runway is in Canada and the southern portion is in the US.  One can clear customs in either country by going to a different part of the ramp.  There was a self-serve fuel pump on the US side, so Roger filled up and then called Canada Customs and they cleared us in over the phone.  There was also a road border crossing right next to the airport. 

We had never met Kathleen since they weren’t married when we knew Don in Botswana.  Unfortunately, Don had a church meeting that evening and got home pretty late, but Kathleen was very gracious and took good care of us!  We saw the church where Don is pastor, and took a walk in the neighborhood.   In the morning we went out for breakfast with Don before he took us back to the airport for our longest day of flying yet.  JOLENE