Returning to USA

August 25, 2018

Well, time has come to finally return to the good old USA. We have been in Canada for 60 days, except for a short time when we returned to Mystic in July. The weather today is not the best, light wind  making for calm seas and rain as we get closer to Drummond Island, Michigan. Somewhat of an early departure just before 8:00 am. Our run this morning would be a bit more than 35 miles and take us just about three hours. Being as we are returning into the USA we have to clear US Customs and Immigration. Problem is the US Customs and Boarder Control has closed it's office on Drummond Island....but wait we have that covered with our NEW app called ROAM. The App allows us to enter our name, address, passport information and take a picture of our passport. The app also asked information on our mode of transportation, ie. boat, private plane, snowmobile. As I am entering the information on the boat, make, length, state registration, it seems that when you want to reenter the US with a boat that is more then 30 feet long good old Uncle Sam wants to tax us. The fee is not that bad only $28.00. My interpretation is this is meant for those that make the crossing frequently not just once. When the app asked for boat length I enter 10 feet just to get to the next screen to complete the information required for US Customs.

Once we are in US waters indicated by a line on the chart and we have decent cell service I grab the cell phone and press the Roam app. I receive a message to stand by and within 2 minutes we are connected with a US Customs Agent, she can see us but we can't see her. She then asks all the normal questions - name, address, how long out of the US, purpose of the trip, have any liquor, fruits or vegetables, certain meat products? The agent asked me to give the phone to Lou Ann so she can see that she is the same person on the passport photo and ask her a few question. Of course we answer No to all the questions, however  Zoey's Adventure is, in fact, more like a floating Canadian Farmers Market. Good thing the agent did not ask to see the inside of the refrigerator or the plants Lou Ann stashed on the deck out of the view of the cellphone. The agent then asks to speak with yours-truly and ask me about the 10 foot boat...busted! The agent says "your not really on a ten foot boat are you"? I explain my reasoning and she nicely tells me to apply for the tax decal once we get into Drummond Island and send her the number, no big deal all they want is the money.

In all it only took less than ten minutes to clear US Customs. The agent welcomed us home and gave us a confirmation number and we continued our final run into the docks at Drummond Island Yacht Haven. This final leg was in moderate rain as we picked our way through the last three miles, first time to rely on our radar to identify the channel markers.

Boaters note: this marina is not as big as some we have stayed at however they specialize in indoor storage. There are 5 big aircraft hanger style buildings, 4 are about as wide as a football field and maybe half the length of a football field. The 5th and newest is the size of a football field. Here in Michigan and in Canada most of the boats stored for winter are inside in these heated building. No need to winterize the boat or cover it. I now know why most all the boats I have seen in the north country look so nice. Most boats are only outside in freshwater and in the weather 4 1/2 mouths a year.  The rest of the time they are inside protected from the elements.