Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by fromthelandofmud on Apr 20, 2007 15:15:00 GMT -5
Does anyone have any tips for Canadians driving across the border and dealing with the Customs Officers? I have a few from previous Bonnaroo trips:
1. take off sunglasses before crossing, the Gaurds don't see the humour in not being able to see your eyes.
2. Have your ID and everyone else in the vehicle's ID ready when you approach the gate, the gaurds will appreciate you not wasting their time.
3. From personal experience--Don't wear a shirt with 1000's of little pot leaves all over it, as my friend did 2 years ago, unless of course you don't mind the feel of latex gloves in your most intimate of places.
4. Last but not least, be pleasant with the Officers, their only doing a job, no different then us, and their #1 priority is to keep the Nation safe from people who intend to harm.
Hope others out there have other tips, would love to hear them, it will probably help all us Canucks out on our way to Roo.
Thank you LandofMud, I do find this intense knowing I have to cross the border. People hear such scary things though. You are right about everything. Just as long as you are nice and not rude, shouldn't be a problem. The big problem people have is when they are impossible to deal with. With a little patience, shouldn't be a problem. I'm one of those people who have grown a major amount of patience over the years compared to the way I used to be! Thank God,
Post by gogogajoob on Apr 23, 2007 23:54:37 GMT -5
5. In my experience, Detroit is the worst place to cross the border... something about being in the big city makes those customs officers so much worse.
6. DO NOT attempt to smuggle anything over the border. US customs has the right to keep all your assets including your car if they catch you with anything. It's not worth the risk, you can buy just about anything at bonnaroo.
7. Try not to bring a car you regularly smoke in, and don't smoke before you get to the border. Even weeks later the dogs can still tell you've smoked in the car. I'm speaking from a bad experience here...
8. Don't have dark skin. I hate to point it out, but that seems to be how things work. If you look middle-eastern expect to spend a lot of time at customs. I don't know how you can fix this one though, maybe make your white friend drive over the border?
9. And like my man said, be entirely honest and courteous with the officers, you should have nothing to hide and no reason to make their job any harder. Meanwhile they can make your life extremely painful if they so choose.
If you're like me and you get nervous just being around johnny law, it's much better to admit that you enjoy drugs recreationally rather than lie about it and make them think you're hiding something.
Yeh, and try not to drive right through without stopping, my dad did that when i was a little kid and they definatly turned on a million sirens and started running with shotguns.
I just noticed the UWO. Totally kool! I'm originally from Hamilton! I hope Western is Treating you well! Gogogajoob, what time is your caravan heading out? Our tribe bound for Murfreesboro is leaving out of Pembroke at 7am at the latest I would imagine. My Good friend and partner on the "Magical Mystery Tour" (Thats our coined name for Bonnaroo and the trip that goes along with it) made great sense when we discussed times to leave. She said if we leave at 7am, that will get us on the 401 and in the back to back bumper to bumper traffic at about 10am. We definitely don't want that! So we figure getting to Toronto (the 401) at 10am is better. I don't want to push our partners on the Magical Mystery tour that day, but is 9am ok on the 401 or is NO TIME ok for the 401?? We will be travelling en route from the 401 to the 401 and then to Sarnia to use that bridge! OMG I don't know about everyone else but I'm beaming with Excitement!
Also little tidbit, Michael Franti is playing at the Cisco Systems BLuesfest this year again! If any of you want to venture up here for that, we are always up for a party! We've been going to Bluesfest since ALMOST the creation of the fest. Now I kind of consider it "Corporate America" or "Boozefest" but its still a great time.
Anyone ever heard of sonny Landreth? Great guitarist!
Post by fromthelandofmud on Apr 26, 2007 19:27:41 GMT -5
Excellent tips gogogajoob (karma worthy)! I hear ya on the dark skin or middle eastern...i feel those dudes! I know just having somewhat dark skin, and resembling the look of a native, they give me the once, twice, three times over, I can only imagine how they are treated.
Bil2085: Thanx for the laugh...I needed that after the day I had today (did I mention I absolutely detest my boss)
Soulmate: You should be ok during those times on the 401 thru T.O. as long as there isn't an 18 wheeler rollover or somethin'...but then again...they say its rush hour 24 hours a day thru hog town.
Post by zappaphile on Apr 29, 2007 14:54:14 GMT -5
I went through at the Fort Erie/Buffalo border last year and received absolutely no hassle. Just told them I was picking up a friend at the bus station and then we were going camping in TN for a week.
I agree though, I always get nervous crossing into the states. Coming back into Canada is a delight, though. I always half-expect the customs officers to offer me a stick of gum.
We may want sticks of gum coming back through just to put up with trying to mask bad odors of a caravan of men and women who haven't bathed in days.......
i think our caravan isn't going to be a true caravan, because were probably going to meet up thursday morning somewhere closer to the festival. So even though were all from the GTA some of my friends like to drive overnight while people like me are planning on finding a cheap hotel late wednesday night...
but yeah coming back into our sexy country is a breeze.. i think i've mentioned this somehere else, but last year i had my wallet stolen at the fest and i had no identification whatsoever coming back into canada, but they didn't even ask for it! I guess we just looked too Canadian to be anything else...
Ok the Jersey gut got me, That was too funny. TP....... Thanks for the tip Spookymonster, better pack that also...... HAHA
Hey we are staying in Murfreesboro that night. Will get to Toronto at about 10am, then onto Sarnia. 12-1-2pm not sure how long it takes to get there....... Then onto Murfreesboro for the night. I never did understand that night of driving. C'mon people! OMG I need one good night of sleep before I go sleepless for the rest of the weekend! Was it Sound Tribe and Galactic playing til 4am? Yes I will be there for both! Wednesday night though, I'll get to the hotel, unload a little drink for myself and the rest of the "Magical Mystery Tourists" then head to bed for hopefully a good night sleep. If anyone sees a crazy Canadian girl who has made the replica quilt that is this years theme for Bonnaroo (Green rolling hills, tent and rays of light) I made the quilt, and yes, that blond carrying the quilt to Centeroo is ME!! ;D
Oh, and if any of you check out Ottawa Bluesfest, I did make a quilt for that festival last year........ You wouldn't believe the comments. (All I wanted was something funky to sit on....)
U r Too Funny Zappa, but I guess it is funny for Americans! Recently we were on a caribbean cruise and hanging out with a couple from Fort Lauderdale, every time hubby and I would stroll up onto the deck in swimsuits ready for a heavy day of partying, we would hear VERY LOUDLY " HEY THERE'S THE CANADIANS EH!!!"" and they would emphasize the "EH" We thought it was so funny! I don't even know that I say "Eh" but I do all the time! heheheheh
U r Too Funny Zappa, but I guess it is funny for Americans! Recently we were on a caribbean cruise and hanging out with a couple from Fort Lauderdale, every time hubby and I would stroll up onto the deck in swimsuits ready for a heavy day of partying, we would hear VERY LOUDLY " HEY THERE'S THE CANADIANS EH!!!"" and they would emphasize the "EH" We thought it was so funny! I don't even know that I say "Eh" but I do all the time! heheheheh
EH!!
ha thanks, man! yeah, i have american roommates and they always catch me on the occasional "eh". it doesn't help that i watch so much g.d. Trailer Park Boys that i'm actually starting to internalize a more Canadian accent (ie: c'yar for car). i come from southern ontario (near buffalo, NY) and always ocillate between my newly-realized canadian accent and a western new york one, so mostly i just sound like a jackass.
i think our caravan isn't going to be a true caravan, because were probably going to meet up thursday morning somewhere closer to the festival. So even though were all from the GTA some of my friends like to drive overnight while people like me are planning on finding a cheap hotel late wednesday night...
Hey Gogogajoob, what time are you planning on leaving Barrie? We are swinging close by there, you could hitch onto our coat tails with your own vehicle...... Yes we are getting a hotel the night before. I do need a good night sleep in a decent bed before Roo. Thats a must for me. We should be passing around the 400/401 at about 11am
