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I cannot get over the fuss over a $16.00 permit. My goodness! I have been receiving a lot of email off list concerning my note (which for the record will be my last) on this forum. I will concede that in some cases you will be able to get back into the U.S. without an I-68 with your passport and your cruising sticker. You can use the video check-in, I have used it several times myself, but rest assured, they are not everywhere. In fact, I do not know of any in Michigan, but I could be wrong. If you go the Trent Severn to Georgian Bay and the North Channel you probably won't have reason to have an I-68 until the end of the North Channel, (when you will be returning to the U.S.) at which time you might want to stop at Drummond Island and get one. There, they are set up to handle it. At least they were. If you come my way, Lake Erie to Lake Michigan, if you stay on the U.S. side and not enter Canada you may not want to get the I-68 then either. Just remember, you don't have to be anchored or at a marina to be stopped and asked for your I-68. I will include a couple of notes sent to me off line. Perhaps you might change your mind about paying the $16.00. Or.. maybe you don't mind being boarded. From personal experience I can tell you that if you have an I-68 in this area, you will be less likely to be boarded. Remember, if you are boarded you stand the chance of having to have a full inspection, safety and otherwise of your vessel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) "Got stopped this year just E. of Pelee Is. ...on board were Canadian, US CG, and a US customs and INS person. The first thing they asked for was my I 68...nope....Passport....nope.....birth cert...yep....customs sticker, boat registration, and a picture ID....drivers license. Interesting conversation, in Canadian waters but I was moving, not anchored or in harbor....???" 2) "The I-68 is "important" when going from Canada back into the US in the Detroit, MI area where the 9-11 terrorists crossed from Canada into the USA - so, you can't blame them for being over cautious. We were not asked about it in the 1000 Islands, in the North Channel but US Immigration and customs gave us a very difficult time when we came under the Blue Water Bridge in the Detroit area because we did not have one and basically told us that our US Passports were insufficient identification to enter the country??? They even told us my wife ... could not go ashore to use the marina facilities until I told them our holding tank was full and she either had to go ashore or I had to open the "Y" valve (which we didn't have) -- then they cleared us over the cell phone! The problem with the I-68 Form is that it is only used in some areas on the Great Lakes and is not available elsewhere - not even in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. or other major entry ports." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For clarification, the Blue Water Bridge is in Sarnia/PortHuron and the Ambassador Bridge is in Detroit/Windsor. Both areas are patrolled. Even during one of our races, we had a club member approached and asked for their I-68's. It is very different in the Great Lakes because of 9-11 and Homeland Security. I can understand your apprehension and concerns if you are not familiar with the politics in these areas. I am only trying to help with local knowledge and personal experience. Take it or leave it. It is up to you. --------------------------------- Instant message from any web browser! Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA

>> I have been receiving a lot of email off list concerning my note (which >> for the record will be my last) on this forum. << Sorry to hear that you have posted your last note. I remember meeting you in Fairhope , AL a couple of years ago and admired your determination and spunk in doing the Loop About receiving off list email. When I read comments I sometimes think that I must have missed some posts. Obviously I have since they were sent "Off List". I guess I have a problem with this in that we are a community of sharing information, good & bad. I think off list posts should be sent for personal greetings, thank you notes, etc -- those items between only a couple of people. However, I think that by responding to ALL we can, individually, delete those that we do not want. If people take exception to the fee I too would like to know and the reasons why. I don't know if anyone else has this problem but me so I'll end here without pontificating. Share your experiences with ALL and we can continue to get better. John Esch Addison, TX Fet-Esch, a 48' Chung Hwa Seamaster Currently lying on the hard-Waukegan, IL www.Fet-Esch.com

As I understood it, Indigo Lady has addressed the subject of I-68 for the last time. I don't believe she is leaving the net. Elaine 717-479-5012 ELReib@comcast.net Be Yourself, Everyone else is already taken. Oscar Wilde ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Esch" <johnesch@ix.netcom.com> To: <great-loop@lists.samurai.com>; "indigolady75" <indigolady75@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 9:04 AM Subject: GL: OFF LIST POSTINGS that sholuld be posted to ALL >>> I have been receiving a lot of email off list concerning my note (which >>> for the record will be my last) on this forum. << > > Sorry to hear that you have posted your last note. I remember meeting you > in Fairhope , AL a couple of years ago and admired your determination and > spunk in doing the Loop > > About receiving off list email. When I read comments I sometimes think > that > I must have missed some posts. Obviously I have since they were sent "Off > List". I guess I have a problem with this in that we are a community of > sharing information, good & bad. I think off list posts should be sent > for > personal greetings, thank you notes, etc -- those items between only a > couple of people. However, I think that by responding to ALL we can, > individually, delete those that we do not want. If people take exception > to > the fee I too would like to know and the reasons why. > > I don't know if anyone else has this problem but me so I'll end here > without > pontificating. > > Share your experiences with ALL and we can continue to get better. > > John Esch > Addison, TX > > Fet-Esch, a 48' Chung Hwa Seamaster > Currently lying on the hard-Waukegan, IL > www.Fet-Esch.com > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop