Quote:
Originally Posted by Justinian1
I'm seriously thinking about doing this sometime in the Summer. I'm looking for an adventure, plus I'd love to experience Canada. The plan is to take off early morning one day at the end of July from rural New York, just outside of Rochester. Once I get to Canada, it will likely be in the country, so I am going to hitch-hike to Toronto and abandon the boat. My friend and I are still in the process of acquiring a boat, but we are definitely going to do this! We are planning on spending a few weeks there and getting picked in a car obviously by family or friends.
Does anyone have any tips? Like how much money should I bring? What time should we leave? How long will it take? Safety tips? I really appreciate feedback. I am very excited for this, even though it may be a daring trip. My friend and I can't wait for a peaceful voyage through nature, into the roads of rural Ontario, onward to see the bustling City of Toronto! 
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Hello Justinian (a.k.a. Huck Finn),
Seriously?? Honestly you may end up in a REAL-BAD Adventure that neither of you guys or your families expect you to encounter.
#1.) Its totally illegal to cross international borders without the necessary proper legal papers.
#2.) You definitely need a passport or enhanced NY State drivers license to cross into Canada and to RE-ENTER the United States. Canadian Authorities and United States Authorities are NOT going to take your word nor your families word that you are U.S. citizens; where's your proof?
#3a.) If or when you get arrested/detained and thrown in jail (you probably will be caught at some point in your "adventure")(they won't put you in some beautiful hotel) for entering Canada illegally, you will be locked-up until some Lawyers YOU/your family hires to sort-out everything. No Authorities are just going to take your word for anything. You are entering a foreign country, you're NOT just simply walking or driving from NY State into Vermont!!! The U.S. does not OWN Canada, YOU can't simply do anything you want to!
#3b.) Illegally entering Canada is no different than illegally entering Iran or Russia or Singapore or China. You can't just WANDER all across the world entering foreign countries simply because you want to have a fun adventure!!
#4.) Once you go through your jail detention, your name will go on a list of people to watch-out for and not let you into Canada again or maybe they will detain and question you everytime you try to enter Canada again in the future. Who knows?=You may NEVER be allowed into Canada EVER again in your lifetime.
#5.) Seriously??? Are you going to use a boat or a raft?!! You are not Huck Finn floating/sailing down the Mississippi River you know. You do know that a raft is an unsafe FLAT platform and even a small boat is easily swamped by rough waters on Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario can get real rough storms, waves, waters; even big ships have sunk over the years in storms on the Great Lakes. Just because Lake Ontario might have calm waters near the shoreline does not mean the water will remain calm all across the whole Lake!
#6.) There are huge cargo ships on Lake Ontario that may not see you and they will run right over you and your boat/raft!
I don't recommend >>at all<< that you do this trip the way you've described your plan.
#7.) You'd need a lot of safety devices to make a safe trip (until the Authorities catch you and lock you up). A safety-jacket to keep you floating when you fall into the lake and your boat/raft sinks to the bottom of the lake. A loud air-horn so you can let huge ships know where you are; if they even hear your horn. Some sort of device so you can call/talk with people 20 miles away on shore when your boat/raft sinks. And some more safety items. Make your list of necessary safety devices you'll need then take your money to the store and buy those things.
#8.) And there's many more considerations.
Your plan doesn't sound like a good or fun idea, Huck Finn!!
You want to visit Canada and have it be a fun adventure? Do it the right way. Get a passport or "Enhanced" NY State driver's license and go by bus or car through the "Customs Authority Office" at the border. That's the best way to visit Canada, not get locked-up in jail, not have to spend a lot of money on Lawyers to get you out of jail and PROVE who you really are, to have a fun trip/time, and not get into lifetime-long trouble.
Take my advice. Don't go floating/sinking across Lake Ontario. Don't get thrown in jail.
Get your passport. Have good identification papers/proof. Go through the Border Customs Office. Be approved by Customs to enter Canada LEGALLY. Then enter Canada and don't get into trouble while you're there. That will make your trip a Fun Adventure.
grdnrman
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Bad Idea!! - More Planning Necessary
