Bob-Lo Island . . . .
 

Has anyone docked at the harbor on Bob-Lo (Bois Blanc) Island? The old amusement park is still there in ruins and we would love to explore it. The concern is that Bob-Lo is in Canadian waters. Has anyone from the USA done this without checking in with Canada?

You will have to check in with Canadiens and then check back in with us customs when you return. Nice restaurant on the island.

OK. I'm going to get my enhanced driver's license this winter. My problem is that 20 years ago I got a felony drug conviction. Got caught with a half pound of weed which is possession with intent to deliver. I can't get it taken off my record because I got in other trouble when I was a kid. I don't know if Canada will let me in anymore and that sucks. :( I will try driving across the border this winter when I have my new license. No one has done this without checking in with customs? It's an island.

Best thing to do is file for criminal rehabilition with the canadian government. I did it. It was fairly easy and cost $300.

With a felony record DO NOT go exploring without checking in!!! If you check in the worst they can do is hassle you a bit and turn you back home.... done and simple. Fail to check in and then get caught will not go down well. I travel extensively to Canada and have done it for about 10 years things are different now by quite a bit.

Personally I wouldn't even risk crossing not worth that hassle you may get. I would try for what Hyperomance suggested and see what happens with that.

If you try crossing and they don't like your legal history they can make it a very unpleasant experience.

So you are not even allowed to cross Canadian waters to get to another part of the US? It is part of Michigan, no? So what happens if they catch you docked over there? If that is an issue, would you not even be able to reside there?

canada

Fixed

This really sucks because I've lived near the border all my life and have been going to Canada all my life. As a kid we would go just to drive around. Then it was the strip bars. Then runs to get high alcohol beer when you couldn't get it here. Lots of lunch trips. I've been to Canada hundreds of times. I had hernia surgery in Toronto. Wore my Red Wings pajamas. Ha. Haven't gone since they required a passport or enhanced license. I get my license in February and will try driving over. All they can do is turn me around (I think). Then I will discuss it with the border agent. Won't try Bob-Lo without checking in. I miss the close friendship and open border with Canada....

I remember going to Bob-Lo Island about 30 years ago. Took the kids and had a great time. The Bob-Lo Island ferry boat ride from Detroit down the Detroit River was a big part of the fun. Back then going to Canada was not much different than going to a different state. Those were the good old days. Probably never going to happen again.

After 911 everything changed. More Law Enforcement boats out there then Pleasure boats sometimes. I remember Cristal Bay was a Hot Spot with well over a thousand boats there on the weekend until Customs and Police Enforcement started coming down on everyone and checking for I-68 Permit, now on the weekend there is around 50 boats there and has killed Tourism. Oh the good old days, I have gotten my Nexus Card which is good for 5 years and can be used on the boat and crossing the Border with no problems.

If you have a DUI conviction, you can not cross the Border from Canada to the U.S., some of my friends who have been convicted can no longer cross the Border by car or boat and I find that a bit much.

No DUI ever but a drug felony conviction 20 years ago and some property crimes when I was a teen. Now I'm 61 and try to stay out of trouble. :) I remember going as a kid too. They never built world class rides there so everyone went to Cedar Point. I want to explore the ruins though. You can see them on Google Earth and on YouTube.

Like AB said even a DUI will get you stopped on the border either coming or going, things have changed for sure. They want to make people "think" they are safe and cover their ass (on both sides of the border) in case anything should happen.

Why would they care coming back into the US? I've only crossed a few times and felt interogated going into Canada, but never like that coming back.

Well they do, if I go to the U.S. I call Customs and when I come back to Canada I have to call Canadian Customs to let them know. Sometimes they may meet you on your return and check out your boat and the people with you but a lot of the time they don't bother you but you still have to call. It is no different then when I cross the Border in my vehicle they ask if I'm bringing anything into the U.S. and where am I going and how long will you be there and then when I return to Canada the Canadian Customs ask me if I bought something. thats the way it is and it isn't going to change.

There really isn't many ruins there, an old Light House from the 1800's, a Block House from the same period, the Palvillion from the early 1900's and thats about it.

Contact the Canadian Border Services - they will be able to tell you what you need from the US gov to be allowed into Canada

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

How recent of a DUI?? Does that mean Bieber can not go home...lol... Is it the same if you Fly there?

Chris

A friend of mine was caught with weed when he was 17 or 18, he's 65 now and retired. We were going on a motorcycle trip together to upstate New York a couple years ago, he couldn't go through Canada. They wouldn't let him in, we had to ride around instead. They didn't even want to talk about it, he was deemed Undesirable what the Heck?!

I forgot to add, he traveled all over Europe for work during his career without issue.

http://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-.../#.VggKIntNPlV

Its a paper schuffle but you can apply for rehab - LOL

Good Luck!

Canada, "eh"

fixed again. Take off!

Question....How about hockey players and celebs?

I get that. I guess I'm asking if you have what they consider a "criminal record" to the extent they don't want you there, but you get in. You can get in trouble coming back??? I would assume a lot of people have no clue that a DUI can cause issues.

I had a "driving while impaired" in 2009. I have an enhanced license and have not had any issues going into or coming out of Canada.

I think if you have any Criminal Record they will not let you cross the Border either way. I was going to an Offshore Powerboat Race in St. Clair and was asked by U.S. Customs where I was going and for what reason and how long I was going to be there. On my way back going through Canadian Customs the Officer asked me how long I was over and if I bought anything, I told him how long and said I didn't buy anything and he asked me how were the boat races. I thought that was odd but they must log things into the computer. I don't know what would happen to you if you got through but stopped on your way back and I wouldn't want to take that chance.

Ah Canada, home of the hoser and back bacon. 1st- If you touch ground in Canada you have to check in. If you drop anchor in Canada you have to check in. If you beach your boat in Canada, you have to check in. IF you are passing thru Canadian waters from the US you are OK, but you can not stop and drift in Canadian waters. (I go up the South Channel from St Clair Shores a lot on my way up to Algonac but I don't stop.)
2nd- I have heard that if you do touch Canadian ground and don't check in and come back, things can be bad (ie seize your boat)
3rd- Boblo island is private property and that could be considered trespassing so things could be really bad (not checking in and trespassing)
4th- the Canadian and American Coasties and Border patrol are ALWAYS watching.

Bob Probert, couldn't play hockey in Canada...

We used to go walk around the grounds all the time, until I got a DUI -- the building are all there and it's pretty cool. The restaurant is good an the grounds are all still kept up for walking around.

I'm a bit of a Boblo-buff myself, neat history.

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/...pso15cuox2.jpg
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbfko0yq.jpg
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/...psoewfv7e3.jpg
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9z232e1x.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOlQ9If_cA "Surrender pronto .. or we`ll level Toronto"

Didn't they just move one of the Boblo boats to New York and the doctor that owns the other one is trying to find somewhere to keep the other one now?
Are they doing a haunted theater on the boat now?

Yes, one is gone, it left from Toledo for New York a few weeks back, we went down to "say goodbye" and see it being towed away, pretty neat. They made one of the boats into a Haunted House about 10 years ago -- the "Ste. Claire", but only had it for one year. It was cool, something different. The sign is actually the sign from the park that sat outside the magic show building when the Haunted Theater was running there, I sold it to a collector years ago.

In Gibraltar where my boat is at, the Ticket booth is permanently installed in one of the parks there as decoration and the other is owned by my marina, who will no doubt let it rot, just like they are letting the marina rot away. Both of these were from the Gibraltar Dock, which is where my rack and launch building is located now, built on the old dock site.

It is now harder to come back to the US than it is to enter Canada.....

I had a DUI 20 years ago and I have been going to Canada every year since on fishing trips, (by car) except for the last three years because I don't fish anymore. I have never had a issue crossing into Canada but have had difficulty coming back, but not because of the DUI.

The Rules and Laws are the same for both Countries with the exception of Drinking on your boat in the U.S.. They use to rent bikes to ride around Boblo island behind the Bar and Grill, they have been developing Boblo Island for Condo's and Homes for at least 10 years.

You slipped through the cracks, or are very lucky. I have not had that kind of luck...unfortunately. I've been turned back on more than one occasion.

That is actually not quite right. This year the law changed, and any time you enter Canadian waters you are supposed to report to customs. It used to be if you do not anchor or step foot on Canadian soil you are fine, but not anymore.

Seriously? That is really screwed up. I will post an update when I try to cross the border in February. I have Canadian internet friends and don't want to rag on Canada but really, WTF?

How can they refuse entry to the USA if you are a citizen? Then you would truly be a man without a country!