~ The Saga of the Binoculars ~

It was back in Seattle that Peggy realized that she had forgotten to pack the binoculars… not just any binoculars, mind you, but Canon 10x30 IS binoculars with image stabilizer that cost 450 bucks. They had originally been purchased to compliment my 100-400mm zoom lens so that Peggy could see what I see and vice-versa. Anyway, the binoculars were back in California. Not necessarily a big deal… call Peggy's mom, Jeanne, who would go over to our house, retrieve the binoculars from the designated shelf and have them FedX'd overnight to the hotel we were staying at in Vancouver.

It was on the Pacific Northwest Trail, having reached our destination of Oyster Dome with a view of the San Juan islands below, that we received the call. It was Jeanne letting us know that there was a problem. The binoculars were waylaid at the border… 9-11-inspired rules requiring power-of-attorney and other legalities to assure Canada that we were not trying to sabotage or otherwise blow up the country, I suppose.

So it took a couple of hours to clamber back down the trail to the Bayhouse… so we could get online to access emails with phone and fax numbers, as well as shipping and tracking numbers that Jeanne had sent. Peggy then got on the phone to call a variety of contact people as to what needed to be done to assure the binoculars would arrive in Vancouver in a timely manner. The gist of those conversations negated the power-of-attorney thing, but did require credit card information should additional charges be warranted. "Wednesday, June 30," they said, "No problem."

We checked into the hotel in Vancouver about noon on the 30th. The binoculars had not arrived yet. Periodic checking online stated that, indeed, they were "in transit." Didn't arrive by closing time. Peggy called bright and early Thursday morning… closed for the holiday (Canada Day). Friday, July 2. First call: 8am. Was given the phone number and website of the Canadian Border Service. 'Jordan' said that she needed to find a customs office in Vancouver so that the binoculars could clear customs and be released. Back to the customs office, in downtown Vancouver, who said that the binoculars would not be delivered there. So they gave Peggy two more phone numbers... with message machines. Peggy didn't want to leave a message, so she called UPS Canada back. 'Jasmine' said Peggy needed form B4, which would allow UPS to clear customs and release the binoculars directly to her. B4 was then faxed to the hotel; Peggy filled it out; Peggy called Jasmine back.

"I'll contact the Vancouver UPS Port near the airport so that you can pick up your binoculars personally. It will take some time, though, for the binoculars to be moved from the 'hold zone' in the warehouse to the 'clear zone.' So call back every 30 minutes or so before heading over to pick up the binoculars."

About 11:30 or so, Peggy talked to Jasmine again, who said the binoculars were now in the clear zone. "Give them time, though (about an hour), to file the paperwork and get everything ready." It would take at least an hour anyway to eat, walk from the hotel to catch the Sky Train to the YVR Airport. From there we weren't sure where the UPS Port was.

When we got off the Sky Train and walked out of the station, we looked around. We had an address but were not from Vancouver. "Look over there," I said. Off in the distance to the side of the main runway was an airplane with UPS emblazoned on its vertical tail wing next to some large warehouse-like-looking buildings. So we began the 2-mile trek along a barren road, underneath a busy landing path for a steady stream of passenger and cargo jets, while locals with lawn chairs were parked along the road to watch the parade of landing jets (seriously)… where we walked through lax security at the UPS Port and...

Peggy got her binoculars…………..