After talking to others who have gone across the Canadian/US border, we decided to try it yesterday. I downloaded the ArriveCan app, filled it out and we got our QR Code. We drove south through the Pacific Highway Nexus lane. There were two cars in front of us. We had our Nexus cards, passports and printed out Canada Vaccine Cards. The US border agent said "what's the plan today". I said "going to Costco". He said "have a nice day!"
Driving down I-5 were signs: "Welcome Canadians". So nice to feel welcome.
We drove right up to a Costco gas pump and filled our SUV. It was $3.29 a gallon. Then into Costco for items I can't get in Canada. Because of the milk shortage here, I haven't been able to get my 2% lactose free milk. I got three half gallons for $9.99 with a February 11, 2022 expire date! Butter is $8.49 for four pounds of individually wrapped quarters! I bought some other things we can't get in Canada.
If you are a Bellingham Costco shopper, they have a new northbound access lane to the I-5. You don't need to go back over the freeway, there is a new access right by the Costco parking lot. You'll see it when you drive into Costco and it's much easier to get to I-5.
We went to Bob's in Birch Bay for lunch. Always good service and nice food. On the freeway the sign said "I-5 Nexus 25 minute wait", "Truck Route Nexus 10 minute wait". I had completed the ArriveCan app and input I-5/Peace Arch so we went to that border. The lineup was as far back as the Arch, but two Nexus lanes were open. We waited about 30 minutes. As we are in an SUV and a little higher than the cars in front, we watched about every third car in both lanes get handed papers and a box! Of course, that's the at home COVID test. Each car took a while. When we got to the kiosk I showed him the QR code and he scanned it. He went to his computer and it was very slow to react. He asked what I bought, no problem with my food purchases, however, the computer selected Cec for a random COVID at home test.
We came home and he didn't want to do it on a zoom call, but you can go to Shoppers Drug Mart and have someone perform the test. That way it would be done properly. As snow is forecast and the warnings about not doing it promptly are troublesome, we went to Shoppers right away. There are not a lot of Shoppers that do the tests but we chose Murrayville as it's the easiest for us to get to. If you get a test, register online at home and print off the form, take it to Shoppers. We didn't so I had to do it there, on my phone and send it to their printer! The Assistant Manager was wonderful to us.
No where on the form it said you had to quarantine waiting for your test results. I heard you did but maybe because we are triple vaccinated or they changed the rules. The results will come in by email in about 72 hours.
Well, that was a fun day!
