Travel to Seattle for the Summit in October

Posted by ha5bro on July 31, 2009 at 10:13pm

I hope this isn't too early -- anyone driving down to Pacific Northwest Drupal Summit from Vancouver? I'm more than willing to share gas/mileage.

Link for dates, etc >> http://groups.drupal.org/node/24368

Jim

Comments

Welcome

Posted by boris mann on July 31, 2009 at 11:04pm

Jim, you are now officially rideshare coordinator - thanks for taking the initiative! :P

Woohoo!!!

Posted by ha5bro on August 1, 2009 at 1:43am

Gladly accepted.

I'll give or take a ride to

Posted by rjdempsey on August 1, 2009 at 2:46am

I'll give or take a ride to the summit.

Count me in!

Posted by chx on August 1, 2009 at 4:23am

I am interested too though I do not drive.

I'll probably drive

Posted by colincalnan on August 1, 2009 at 6:44pm

If I do decide to drive I'll be able to take 4 (might be a little cozy). Just so you're aware, I'll have to park and get out at the border as I'm only a lowly permanent resident and have to beg the Americans to let me in on a Visa waiver :) So there will be a delay while I get asked some stupid questions and they stamp my highly suspicious Irish passport! I guess the next question is accommodation, does everyone plan on staying over? I can't really see any sense in driving back each day.

No probs

Posted by chx on August 1, 2009 at 7:13pm

U.S. Entry Requirements for Canadian Landed Immigrant

Landed immigrants in Canada with a passport from one of the 35 Visa Waiver countries must apply for ESTA if entering the United States via air or sea. Land border crossings do currently not require an approved ESTA, but Form I-94W (the green form) and Customs Form 6059B must be completed at the U.S. point of entry. Canadian Landed Immigrants from non-visa waiver countries are requited to apply for a U.S. visa.

So no need even for ESTA. Land crossings are easy.

Found the official version http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/esta_faq.asp here and the above is correct:

Should a person apply for electronic travel authorization if the traveler plans to enter the U.S. via a land border?

Travelers who make their intial entry into the U.S. by land from either Canada or Mexico are NOT required to apply for travel authorization via ESTA before traveling.

Indeed

Posted by JerryH on August 1, 2009 at 8:55pm

"I can't really see any sense in driving back each day." - For sure given the border grief, drive down Friday PM and stay some where that night & sat night.

Takes me about an 30-45 mins on the border with a UK (or my Irish passport) last few times I went. Grilled past the point of charcoal as to where I was going, why, what was I doing in Canada, how long I'd been here, was I planning on trying to marry someone in the US, when was the last time I'd done drugs, when was I last arrested ............ and people wonder why tourism & immigration is dropping ! ....... anyway .......... :)

Is there an agenda for what is going on there ? I read on the original post ("We will not have a focus on the "beginner" track as we have had in the past, rather we will be having a separate event a few weeks earlier to reach out to those checking out the Drupal Ecosystem") and checked out the site http://pnwdrupalsummit.org/.

Sound like it might worth the battle with the border to get down and meet up with more Drupalers, though the one earlier might be better for me.

Also I could drive and live downtown Vancouver so could do some picking up, if the event would be suitable for me.

I learned not to whine

Posted by chx on August 1, 2009 at 10:01pm

USA is peanuts. In Israel, they strip searched me. Twice. The same day.

Ooooo la la

Posted by JerryH on August 1, 2009 at 10:54pm

Well what you do in your own time for fun is your own private affair ;) .............

What, no body cavity search?

Posted by Jeanine on August 1, 2009 at 11:38pm

Hey Jerry, think yourself lucky. Sounds like they didn't ask you to produce a letter from the city police stating that you weren't a known criminal, a current letter proving full-time employment or - failing these letters - accept a body search while they checked the seams of your clothes.

That (i swear) was the treatment my friend and I got once at Peace Arch.

Tips we learned:
1. if you're hassled at one border stop, turn around and go to the stop that's nearest (eg Sumas).
2. ya never know, it could be easy or hard, just bring food and a book in case.

Sounds like sleepover is the sensible option :)

more info coming soon

Posted by RockSoup on August 1, 2009 at 9:47pm

I am excited to hear about you making plans to come down for the Summit. Bring as many people as you can!

We will have more information available soon, including lodging recommendations. We are asking around for a sponsor to donate some time to design our site and that process is ongoing... (if anyone in Vancouver is interested ping me and I will fill you in on details).

thanks,

-jared