ckent323
Senior Member
We had a stressful day trying to get Covid tested in Anchorage and trying to properly fill out our Canadian entrance request on the ArriveCAN app.
It started following a well researched effort to locate a site that could provide test results within 72 hours to meest the Canadian entry requirement. We started by filling out an online form at the Covid Secure website and uploading our vaccination data. Then we made a trip over to the recommended Univ of Alaska Alaska (UAA) Alaska Airlines Center Parking lot for a Covid test at the mobile covid unit run by Capstone Clinic.
When we arrived they had temporarily shut down because high winds blew over their tent. They recommended that rather than wait while the were setting things back up that we should drive over to the Ted Stevens (Anchorage) International Airport and go the the Alaska Airlines baggage claim area to get a free rapid test.
So we drove over to the airport with our pickup trucks (and FWC Campers). After 3 times around the airport loop and one failed attempt at parking which took us to a parking structure, which was too low for our trucks with pop up campers to enter, we finally parked and walked (quite a way) to the baggage area only to find that due to all the recent new infections they had run out of rapid tests.
The folks at the rapid test station suggested that we go back to the University of Alaska test site. They said there was a national shortage of rapid tests and none were available anywhere within 100 miles of Anchorage due to the massive increqse in new infections. Ugh!
We drove back to the UAA Alaska Airlines Center test location. This time they were open and there were only three cars ahead of us so we got through pretty quick. They did a shallow swab (not a deep swab) of each nostril and sent us on our way (TMA test)
We then drove back to the hotel and set up accounts on the ArriveCAN app using our smart phones. We uploaded passport and vaccine info and answered a bunch of questions as well as provided the address for the RV park we would be staying in the first night after passing into Canada. We had to specify the date and time when we would be entering Canadca and it had to be within 72 hours of the Covid test.
For some unknown and frustrating reason none of us could save our information to the app and after three times going back though all of the questions again we all gave up.
I pulled up the web version on my computer and went through all the uploading and questions again. This time success.
We started this process after brunch, fueling up at Costco and picking up a set of tire chains for Ron's truck at about 1 PM. It is now 6:24 PM and Ron is just now finishing up thier arriveCAN application. Ours has been done since about 5:45 PM.
Ugh!
Now we hope that we will get the Covid test results back within the alloted 72 hours showing a negative result. If not we start the test process and application process over again.
If any of us tests positive (would have to be asymptomatic because none of us has or has had any symptoms) then we will have to quarantine for 14 days before attempting to coss into Canada again.
We are on an adventure. We have had very good luck with weather and a lot of fun so far. Only the day of sea sickness for Ron and Wendie a month ago on the ferry and the stressful day for all of us today have been low points. Considering we are on day 51 of our adventure that is pretty darn good.
The drive home will begin on Thursday morning and will likely take 10 days, assuming we go straight home with no layover days or side trips. I suspect Wendie and I may do a detour or side trip as long as the weather holds out so probably more than 10 days before we get home. I'm looking forward to the trip.
It started following a well researched effort to locate a site that could provide test results within 72 hours to meest the Canadian entry requirement. We started by filling out an online form at the Covid Secure website and uploading our vaccination data. Then we made a trip over to the recommended Univ of Alaska Alaska (UAA) Alaska Airlines Center Parking lot for a Covid test at the mobile covid unit run by Capstone Clinic.
When we arrived they had temporarily shut down because high winds blew over their tent. They recommended that rather than wait while the were setting things back up that we should drive over to the Ted Stevens (Anchorage) International Airport and go the the Alaska Airlines baggage claim area to get a free rapid test.
So we drove over to the airport with our pickup trucks (and FWC Campers). After 3 times around the airport loop and one failed attempt at parking which took us to a parking structure, which was too low for our trucks with pop up campers to enter, we finally parked and walked (quite a way) to the baggage area only to find that due to all the recent new infections they had run out of rapid tests.
The folks at the rapid test station suggested that we go back to the University of Alaska test site. They said there was a national shortage of rapid tests and none were available anywhere within 100 miles of Anchorage due to the massive increqse in new infections. Ugh!
We drove back to the UAA Alaska Airlines Center test location. This time they were open and there were only three cars ahead of us so we got through pretty quick. They did a shallow swab (not a deep swab) of each nostril and sent us on our way (TMA test)
We then drove back to the hotel and set up accounts on the ArriveCAN app using our smart phones. We uploaded passport and vaccine info and answered a bunch of questions as well as provided the address for the RV park we would be staying in the first night after passing into Canada. We had to specify the date and time when we would be entering Canadca and it had to be within 72 hours of the Covid test.
For some unknown and frustrating reason none of us could save our information to the app and after three times going back though all of the questions again we all gave up.
I pulled up the web version on my computer and went through all the uploading and questions again. This time success.
We started this process after brunch, fueling up at Costco and picking up a set of tire chains for Ron's truck at about 1 PM. It is now 6:24 PM and Ron is just now finishing up thier arriveCAN application. Ours has been done since about 5:45 PM.
Ugh!
Now we hope that we will get the Covid test results back within the alloted 72 hours showing a negative result. If not we start the test process and application process over again.
If any of us tests positive (would have to be asymptomatic because none of us has or has had any symptoms) then we will have to quarantine for 14 days before attempting to coss into Canada again.
We are on an adventure. We have had very good luck with weather and a lot of fun so far. Only the day of sea sickness for Ron and Wendie a month ago on the ferry and the stressful day for all of us today have been low points. Considering we are on day 51 of our adventure that is pretty darn good.
The drive home will begin on Thursday morning and will likely take 10 days, assuming we go straight home with no layover days or side trips. I suspect Wendie and I may do a detour or side trip as long as the weather holds out so probably more than 10 days before we get home. I'm looking forward to the trip.