I live in Michigan, and so going to Canada is a fairly common event. It all depends on who is at the border when you get there, and how he/she is feeling that day...

I've had perfectly uneventful crossings, and I've had nightmares: "Do you have anything in your trunk?" he asks. "No," I reply--thinking firearms, drugs, things to declare, etc. He leans over until his nose almost touches mine. Through gritted teeth, he seeths: "DON'T YOU HAVE A JACK AND A SPARE TIRE?!?" "Well, yes, but I thought you meant--"

He proceeds to have our car inspected and give us all kinds of grief...

Return trip: (no kidding--different border guard!) "Do you have anything in your trunk?" "Well,