T2GRNN2 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 We are in the process of pinning down the final pieces on our Nov '21 Bandon Trip. Are there any other Canadians on WRX who can relay their experience on securing PCR tests prior to departure from Oregon? We are flying EUG-SEA-YYC connecting from Alaska Airlines to Westjet in SEA. I see that as it stands now (and the process could change tomorrow), we could arrange for same day tests in Coos Bay, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience jumping through the hoops to get the PCR test done locally in Coos Bay? Are there any other Canadians who can relay any recent experience they may have with securing PCR tests and getting the results back in time to meet the 72 hour time restriction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 (edited) A LOT can change in 2 months. Nice to have an idea of what you can do, but who knows what the state of play will be come Nov. It really is a hiding to nowhere to try and guess where we'll be. That said, as of right now, you can pick up DIY PCR test kits from Hudson News at Seatac. Take the test at the resort 3 days out and Fedex it off to the testing centre. As you can imagine Bandon gets lots of courier visits, so you'd have no problem getting it picked up. Otherwise obviously reach out directly to test providers in Oregon and/or Westjet and see what's best. I live in the States, so have the added benefit of free testing when I want it from my HMO before I head up to BC, so obviously not the same as you guys having to shell out a couple hundred bucks. Regardless I'd definitely take the test on the 72-80hrs side of thing than leave the window too tight for results. Coos County is the sticks, with a vax rate to match, so always good to be mindful of contigency plans if one of your gang gets a positive/inconclusive result. Edited September 8, 2021 by duffer987 1 Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 16 hours ago, duffer987 said: ".....as of right now, you can pick up DIY PCR test kits from Hudson News at Seatac. Take the test at the resort 3 days out and Fedex it off to the testing centre. As you can imagine Bandon gets lots of courier visits, so you'd have no problem getting it picked up......" This is the exact kind of outside the box idea that I hadn't thought about before hand. Thank you so much. And yes, I agree, I know that we are still >2 months out and things will likely change between now and then, but I wanted to get an idea of what the course of action is now. I don't want to start thinking of what to do when were are T-minus three days from returning home. This forum never ceases to amaze me as to what a source of information it can be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus_MacDuff Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 You might try calling Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center in Bandon. Not sure if they do PCR tests or just rapid tests, but if you can get a PCR test locally they'll certainly know where to point you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 11 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: This is the exact kind of outside the box idea that I hadn't thought about before hand. Thank you so much. And yes, I agree, I know that we are still >2 months out and things will likely change between now and then, but I wanted to get an idea of what the course of action is now. I don't want to start thinking of what to do when were are T-minus three days from returning home. This forum never ceases to amaze me as to what a source of information it can be. No prob! Our winter foursome is 2 guys up in Vancouver and 2 of us in the US, so we've been mindful of our options too. It's a PITA to do the double-jump from YVR to Eug/PDX, as the guys prefer to drive, but again who knows where we'll be at the time. 'Brave' of Westjet to open a new route in 2021 😄 but that makes getting to Bandon from Alberta as easy as BC if flying. Hopefully you guys have a mild Autumn so you can play as close to leaving as possible. Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted September 9, 2021 Author Share Posted September 9, 2021 11 hours ago, duffer987 said: "...but that makes getting to Bandon from Alberta as easy as BC if flying...." Two of us had flights all on Alaska from YYC-SEA-EUG, but Alaska notified us in early August that the YYC-SEA flight was cancelled as Alaska was extending their "holiday" from flying into YYC (as well as YEG, for that matter.) Have you used the mail in tests from Hudson's? I have also found some mail in tests available at Wal-Mart and Amazon. We may need to tweak our return flights. Right now, we are due to fly back to Canada on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, which means our 72 hour window opens on Thanksgiving day (Nov 25). Almost 100% that neither Fed-Ex nor UPS will pick up our samples on Thursday afternoon at Bandon, thereby reducing our window to a 48 hour turnaround. Will we get results by early afternoon Sunday from a sample overnighted on a Fri? I have contacted one of the companies that sells through Wal-Mart, but I have not heard back yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted September 9, 2021 Author Share Posted September 9, 2021 13 hours ago, Seamus_MacDuff said: You might try calling Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center in Bandon. Not sure if they do PCR tests or just rapid tests, but if you can get a PCR test locally they'll certainly know where to point you. I called the Urgent Care facility in Coos Bay. Their original comment was that things could change tomorrow, and I totally understand that. They said that without a doctor's referral, all we could schedule was same day appointments for tests and the samples were sent to the hospital for testing. Maybe things will continue to improve in terms of testing capabilities and availabilities, and the securing of PCR tests will become more readily available. A year ago, mail in tests were not that common but now they are. I will try to the Southern Coos Hospital in Bandon to see what they say. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddy Woods Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 I’m an American but I live overseas. I had jump through the 72hr PCR testing hoop to return home from Bandon back in April. I looked into getting tested in Bandon and Coos Bay/North Bend but I was quoted 2-3 days, at best, turnaround time. I drove up to PDX a day early to get my 24hr turnaround PCR test. I was flying out of PDX anyway so it wasn’t a big deal. Perhaps turn around times have improved over the last few months but I imagine at the very least you could do a 24hr turnaround somewhere in Eugene. I would have preferred to go to Bandon during normal times but even with all the travel hassle it was still worth it and it’s not even close. I wish I was going back in November! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted September 17, 2021 Author Share Posted September 17, 2021 On 9/16/2021 at 2:55 AM, Caddy Woods said: I’m an American but I live overseas. I had jump through the 72hr PCR testing hoop to return home from Bandon back in April. I looked into getting tested in Bandon and Coos Bay/North Bend but I was quoted 2-3 days, at best, turnaround time. I drove up to PDX a day early to get my 24hr turnaround PCR test. I was flying out of PDX anyway so it wasn’t a big deal. Perhaps turn around times have improved over the last few months but I imagine at the very least you could do a 24hr turnaround somewhere in Eugene. I would have preferred to go to Bandon during normal times but even with all the travel hassle it was still worth it and it’s not even close. I wish I was going back in November! Unless testing capabilities and turn around times improve, it looks like we might be up for a drive to Eugene a day early to get a 24 hr test done. The start of our 72 hour window is around noon on Thanksgiving day, which will make it even more onerous to find a test, let alone a test that will give us results quick enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Just putting this useful info from vincent in the random thread: Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 1 hour ago, duffer987 said: Just putting this useful info from vincent in the random thread: Thanks for this. JVincent and I have been going back and forth on this. We are investigating this option, and if it is better, we will do this over our current plan, which is go to PDX to get tested on our way through Portland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 2 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: Thanks for this. JVincent and I have been going back and forth on this. We are investigating this option, and if it is better, we will do this over our current plan, which is go to PDX to get tested on our way through Portland. Ya 2 of our 4ball is working that out too - Switchealth was the company that was doing the Covid tests for the gov't when I was driving up in the Spring, but in the Summer the Canadian govt switched (no pun intended) to a different partner. But it does mean they have spent most of this year getting their processes down, so should be reliable. The 'good' part is all that hassle is once you are there, so nothing bar Hwy1 through Golden 😉 can stop the golf from being played! Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 48 minutes ago, duffer987 said: Ya 2 of our 4ball is working that out too - Switchealth was the company that was doing the Covid tests for the gov't when I was driving up in the Spring, but in the Summer the Canadian govt switched (no pun intended) to a different partner. But it does mean they have spent most of this year getting their processes down, so should be reliable. The 'good' part is all that hassle is once you are there, so nothing bar Hwy1 through Golden 😉 can stop the golf from being played! Nice try, Hwy 3 through Cranbrook down to Coeur d'Alene and points west....picking up our 3rd in Kimberley, BC....😎 thank God I don't have to do the Banff to Radium to Golden detour....😬 Something tells me the 20 hrs in the vehicle will go by fast on the way there, but it will be a brute on the way back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: Nice try, Hwy 3 through Cranbrook down to Coeur d'Alene and points west....picking up our 3rd in Kimberley, BC....😎 thank God I don't have to do the Banff to Radium to Golden detour....😬 Something tells me the 20 hrs in the vehicle will go by fast on the way there, but it will be a brute on the way back! Yes of course, that (the Kimberly detour aside) makes sense this time of year. No way you make the traditional Hwy1/Hwy5 drive without a lot of snow. The Coquihalla is already blanketed. Have family South of you in Red Deer County and was there end of Sept (the weekend before the restrictions restarted), did a Thurs-Sun drive out and back from Vancouver and then drove back to California the following weekend - 26ish hours between the two - so I feel your soon to be pain. The worst part is continuing to drive past all the I5 exits to Bandon 🙄 You're stopping and playing while everyone else is stuck at the start of winter! Edited October 28, 2021 by duffer987 Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shushwap Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 My buddy came back from phoenix last month and he was able to get a free pcr test at the walgreens I think it was... Costco does a cheaper test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 ^That's a good shout, I saw a Twitter thread this morning where someone said they did that. The Walgreens in Coos Bay/North Bend does have PCR tests, for the faster ones (guess it'll depend which of those Canada customs will accept) the Walgreens in Eugene have them. You can also buy off-the-shelf rapid antigen tests, but again would want to see a list of acceptable tests for the crossing back North to be sure. Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvincent Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 The problem with the PCR tests at Walgreens is they are 2-4 day results. If you get a slow test you can't board. Some of the Walgreens offer the NAAT test, which is acceptable for coming back, but they you have to factor in the extra driving to get those done. 1 Quote Cobra DS-Adapt LS 10.5: Graphite Design Tour AD UB-7S (Backup: Cobra DS-Adapt X 10.5* : Ventus Red TR 7S) Titleist TSR2 4W : Oban Kiyoshi Purple 75-S Mizuno ST MAX 19*: Ventus Blue HB-8S Mizuno ST MAX 22*: Recoil 95 F5 Wilson Staff CB 5-PW : Nippon Modus3 130-S Cleveland RTX Zipcore 50, 54, 58: Nippon Modus3 115 Wedge Meridian Tybee - 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 (edited) 21 minutes ago, jvincent said: The problem with the PCR tests at Walgreens is they are 2-4 day results. If you get a slow test you can't board. Some of the Walgreens offer the NAAT test, which is acceptable for coming back, but they you have to factor in the extra driving to get those done. Ya that's why I mentioned Eugene, as it's on the way and you can get NAATs there. The OP and my mates are driving, so have way more flexibility that way - in regards to return time. If flying would definitely do the NAAT - although theoretically Walgreen's PCR test providers have pretty good times at the moment. And you can always pay $100 for a DIY kit, do it at the resort, and be sure to give yourself enough buffer. Of course, who knows they could change the rules Monday and all you need to re-enter is your double jabs. Timing aside, at least there are a fair few options available 🙂 Edited October 29, 2021 by duffer987 Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 4 hours ago, duffer987 said: ....Of course, who knows they could change the rules Monday and all you need to re-enter is your double jabs. Timing aside, at least there are a fair few options available 🙂 This times 100....the rules can change on a dime, and it wouldn't surprise me at all that within 30 minutes of us paying for our PCR tests, the Cdn authorities will relax the need for PCR tests if you are double-vaxed.....😠 I have received some fantastic advice and options on this thread. 👏 👏 Thank you, everyone!! As of today, our worst case scenario, now that we are driving, is a test Sunday morning (before leaving Portland that morning) at PDX that guarantees (assuming nothing out of the ordinary happens) a three hour turn around time for results. Results are to be posted to our Carbon Heath accounts. With any luck, we will be twenty minutes out of Kennewick, WA when we get our results. Plan is to cross the border early Sunday evening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvincent Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Yeah, the changing rules have been a major PITA. We've ordered the DIY kits but still have our appointments at PDX for testing booked just in case. Flying in 7 days! Woot! 1 Quote Cobra DS-Adapt LS 10.5: Graphite Design Tour AD UB-7S (Backup: Cobra DS-Adapt X 10.5* : Ventus Red TR 7S) Titleist TSR2 4W : Oban Kiyoshi Purple 75-S Mizuno ST MAX 19*: Ventus Blue HB-8S Mizuno ST MAX 22*: Recoil 95 F5 Wilson Staff CB 5-PW : Nippon Modus3 130-S Cleveland RTX Zipcore 50, 54, 58: Nippon Modus3 115 Wedge Meridian Tybee - 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shushwap Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 52 minutes ago, jvincent said: Yeah, the changing rules have been a major PITA. We've ordered the DIY kits but still have our appointments at PDX for testing booked just in case. Flying in 7 days! Woot! What did u have to pay for the DIY kit.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvincent Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 47 minutes ago, Shushwap said: What did u have to pay for the DIY kit.? We needed the express delivery so $165 CAD. $149 CAD with normal (5-7 day) delivery. Quote Cobra DS-Adapt LS 10.5: Graphite Design Tour AD UB-7S (Backup: Cobra DS-Adapt X 10.5* : Ventus Red TR 7S) Titleist TSR2 4W : Oban Kiyoshi Purple 75-S Mizuno ST MAX 19*: Ventus Blue HB-8S Mizuno ST MAX 22*: Recoil 95 F5 Wilson Staff CB 5-PW : Nippon Modus3 130-S Cleveland RTX Zipcore 50, 54, 58: Nippon Modus3 115 Wedge Meridian Tybee - 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shushwap Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 1 hour ago, jvincent said: We needed the express delivery so $165 CAD. $149 CAD with normal (5-7 day) delivery. Thats not bad at all.. Who did you get them through ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvincent Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 10 hours ago, Shushwap said: Thats not bad at all.. Who did you get them through ? It's from Switch Health in partnership with Aeroplan. The post above has the link. 1 Quote Cobra DS-Adapt LS 10.5: Graphite Design Tour AD UB-7S (Backup: Cobra DS-Adapt X 10.5* : Ventus Red TR 7S) Titleist TSR2 4W : Oban Kiyoshi Purple 75-S Mizuno ST MAX 19*: Ventus Blue HB-8S Mizuno ST MAX 22*: Recoil 95 F5 Wilson Staff CB 5-PW : Nippon Modus3 130-S Cleveland RTX Zipcore 50, 54, 58: Nippon Modus3 115 Wedge Meridian Tybee - 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 18 hours ago, jvincent said: Yeah, the changing rules have been a major PITA. We've ordered the DIY kits but still have our appointments at PDX for testing booked just in case. Flying in 7 days! Woot! Crap! I went to order our RT-LAMP kits yesterday and they are sold out......early bird gets the worm and the lazy bear gets shut out....sigh. Switch Health won't mail the PCR tests to our postal code (and a couple other options that I tried). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shushwap Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 5 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: Crap! I went to order our RT-LAMP kits yesterday and they are sold out......early bird gets the worm and the lazy bear gets shut out....sigh. Switch Health won't mail the PCR tests to our postal code (and a couple other options that I tried). I guess everyone is heading south this winter lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvincent Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 7 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: Crap! I went to order our RT-LAMP kits yesterday and they are sold out......early bird gets the worm and the lazy bear gets shut out....sigh. Switch Health won't mail the PCR tests to our postal code (and a couple other options that I tried). Well that sucks. Hopefully they'll be back in stock before you leave. Quote Cobra DS-Adapt LS 10.5: Graphite Design Tour AD UB-7S (Backup: Cobra DS-Adapt X 10.5* : Ventus Red TR 7S) Titleist TSR2 4W : Oban Kiyoshi Purple 75-S Mizuno ST MAX 19*: Ventus Blue HB-8S Mizuno ST MAX 22*: Recoil 95 F5 Wilson Staff CB 5-PW : Nippon Modus3 130-S Cleveland RTX Zipcore 50, 54, 58: Nippon Modus3 115 Wedge Meridian Tybee - 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2GRNN2 Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 On 10/30/2021 at 6:07 PM, Shushwap said: I guess everyone is heading south this winter lol Our upcoming Bandon trip has been scheduled since last Christmas. Though we will now be able to drive, we had flights ready to go. The border opening up on Nov 8 just gave us an extra option in getting to BD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shushwap Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 11 hours ago, T2GRNN2 said: Our upcoming Bandon trip has been scheduled since last Christmas. Though we will now be able to drive, we had flights ready to go. The border opening up on Nov 8 just gave us an extra option in getting to BD. If u are anywhere near the west it's not that far to run down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer987 Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 (edited) On 10/30/2021 at 11:15 AM, T2GRNN2 said: Crap! I went to order our RT-LAMP kits yesterday and they are sold out......early bird gets the worm and the lazy bear gets shut out....sigh. Switch Health won't mail the PCR tests to our postal code (and a couple other options that I tried). PO Box in Calgary and pick them up when you drive past? I know Switch used Purolator to collect my PCR from home in the Spring, but would think they could just use standard mail to send them out? But maybe not Edit: I put in a random Calgary postcode and no... see those Ontarioans ignoring the middle of the country 😉 Edited November 1, 2021 by duffer987 Quote [url="http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTOZNxdsDKajrKxaUCRjcU8eB7URcAMpaCWN-67Bt6QG8rmBUPYW3QAQ7k87BlYizIMKJzEhuzqr9OQ/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true"]WITB[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/CoursesPlayedList"]Courses Played list[/url] | [url="http://tinyurl.com/25GolfingFaves"] 25 Faves [/url] F.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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