Americans partying on rafts accidentally floated to Canada

If you want to throw a raft party, first consider throwing it on land. If, after some thought, you still really want to throw the party in water, stick to a pool.

Whatever you do, don't get caught in a river current that illegally transports you across the Canadian border.

Unfortunately, for 1,500 Americans on Sunday, that is precisely what happened.

The Port Huron Float Down happens annually in Michigan. Thousands of people gather rafts, place beer cans in koozies and plan to let the current carry them down the St. Clair River, which runs between Michigan and Ontario, Canada.

Because Sunday's winds were particularly strong, the floaters were steered toward the Canadian border. The Facebook page which advertises the Float Down suggests carrying "paddles and oars," but that may not have been enough defense against the weather. This video from the day shows how quickly the sunny day turned gray.

As Jeanne Gardner, a regular at the Float Downs, explained to Canada's Blackburn News, "I have almost ended up in Canada a few times but I’ve always managed to get back, just not today. We spend about an hour and a half paddling and we were going nowhere."

Because many riders weren't carrying any ID, some people attempted to swim back toward the United States.

"We had to pull a lot of people out of the water and say 'no,'" Peter Garrick of the Canadian Coast Guard told CDC television. Despite border laws, the riders were told to hop ashore for their safety.

As Canadian police officer Doug Warn explained to Blackburn News, "We’re not concerned about citizenship at this point. If people are tired or cold we want them to get out of the water and make their way home. Make some phone calls and so forth. We’re really not concerned about anything else."

The Americans were bussed back to the United States by Canada's Sarnia township police.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

No severe injuries were sustained, and there is not yet word regarding whether or not people were charged for this incident. The Port Huron Float Down has been a Michigan tradition for over 30 years.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Despite the problems of this year's Float Down, the Facebook page is already advertising next year's ride.

Hopefully, everyone will wear a proper lifejacket and carry a valid passport in a waterproof holder in 2017.