Hello again all,

 

Why is it that as soon as I leave town everyone starts sending email to me. I must have had a half dozen pictures and a movie sitting in my in box when I finally found an internet connection. This new internet connection is pretty cool, except it is almost impossible to find. And of course calling t mobile to find a place takes about 10 minutes. And half the time the first 3 people I talk to have no idea what the heck I'm talking about. Well enough ranting for now.

 

The trip started off pretty good. I mean it was just a short scoot to Milwaukee to catch a ferry. So I had t make it interesting. It wasn't until I was almost at the ferry that I realized I didn't have a helmet. Michigan has a helmet law, so I had to quick find a motorcycle store in town and race over there to get a helmet. No problem, except they didn't have the cheap helmet in my size, so $150 and an hour later I was back at the ferry with my new helmet. Of course by the time I got back there were a half dozen bikers there and one guy offer to give me his extra helmet.

 

The ferry ride was pretty cool. Nothing like two 2,000 horse power diesel engines to help speed you across the lake. Other than talking to the other motorcyclists the ride was pretty uneventful, boring even, just a simple boat ride across the lake with absolutely nothing to see but water. We were moving at about 40 knots, so the wind was blowing, but not much else.

 

We didn’t see anything until we got over to Muskegon, then where were a few people waving, a submarine, and a retired Coast Guard cutter. Finally, we pulled into Muskegon and I took the first Eastward road.

 

The interesting thing about Michigan is that the roads go pretty straight, but every once in a while they just stop and become dirt roads. At first I was really confused, then I realized that the roads aren’t really ending, I guess the paving crews didn’t feel the need to pave certain sections of road.

 

The next day I found the Canadian border at Port Huron. I know I’ve only been averaging 200 to 300 miles a day. I guess our relations with the Canadians has really been deteriorating fast. After a few minutes of grilling they decided that I should have to go inside to see the immigration officer. Like I’m going to move to Canada! Anyway they decided that I had been arrested almost 20 year before and I really shouldn’t be allowed to enter the country, but seeing as they were such nice people they would allow it this time. What I’m really pissed at is the fact that everything that happened 20 years ago should have been sealed under juvenile records. This doesn’t look good as far as personal freedoms are concerned.

 

Anyway, Canada was nice, again. The ride to Toronto was pretty uneventful, actually Toronto was pretty boring, but I suppose I shouldn’t judge a place after I spent most of the night lying in bed trying to get rid of a headache. The next day though it seems I couldn’t stop stopping. 

 

First I stopped at a RCAF museum. It wasn't very big, but they had some cool stuff. A Sopwith Camel prop, you know the one Snoopy flew and a spitfire. They had a bunch of planes out back, some prop engines, some jets, a few helicopters, and even two planes without engines at all. Then in the back room they were rebuilding a Halifax bomber that crashed after a bombing run. It was pretty cool they let me wander around the place while they were refurbishing the bomber. 

I stopped in the 1000 island area. I wanted to see where they made the salad dressing, but I couldn’t find the factory. I did find the train station and the visitors’ center. At the visitors’ center I found a bunch of boat tours. I figured why not, I can spend an hour wasting time. No such luck, it seems I was too late for any of the tours, but I did find a Catholic Church they named after me. I thought it was pretty cool, so I spent some time wandering around the stations of the cross and stuff.

 

All this sight seeing made me curious so I stopped at the giant tower over looking the 1000 islands area and the St. Lawrence Seaway. I found the house of 7 gables, which seems to me was from a book or something. I paid the toll to cross the bridge and basically just wasted time. Finally, I rode another 30 klicks, that’s Canadian for half miles, (just like they have money that is only about 70% of U.S. dollars they also have distances that are 60% U.S.) to Cromwell and crossed back to the U.S. Those stupid border guards almost didn’t want me to cross again. Eventually though, they had to let me come back. Usually on one side or the other, almost always the non-U.S. side,  of a border crossing they have a currency exchange. Not so here. I didn’t see a single one until I passed a pawn shop a few miles away. He gave me a horrible rate of exchange, but what was I suppose to do, hang on to $80 Canadian until I finally went back 20 years later?

I spent the next night at Big Falls campground. Not much to see there but a waterfall, and it wasn't that big really.

 

I followed the U.S. Canadian border for a while until eventually heading south through Vermont and New Hampshire. I wasn’t going to stop at Laconia with bike week going on and al, but I couldn’t help myself. As I was riding towards town I went right past the Crawford place. Then I saw a sign for free food and I had to stop. Amazingly enough in the little church parking lot my phone started worked. I decided to call up my brother in law and see if anyone was at the Crawford place. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay, but I asked anyway. It turns out that no one was home, but if I wanted to stay I could camp out in the front yard. I did better than that I camped out in the screened in front porch.

With a free place to stay who wouldn’t visit the oldest bike rally in the United States? I think Laconia doesn’t actually exist. I followed signs and more signs and more signs, but they just lead me in a circle around LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE. Of course all the bikes were parked on Weirs Beach so that’s where I finally ended up. It was interesting to see the house we stayed at during my sister’s wedding turned into a snack shop. I’ve been thinking about getting a new jacket for a while so I wandered around until I found one I liked. $320 dollars for a jacket and then another $80 for gloves and I’m really beginning to get worried about myself. I guess a dirty leather and old gardening gloves just isn’t good enough for me anymore.

 

The next morning was cold and wet so my new jacket got a workout right away. I’m pleased to note that it worked wonderfully. It is water proof and pretty warm and it has a great little flap that zippers on and off, it covers the lower face and neck. That is so much better than tying a bandana over my face, plus it stays dry so I don’t have trouble breathing, finally it let’s my breath out so my glasses don’t get all fogged up. It’s just about perfect.

 

Well enough for now.