Day 24

I left the Lac Vieux Desert Casino early since the sun was shining thru a crack in the curtain right in my face. It was a beautiful day for riding with the sun behind me. The tree lined US-2 at times was just a straight ribbon ahead. I finally got to see Duluth / Superior in sunshine! It only took the fifth time. Duluth really is a nice city sitting on the edge of Lake Superior. I rode downtown through the brick streets.... kind of rough on a motorcycle but kind of neat to see too. I got onto I-35 which ended immediately and turns into MN-61 heading north along the shore of Lake Superior. I continued until just after Silver Bay where I turned left onto MN-1 which is the road to Ely. I had heard so much about this road and it's beauty to the motorcycle rider and it did not disappoint. Lots of winding road laid ahead and you had to keep alert as well for deer as a number came out of the trees to dart across the highway. Just before Ely it began to sprinkle but not enough that I had to change into rain gear. I was surprised at the size of Ely... I expected a 2 minute town but it really was like a 10 minute ride... with traffic lights. I continued on MN-1 after  Ely where it becomes a much wider more traveled highway. Where it meets US-53 I turned toward International Falls, the place all Americans know as the coldest place in America... and then MN-11 along the Rainy River through to Warroad. I have travelled the #11 on the other side so it was neat to see this route from the American perspective... It seemed farther from International Falls to Baudette, MN  than Fort Frances to Rainy River, ON... wierd. I crossed the border at Warroad and followed highway 12 through Steinbach to Hwy 1 and then west to home.

Pictures are at the link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150389665557306.433885.574812305&l=567be44cd3&type=1

Km today = 1045, Trip total = 14155.... I think I need an oil change...

Day 23

Another great weather day! When I left Ludington I went north on US-31 and just after Manistee I turned onto M-22 which follows the coast of the peninsula and past some very large lakes. The terrain was lots of hills and the farms were growing corn and apples. There were lots of summer homes on the lakes and the vehicles had plates from all over the USA. The coast side is all sand dunes. The highway loops all around the peninsula and brought me back to US-31 at Traverse City. This is a very popular summer vacation spot and the beaches there were crowded. The streets were as well and it took me quite a while to get through this area. US-31 follows the coast of Traverse Bay and then turns toward the east and connects to I-75 at the Mackinac Bridge. I crossed the bridge, paid my toll and turned onto US-2 for the trip across the UP of Michigan headed toward home. I ended my trip today at the casino hotel in Watersmeet, MI.

Pictures are found at this link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150388404767306.433426.574812305&l=2c532db353&type=1

km today = 870, total trip = 13110 km

Day 22

Today was a nice sunny day... Great for riding down the 402 to Sarnia, crossing over the border on the Blue Water Bridge, crossing Michigan on the 69 and 96 and then finishing off the day riding up the west side of Michigan to Ludington. The ride was mostly freeway so I did not take many pictures on that stretch. The worst part of the day was the over on hour time spent on the bridge and clearing customs. The heat off the engine along with the outside temperature was sweat producing while wearing all my riding gear... Cooled off pretty quick though at 120 kph down the freeway afterward. Lots of farmland in Ontario and again in Michigan. The beaches here in Ludington are rolling dunes and with the heat today people were actually in swimming although I felt the water and it is pretty cold.

The pictures are at the link,http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150387308442306.433161.574812305&l=eb2dcf4928&type=1


Km today = 586, trip total = 12240

Day 20 and 21

On Tuesday I left the motel in Rutland, VT and rode west through the Adirondack Mtns via Hwy 28. Another fantastic place to ride. Winding turns and great views! The highway follows the Hudson River... yes, it comes that far north... for the first part and then comes down the other side of the continental divide where the water flows to the St. Lawrence. When I reached the western end of this drive I turned north to follow Hwy 12 through the dairy area of New York. This road takes you up to Cape Vincent which is on the shores of Lake Ontario. Here I took a small ferry, at a cost of $7.00, to Wolfe Island which is in Canada. They even have customs officers there meeting the ferry after the 10 minute crossing. After riding across the island you take another ferry to Kingston, ON. What a beautiful city this is... I am sure I could have spent a few days there for sure. There are fortresses on the bay which are left over from the early explorer days. The ride along Lake Ontario is wonderful with lots of great scenery. I took route 33 all the way through Prince Edward County complete with another ferry at Glenora taking me through Picton and on to Trenton. Great riding again! I stayed the night at the home of a fellow rider in Trenton.
I got passed by a Ferrari on Hwy 28 with the plate "FLU BYE" :-)

This brings me to Wednesday where I did the ride from Trenton to London, ON via the 401. This is the easiest way to not see Toronto in less than an hour. You ride through TO at 120 kph and you can't even turn your head  to see anything. When the sign says slow to 80 for construction, it means nothing... the traffic flow still goes at the speed it was going before. It rained 4 times during this trip so I rode in rain gear for the whole time. When the sun came out it was sauna time... No pictures this day.

Pictures are at the link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150386464547306.432920.574812305&l=df6383ff9e&type=1

Km these 2 days = 958, total trip = 11654 km.

Day 19

Left Ellsworth, ME this morning with the sun shining bright but it wasn't long till I was along the water that the fog was thick and it was cold... It's too bad because I think the bridge over the river next to Fort Knox State Park would have been beautiful to actually see. It is a suspension bridge with the cables in the middle but I could only see about the first 20 feet of cable. I followed Hwy 3 until Augusta and then went inland and cruised through the White Mountains. I followed Hwy 112 which is also called the Kancamagus Hwy. It climbs up quite high and the river is beside the hwy most of the time. At locations along the road there were people relaxing in the pools and the kids were in the rapids. I continued along other curvy, tree covered highways making my way to Rutland, Vermont where I will spend the night.

Pictures are at the link
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150384341367306.432311.574812305&l=42e68015b3&type=1

km today = 572, trip total = 10696

Day 18

Today I started off from Digby, NS with a ferry ride at 8 am. I had to check in an hour early, so the wake up was even earlier. The sun was shining as I rode to the ferry which was a welcome sight after the day I had yesterday. The ride to St. John, NB was 3 hours, so I had a breakfast on board and wandered around. I met a fellow from Rochester, NY while tying down our bikes and we got to talking and he bought me a coffee.

When I arrived on the other side, I stopped in to see the reverse falls on the St. John River. That is a pretty neat thing to see. I left following the NB-1 highway. I did take one side trip along the Bay of Fundy and found an old covered bridge. I crossed into Maine at St. Stephens and carried on down the #1 highway. I checked into the little motel in Ellsworth and then went for a ride to the Acadia National Park. I rode up to the lookout at Cadilac  Mountain and there you overlook the straits and bays and below is Bar Harbor. What a neat place. I rode through Bar Harbor and that is one busy place. The sailboats in the water are a sight to see..

Pictures are at the link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150383420332306.431978.574812305&l=f04adf8818&type=1


Todays Km = 481, Trip total = 10124 km

Day 17

I left Dartmouth this morning to rain.... so I was orange again. Dartmouth and Halifax have got to be the worst ever places for directional signs. I was trying to find my way across the Macdonald bridge and there is no signage whatsoever and once you get over the bridge there is still no signage to let you know how to get to the hwy...

Anyway, once I got onto Hwy 333, I was on my way to Peggy's Cove. What a cool place! Again, every time  you turned around, you want to take another picture. I met a family there from Switzerland and they were here to visit the memorial which is just down the road for SwissAir flight 111. It kind of personalized for me when I stopped there just moments after leaving the cove. I then followed Hwy 3 which winds its way in and out of the bays and harbours down the south coast of NS. After leaving Lunenburg it meets the 103 and it was at this point it started to pour... I really mean POUR! For the next hour and a half I rode into driving rain. I can honestly say that it was the worst I have ever ridden in. About 50 km from Yarnouth it stopped but I didn't even realize it because the road spray and my windshield and glasses were so wet... you get my drift. In Yarmouth I found the Tim Hortons and warmed myself up with a hot bowl of chili. When I came outside.. what is that bright thing in the sky? My goodness, The Sun!! So I decided to head down Hwy 1 which follows the north coast throught the Acadian area. This side of the province is much different with pastures and sandy beaches. The homes are all of the same type and I took a couple of pictures. A lot of people have the Acadian flag out front some with very many of them. I made my way as far as Digby, where I will spend the night.

Pictures at the following link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150382291872306.431541.574812305&l=632cd731d8&type=1

Km today =  513, Total for the trip = 9643