Quiet summer

My last post was July 9th, the day we got back from the California trip. We knew then that we had nothing big planned until September. The Great Lakes VROC Michigan gathering was set for the same weekend as the 24th Annual Freedom Rally so, as Freedom Riders club and rally treasurer, the annual pilgrimage to Michigan cherry country was not to be.

When we got back on the 9th, I knew we were pretty much staying in place until the beginning of September. That seemed like a lot of time to get things done but, as with life, tempus fugit. Plus I am not very good at getting things done unless I am faced with a deadline.

The first plus when we got home was that Corrie had finished the work on the house. The last step was to get the big furniture moved upstairs and, thanks to Gerry and his people at Harris Movers, that was done with a minimum of fuss. Living on one floor is cozy and I like it. The two large rooms in the basement will probably be finished with drywall and flooring before we sell (some day) because Darren, our real estate guru, tells us livable space is a key number affecting the sale price.

Once we got home, I started planning for my part of the 24th Annual Freedom Rally. This year, I resolved to stick to the Treasurer role. Before it was done, however, Sandy and I ended up also looking after the door prizes and the attendance/meal lists. The rally went very well except for the weather. Planning is already underway for a major blowout to celebrate the 25th annual next year. The Freedom Rally is the last of what was once an active circuit of club motorcycle rallies across the province (an into NY state) and the club has resolved to keep it going.

Diane finished the work on Sandy's mother Jan's house. The decision was finally made to sell it since Jan, 89, has been in a long term care home since last November. Di volunteered to lead the effort to spruce it up before listing. It must have worked because there were two offers within a week of putting it on the market. If the first deal goes through, the sale will close just after we get back from our last trip.

Jan's house

I spent a lot of time while we were home helping Lesli Green get Safe Ride Home Sudbury off the ground. After 18 years running a chapter of the national Operation Red Nose program, she decided that we could better serve the needs of the community operating without the constraints that were part of the larger initiative. She, along with partners Cambrian Ford, Tim Horton's and the Greater Sudbury Police Service, announced the change on August 10th. My part of her organization has grown over the years. Now I am officially Volunteer Coordinator and Head Trainer, but I end up getting involved in all manner of jobs.

After a couple of years as Secretary/Treasurer of the O.P.P. Veterans Association Chapter 13 (Sudbury and Manitoulin), I asked that we split the job up. I am happy to continue as Treasurer but am not able to do justice to the Secretary role. In addition to taking the minutes and circulating notices, the Secretary should be in touch with the membership on a regular basis to tie the group together. Because I was a volunteer Special Constable specializing in snowmobile enforcement, I don't know a lot of the members. Hats off to Tommy, who stepped up and will do an excellent job.

Throughout the time home, I got in some golf (although not as much as I would have liked). The game finally started to improve when I made some changes to my swing and my thoughts. The worst six inches in golf is between your ears. Playing low compression balls and limiting my back swing have cost me distance but have vastly improved my accuracy and consistency. I am sorry that, now that it seems to be working, my season is coming to an end. Our home course is Cedar Green Golf Club but we did get out to other courses a couple of times.

Waiting for the shotgun start at the Mine Mill Retirees tournament at Pine Grove

Denis, D'Arcy and Leo, my Mine Mill teammates

Jim and D'Arcy at Timberwolf Golf & Country Club

So, after a month and a half at home, it is time to travel again.

This weekend, we are heading to Waterloo to see Heather, Tom, Jasper and Fiona. We will travel back to Sudbury with Kim, Mike and the girls, who have rented a place on Long Lake for the next week. This is the same place that they had a couple of years ago.

On Labour Day weekend, we head for Wolfman's Wandering Rally XI in St. Clair, Missouri. We arrive Monday and leave the following Saturday. Then we will spend my 65th birthday in Branson, Missouri, staying at the Dutton Inn for two nights. Monday, we make the annual appearance at the Eureka Springs Arkansas Reunion before returning home by the 18th. We will be sharing with Sherm at both rallies.

The last trip will be from the 22nd to October 3rd, involving a week with eight other couples in a rental place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks have been on my bucket list for a while, but a trip there in 2015 was cancelled due to my second stent. Except for Linda and Billy Bob, these aren't motorcycle folks but we are looking forward to it.

So stay tuned for future developments. The adventure continues.

Boscobel/Solvang Trip Summary

This trip was the first journey of over two weeks duration that we have taken in several years.

27 days on the road
Equinox 6,201 miles 14.92 MP(US)G
Approximately 600 motorcycle miles

The Equinox/trailer combination performed well. It also looked well proportioned. But this vehicle is a little small for three people and luggage.

Whether we tow the trailer much in the future is up in the air. The bike is nice but, in many cases, is no longer necessary. We will meditate on this.

Our first long trip in years and we did not have a definite fall back plan. As a result, we arrived home six days before we planned. Have we lost the wanderlust or have we just forgotten how to live in the moment on the road? Again, this will require some serious pondering.

All in all, though, it was a good time. Thanks to Pat for putting us up in Kingman and to Mal and Yvette for sharing their Independence Day weekend with us. Special thanks to Sherm for sharing the road with us one more time. And thanks to the folks who made the effort to share the Boscobel and Solvang experiences.

We will be home for six weeks or so before leaving for WWR XI in Missouri (remember that Missouri loves company) and Eureka Springs. We have the Freedom Rally to work on and, hopefully, a lot of golf to be played before then. I also see visits to grandkids in our future.

So, until the next time, keep your stick on the ice!!

Marquette Michigan to Sudbury Ontario

This was a late morning. I slept until 7:30 and, by the time we got loaded, checked out and grabbed a quick McDonald's breakfast to go, we didn't hit the road until 9:00 AM. It was overcast and 58 F with a light fog in some places. The GPS said we would be home at 5:02 PM.

Through early morning fog I see...

And then some blue skies

Michigan 28 is not known for its curves

There was not much traffic in the UP this Sunday morning. We stopped at the Newberry turn off for fuel and coffee. We also found a cranberry orange muffin at the McDonald's for Sandy, something that is available at all Canadian Mickey D's but is very rare in the USA. This may not be on her favourites list for long because it has gone the way of the Tim Horton's donuts, stodgy instead of light and cake-like with crunchy edges. Efficiency in preparation takes precedence over quality of food one more time.

What does Pure Michigan mean? It has been the state tourism marketing motto since 2008 and I have no idea what they think is pure. I'd understand if it was just the Upper Peninsula but this includes Detroit and Flint.

After one last US fuel stop in Soo, Michigan, we went by a stopped line of US bound cars on the International Bridge and crossed into Canada at 12:20. It was partly cloudy and a very comfortable 67F. The first thing we encountered was a red traffic light on the bridge because it was one lane due to some heavy construction. Then we found the Customs booths were all being rebuilt. The agent asked a couple of questions and welcomed us home. Interestingly, he never even asked what was in the trailer.

US bound cars - no idea what the green was about

Soo Locks - busiest canal in the world based on tonnage

Saint Mary's Rapids (Sault Ste. Marie)

Welcome home - now STOP!

The Customs booths are getting a facelift

Tim's AND Petro-Canada - we are home for sure

And the pavement confirms it

We followed the traffic out of the Soo on four-lane Highway 17. When it turned to two-lane at the St. Joe's Island turn off, the twit towing the bass boat ahead of us (who had been cruising along at 65 MPH) hauled it down to 55. There was nowhere along here for me to get by so I followed him for ten miles before we got to a passing lane.

At the next passing lane, two cars ahead of us went to the left lane despite the fact that they had no hope of catching the vehicles ahead of them. I don't like passing on the right in these places but I did, something that is legal in Ontario if the left lane is congested. I have no idea what makes people like these so clueless.

Also, what imbecile in our Ministry of Transportation thought that allowing bicycles on a two-lane 90 KPH highway and then passing a law that motorized vehicles must give them at least three feet of clearance was a smart idea? A semi can't give them three feet of clearance and stay in its own lane. In a curve, this can be a fatal surprise for an oncoming vehicle. Speed doesn't kill, speed differential does and this is the worst case scenario. Regardless of the Participaction lobby, bicycles have no place on a busy two-lane highway.

Looks like Iron Bridge is still celebrating Canada Day

Mississaugi River

Near Massey, we saw a dark cloud on the horizon. On the other side of town, we came upon wet pavement and then it started to rain. This was the first precipitation we had driven in since leaving Madison for Boscobel a month ago. But it was short-lived as the cloud moved on the to the south.

Rain clouds ahead

First wet pavement in a month

Now it is raining

We reached what used to be the start of the four-lane at Whitefish but it was still a permanent two lane stretch with no passing all the way to Sudbury. Some stretches of the westbound side were really torn up and they were working on the bridge over the Vermilion River as well. I imagine this project is going to take quite a while to complete.

Highway 17 reduced lanes from Whitefish to Sudbury

Lots of earth moved

Bridge over the Vermilion River

Enhancing the drainage parameters

As we approached Sudbury proper (we had been in the City of Grater Sudbury for thirty miles), we encountered more damp pavement but the rain clouds responsible were off to the south. We arrived  home at 4:30, significantly beating the GPS prediction because it can't handle calculations involving 90 KPH roads, and we were completely unloaded by 5:00.

Active rain moving away from us

My goal was to not fall into my post-trip doldrums and get to work on my extensive to-do list. That, as usual, was a pipe dream but that is another story......

Today's Route (370 Equinox miles):

Interactive map

Moorhead City Minnesota to Marquette Michigan

I was disappointed that the mileage we got from the tank of "no ethanol" fuel we got yesterday was among one of the worst mileage tanks we had gotten on this whole trip. It might have been due to road conditions but I didn't notice anything significantly different. Perhaps the fuel was not what it was presented to be?

Today was going to be the longest day of the return trip. Imagine considering 500 miles to be a long day? We would also be losing the last hour to the time zone changes as we return to Eastern. Up and moving by 5:15, all our gear was already in the car and we were checked out by the time the hotel breakfast room opened at 6:00 AM. After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and sliced sausage for me (Sandy had Raisin Bran and yogurt, not hard to keep her fed in the morning), we were rolling by 6:20. Today was the first morning dew on the car that I have seen in a long time.

After all my preaching about not blindly trusting GPS generated routes, I punched in Marquette, Michigan as a destination and blindly followed the directions. It was no surprise that we did not end up following the roads I thought we would, but we were lucky it worked out OK this time.

The countryside here was very pretty. Rolling hills, green fields and lush trees abounded. It was relaxing to drive along but the scenery lacked the excitement of western vistas. The view hardly ever changed and, ten miles along, it looked pretty much the same. As a result, we didn't take a lot of scenic photos.

Orange barrels are everywhere

Pretty but not breathtaking

More water than the west

We passed a sign for Crookston, Minnesota. After our interaction with Casper's finest the other day, I was reminded that on July 3rd, 2002 a Crookston officer let me go with a written warning after clocking me in town doing 39 in a 30 MPH zone on my 2000 Nomad. That was my last traffic stop in the USA until this trip. Officer discretion is a wonderful thing.

Water towers define the communities

Each one is a little different

Minnesota Reflux and Heartburn Center?

Back on the Great River Road

In the olden days, we used to change the oil in our vehicles at regular mileage intervals. Like most vehicles today, the Equinox is equipped with an Oil Life Monitor System that determines when it should be changed based on a number of driving factors. It expresses oil life remaining as a percentage and provides an alert when this gets close to zero. I guess the idea is to conserve energy by not throwing away lubricant before its time.

So we were on this 6,000 miles trip. Under the old system, I would have had the oil changed somewhere about half way through. Instead, I have been watching the oil life remaining. It started at 100% and is now under 20. I expect about 15% will be left when we get home tomorrow. The one caution is that vehicles still can use a little oil so that, with an extended period between changes, you must keep an eye on the oil level. I have been checking every day. It looked like like we would make it without topping up.

I have no idea why I just went through that whole description. I guess I just wanted to share some of the details that go through my head while we are going down the road. Welcome to my world.

Following slow traffic on Minnesota two-lane highways

Approaching Duluth and looking at Wisconsin

Highway 2 is an old friend

We crossed the Richard I. Bong Bridge to Wisconsin. I wondered how many people today have any idea who Dick Bong was. A USAAF P-38 pilot during World War II, Bong was an ace with 40 Japanese planes to his credit. Ironically, after being sent home in January and becoming a test pilot for Lockheed, he died in the crash of a P-80 Shooting Star on the same day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He was born and raised in Wisconsin and attended teacher's college in Superior.

Richard I Bong Bridge to Wisconsin

Welcome to Wisconsin - again...

Superior Wisconsin knows how to tear up a street

We liked the dog

Back in snowmobile country

Northern Wisconsin

We stopped for fuel and a McDonald's lunch to go in Ashland, Wisconsin. Then we continued until we crossed into Michigan around 1:30 PM. The temperature was a comfortable 76 F, more to our liking than the blistering southwest.

It was summertime in Northern Michigan...

Singing Sweet Home Alabama all summer long

Michigan 28

Short stop for road paving

This was once someone's home

More trees

We noted that there was a lot of construction going on in Ishpeming and Marquette. Industrial parks and big box stores were being built at more than a few locations, indicating that the economy must be doing pretty well. We arrived at the Days Inn at 5:30 Eastern. This wasn't our first or even our second stay here, but it certainly commanded a hefty price on a Saturday night in July. The front desk was friendly and competent and we ended up with two double beds on the second floor. This was the first night since we left Escanaba a month ago that I did not rush to turn the air conditioner on. The temperature probably would have put Sherm into hypothermic shock.

Hudson's Classic Bar and Grill was right next door to the hotel, so we wandered over and got a table. Both of us ordered Monte Cristo sandwiches. Sandy got creamy coleslaw while I got fries, and then we split the sides. Since we were walking, we probably should have tried the $3.00 margaritas.

Hudson's Classic Bar and Grill - Marquette Michigan

Last supper on the road

After supper, we retired to the room. I'm sorry to say that it had seemed like a long day even though this would have been a short distance for us not too long ago. I went through three separate fatigue periods today, each requiring a stop and walk around to clear my head. I don't think Sandy got fatigued because she was actually asleep much of the time. I'm sorry I didn't get to the hot tub that killed my last Timex Expedition watch when we stayed here with Brother Bear, Brad and the ladies.

Our thoughts were turning homeward as we turned in early.

Today's Route (499 Equinox miles):

Interactive map