The Journey Has Begun...

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#91 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:35 pm

So just to let you know, I had a great visit with my brother and his family, (at least the ones that were there, his youngest is in the maritimes... DOH!!!) I went for a ride yesterday while everyone was at work and dealt with my GPS. The gentleman that owned the shop that looks after the Canadian warranty issues, was a very helpful guy. Now if Magellan was as helpful, I would have had my replacement in Dartmouth.

It was a great day trip and the weather was fabulous...

Distance travelled: 263.8 kms

This morning, I took my sweet time and said goodbye to my bro and his wife, he was off to Ottawa to a meeting and we were both heading out at the same time. About 45 minutes out of Angus I hit the rain, it was heavy and wet and that, along with the thunder and lightning, made for A sh*tty day. I rode through that on and off all the way to Niagara Falls, and it was so bad when I got there, I just kept riding. Regrettably, it cleared up after I left, but I wasn't about to turn around and retrace my route. I took advantage of the warm air and kept riding until I was dry, that took me to Sarnia. So here I am finishing another day getting my maps straightened out... lol

Distance travelled: 521.9 kms

jstark47 · #92 Unread post by **jstark47** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:57 am

I think the same thunderstorms / weather front that tagged you at Niagara came through here last night & this morning. At 1:00 pm local the clouds are just starting to clear.

So, where to after Sarnia?

Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:40 am

Okay dr_bar... where are you hiding lately?!?! .... meaning since Sarnia...

Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:52 am

I do know he went across into the USA, but yes he forgot to check in with me, too.
:naughtynaughty:

#95 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:17 pm

Hellloooooooooo!!!

I found service for the laptop, though I still can't text from my phone.

I left Sarnia yesterday after breakfast and rode up the lower peninsula of Michigan and into St Ignace MI on the north side of the Mackinac Bridge. It was a long day made longer by the downpour that started about 100 km south of the bridge. Just to the west of the highway, hail the size of golfballs was coming down,

thank goodness it wasn't on me!! 10 to 15 kms before I got to the bridge, the rain stopped and I was dry as I crossed onto the northern peninsula...

Last night I stayed in a little motel for $35 +taxes and I regret saving the few dollars that it would have cost me to get a better nights sleep. Between traffic and other noise, I got maybe two hours of sleep before heading out in the morning. Not a good condition to be riding in... I couldn't keep my eyes open, so I pulled over and walked the beach, changed my plugs and a few other needed things before heading down the road to Iron Mountain. I decided to call it quits early so I can get some much needed sleep. Maps below show yesterdays ride from Sarnia ON to St Ignace MI, and from St Ignace to Iron Mountain MI.

Distance travelled: 496.2 kms

Distance travelled 311.0 kms

intotherain · Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:55 am

Sweet! You're closing on my home state of Wisconsin!!

#97 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:21 pm

intotherain wrote:Sweet! You're closing on my home state of Wisconsin!!

Gee, Wisconsin came and went this afternoon/evening.

I left Iron Mountain this morning and got about an hour up the road and spotted a much needed laundromat. Put a load of laundry on and waited for the machine to finish, problem is, the machine packed it in before my wash was done. I had to run a full cycle in another washer and then dry and fold my clothes. By the time I was done, I had lost a couple of hours so I hit the road.

I have to tell you that as I was driving near the lake, I freakin' near froze my arse off. The wind that comes off Lake Superior has a touch of the far north in it... So, when I was driving through the city of Superior, I spotted another much needed shop... then I stopped and got my hair buzzed

then hit the road again. I don't know about you, but there's just something about someone washing your hair, (or scalp...)

Got through Duluth then kept on hwy 2 and called it a night in the city of Bemidji. When I checked my plan for the day, I had stopped almost right where I was supposed to. Damn, I love it when a plan comes together....

Distance travelled: 625.4 kms

EDIT: I was sitting here posting this update and I heard some noise outside. So I looked out the curtain and what do you know, it's pouring cats and dogs outside, then the thunder and lightening starts up.... Gee I hope it's gone by the time morning rolls around.

#98 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 5:35 pm

Had a slow start again today, thunder kept me up until 3:30, but woke up to sunshine and hot air...

This section of Hwy #2 is all divided highway, next to no traffic, but boring as hell. After all I've heard about how beautiful this stretch of road is, I'm a little disappointed...

Although I did meet some friendly people at gas stops etc.

At one of my rest stops, I met Hans, an Austrian that is peddling his azz across the USA, started in Seattle on the first and was 22 miles west of Grand Forks when we met. After talking about my bike for awhile, I gave him a couple of ice cold bottles of water from my cooler, I also gave him a beer, that made his day as he hadn't been able to buy a beer for over a week.

After a long hot day, I called it a wrap in Minot ND.

Distance travelled: 585kms

roscowgo · #99 Unread post by **roscowgo** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:10 am

Good grief. Now that is one Serious beer run.

#100 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:52 pm

roscowgo wrote:Good grief. Now that is one Serious beer run.

The beer I gave him was a Bud that I picked up way back in Bar Harbour, getting rid of it should make Gummiente happy. Now if only they sold some good stuff here in town...

Why is it that I have battled head and cross winds this whole trip??? Going east and now heading west, the wind has been my toughest challenge. Between the heat and wind, today was a brutal ride, yesterday it was continuous input to my left bar to keep me on the road, today it was the right side. My shoulders and wrists, that were injured in my accident prior to the trip, are suffering today. Pain killers and ice are the order of the night..

Yesterday I commented on the lack of views on hwy 2, well two minutes out of Minot this morning, and that was a different story. As you leave town, you quickly climb into some rolling hills with great sweepers and beautiful scenery. The greens are varied and the crops growing make for a great picture...

So, with heat, wind, pain and plain exhaustion getting to me, I called it a day in Malta MT.

Distance travelled: 547.6