USA - Canada - Mexico 2016 - Day 16

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Wednesday, 21 September 2016 - Michigan City - Hamilton

Sorry, not a lot of newsworthy information from today's ride, another mainly transport day, crossed a state, changed countries, travelled our longest day yet.

Taking advantage of an earlier than normal start, we left Michigan City, Indiana, racing an incoming rain front. Spent the first couple of hours drifting through a few short light showers until we were passing a long line of semi-trailers and it poured. No wet weather gear on and it was soon a case of abandon ship as it was too dangerous to be on the road where everyone was doing between 105 and 120 klms per hour and I couldn't see much through the visor and dark sunnies. Luckily, we happened on an exit at just the right moment requiring a quick 110 kph maneuver between two trucks to reach the exit near Woodville, Michigan. Into a gas station and that's when we got properly wet. You stay almost dry on a Goldwing above 80 klms per hour. Tank of fuel and put the wets on and back on the road. As usual, by now the rain had passed and we never saw anymore.

Continuing east we took a short break at Chelsea for a coffee and leg stretch at a wonderful little rest area hidden away behind a Chevrolet dealership, see the photo. Here we dried out the inside of the wet weather gear and packed it away again. Then it was on past a multitude of small places that we saw little of as we were on the freeway.

Like Chicago, there was no intention of stopping in Detroit, so it was through town on the expressway and into the Canadian Border crossing to Ontario. Poor signs through here meant we ended up playing chicken with the semi-trailers until we saw the little orange sign that said trucks that way, autos this way. Very pleasant border crossing lady checked us out, had a yarn, wished us all the best and sent us on our way. Reflects a much better entry to the country.

Stopped in at a little gas station on the Ridgetown, Ontario exit, very friendly lady on for a chat. Most people that we meet are and love that we come from Australia.

On the road today were some unusual, to me at least, semi-trailer axle setups. Tri-axle trailers with 1, 2 or 3 air bag lazy axles. In some cases the front lazy was almost up with the prime mover drive. Not sure what they carry or what sort of loadings are permitted but the trailers looked otherwise normal flat bed or tankers. Anyone able to comment on what the story is?

On through Brantford and into Hamilton and there the fun started. We usually book a motel via the internet from the last fuel stop before we get to where we are staying or from the fuel stop when we arrive. Today we had internet problems with both phones when we arrived so we thought we would just do it by walk in. After two attempts and not liking what we saw, we finally got a decent connection and booked over an "early" dinner. Finally in our digs at 8:30pm.

See you all tomorrow, wet day again under the Niagara Falls.

724 klms today, total to date 6372 klms.