We have been doing some long days with early departure from the hotels and late evening arrivals. We pushed through Canada covering 3 provinces in one day, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. I'd say that Montreal could learn from Toronto about how to handle traffic. Toronto was the easiest city to navigate with a through lane quickly carrying us from one end of town to the other. And Toronto goes on and on. Ontario turned out to be less than scenic. Czookie complained that New Brunswick smelled of paper factory, and Quebec smelled of manure. However, Toronto smelled like licorice! Unfortunately the ride through Ontario was not very scenic. It was flat and hot.
We arrived at the Port Huron customs area about midday. Czookie proceeded first through customs. As I was waiting behind the big yellow line for my turn I used the autocomm to aks BMRPop if I needed to declare the dried fruit snacks I had purchased in Ontario. He replied" I guess you just did.", implying of course that our walkie talkie communication was being monitored. Unlike our entry into Canada, the US agent motioned for all of us to move up to the customs booth together. Czookie was asked if she knew her tag number. Because we have to write our tag number on our gas receipts for the 4 corners challenge, Czookie had it memorized. The agent asked if it was Ontario or Michigan. Czookie volunteered it was Louisiana. The agent then asked Carolyn how we all knew each other. Czookie replied that we were her parents (to which the agent replied "I'm sorry."---just kidding.) The agent then collected Burgma's and BmrPop's passports and Czookie's driver's license. And then the agent returned our papers to us and waved us through. Can you believe Czookie crossed into Canada with just showing her birth certificate and returned with just presenting her driver's license? We were surprised!
We had a leisurely lunch and then made our way towards Chicago, stopping for the night in Michigan City.
The next morning we rose early and headed out fearful we would be caught in the Chicago rush hour. Surprisingly we zoomed through Indiana and through Chicago without much trouble. Not much later and we were headed across Iowa headed toward Omaha Nebraska. Iowa is pretty with rolling hills and green farmlands. We could see the results of the heavy rains in Iowa as all the rivers and lakes were very full. We met a few storms, waiting them out in the nice rest area which offer a travel kiosk of current weather and historical information about the area. One of the features of the weather information was the information about the winds. We could expect 15 mph winds around Des Moines. Not something to look forward to. Interestingly we saw only a handful of windmills. I do believe our energy problems could be solved all by utilizing Iowa winds! We kept trying to dodge the rain and after being caught in a downpour we eventually outran the rain. With Czookie leading, we could pretty much outrun anything.
We made it to Omaha with time to visit the Suzuki place just as they were closing. We found a hotel within walking distance to the dealer, and BMRPop went to scout out the BMW dealer. Next morning Czookie went to the Suzuki service area first thing while Burgma went with BMRPop to the BMW dealer to drop off the BMR, and then together they rode the Burgman to the Suzuki dealer. By the time we got there, Czookie had befriended all the staff, especially a parts person who chatted her up for most of the morning we were there. The good news is that they said our tires should last until we come through on our way home from Seattle. And they ordered the new light replacement for BB which will be ready on our next pass through as well. The duct tape repair is holding well so far. They fixed the loose side vent on the Burgman and confirmed that the duct tape on the front cowling is holding. After the Suzuki bikes were ready we proceeded to rest at the hotel. BurgMa found a laundromat and did laundry. Later we picked up the BMW and then rode to Drover's, a loal older restaurant, for a fine steak dinner. YUM!
Next morning we donned our rainsuits and putzed around in the brakfast area waiting for severe storms to pass. With just light rains remaining, we headed out across Nebraska. Nebraska was hot and windy, and very flat. It seemed like forever to get through it. The eastern part of the state has farmland but the western part is drylooking with sand dunes and little farming. At one point we came across a HUGE bridge/archlike structure spanning over all lanes of the interstate apparently commemorating a fort. You could stop and go in it for a fee (do I need to say here that we only stop for gas and food?). But I remember thinking as we drove under it, what on earth could you possibly see from that bridge that you can't just see now --yes, Nebraska is that flat.
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