On to Burwell and home.

Day 13 and 14



Well, that's the one problem with camping rallies, there's nowhere to update the blog, which isn't a bad thing. Who want's to spend hours updating, when you can have fun. So you'll be get this final update a little late.


Day 13


I wake up, and do what I've been doing for the last 2 weeks, go downstairs to grab a coffee (or 2, as they have really small cups), and grab an orange. Do the 3's and update the blog. 

It's a nice size room, with the ever popular, fridge and microwave. It's been a while since I've seen an old style tube TV, but the flat-screen TV is in the bedroom. Actually, I do like the work desk for updating the blog. 

For the first time this trip, I dig out the boots, It's Burwell, and you really never know. 


Checkout time is 11 am, and slothly me, finally packs up, and heads out to Burwell just in time. 

The weather report has a few showers going through. But nothing so far, and with it being cloudy, it makes for a nice change, and for the first time in a while, I don't have to apply any sunscreen. I hop on the 401 for a quick ride, to the exit that takes me to Aylmer, ON. But Waze tells we to get off at Highbury Ave, and I should have listened to it. Because further down I hit the wall of traffic. Damm, I should have listened :-(.  

Just in case you are wondering how I navigate while on my travels, here's how I do it. Every morning before I leave the motel/hotel, I plan out where I'm going (or like to go), look it up on google maps, and plan a route. I'll pre put any addresses/locations that I'm going to, on the phone (Waze GPS mapping app), and on my old Garmin Motorcycle GPS. Then I'll head out. But the two gps's never seem to give the same route, so that's why it's important to know where I actually want to go. The Waze traffic adviser kind of works (mostly). I used it once and I'm still not sure it saved me anytime. But when I didn't listen to it, I wished I did ( the 401 outside of London). This is what I find works for me. If I had to use just one, it would be Waze, that is, if you have access to data. 

Anyway, back to getting to Burwell. I ended up getting stuck in the traffic jam for around 1/2 hour. I get off at the next exit and head down to Aylmer to grab some Lunch, and hit the ATM for some Canadian funds. Then a short sweet drive down to Burwell on roads well known to me, from riding around here over the years. 

Then, in what seems like in no time at all, I'm at Burwell, and the bike gets parked. I get settled in at the Wade's campsite and the socializing commences. Dave offers a space in trailer to sleep, which saves me from unpacking all my camping crap (thanks Dave & Tam). So I end up leaving the bike parked there all weekend. 

Not really any mosquitoes this year, or at least not around the camper, but they were made up by all the black fly's. That fly swatter earned it's money this year. I also got to hear about some of the antics that happened on Friday. Which maybe, is better left not recorded on a blog.  

Vic Smith, who just came out of the hospital after having some serious surgery a couple of weeks ago. I know he must be gutted that he couldn't spend weekend at Burwell. But the doctor did tell him he should get out, so why not put in a appearance then. It's what I would have done. 

It's nice to see him on the road to recovery, get well soon Vic!

There were a few showers, as you can see by Vic's shirt, but nothing heavy or lasting long. Being cloudy all afternoon, I didn't end up heading down to the beach, Which is a first for me, but when your having a good time, does it really matter?

Andrea brought Leslie some poo, so she could get a head start on the Buffalo rally theme. It took a while to blow up the poo. That poor air compressor of mine had to work hard on the poo, but it got the job done. Just watch out for the floaties in the pond on the Buffalo rally. 

Ian,  who is being a brave lad by eating all that Poutine, because, what goes in, must come out. The poor girls told me how bad the Porta potties where. I'll stick to the washrooms in town. 

Some kind of throwing game going on. The kids seemed to be having a good time. 


It's dinner time, so, pizza for all, plus salad, and a bit of both for me. The pizza lasted well into the night, so if you got a bit hungry, you could help yourself. Which I did!

Good pizza. 


Now comes the awards and raffle, 

Dean and Rhona for best Camper.
Chris for Best Lambretta
Kate for Best Vespa
Key of Burwell to Keith 
WTF to Matt, and whatever it was, happened on Friday and best not said.
Biggest Club turnout. The Rovers from Detroit, of course.

Thanks Cass for taking the pics. Someone give this man a potato!

Longest Distance to yours truly.

Me!

Which was a hell of a surprise, and thanks. Hopefully I've remembered all of the awards, but I known I've forgotten a couple. So if anyone wants to email me with the list, I'll update the blog. Also, my ticket was the second drawn in the raffle (Lucky me). I head to the table, and pick up the Lambretta bag with a Gobshite racing t'shirt. The funny part is, that most of my touring motorcycle traveling bags have been either won or traded at Burwell. So thanks, "Dogs Bollocks" for all the prizes over the years. Also all of the sponsors as well.

I'll be putting it to good use.

As day turns into night, the fire gets going, and so do the fireworks. Nice fireworks show BTW, though, I think the kids were setting off most of them. It was a good night with the 80's/90's disco/rave going full swing by the fire. I got a lesson on "Goth" dancing from Vanessa. I actually don't know much about goth's, so it's interesting hearing about other scene's that were happening while I was a Mod/scooterist back in the day. 

As the night wore on, most people ended up by the fire. Then about midnight the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) show up, and stop first to talk to the owner (by the entrance). So everyone guesses that they are here for us, and the loud music. So regrettably, the music is turned down. Now for the funny part. They, the OPP (for the first time that I can remember) weren't here for us. There was a domestic (or something) at one of the trailers in the park. So we were all laughing, and of course, someone turns the music up even louder. 


I end up turning in around 1 am. It's nice having your bed already made up. The one thing that I notice is, that, being on the road for a while, is that hotels/motels don't use fabric softener like most/some of us do. I guess it's because of people with allergies. Tamera uses the same softener that I use at home, so it was almost like sleeping in my own bed. Thanks again, Dave and Tam, for the sleeping accommodations. I was actually surprised on how much room is in the trailer, and how comfortable it was. 



Day 14

Morning arrives, and I must get up on my last day of vacation.

I get up, use the bush, and have a walk around. Dave ends up getting up around the same time as me, and starts packing up the camper. 

Things are pretty quite at 7 am around the campsite. But slowly everyone starts to wake up.

The ever fun clean up. 

What's this I spy, a Keurig coffee maker. Wow, I can have a morning coffee. Thanks for letting me make a few coffee's.

The start of the goodbyes. It's not like I won't see Mark soon. Andrea, Gene and Mark will be at the Buffalo rally in a few weeks.

Buffalo's Twotenanny. A Rip'n Good Time!



Here's the link, just in case your thinking of going. I'll be riding down with the Hobbit's on the Friday from Toronto. Join us, or meet us on the way.

All coffee'd up, but poor Tam, the Keruig was a 2.0, and wouldn't take her decaf cups. She was not a happy camper. Also, no morning pictures for Tam. 

Since Dave and Tamera put me up last night, there really is no packing for me, except my Kermit chair. I do the long walk around, and say goodbyes to everyone. I let Chris know that I'm heading home directly instead of riding with him. He totally understands. 
So, then I'm on the road. I follow Waze this time, because the highway exit at 401 and 19 is closed. Then on the 401, which was busy, but still moving well, and just over 2 hours later, I'm home. The rain was just starting as I turned off for the DVP (Don Valley Pkwy), which is 10 minutes from my home. I park, unpack and head into my home sweet home. 

Great Pic and thanks to Shawn for taking it and sharing.

After unpacking I go on Facebook and see this, so now I feel bad for not riding back with Chris. But I find out later that his throttle cable stretched and came off the spool in the headset. That's the thing, if you own a Lambretta, you better know how to fix it, and Chris knows his Lambretta's.


Total mileage is around 1900 + , because that's the last time I checked it. While riding back.


Next trip,  the Buffalo rally in a few weeks, and we'll see if I do the blog for that. Otherwise, I have 2 weeks off before Gettysburg, but no idea on what I'm doing yet for that vacation.

Thanks everyone for reading and enjoying my adventures.

I must leave Cleveland to catch a ferry.

Day 12


Time to wake up, but since it's been 90 degrees for as long as I've been on the road, it's laundry day again. I head down stairs and grab $4 worth of quarters.

I'm staying at an Extended Stay America for the night, so no waiting on doing laundry.

I find front loaders do a better job cleaning, but, beggars can't be choosers. I head back upstairs to do the 3's and update the blog.

I forgot my coffee, so back down I go.

Since it's an extended stay, the breakfast fixings are slim pickings. I go for the instant Starbucks "French roast" which hits the spot. Followed up by my breakfast banana.

The offerings in the vending machine breakfast catagory. I'll stick with my banana.

Back to the laundry, to do the other half, drying.


While I'm waiting, I'll head outside and do some bike maintenance. I've been a bad boy and haven't done it in a few days. Front tire pressure, good, rear, down, or down on what I like running it at anyway. Same for the trailer, it was low as well. Time to check the oil. Since I've put some miles on the bike I knew I'd be adding some.

If you look real close, it's half full, just where it should be. I'm thinking that I should have had my shower after doing this. Anyway I grab my laundry, after going back up stairs and cleaning myself up. 

I check out, and head out, but I have to pull over to get out my Ezpass, I forgot that I still have some toll roads to go. Surprise, I've decided to take the ferry from Sandusky, OH to Pelee island, Ont. It's one of those things I've wanted to do. The ferry doesn't leave until 3:30 pm and they say I should be there 1 hour before. 

So how do I waste 2 hours in Sandusky? I go see a movie. Before you say anything, I checked TripAdvisor for anything cool to do in Sandusky, and to be honest, besides Cider Point, (which I didn't have time for) there isn't anything of interest. 


I just make it in time for:

I loved Lucy, and the Fifth Element, and you can see a lot of the Fifth Element in this. It was a ok movie, but not outstanding. From here it's off to the Ferry docks with a stop to fill/top up the bike.

Lesson one, I didn't need to be here an hour early, to be honest a 1/2 hour would do. 

If you look really close, you can see Cider Point Amusement Park in the background.


It's nice and hot out, 90 degrees plus, so waiting around the dock wasn't really enjoyable. But finally the ferry shows up.

This is not the ferry I was expecting, and not the one we rode on going to the infamous "Pelee island Scooter run". You learn something everyday.

America's Border Patrol takes it time checking the cars coming off  the ferry (which due to the size of the ferry is only around 10). Bikes are usually either first on or first off. So I get the pleasure of being first on. The crew didn't like the trailer and complained (Oh, how I missed that Ontario government employee service). But at least he tied down the bike. I totally forgot about bringing tie downs. Since we didn't have a full load going back, they could have given the bike more room.

Just in case your wondering, it's $58.25 CDN for the bike, trailer, and rider, or $42 USD. to go to Pelee island. 

This is about as close as I get to Cider Point.

This isn't the fastest ferry in the world, but that's ok, I'm in no hurry. They have a snack bar on board, so I can grab a diet coke and the ferry has air conditioning, so I get to cool off . I find out the ferry was built in 1950. Who can't say Ontario doesn't get value out of some of its assets. 

The lake is like glass, so it's a nice and smooth trip. It only takes just over an hour to get to Pelee Island.

Almost in Canada.

Finally back!

It's nice and cool on the Lake, plus with the breeze it's so relaxing.

Almost there.

There is a dock there, honestly.

We docked and they started off loading. The ships crew, drive and unload/load the cars off and on the ferry, as it's rather cramped. Though, if you ride a bike, you get the pleasure of doing it yourself. 

First on, means last off. which isn't bad, as my bike is a pig at slow speed maneuvering. Canada Customs asked a lot of questions, but didn't bother inspecting the bike. Which wouldn't have mattered, as I really didn't buy much, as there really is no where to put it.

The memories of this place, mostly good, until the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police ) kicked us off the island. That infamous "Pelee island Scooter run". 

Since I've got an hour and 1/2 to waste I have dinner at the local Tavern. It's still the same place that we went to on that Saturday night of the scooter run. If you were there, you know.  

The OPP station, we saw these guy's a lot that weekend. 

Dinner is of course is, the chicken, no bacon, and ranch salad. It was better than it looks, and after eating all that buttery popcorn at the movie theatre, I'd better get back to that diet.

Finally it's time to buy a ticket for the ferry ride to the mainland. This ticket only costs $15 and it's a longer ride, go figure. So all together, it's around $70 to cross the lake. That's not to bad. 

It looks like the ferry is coming.

Yep, that's the ferry I remember.

Since there's no customs to deal with, offloading goes fast. Same as the last time, bikes on first. Though I get the pleasure of tying  down my bike and that takes a while. Then upstairs.

So the last time I was on this ferry we called it the "Love Boat". Here's the back story if it. For the Pelee island scooter run, I just missed the 3 pm ferry. The next one was around 4 hours later. So now, you have a bunch of scooterists with lot's of time and beer on their hands. So by the time we got on the ferry, we were well into it, and guess what, they sold beer on the ferry (we called the server Issac). So for that whole trip all we did was drink, and we actually drunk the boat dry. Or if they were smart, they cut us off.

One of the spot lights we played "lightsabers" with, way back then. After that we got a good talking to by Captain Stubing (or that's what we named him). Ah, such good memories.  This is a bigger boat, so they have a Cafeteria (beer), and a gift shop, better seats and air conditioning. This trip takes around a hour and half.

A beautiful sunset.

Stuff I don't I have to use.

Almost there!

All things must come to a end and were in Lemington, ON. I head down to the vehicle deck and untie the bike. You can feel the ferry docking and the boat moves around. Now there was always a trade off by taking the ferry. That is that, I won't get to the Burwell run until Saturday. But since I wanted to do this ferry trip, it was worth the trade off. But you ask, would you do it again? The answer is no, that is at least for coming north back into Canada. The ferry schedule is a lot more accommodating for heading south to the US.

From here it's up to the 401 and off to my motel in London. I asked myself, if I really wanted to show up at Burwell at midnight and set up all my crap, or show up on Saturday morning and get things done then.  

This will be my last post for a few days. I can't post at Burwell, and I have to work Sunday night, so the earliest I will finish off this trips blog is Monday.

Mileage, I'll update it later.