Clarion Hotel Detroit Metro Airport
My rate was $54 a night, It was clean and came with a fridge and microwave. It's a airport motel, so bring earplugs. People are coming and going at all hours, and it is on one of the airport runways approach/ takeoff strips. The biggest surprise though, was the Wi-fi in my room, it was excellent, and that can always be a hit or miss at any motel. This is a dated property, and my guess is, that was a Holiday Inn in the 60's. There's no elevator, so ask for a 1st floor room.
This morning it's cold outside, as in long johns and thermals kind of cold. 41 degrees by the bike thermometer. First time on the whole trip I've had to wear them. I'm sure glad I looked over the bike last night when it was warm! The traffic at 7am in and around Detroit wasn't too bad, and the traffic back up started just after the exit for the Ambassador Bridge, lucky me, though, no tunnel for me this time. I know they have a gas station at the bridge from my last visit, so I decide to try it. Not a big mistake, but it was a pain. Cash in, no problem, but then I have to enter my Plate #, postal code, etc, all to buy $10 worth of gas. Next time, I'll use a regular gas station before the bridge. The biggest problem with using the Ambassador bridge, is all the trucks. They end up in the car lane and you get delayed by them. When you make it to the car only Customs booths, they are empty. Anyway it wasn't a big delay, and I was on the downward side of the bridge. So I could coast/roll down in neutral, when we did move. I got a nice customs official, she still asked all the questions, but in a nice way. It does make a difference. I'm back in Canada and time to stop for a coffee, and I see a Starbucks.
The stop isn't just about the coffee, I've got to change my SIM card back to Bell mobile, and plan my route for the day. I did plan a weekender away to Detroit to finish the Henry Ford Museum for this summer. Well, it looks like I got it out of the way early. No problem, as it bumps up going away to Cleveland, OH for a weekender instead. The plan is to finish off the Lake Erie shore. So, that is the way I must go home. After a lovely coffee, I must get back on the bike and head over to the river. Too soon though, comes my last view of America, those twin stacks from Fermi II nuclear plant. Then I'm heading east on the shore of Lake Erie. For anyone riding Lake Eire, the lovey police of Amherstburg have speed traps going into and leaving the town limits. Be warned.
Going trough Leamington, ON, I could not help think of the infamous "Pelee Island" Run. Legendary, from drinking on the pier waiting for the ferry, to drinking the ferry dry. Playing light sabers with the docking spot lights in the middle of the lake, to singing "The Love Boat" while drunk. We even named the crew, we had Julie the cruise director, Isaac the bartender, and of course we got to meet "Captain Stubing".
It just got better from there. Fights with the locals at the bar, Bruce missing a turn and ending up driving into the lake and some rebar, he ended up getting airlifted to the mainland. I can still remember someone fishing his scoot out by shouting " I've found it, got it by the exhaust". The wake up call at the campsite, by the OPP, telling us were on the first ferry, Sunday morning,and it wasn't a suggestion. O, and we were banned from the island. Good times ;-)). I think all has been forgotten on Pelee island. Hopefully.
The biggest problem with the "Waterfront trail" is its not really a motorcycle ride. So I do make a few wrong turns. I've got the time, so no problem.
Since I'll be passing "Third wheel trailers" (where my trailer was made) in St Thomas, I decide to drop in for a few things. I'll pick up a new stand (bent in Boston on Lammyjammy), the hitch has loosened up a bit (side to side) , but nothing a vice clamp can't fix, and hopefully a licence plate copy for the trailer.
Third Wheel trailers
When I arrive, there's a guy up from Michigan picking up his trailer, and getting a trailer hitch installed. A 2013 RT1200, if I remember right. Wow, the problems they had making this hitch work, they spent hours working on it. They even had to make a new mounting plate and weld that back on to the hitch. Juan really goes that extra mile. For me, no charge for the stand, plus he's working on a retractable one, which can be retro fitted. Juan is the kind of guy who likes to see problems, so he can improve his product. He orders up a licence plate sticker, it's just easier to show you it in a pic.
Old Plate, New Plate sticker, and it's reflected as well.
As you can see, it suits the trailer and bike nicely. Is it legal? Well, no one who has done it, has had problems yet with the Law. But everyone keeps the old plate in the trailer just in case. Well, time to be off from third wheel trailers. From here I head north, to the 401 and home. As I've done the other parts of the Lake Eire, Lakeshore ride at other times, I can hit the highway. I was just missing the part from Windsor to St Thomas.
Now I'm on the 401, around London and head east, I see a service stop ahead, and decide to stop for a coffee, and something to eat, plus to gas up. I'm in Woodstock, ON, and it's 4:30pm. There's no point on hurrying, as getting to Toronto for rush hour is just stupid and can be rather frustrating. So I have a long lunch and coffee, and strike up a great conversation with a Harley guy coming back from Arizona. He lives there in the winter, comes back here in the Summer. Well it's 6pm, so I better be off, I'll get in the Toronto area around 7pm and miss most of the rush hour traffic. Since it's been a long trip I decide on the 407. Expensive, but saves me a lot of hassle. Which it did. Even coming down the 404 I missed most of the backup. Down the DVP, off at Eglinton and I'm home.
I just unload the light and important stuff, relax and off to catch up on some tv.
Daily mileage - 335 miles or 539 km
Trip total 2835 miles or 4562 km
My next trip is hopefully PVSC
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