Chicago and Westward bound

Day 2


It's 6 am,  and to be honest, I didn't have the greatest sleep. It can be those early vacation jitters, or I am trying to sleep on a train. Either way, it's time for some coffee and breakfast. So down to the dining car I go.

So your wondering what the food is like. The coffee is good, and the breakfast is fine. The potatoes were seasoned really nicely. The best part is that it is included in the price of the room. It was quiet in the dining car, so I spent around a hour there, enjoying the scenery and with free wi-fi, catching up on news, etc.


I spent the next couple of hours uploading pics and getting the blog together. It works nicely, do some typing, watch the world go by, and so on......

My first glimpse of Chicago, really it's there in the background, or I need to buy a new phone!

Trying out the selfie stick!

The Horseshoe Casino,  wow, Vegas already, NOT.

I know you can see Chicago in this one!

I get the 10 min announcement for arrival and pack up all my crap. Union Station in Chicago is one of those stations where the platforms are underground and rather depressing. So I stow my baggage in a locker for the layover and head into the station.

My train at the station, flash works!

Kind of like our Union Station in Toronto, only bigger.

Just another view of the station.

So I've got 3 hours in Chicago to waste, so I head down to Michigan ave and see a few sights.

Its still the Sears tower to me!

The chrome bean is good enough from here.

Not quite enough time for a show.

A nice St Patricks day display at Target. I love the boxes of "Lucky Charms", because after a night of drinking everything here, your going to want a bowl! These won't be the charms that you'll be spewing.

Still looking for the "Blues Brothers" Pisacco?

Funny, I've been here with my Piaggio MP3 500 scooter, my K1200lt BMW and now I'm walking!

I thought about going up the Sears Tower, but with clouds up at the top, what's the point!

I walked around a bit, had a nice and cheap latte, and slowly made my way back to Union station.

They have a nice business lounge that sleeper class gets to use, it was so interesting I forgot to take some snaps, anyway 1:30 pm rolls around and it's time to board. The trip on this second piece is 50 hours long, so this should be interesting, as it's going to be the longest I've ever been on a train. I've done the overnight Autotrain from Washington , DC to Orlando, Fl. (which by the way is great). So up I go to the second floor and up to my room.

It's a shame, the pics don't really do the size of the bedroom justice.

Really kind of a spare shelf, as who wants to ride backwards anyways!

Private bathroom, don't underestimate the value of it, especially late at night!

Time to get settled in and catch up with the blog, honestly the blog alone is making the trip go faster.

They make the usual announcements, and my car steward drops by to introduce herself. Also a dining car chief comes around and takes dinner reservations. I chose the last, at 7:30 pm as I won't feel pressured to finish quickly.


A little more time on the blog and I've caught up to where we are at, and that is, 2 hours outside of Chicago stopped so they can do a wheel inspection on the engine. Hopefully nothing to much. Funny thing is,  as I'm typing this I got an update. Looks like were ditching the lead locomotive and run with one until we can get a replacement. I'm just happy that we will be moving again soon (actually it took another hour before we got back underway). Anyway it's time to explore my new home for the next 2 days.

The train has two engines, which sometimes both work, a crew sleeping car, then 3 sleeper cars, which I'm in the first. Then the dining car, observation car, then coach.

I'll be back later when it get interesting, you can buy beer etc downstairs. Dinner was running late as we had some power issues with the exchanging of the engines. Instead of going for the steak, I went with the shrimp crab cakes. which were excellent (for Patti, they do offer a certified vegi dish) . No pics this time as I just plainly forgot. Remember, you get seated with some of the other passengers and you have to be social, which, once in a while I can be. During this time I asked the porter to make up my bed, and as I write this I guess I should have taken a pic, O well, I'll do it for tomorrow. Anyway, time to settle in and watch some of all of those tv shows that I downloaded. Goodnight!!!


ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

End of Day 2

Vegas, here we come, the longest way yet!

With my fall trip put on hold due to a fire in my apt, which more or less has been settled ( I got some money, upgraded appliances,  and a rather empty apt), So eagerly I've been awaiting my upcoming trip to Las Vegas, and of course, the annual Las Vegas Scooter Rally. Over the years I've flown to Vegas, driven the scoot to Vegas in the back of a minivan, and have ridden my bike there via Route 66 and the Pacific coast Hwy. Which by the way, was my favourite. Though, riding your scooter up and down Las Vegas Blvd with a kitted TS1 kit comes in at a close second.


So to start things off, my plans were to finally get down and visit Dave and see Rich. My luck being what it is, Dave has to work that Friday night, the only bit of luck I get is, that my work gives me the Kennedy Station (babysitting) duties instead. Just in case you are wondering what the "duties" are, it consists of the following, you're there (at Kennedy Station) between 1:30am - 5:30am. The first part is waking up the drunks and sleepers and getting them upstairs to the bus bay, ("where am I", and "what do you mean it's 2am" comes up a lot). Then after the last train is parked, I can relax and I'm available if the trains need to be moved. So after a uneventful night I head home to change and head out. Now it would have been nice to get some sleep before, but for anyone in the GTA (greater Toronto Area) knows, Saturday afternoon traffic just plain sucks, so I get out of Toronto and catch a few hours of sleep at my parents place in Ft Eire, which is just across from Buffalo, NY, and where I'm picking up my train to San Francisco.


As my bad luck streak continues, the dinner date I'd made with Leslie for Saturday night got cancelled due to Leslie having to put down one of her dogs. I totally understand, and it's not like I don't go to Buffalo enough. Unfortunately I didn't bother to check my facebook messages until I was at Duty Free, so yea, my lucky streak is just going on and on. I guess there's no hope on those powerball tickets I bought. So off to do some shopping that I had to do, otherwise known as what I forgot to pack. First was a new SIM card, as I left the old one on my kitchen counter top, then off to Best Buy for a half decent phone charger. I'm still trying to figure out how I forgot that one! Also over to the dollar store for some snacks and supplies for the long trip.

                       The one good buy of the day, a selfie stick, $2.88 and here's the test pic!!!




Now I'm off to Buffalo Airport to drop off the car for when I fly back, hey, I only have a week and a bit off of work! 25 minutes later the shuttle bus picks me up, since there are no flights leaving after 9pm they don't check for pickups in the lot (my luck strikes again). A quick cab ride to the train station, no Uber in Buffalo though.

A nice guy as I checked in, and I also enquired about a bedroom upgrade on my second leg (Chicago to San Francisco). Lucky for me the price came down and I decided to pay the extra. You'll get to see it later.

As you can see, just your usual 1970's train station, nothing special, but as long as it has free wi-fi, I'm happy. The train is close to being on time, so out I go to see the Lakeshore Limited pull in.

                                                   Wow, what a great action shot ;-)



Being a eastern train, they have single level cars, which I've never been on before. I'm pleasantly surprised as the Roomettes are bigger than on the dual level cars. You can actually fit a adult on the upper berth unlike the dual level Superliners. Upper berth sleepers even get their own cubby hole and window. Well it's time to settle in, as it's past midnight and I need some sleep.

                                                                    Almost sleeping

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


End of day one!

Heading home.

Well, it had to come, and it has, the last day of my vacation. It's time to drive from Detroit, to Toronto and home. I want to do the Lake Eire, Lakeshore drive, so it's goodbye Detroit, I will be back again. I do the usual 3's and pack all my stuff and just in case you were wondering, this is where I stayed while in Detroit.

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

I finally get around to visiting the Motown Museum.

Well, the cold front has moved through, and it's a lot cooler. It's about 50° outside this morning, with a high in the upper 60°'s. Cloudy, but no rain in sight for the next few days. I've stayed the extra day to hit the Motown museum. Wow, I'm doing my usual drive down to Starbucks on I-94, and it's cold. I'm glad up upgraded to my jeans and polizie sweater.

After a nice coffee and breakfast sandwich, It's time to head into Detroit, and the Motown Museum. One of the things that I'm liking about Detroit, is that traffic isn't too bad, and it never seems that it takes too long to get anywhere. 10 minutes later I arrive at the museum.

One of the pics I downloaded, they had it hanging in the studio.

It's a great tour, and it's a lot bigger than you think it is. Easily an hour tour. But like the Ford Plant tour, no pictures. You're just have to go and see it for yourselves.

Time to do some shopping for supplies and for home. I'm really surprised to find one of my favorite soups.

I tried it once because the "soupman" is the basis for Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi". After you try it, you realize the soup is really good. So for the past couple of years I've stocked up on it when in Buffalo, NY. The last couple of times it hasn't been in stock. 4 container's later, I'm happy.


Time to head back to the motel and relax and watch some tv. My vacation is almost over. Since it's going to be cold tomorrow morning, I'm trying to get ahead of things and pack most of my clothes on the bike. Also I want to go over the bike and check the tire pressures. They are all a wee bit low. I forgot that I needed to replace the 12 volt plug on the air pump. It's easily done in less than 5 minutes. I bought all the parts in Vegas, I just didn't get around to replacing it. 20 minutes later the bike is ready to go.

I'll get an early start tomorrow, first to miss traffic in Detroit and at the border. Plus I want to do the Lake Eire ride. I've done most of it, just not the part around Windsor, ON.

Daily mileage 47 miles - 75 km

Total trip mileage 2500 miles - 4023 km

Another day, another part of Detroit.

So today I'm back to the Henry Ford museum. To do the F-150 truck plant tour, and see Greenfeld village. The first was closed for retooling when I was last here, and thunderstorms stopped me going to the village. First though, is a stop at Starbucks for a coffee. Are you wondering on how the instant Starbucks is standing up? It doesn't really taste like the Pikes Place I buy at the store, but it's still miles ahead of the motel coffee. So its a keeper. Then I head over to the Henry Ford museum and the Rouge plant tour.

The tour was great. The only problem is

that you can't take any pictures :-). To see

a working plant putting together the F-150

was cool. For some pics hit the link below.

Rouge Factory tour

So back to the Henry Ford museum, and the Springfield village. Henry Ford built the village to save a lot of old, historical buildings. 

Being Ford, you have lots of early vehicles driving around. Want a ride in a model T? No problem.

That's right, the Heinz empire started right here.

The village has buildings from the 1600's up to the 1930's. Lot's of live recreation's. Lot's of walking. So if your going to come to the Henry Ford Museum, do it in the following order. 1. Factory Tour, to beat the crowds. 

2. The Henry Ford Museum. 3. Greenfeld village. On a nice day, you can knock all three off, but if you can't, do the first two.

Since I've got some time, I'll head up to "Hard Core Pawn". It's up on 8 mile. South of 8 mile is dodgy, north of 8 mile is nice. So you get customers from both sides of the tracks (or mile). 

I had a good look around, there were a few things that did interest me. But in the end I walked out empty. Though that Rolex Submariner really interested me. None of the " Stars" were about, but its a nice shop and I visit again. I know what your asking, there were no fights or arguments happening when I was there.

Hardcore Pawn

I head back to the motel. Since the weather is going to hold for the next couple of days, I decide to stay one more day. The Motown museum is closed Sundays and Mondays, so everything is coming together. Well I go online to check out the rates and they've gone up. I head down to the front desk and see what they can do. No problem, as they give me the same rate and extend me one more day. Now to catch up on two days of blogs.

Daily mileage  54 miles - 128 km

Total mileage  2453 miles - 3935 km