Gig Harbor Washington to Bar Harbor Maine 2001

I'm afraid we woke up our neighbors. He was glued to the TV on the picnic table when we left - about 8. I slept really well. Woke up feeling more rested than I ever do in a motel. Don't know if I get better sleep or if it just feels so good in a regular bed that I can't get out of it.

Personally, I prefer it to TV.

It was a fast, ugly, 30 mile ride to Marine City. The roads were the worst of the trip. A real pile of Michigan. The suburban and industrial sections of Port Huron were horribly busy. There were folding chairs and mats set up all along Main Street. I asked a cop what was going on. "Parade", he said. at least he didn't shoot me. Apparently there's a big sailboat race up the St Claire River to Mackinaw Island. I don't think they sail up Main Street, but they must celebrate somehow.

Shoulder? Ha! What a bunch of Michigan

Right now I'm sitting in a park in Marine City watching a variety of boat traffic in the river. Everything from jet skis to enormous freighters. I wish I were watching from the other side of the river, in Ontario, but we're waiting for Mike's ID to show up. Darsey express mailed it and it's guaranteed to be here in 9 minutes. The ladies at the post office say that it could be on the next truck, at 3:00, but that truck is really only for out-going mail. Looks like another Michiganny day in Michigan.

Marine City really isn't too bad. They served us breakfast at lunchtime - it wasn't very good, but we got what we ordered. The postal ladies are very friendly - when they tell us to give up, it isn't coming today. The ferry is very quaint - teasing us with promises of the "other side". There's more industry along this river than I've ever seen - but I may just jump in. A little pollution might help my outlook.

The pristine shores of Ontario

It did come in - 45 minutes after the guarantee and too late for us to get anywhere in Canadia. For the first time we had a nice state park nearby, right by another ferry, and Mike chose to get a motel. Spending a few hours waiting and sweating in the park had gotten to him. I had actually been looking forward to camping but was not about to object to a/c and a bathtub. We rode a delightful 5 miles without BOBs to do our laundry. Mike enjoyed one of my old favorite pastimes, drinking beer at the laundromat. Read a few more stories from my book.

We passed the kids on the way to the laundry. We'd finally connected with them and directed them to our motel. I was hoping we'd enter Canada together.

Well, think I'll upload this stuff and go sit on the dock on the river.