Last night

Our last night on the road was in Poplar Bluff Missouri got up the next morning and it was threatening rain again like it had been for the last 4 or 5 days. Had a great time on this trip, sure did miss Richard. This year we traveled about 4100 miles a lot of them was in Canada. That's it until next year.

Phillip W Daily

Wednesday

After lunch at Steak and Shake in Mt Vernon, back on the road, another 50 or so miles we are at Marion, IL and the Black Diamond Harley. Another neat store, fairly new and fun stop. 

We have been so fortunate today with partly cloudy but no rain. Now headed for Cape Girardeau and the Harley shop there, Lawless Harley Davidson. As we are going south and west, some large rain clouds looming in front of us and to the east. Going south and the rain starts to fall at the same time we turn the corner to the right, West, and just like that we are out of the rain and riding toward partly clear skies and the Harley stop. Didn't get a picture but basically a big metal building but very nice inside. Then back on the road to Poplar Bluff, Mo and the last night on the road and home tomorrow. Been a great ride but so many times, missing our third amigo, Richard. Have also missed him and his color commentary and descriptions of our travels on this blog. This trip would have been his 70th birthday ride. GMS

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Wednesday

On the road again, 50 miles further and Mt Vernon and the Waterkotte Harley store. Very nice store and a good visit. Always some things the same and yet very different. Weather still holding and great riding. So much fun without the rain suit! GMS

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Wednesday

Well, it's Wednesday, walk outside the hotel, and guess what? NO RAIN! Light fog, low 70s, pavement dry, so a very good start. On the road, riding is awesome, cool and perfect. First stop is Effingham, IL and the Legacy Harley Davidson. As we are coming down the interstate around a curve and here is this huge barn and silo with the Harley signs on it. Really great inside and out. Everyone so friendly and‎ and are also riders. GMS 

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World of Motorcycles

The museum also had some cars and bicycles. The car is an MG TD, a 1915 ford, model a and several others. These two bikes are Harley Davidson, really neat. He also had so many rare, foreign and odd brands. A fun visit and lots to see. And finally this afternoon, breaking clouds, temps up in the 80s and road to South of Champaign, in for the night. GMS.  

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HD and Museum

One of the bikes was a beat up ultra with a sign that said this was the bike he and his wife was riding in 2003 when a truck ran a stop light and hit them in the middle of the intersection killing his wife instantly and breaking both his legs, an arm and his back. He is probably mid to late 80s, gets around good, sharp mind and interesting to talk to. He has risen since that accident and spends most days in the museum. GMS 

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Tuesday

Rain off and on, on our way to ‎North Judson and The World of Motorcycles Museum. Surprised to find this was also a Harley dealership, Kersting's HD. Mr Kersting was in the Museum and had a chance to visit a bit. He started back in 1962. Being dealer he would come across some, bought some from auction and accumulated many to put together this museum. GMS 

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Tuesday 16th

Took off this morning in the -----wait for it, RAIN!!!

About 30 miles down the was Sturgis, Michigan and the Hamilton Harley Davidson. Talked one of the salesman there, he worked as a beer distributor until about 8 years ago, retired and started selling Harley. Originally from New York. Always interesting people. GMS

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Monday and 2nd Harley stop

Back in the USA and here at Tecumseh Harley. Kinda out in the country, Hwy 50, Tecumseh, Michigan. Still in and out of rain. Good place to stop, coffee, book a room back on the road! And more rain. 

Then just 12 miles down the road is the Town and Country Sports Harley (and. All miscellaneous, Honda, kawasaki, etc etc) in Cement City. Michigan. Big store with a biker sport bar next to it. Did not get a photo, and back on the road to Coldwater and Holiday Express only opened for 2 weeks and of course in the RAIN! GMS

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Monday Lake Erie

Different than previous great Lakes coastline and what we expected. A few really nice homes, several average and small homes, some trailer homes and fields of grain and hay right up to the shore. And of course, RAIN! GMS

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Monday

Rocky's Harley. GMS

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Monday 15th

The morning started out perfect! A few clouds and partly sunny. Rocky's Harley (like Rocky and Bullwinkle), complete with a stuffed moose head. Nice friendly shop and unique building. Off to Hwy 3 and Lake Erie. GMS

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Sunday 14th

Left soaked Oshawa and rather than going through Toronto, our route took us back through Newmarket, came through yesterday and stopped at Wimpy's for lunch, this time however we were able to connect with Buff and Bonnie from Oklahoma and their daughter Suzanne and Geoff and family, who live here in Newmarket. Buff and I go back to pre Jones in Iowa. He is the fishing buddy I have gone to Canada for almost 40 years. Buff went to work for Jones in 85, 3 years later recruited me and both his daughters husbands work for Jones also. Great to have a chance to see them. And the we were off to Huron coast and London. GMS 

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Monday

Raining again. We rode in the rain most all day but we did stop at 3 Harley shops and go to eat in a couple of pretty places this picture is the inside of one of the shops

Sunday

Sunday was pretty uneventful we did stop by a friend of Gaylan that he fishes with every year. He knows the people all over the country. We did have to put on rain suits again we got into some light rain part of the day but it wasn't too bad.

Saturated Saturday

Talk about wet! We did today. Made fair time to Newmarket‎. Little rain here and there but then the bottom fell out! Finally got to Mackie's Harley Davidson with hot coffee and friendly people. Nice store. Then it was off to the Canadian Auto Museum. By the time we got to the hotel, we could pour water out of our boots! What a day and Adventure! GMS

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Rough Saturday

Got up Saturday morning with our destination to be a museum and a Harley shop near Toronto. It started raining shortly after we left and rained all day long really hard at times but we made it over here in time to see the museum.

Bad Harley store

We stopped at Fox Harley-Davidson in Owen Sound Ontario after shopping a little while we ask if they had Wi-Fi so we get a hotel and before we got a hotel booked they closed and turn the Wi-Fi off so we didn't have a way to book a hotel and then when I went to start my bike it turned out that this some antennas close to the shop was interfering with my security system and I couldn't start my bike,then Gaylan saw a sign saying  if you push your bike around behind the store it will start. That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.

Ferry ride

We were lucky enough to arrive just in time to get on the ferry otherwise we would have waited another four hours. As you can see in the photo it was double decker and we got the last two spots

Rainy start to the day

Got up Friday morning and it was raining but not very hard so we put on our rain suits and took off

Ferry

When we got close to the ferry dock, stopped at the yellow pirch, a small mom and pop place in an ol house and had pirch fish and chips. The fries were all hand cut and everything really good! We left and went to the dock, we pulled in and the attendant said to pull up to a spot and if room we could pull on, if not the next would be in 4 hours. 5 minutes later we became the last vehicles on the ferry. Doors close, tie down the bikes, and on our ride for 2 hours some 36 miles south. GMS

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Rain, rain, rain

Took off this morning in rain, kinda in and out all morning on the way to the ferry crossing. Not heavy or stormy type, just an easy rain. GMS

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Thursday 11th

Saw probably 20 or so of these fully loaded bicycles along our trip around Superior and today. 63 when we started today and low 80s this afternoon. All great roads. GMS

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Sudbury HD

Got to Sudbury this afternoon and stopped at The Rock Harley Davidson. Really nice and friendly store. About 8 years old in building and several decades before in a little tin building with other brands. They put us on a country ride south of town that was really great. GMS

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Thursday

We made the trip from Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury Ontario this morning. Stopped by the Harley shop and while we we're there a guy told us about a ride in the country. It was a great ride seeing the farms and lakes. No pictures

Rest stop

Needed a leg stretch and bottom break, pulling off the road and we hear water running. This is the source across the road. Almost every place you look today was beautiful. GMS

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Wednesday 10th

50 degrees this morning and never got much above 60s today. VERY nice. This was the scenery most of the 460 miles today to Sault Ste Marie. Awesome ride and temps again today. GMS

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Thunder Bay

Crossed the time line so lost an hour, but here at Thunder Bay Harley. Older building with a wooden front porch which had several riders sitting outside and enjoying the day. Couple of retired guys from Michigan needing repairs on one of their bikes, just riding around Superior for the week. Another with a custom bike built in Chicago, retired and just hanging out. Was kind enough to show us to the Holiday Express, which happened to be full‎ a we found the Comfort Inn with the only room available. Seem to be a lot of travelers this time of year. Another great day! GMS 

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CANADA

Here we are! North Country and the kanooks, and meant most endearingly, eh! GMS

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Not quite what we're used to

In Thunder Bay Ontario tonight. We missed out on are Holiday Inn so we're at the Comfort Inn. Not quite what we're used to

Lunch

Walleye fish and chips out on the patio, overlooking the boats and bay with gentle Lake breezes. Doesn't get much better than this. What a fantastic morning! GMS

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Lunch on the road

This lake side cafe along the highway in Little Marais, Mn. We checked out the lake side town and came back to this place. GMS

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Beautiful Lake Superior

We traveled about 130 miles along the side of Lake Superior it today most the time it was right on the water's edge

Lighthouse

Several miles on the highway we spotted the Split Rock Lighthouse looking out over Superior directing the ship and barges through the dark and fog. GMS

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Tuesday

Heading east of Duluth, along the shoreline of Superior and looking back at Duluth. Another fantastic day and perfect riding type day. Breath taking all the way. GMS

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