Friday, July 21, 2006

On the road again

Left promptly at 07:55 for points east in the smart car, heading for Newfoundland. Out of Toronto on the 401 with Lake Ontario on our right. Pitstop at Tim Horton's near Port Hope for coffee and gas, and pump up tires - 98.1 cents per litre for diesel. Listening to "Leaving Louisiana" by the Oak Ridge Boys. Stop by "The Big Apple" at Colborne, and Ivy Lea prior to crossing into the states at Thousand Islands - Wellesley Island, New York [toll bridge at Ivy Lea $2.20 CDN]. Usual hassle in immigration, depart 13:00. To Watertown, New York through endless road construction, then picnic lunch at Turin. More gas at Booneville - the guy at the station wants to know all about the smart and to talk Tour de France. Via Rome and Utica to Little Falls, NY - an historic old mill town on the Erie Canal and Mohawk River. 557 km covered.
Stayed at Best Western [$69 plus tax incl breakfast with coupon]. Watched Floyd Landis ride the race of his life on the Col de Joux Plane in the Tour de France. According to the French press he is a man "sans panache" so this was the perfect riposte.
To Canal place and Canal Harbour next morning early before the souvenir shops are open. Little Falls turns out to be a splendid old town, if a little knocked about with a ghastly strip mall on main street, but well worth the stop. Now for Vermont and New Hampshire later today to see old college chum John Wrigley.

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