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Crossin’ the line!
By John | July 18, 2009
Well, didn’t we all know that mechanically, “uncle jack” would make it to Montreal?
‘Course we did!
3700 odd miles (or 5900 kms if you prefer ‘old money’) into the trip from Daytona Beach, so we’ve already covered 35% of the estimated total distance! And what a COMFORTABLE 3700 miles it’s been!
The pic below shows just one car ahead of us in the queue at the US/Canada frontier – and boy, did it take time to filter down the patiently waiting line of cars! Watched “uj’s” temperature gauge like a hawk and thankfully, it stayed on the safe side of “I’m boiling, buddy!”
But never in all my world journeys in days of yore has it taken so long to cross a frontier. Believe me, getting into Saudi Arabia without a visa would probably have been easier – and quicker, even though you knew in advance you were the last person they wanted to see.
And then we were through!
… and of course, being over the line in this part of Canada, means we’re in the French speaking part of the country. Having spent so many years of my earlier life living in France and speaking the language, it’s almost like being ‘chez moi’ again. Sadly, the stay in Quebec – surrounded by “ecoutez” and “donc” and “il faut que” will be too short-lived, as we’re back to Uncle Sam in Maine on Monday – and (I hope) an appointment with a freshly-caught lobster at some point along the route?
The rest of the day – and the earlier part of it was very pleasant, though uneventful. Before finally leaving Hemmings in Bennington (where Dave LaChance and his charming wife) had housed and fed me the previous night at their delightful home, we needed to have “uncle jack” up on another lift in the Hemmings museum to see if there was still a problem with the right front strut. I thought I had it rattling a day earlier but hopefully it was only my imagination? Everything looked and felt OK – just have to hope that it is.
Hey, anyone at New England Triumphs got a lift, just in case we need to do a check a little later on?
By 10.30, “uj” was back on his wheels and after a phone call or two, it was time to head north – for the border. Had an enchanting drive on the interstate through the Adirondack National Park, pausing for a bite to eat at Schroon Lake – and then on again. Stopped early afternoon to take some pictures (other than through the screen or window) – and one of them appears below.
On arriving in Montreal, checked into my TraveLodge and then spent the next hour swearing at my laptop because I couldn’t hook in to my emails and update this site. Somehow – though I know not how, I’ve managed to get things working again – but how long it’ll stay like that, remains to be seen.
The day was most agreeably and pleasantly rounded off meeting Genevieve Charette of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada – the Canadian non-profit this event is supporting. She called to collect me and then we did a short walking tour around the old city of Montreal, ending up enjoying a delicious meal and an even better bottle of wine. Back to the hotel, long before the ‘witching hour’ and in bed by ten p.m. – with blissful sleep descending not much more than a minute later.
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