Vacation 2011 -
Going to New England and Canada - the Long Way

• Day/Date
  June 5, 2011 – Sunday	We left Granada Hills around 9:30 am. Battled wind all along Hwy 40, after leaving Barstow, CA.  We decided not to continue to Kingman, AZ but instead overnighted in Laughlin, NV. We discovered a kink and partial break in the electric cord from the trailer to the car. Had an RV repair service replace it on Monday morning, and then we had to troubleshoot and replace a blown fuse in the car.
  June 6, 2011 - Monday	Got going back on the road around noon. We were aiming for Winslow, AZ, where we planned to overnight at the Hopi ruins. We stopped in Seligman, AZ, on OLD Route 66, for lunch. We were across from the Roadkill Café!  Instead, because of the wind, we gave up in Flagstaff – a really beautiful place to spend the night. We met a man, in the next camping space, who was camping in his 1967 VW Bus that he bought new in 67!
  June 7, 2011 – Tuesday.	Rolled into and through Winslow, AZ, around 10 am. We stopped at the Hopi ruins, toured one of the “apartment complexes” and talked to the ranger about the excavations. It was very interesting. Apparently these ruins are the missing piece between the Anasazi in Chaco Canyon and the current Hopi in upper Arizona, at Mesa 2. Spent the night in Grants, NM. We are amazed at the beauty of Arizona and New Mexico.
  June 8, 2011 - Wednesday	Made it to Amarillo, TX late in the evening. We have plans for tomorrow morning!
  June 9, 2011 - Thursday	Right after breakfast, we back-tracked about 15 miles to Cadillac Ranch – a performance art piece of several Cadillacs buried nose-first in the meadow. They represent the history of the Cadillac fin! And were installed in 1974. While we were there, several tour busses came and went, and many people spray-painted their messages on the cars! We were even treated to a small car show – a Cadillac club was stopped there, and we saw working cars from the 1930’s right up to the present! Before we left Amarillo, we found an RV service and repair place, where we had an electric jack installed on the front of the trailer. We really are not macho… We made it into Oklahoma City around 5:30 pm.
  June 14, 2011	We made it to Iowa City at about 1pm today. Got the laundry done, and we are making plans for the week. The wind has been a plague all up Missouri and thru Iowa. I drove the lerrer hwys to be able to go slowly. It worked.We passed through Monroe, IA around 11:30am. We had to stop for a very long Flag Day parade of tractors! We were enjoying the show, but then they stopped the parade to let the traffic pass. Oh well.Dan and I are taking the trailer in for, we hope, a repair. I dinged the steps when I drove down a steep driveway a few days ago. Its not a big deal for him, because he is taller than I am. But for me that first step is a bit much. I will be driving to Kalamazoo in a rental car tomorrow, to fly back with Barb on Friday.
  June 15, 2011	It was a busy day today.We tried to get the steps fixed. No luck. So we are stuck with temp steps till we can order some. Then we went to Ammana Colonies. Wow! What a beautiful place, and terrific history lesson. Pictures to be posted soon. Tomorrow I drive from Iowa City to Kalamazoo, spend the night, and fly back with Barb.
  June 27, 2011	Classic Racer 23 home in Kalamazoo - left Mobile at 8:30 am, got here at 8:30 pm.Dodged lots of weather, saw beautiful sites.
  June 30, 2011	Yesterday - we left Wisconsin Dells around 11:30. An hour later, stopped for a rest and saw smoke from the engine compartment. Coolant was leaking at a fitting, dripping on hot engine parts. 2 hours later and a visit to the Ford dealer we were back on the road. Spent the night in Utica, IL. This am we went on a pilgramage to the JC Whitney store - we have ordered from their catalog for over 30 years. Tonight - staying in Coloma, MI. It has been storming since we got here. Good time for a rest with my kitty. Tomorrow am will go into St. Joseph to take pictures before we head for Canada.We plan to cross into Canada at Port Huron. And we plan to be in Niagra Falls for the 4th of July!
  July 1	Dan and I are spending Canada Day in London, Ontario, Canada. Go Canada! The weather is beautiful and the people are very friendly. Arabella is making new friends.
  July, 2011	Dan and I have spent the past two days in Niagra Falls. Last night we saw the fireworks at the falls and chatted with some folks from St. Lois and some from Ohio. Today we went to the falls, got wet, took pictures. Wow! worth seeing. We went to Lockport, to see the Eirie Canal. Lucked out - there was a large 45 ft private sail boat, mast stepped, going through the locks. How amazing! We visited Ft. Niagra, read up on the French and Indian War. Tomorrow - off to the Finger Lakes of NY.
  July 7, 2011	We are in Adirondack Park, NY - what a beautiful place! We had a long drive from the (also beautiful) Fingerlake District today. Tomorrow Dan is going to teach me to canoe!
  July 10, 2011	We arrived in Eastern Vermont at 2pm today. Set up camp and will explore NH and VT from here for a few days.
  July 15, 2011	We have spent the past few days making our way across New Hampshire, across Maine, across New Brunswick. We are spending tonight and tomorrow night in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The New Hampshire White Mountains were spectacular. Maine was charming. We were so impressed with the beauty and charm of New Brunswick. Tomorrow we plan to see the roots of Anne of Green Gables - remember those books?
  July 16, 2011	Spending two nights on PEI. The Confederation Bridge, which is how we got here, is 10 miles long. It cost a billion dollars to build, in the late 90s. Interesting, when only 100,000 people live on this beautiful island. We visited the site of Montgomery's inspiration for the Anne of Green Gables books. What a lovely setting! And it clearly is a source of local pride. The musical has been running for 47 years! We walked on the beach at Cavendish, and all along our travels we met some delightful local folks. One lady told us that she and her husband built their house, on 50 acres, and now she raises free-range chickens who keep her supplied with eggs.
  July 18, 2011	A mechanical problem with the trailer has stranded us in Mastondon Ridge, Sewiacke, Nova Scotia. We are waiting for the repair folks now. The bearings blew out on one of the wheels yesterday afternoon. We discovered it when we pulled into a rest stop just off the main highway. Everyone has been so helpful. The gift shop people called the local mechanic, who came out on Sunday afternoon! to assess the problem. He will be back with more help and equipment this morning. Meanwhile, we spent the night here (in the trailer) in fast-food heaven. Taco Bell for lunch, KFC for dinner, Tim Horton donuts for breakfast. Comfort food.
  July 19, 2011	We spent the day in the parking lot of the garage that will be doing the repairs. Turns out we need a new axle and we need to have the frame of the trailer plated because it has cracks in it, on both sides! Probably other incidental damage. This should not have happened - it is a new trailer that has been well-treated. We are disgusted....