Day 2: Whitehall, Michigan to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Up early and head into Whitehall/Montague by Lake Michigan and take the highway north to Ludington. Join the queue for the S.S. Badger at 07:30 while taking free coffee and photographs, including this shot of sister ship Spartan. The Badger ia a fine old coal-powered steam ship used to carry railway wagons - the tracks are still in the hold - but has been repurposed as car ferry and tourist trip. We sail promptly at 09:00 for the four hour crossing as we settle in the Carabana saloon. There is a small museum below deck which shows the heyday of the railroad era - "not bad in the fifties" as Paul Watts would say. We arrive at Manitowoc, Wisconsin and there is a lengthy delay as the smart car is last off, unloaded by a company employee - you can neither drive your car on or drive it off - bikers excepted!
We head into Sheboygan where we meet fellow smart car owners Ed and Carol who stop by to say hello as we clean the car in a park by the lake. On to Fond du Lac where we shop at the Piggly Wiggly, more Pyrex at the Goodwill store, and an early night with the Tour de France.

Crazy Daisy Tour: Toronto to Whitehall, Michigan

The "Crazy Daisy" Tour departs 07:10 via 401. Breakfast at truckstop at junction 401/403 at Woodstock. Turn onto 402 for Sarnia - take gas at Goco at Strathroy while chatting to owner Mike re smart car. Reach the border at Bluewater Bridge 11:20. Lengthy delay for fingerprints and mugshot in hot weather. On to Capac off highway for Post Office and quick mooch in thrift store - small town America personified. To Flint, Michigan detouring to find country road - the town is a day late and a dollar short, hit hard by the troubles in the US car industry - we stop at the Salvation Army store which is a shambles but find a Pyrex lid. On to Owosso, via several yard sales, where the thrift store yields three Pyrex gems. Everything in America is for sale. Facing detours for road works and an accident we are running short of diesel so back to the main road where we fill up at Ionia. The satnav is a comfort when looking for gas. Back on the Interstate for nightstop at the Super 8 in Whitehall, Michigan. This is a biker haunt and the receptionist warns us to expect them to trash the place later - false alarm as all is peace and quiet. We shop for groceries opposite so supper is under $5 for two - watch the Tour de France on TV.

Lakeshore Cruise

To the Lakeshore Cruise in Toronto with John and Betty-Jean Lawrence in their '56 Chevrolet.

The Chevy hood ornament points to a '32 Ford at Humber Bay Park.

Corvette and Camaro on Lakeshore West.

Street rodding brings cheer to Toronto.

Propeller-head heaven

To Billy Bishop City Centre Airport on the yellow Brompton bicycle. They are refurbishing this old propeller-driven crate parked outside a hangar, photographed with some ingenuity through the fence. Pic by RLT.

Exotic cars in summer sun

More rare birds spotted on Annette Street in Toronto.

Pics by RLT.

Blog around the clock

Great trip to the Nurburgring. I was blogging here.

Some thirty hours without stopping.

We were staying at Mayen, see picture above.

For pics from Cochem go here.

They keep turning up

To the land of miles, gallons and fahrenheit; to Watkins Glen, New York. Spotted this Barracuda in a field outside of town.

Out at the race track Bob, a former cop, took me for a tour of the circuit.

Downtown to the Glen Mountain Market for coffee with the good ol' boys and this Chevrolet Corvair 95 pickup for a conversation piece. Note smart car lurking in the background.