Two weeks ago I landed in Detroit via Philadelphia. After only a couple of hours sleep the night before, I was stuffed into a flying metal tube with a man who decided to explain why I needed a personal relationship with some Mexican guy in order to go to heaven.
My Man On The Ground, Josh Hanger, from the Bussa Allstate agency in Allendale, drove over two hours to come and pick me from the airport before taking me to meet and personally thank Beth at the Carr Insurance Agency in Ionia. She was able to provide me with cheap car insurance, which in turn allowed me to buy the car, which meant I could actually make this trip a reality.
Josh really showed me how they do it in central Michigan. I met a bunch of great people, saw some incredible scenery, and we hit Lake Odessa in Josh's awesomely retro boat in the warm night air. The place really made an impression on me.
From there I made my way in my newly registered and insured Ford F150 to Canada. On the way I decided to name the truck 'Sandy' after a friend's mother who is absolutely country to the bone, but also as tough as nails. Over the past week my friend Eric Dewhirst and I tinkered with the ute to do our best to ensure a reliable trip. This included a new wiper motor, spark plugs and leads, an air filter, and some water and oil. The tub is filled with fluids, some spares, and a set of tools should anything go wrong.
On Sunday, which also happened to be my 27th birthday, I spent most of the day applying the awesome stickers provided by Graphic Effects. There's a really good reason why you should have them put the stickers on instead of doing it yourself -- it's hard. The photos are forgiving, but I don't think Iain at Graphic Effects will be offering me a job as an installer when I return home. In any case, I think the truck looks great, despite my efforts.
I drove out of Ottawa on Monday the 22nd and headed towards Toronto. I spent the night with my friend Dr Andrew Tilley, who's studying new solar technologies. Though that night we studied the effects of beer in different environments. Our studies concluded that metal dive bars are the most fun, as you'll meet an Afrikaan-speaking metalhead and discuss Paul Simon's Graceland with him and his Brazilian Suicide Girl fiancee.
Today I drove from Toronto to Niagara Falls and onto Cleveland. More state and country borders than I've ever crossed in a single day on four wheels. Spectacular scenes at Niagara Falls, but one of my highlights was finding a shipwreck on the drive there. The masts poking out from some trees next to the freeway piqued my interest enough to double-back and investigate, and I'm glad I did. The best things about roadtrips are the little finds you have along the way.
Tomorrow I drive out with no knowledge of where I'll be going. And I like that.
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