I changed my route due to the weather forecast and headed out to Sarnia in the wee hours. But my cruise control stopped working while going through Hamilton and by the time I got to Cleveland where I stopped for a nap it was beginning to bother my wrist. It was looking like the weather would be waiting to greet me as I rode back in to the Toronto area so I cut it short and returned home through Fort Erie. After getting through the border ( another story in itself) and starting up the QEW of course the cruise started to work again....
It was still a good ride. The only scary moment was going through Detroit in the only real rain I experienced and was coming up on a double dump truck rig when the trailer started to swing back and forth from passing lane to curb lane... Both I and the Merc in front of me put on as much brake as it was prudent to do given the wet conditions and let the driver get things under control. He promptly pulled over to the side of the highway ( I assume to change his undergarments and then fix whatever caused it to happen).
There was light traffic all the way and only one hold-up, a car (jeep) caught fire while hauling a U-Haul trailer and this closed all the lanes down. The only heavy traffic I had was getting back into Toronto, as usual. It really is ridiculous how bad it is getting anytime but between midnight and 6 in the morning.
I did what the IBA suggests and quit because I was getting tired. The wife agreed this was the wisest choice. Would still like to do the lower lakes but likely not until next year at this point. And I think next time I will make departure dependent on a better forecast and I will not try to get such an early start. It was refreshing to be on the road through downtown Toronto with so little traffic but I think the change in my sleep schedule ultimately cost me. Oh, and you can never carry too many clothes on a long ride like this! Even with my heated gear on I was glad I had a layer of raingear I could add. I wound up doing about 1150 km for the day and despite it being slab all the way it was still a day of riding.
Ride safe, everyone.
Jock
Same.
