First of all I'd like to thank Jim for showing me around Toronto and hanging out with me. Also thanks to Murdock and Tamara for coming down and enjoying a night on the town with us. And Pete for making trip up to the Ontario BC meet.

Wed. evening when I got home I decided to leave that night if possible, so I hit the sack. I woke up at 10:30, threw my gear in the car and left after a late night dinner at Wendy'*. Toronto or Bust!
I left on Hwy 14E, the plan called for me to get onto I35S then hop onto I90E. Then in Chicago I would jump onto I94E till Lansing, once there I would exit onto I69N, that would take me to Port Huron and Canada!
Once in Canaday I would start on 402N until it changed into the 401. The 401 took me right to Toronto and a hotel room I was very much looking forward too. The trip to Toronto was interspersed with stops for snacks, drinks and **** breaks. It rained most of the night and stopped outside Madison WI. I reached Chicago at about 7:00am, right in time for the morning rush. Somewhere after Chicago I lost track at where I was, so I decided to stop and take a break, get gas and find my bearings. Turned out I was in Indiana, at least I was out of Chicago. At the border I was grilled with questions, they don't like lone travelers I guess, but I was let through after convincing the gaurd there I was harmless.
Doubtless you've seen many pictures and of our exploits while in Toronto so I'll skip to the return journey.

I awoke at 7am Sunday, got myself ready and left. I got out of Toronto at about 9am. For the trip home I decided to go north and avoid the hassle of Chicago. I onto 400N, which was packed with vehicles so I stopped in Barrie to get myself some breakfast. When I got back on the road it was clear of the jam packed traffic. I went north all the way to Sault Ste. Marie. The drive north was beautiful and the weather was nice and cool. I stopped in Sudbury ON and got myself a Subway for lunch, a foot long Spicy Italian, half of which went into my cooler for dinner. Upon reaching Sault Ste. Marie I stopped and picked up several bottles of Cherry Choke(cherry coke) and some pringles.
I don't know what invigorated me more, the prospect of being back in the States, or the Cherry Choke. At the border I had to pull my car into a garage so the customs guys could do a search which yielded nothing, except a custom agents curiosity in the mods I had done to my car. Very cool.
The drive through Michigans U.P. was scenic. I zig-zagged my way through Michigan and Wisconsin taking smaller highways. This was partly for my ever-changing plans to get home. At first the idea was to cross the border at Thunder Bay, but since I was going through Sault Ste. Marie I decided to cross there and make for Duluth. On further inspections of my road atlas I decided to drive to Forest Lake MN, that would put me just north of Minneapolis on I35 which I could easily navigate homeward. I arrived in MN at about 1am, this gave me the added energy to get home by 4am. From I35S it was a skip to 494E, then a hop to 169S and then a jump all the way to Mankato. I arrived home just after 3:30am.
I had no cell signal from Barrie ON to about the middle of Wisconsin, at which time I got signal for about 30min. I averaged almost 34mpg on the trip home at speeds between 70-75mph. The temp on the way back was always in the low 60'* or mid teens Celsius. My trip both ways uneventful, which I guess was a good thing. The next time I go to Toronto I will definately use the northern route.




And NO SARS symptoms!

You thinking of making this next MN meet here in the cities? Maybe we could get people to come down to mankato when i'm there with you, 169 in the fall is a great drive!

I wish this was next weekend. You can attend our picnic here in Chicago. Hee Hee!

Great story smellbird, its one trip you won't soon forget

Thanks for sharing!! I had more fun then I had ever anticipated and safe return of all of our visitors was paramount for me

If MN is the state of 10 000 lakes, Ontario is the province of 30 000 lakes...lol
And no SARS, madcow or west nile virus

Just Kraft Dinner and Pizza-Itis

Hey Seth..I forgot to ask...did you pick up any souvenirs on your way back?

I tried to convince him to get a I AM Canadian hat...but no dice. LOL at least he has a sweet *** Bonneville keychain

Sorry Pete, they were sold out, next time my friend....next time

Hey what day did you stop in Sudbury, I was probably here since I live in Sudbury. I just drove to Sault-ste-marie myslef yesterday and back today, ( for work).

Now you know what it is like to live a bit norht ot T.O. and you know why I moved back here after 2 years in Ottawa.

Hopefully I can make the next meet in T.O.

Doh, just read your post again. I was here on Sunday, probably just chillin.