The Ryan RV Express: September 2019

What follows is our almost continuous drive from Canada eastward to Old Mystic, CT, for Dan’s 45th reunion of his classmates from the 1974 class of the US Coast Guard Academy. In the course of over 12 years RV’ing (nine years plus as full timers) we have had some challenging drives & some almost disasters. This drive did not have extreme challenges or near disasters; but it was one of the most taxing ones we have hadL Starting with constant dust, dirt & bugs during harvesting season in Canada, North Dakota & other northern states; we endured unplanned detours, engine performance issues, record heat, false internet info on availability RV services available, sitting at a Freightliner service facility for three days, driving large RV & Toad on the narrow (can you say no shoulder), rock wall lined country lanes of New England, etc.
Awoke Saturday morning, 14SEP, to rainL We decided not to put car shield on Toad (probably should have). We crossed the border with no problems; then decided to just drive to Grand Forks, ND, & spend the night. When we stop for lunch we discover Toad covered in dirt due to rain in Canada, we clean front of Toad & lights. During the day’s drive we stop at same faux “river boat” rest area on US-2 as we did on 16SEP2014.

At the end of the drive we discover the paved road to RV park is closed for repavingL So we had to drive four miles on dirt roads, once again coating Toad in dirt. RV park refuses to let us clean front of Toad so we can put on car shield, we even offer to pay. 285 miles driven to Grand Forks, ND.

Our intended route will be very close to our routes driven for Dan’s CG Academy reunions in 2009 & 2014J During the 2009 drive we checked out some tourist attractions – Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Da Yooper Tourist Trap, Lakenenland (highly recommended). In 2014 we seemed to concentrate on roadfood like Lawrys Pasty, Raven Café, Old Fashion Frozen Custard. Below BLOG links contain complete details & more pics from those two trips.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2009/09/27-30sep09-minnesota-wisconsin-michigan.html

https://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2014/09/16-20sep14-mn-wi-mi.html

Sunday AM early start; basically staying on US-2. Spent the night at Alpine Campground outside of Bessemer, MI (same place we stayed 17SEP2014). First thing done is to wash the Toad. 390 miles driven.

Monday AM back on the road, don’t stop for any sightseeing like we did in 2009. Stop at St Ignace, MI. Dan decides to update RV GPS (not done for over two years), takes over two hours. 303 miles driven.

Tuesday, 17SEP, all freeway driving starting on the Mackinac Bridge to Port Huron, MI. Stay at same KOA as 19/20SEP2014. Then it was off to the Raven Café for dinner where we last ate at in 2014. Excellent meal just like last time; especially Dan’s orange creamsicle frappe. The café is part library, part restaurant, part bar, part coffee shop, with live music or movies on some nights, based on an Edgar Allen Poe theme (quoth the Raven – “Nevermore”).

https://ravencafeph.com/

Wednesday was a day of R&R; first lunch at Palms Krystal Bar & Grill in Port Huron, one of the last places in USA/Canada still serving “Chicken in the Rough”. Chicken in the Rough once had over two hundred franchises in the USA & Canada. But these weren’t stand alone businesses like a mickey d’s; they were existing businesses that purchased the equipment & rights to the recipe. So you had keep an eye out for their trademarked signs at gas stations, bars, cafes, etc. Hence this location in a neighborhood bar in business since 1936!

In fact the seeing the bar was worth the visit alone. Something new we saw in the bar was continuous televised Keno? Turns out this is statewide, run by the state lotto commission, & you can get ticket(s) for any & every game at bars, gas stations, convenience stores, etc. As to Chicken in the Rough – we tried deep fried livers & gizzards (so, so) & fried chicken w/waffle (very good).

From there it was off to “Worlds Finest Old Fashion Frozen Custard” for desert in Chesterfield, MI; & a game of Putt/Putt Golf (there website is pretty poor, mostly one big add for freezers & ice cream makers; doesn’t even mention onsite putt/putt golf course). The custard was excellent; but the heat was too much & we skipped putt/putt.

Back at the RV we washed Bella in dog wash “machine” that had in the park.

https://palmskrystal.com/

http://chickenintherough.com/

http://worldsfinestfrozencustard.food-places.com/

Thursday morning, 19SEP, we started by crossing back into Canada first thing. To us there was no clear designation for RVs at Canadian check point, so we ended up in the commercial bus lane – Canadian authorities were not happyL!!! By cutting thru Canada we shorten our route by about 100 miles & avoid the congestion around Detroit & norther Ohio. The last 1/3 of the Canadian highway into Niagara Falls leaves a lot to be desired.

We decide to use the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to cross into USA. Turns out the approaches to this bridge are meant for vehicles not RVs (probably why signs said no trucks allowed?). Although we were on the edge of our seat until we crossed it, our wait was only five minutes. Our next adventure was trying to find US62 out of Niagara Falls, NY? At one point we came up on a low bridge (11ft 8in) w/almost now warning – thankfully we measure 11ft 5inJ.

Going to our RV park in Farmington, NY, we turned onto a street w/numerous traffic barrels & cones. Turns out these were supposed to completely block the road under construction – but the workers had moved them for their easy accessL So we had to disconnect & make three point turn to get to the unmarked detour. After setting up camp it was an excellent dinner at Il Posto Bistro & a walk about in Canandaigua. 311 miles driven.

Friday morning make onto US20 planning to drive four hours only & then pull into RV park to do laundry, dump sewage & plan our next stops (if any) enroute New London, CT. Unfortunately the RV started losing power during the numerous hill climbs thru New York’s finger lakes region heading towards Albany on US20. To add to the joy of the journey, the RV lurched sharply while leaving a gas station & sent three of our four dish plates flying out of the cupboard to the floor (can you say a thousand pieces?).

We pulled into the RV park in Averill Park, NY, later than we had planned & found the office locked & two customers waiting in front of us. So we disconnected the Toad & took the nearest open spot, not knowing if we would be allowed to stay. Two hours later owners show up (they both have full time jobs) & said we were ok. Even though we didn’t have the amount of time we planned on, we got the laundry done & RV dumped. 217 miles driven.

Saturday AM head toward Freightliner in Hartford, CT, to get the RV checked out. The drive was New England RV driving at its worst, - narrow country lanes, overgrown w/trees, no shoulders & lined w/rock walls, low overpasses, up & down/up & down/up & down. Freightliner says no-go on RV service even though the national website says yes you do. Dan pushes the point & is connected to a freightliner Oasis RV facility, but they won’t be open until Monday AM.

Next we learn there are no RV parks anywhere close to Hartford so we fight weekend traffic (twice) thru heart of Hartford to Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce Amusement Park, Bristol, CT. Supposedly oldest continuous operated amusement park in North America (who knew?); right next door to ESPN world HQ! 127 miles driven – 2 hour trip takes 4 hours.

https://www.lakecompounce.com/plan-a-visit/lake-compounce

That evening we went to J Timothys Taverne for dinner. This is a very large building, that was already surrounded by cars. We were told half hour wait; but there were 15 tables upstairs that are first come, first serve. There was only one couple waiting upstairs; so we stood behind them & were seated in ten minutes. Some young men don’t understand first come, first served; to them it meant ignore the line & walk to just emptied table & claim it? Once we educated them to what first come means, we sat down & had an excellent meal. Restaurant has won Connecticut wing contest many times & placed second nationally. They are known for their “dirty” method of cooking wings – two thumbs up!

https://jtimothys.com/

Sunday morning we headed to the Connecticut beaches on Long Island Sound. First stop was Lobster Landing in Clinton, CT, for lobster roll (hopefully the first of many while in CT). Supposedly Connecticut is birth place of “hot” lobster roll? Your menu choices here are hot lobster roll, hot dog, or sausage & pepper grinder. It was good but we prefer the cold version (the staple of Maine). Then we tried to find a beach to walk the dogs – no luck. The one beach that allowed dogs – relegated them to a miserable piece of brackish, back water. Since the temps were already in the low eighties – we headed back to the RV & AC.

Monday, 23SEP, on the road by 6:15AM to beat Hartford traffic. This was to go to a freightliner facility that primarily handles freightliner chassis that are not semis (RVs, delivery trucks, fire engines). Turns out they are a Freightliner Oasis facility (Oasis means they work on RV chassis). They have no open appointments, but they will try to fit us in. Unfortunately no openings during the day, but they allowed us to plug in for the night.

For the dinner we headed to a Peruvian restaurant Piolin II that Dan discovered on the web. It was our first time with Peruvian food & we liked it. It seems that Peru has many varieties of corn & it is central to their cuisine? Along with the complimentary bread, we received a bowl of large corn kernels roasted to a crisp nutty flavor. Dan asked for typical Peruvian soda or drink, & received chicha morada a delicious fruit juice made from purple corn, cinnamon & clove. Our appetizer was grilled beef heart w/steamed white corn (excellent). Our entrees were a ceviche sampler & strip steak w/topped w/fried eggs (too much food). Desert was a delicious flan.

http://piolin2.com/

Tuesday late morning they started working on our RVJ After lunch they inform us that the problem was an engine computer control module, & they had the part. So we thought we would be done in an hour or two. But two hours later they informed us that their new part was apparently defective. Our choices were wait for replacement to arrive tomorrow; or have our old part reinstalled & live with our original problem. The new part (ECM) solved our original problem – false low air pressure alarm. The new problem is instead of odometer showing 140K miles driven, it shows 6K miles driven. We opted for the new new part tomorrow.

Wednesday late morning the new new part (ECM) arrives, it doesn’t solve the mileage problemL! Service manager (Mike) spends many hours on phone & in RV trying to solve problem. It appears that when we had fuel pump replaced in El Paso, MAR2017, the ECM was reprogrammed & now that reprogramming has caused mileage issue with these two new parts.

https://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2017/03/09-18mar17-various-unplanned-repairs-in.html

At the end of the work day they have not solved the new problem. The theory is new parts are slightly different construction & contain different software. Mike is talking to upper level tech help at Freightliner & Cummins – no joy. After sitting at Five Star Fire for three days; we decide to leave with new part installed & returned when they have a way to correct mileage. Fingers crossed?

Since we get on road early evening, it gets pretty dark halfway thru our drive to Old Mystic, CT. Our head lights have always been pretty weak (now we are talking 18 years old), & one of the low beams burned out on drive – really adding to the stress level of driving on the narrow New England country lanes!!! We safely make it to our RV park to find no one in office & gates closed. Thankfully another RV’er returning in their Toad let us in with their gate pass. Lots of empty spots, so we picked one & plugged in until office opens tomorrow.

Friday, 06SEP, on the road around Minot, ND (can tell oil money has built up town & surrounding area - roads widened & smooth, new hotels & national stores, etc). Run into oil being sprayed on road while driving north to borderL At border we go thru very thorough & lengthy Customs exam by US Customs as we LEAVE the USAL Turns out they supposedly routinely do this to intercept items being smuggled out & undeclared cash (ie greater than $10K).

After arriving in Sprucewoods, Manitoba, we set up camp at Elaine’s (Corrie’s sister=in=law) & have dinner. This is our first visit to the Canadian side of the family since the passing of Corrie’s oldest brother, Ed, Elaine’s husband, back in 2015. Dan washes new Toad before oil hardens; car cover worked but now it needs to be cleaned also? 195 miles driven.

https://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/12/01-15nov15-sultan-wa-sprucewoods-mb.html

Saturday not much done - Corrie runs errands. That afternoon Elaine babysits her grandkids – Hailey (12), Rowan (7) & Tripp (5). After dinner everyone (including our Jacks – Bella & Rocket) go for a walk thru the neighborhood.

Sunday are still enjoying good weather. Robbie, Corrie youngest brother, comes by for visit. That evening was dinner at Original Joe’s with Corrie’s high school friends Ester (plus Rob) & Marlene.

Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday not much done; Corrie visits with more relatives & friends; Elaine & Corrie played cribbage in the Community Center’s weekly tournament; shopping; while Dan tried to get a suspect part on the RV replaced.

Thursday, 12SEP, Dan takes RV in for part replacement. Elaine cooks a delicious dinner for Robbie & wife Yvonne & us. Excellent evening reminiscing with family.

Friday good weather returns, not much done. That evening we go to the Brandon food truck warz (note spelling). There we met up w/Rob & Yvonne, & sampled Salvadorian, East Africa, Jamaican, kobayashi dogs, Mexican cola, etc. One item that every truck seems to have was poutine. Poutine is/was a common menu item in Quebec & consists of french fries, cheese curds & dark brown gravy. It is now common throughout Canada. Every truck tried to put their own unique spin on their poutine - jerk poutine, poutine w/tatter tots, poutine on onion bloom, poutine w/various BBQ meats, cowboy poutine, serengeti poutine & regular.

According to Wiki – “Poutine is a dish that includes french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. It originated in the Canadian province of Quebec and emerged in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec area. It has long been associated with Quebec cuisine.”