The Big Ride pg. 2 ... on to Niagra Falls

Day 6... Tuesday...May 28th:

The KOA there had a nice little kitchen in the office and they made us all a great midwest breakfast for a very reasonable price. We started off with full tummies knowing that we would not stop until we got to Ottawa, Illinois where I was to meet up with 2 of my internet friends who live in towns nearby. I got to spend about an hour with my friends Peggy and Claudette and meet claudettes kids. it was really neat to meet them in person.

After our visit my group stopped at the starved rock harley davidson dealership for some souveniers before haulling ass towards Chicago. Of course as is usually the case we had to go through the big city during 5 o clock rush hour. It was hot, overcast, and looking like rain. We did get sprinkled on a bit as we crossed into Indiana, but the main storm didnt catch up with us til we stopped in South Bend for the night. We had gotten in so late we didnt feel like traveling around much to hunt for food so we took the easy choice and ate at the burger king right next to the camp ground.

Day 7... Wed...May 29th:

It really poured down during the night so we started out with rain gear on. We couldnt wear much underneath though, because it was pretty hot and very humid. We got poured on several times during the day and welcomed the cool shelter at the convenience centers we stopped at for gas. For those who have never been in the eastern half of the united states I would like to explain. Unlike the west half of the country, where the roads are all free to drive on even when controlled access, in the west ... the gas stations and fast foods and stuff are just off an exit and easy to get to, but you go off the highway to get there, whereas on parkways, and toll ways, where you have to get a ticket or pay cash to drive on a certain distance of divided highway, there is no way to get off that road without paying to get back on, so they have made little oasis within the fenced in area of the toll road, that has gas, food, souveniers and stuff. They are nice and convenient, but you dont get much choice as to what is available. Anyway, we kept going on to Erie, Pennsylvania. Yes once again going through the big city...this time Cleveland...at rush hour. Of course I hear that in most of those big cities back east there is no rush hour. It is 24 hour non stop rush. sigh....We stayed that night at the KOA in erie, pa.

Day 8...Thursday...May 30th:

We got a late start because we did some laundry, but we didnt have far to go that day. We took the scenic route along the coast of Lake Erie through the small town of Freeport. Freeport beach is where the first woman to swim Lake Erie, Hallie Ried, swam ashore. we stopped at the little park for a butt break.

we rode through the grape vineyards until we hit road construction and had to head back to the freeway... yes that part is still free, but oh man wait 'til you hit Buffalo! We asked a toll gate operator which exit to take and she gave us the wrong one... probably on purpose... we took the wrong exit and wound up in downtown Buffalo...yes...once again at rush hour! we made the best use of it and gassed up before heading back onto the controlled access highway. Amazingly we managed to get to our destination at Grand Island KOA. ( another dumb toll operator told us she didnt know that half the country doesn't have to pay for highway travel... tsk)...Anyway...this is the camp spot where we stayed for 2 nights while visiting the falls. I would not recommend it though. it was badly cared for and it was at that camp that butch caught a nasty viral infection on his forehead which cost us over a hundred dollars in meds to get rid of and many days of pain for butch.

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