Vol 15 No 5 July 30, 2011

Left Denver and loaded in Cozad, Nebraska on Friday 1 July at Tenneco, the parent company of Monroe Struts and Shocks. The company is consolidating and moving the Cozad plant in with the Georgia plant.

Internet: Cozad is a small town in central Nebraska with a population of 4,181 and is located on the 100th Meridian. Cozad has a Monroe shock absorber plant that employees over 700 people. The plant closing will have a huge impact on Cozad.

It was the 4th July long weekend. We drove to within 65 km (40 miles) of our delivery and stayed at a truckstop and took the bike off on Sunday afternoon. Very hot and humid weather, 40% chance of storms forecast and we got a little wet which was a welcome cool down. Found where we had to make our Tuesday delivery in Hartwell, Georgia near Lake Hartwell, then just cruised around. Many poultry farms in the area. This part of Georgia/South Carolina has very few bars/pubs and strict alcohol laws.

Jim stopped at Neighbor’s Pub, beer could not be bought until he joined their ‘club’ for $5 for one year membership. I signed in as a guest and then Jim could buy beer. The membership is good for Neighbor’s Pub only, if we stopped at another pub, he would have to join their club before being able to buy drinks. They did have complimentary crab pasta salad for members and guests!

Wikipedia: South Carolina: the retail sale of liquor statewide is permitted from 9am until 7pm Monday to Saturday,

and Sunday sales are banned by state law. However, counties and cities may hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine only. (No liquor?) Apparently cities and counties vary with their rules, it is confusing!

Monday we left early and followed the Savannah River south in Georgia, then crossed into South Carolina and followed the Heritage Corridor and Savannah River Scenic Highway north along the river to Anderson, SC. Past river lookouts, small towns and agriculture. Saw several antebellum style homes. Some in excellent condition and some have been totally neglected.

Internet: The Savannah River forms the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. The river is around 300 miles (484 kms) long. Lake Hartwell was formed from the Savannah River dam.

Then along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains into North Carolina and Tennessee past many state parks. Very hot and humid again with 40% chance of storms. This time we got totally drenched and got cold! Spectacular scenery and twisty roads. Being a long weekend, there was a lot of traffic.

Delivered at Tenneco in Hartwell on Tuesday morning and deadheaded to Knoxville, Tennessee and loaded large coils of polyethylene pipe the next morning, had to put a smoke tarp on it.

Delivered to Mid-America Energy Company’s depot in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday morning, 7 July.

Only 100 kms (60 miles) to Elkader, Iowa where the 40th Moto Guzzi National Rally was being held. (Moto Guzzi’s 90th Anniversary, Iowa’s 20th Rally.) We had attended a National Rally here in 2006 and the 2004 State rally previous at the same location - Elkader City Park.

Internet: Surrounded by the hills of the beautiful Turkey River valley, Elkader offers scenic vistas, unique shops, great recreation and many historic sites.

We dropped the trailer at a nearby fuel stop and took the bobtail to the campgrounds and parked near the entrance. We had a good spot, and even though we had no shade trees, the truck cast a good sized shadow each afternoon and we had a breeze on top of the hill, therefore always a group of people there. The campground was very shady, but down in a hollow, hardly any breeze and abundant biting and annoying insects. A hot and humid few days for the rally.

450 people registered. Many guzzi friends from all over the country were there. Joe rode over from Buffalo with Frank and Penny and Jo and Galen (from New Hampshire and Maine).

The town of Elkader loves hosting moto guzzi rallies. There are “Welcome Moto Guzzi” signs on most businesses and on the banners in the streets. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the locals presented “Lost Your Sense of Humour”, an hour of funny skits, songs, dances and jokes. Many incorporating motorcycles and moto guzzis. Held in the newly renovated and restored Opera House (1903), it was a very enjoyable performance, and very talented people in Elkader!

One segment was a song about the beverage containers that are collected after the rally. At the time of purchase, a 5 cent per bottle/can is added, so a six-pack has a 30 cent container charge. After the rally the containers are returned and the container charge redeemed. That money is allocated to the local parks and playgrounds for which the town is appreciative. After 20 years of rallies, the Moto Guzzi Club has probably built all the parks and playgrounds!

On Saturday Joe, Jim and I went on a 120 mile (200 km) circuit for the observation poker run. Had eight observation answers to find. We rode north in Iowa, crossed the Mississippi River bridge into Wisconsin at Prairie du Chien. Then south along part of the Great River Road to Cassville and took the ferry back across the Mississippi River and back to Elkader. (Jim won the Poker hand, too.)

Internet: The Pride of Cassville Car Ferry connects two National Scenic Byways; the Great River Road and the Iowa Great River Road. The ferry served the early settlement as far back as 1833 and it continues today, making the same trip back and forth the mighty Mississippi. It is the oldest operating ferry service in the state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin’s Great River Road flanks the majestic Mississippi River as it leisurely winds its way along 250 miles of Wisconsin’s western border. Along its way, the road is nestled between the river on one side and towering bluffs on the other, becoming one of the most scenic drives in mid-America.

It was busy at the campgrounds - Moto Guzzi USA had several demo bikes, a photographer and journalist from Café Racer Magazine, lots of people to catch up with and new people to meet.

Saturday evening were the awards, raffle drawing, and the pork chop dinner. Iowa’s main agricultural outputs are hogs, corn, soybeans, cattle, eggs, and dairy products. Iowa is the nation’s largest producer of ethanol. The moto guzzi rally has always been included in the schedule for the Iowa Pork Queen to make an appearance at the pork chop dinner.

Website: The Iowa Pork Producers Association has been selecting an Iowa Pork Queen and Princess (runner up) annually since 1960. The Queen and Princess serve as ambassadors for the Iowa Pork Producers Assn and assist with pork promotional and educational activities.

This year’s Queen was a lovely young lady who socialized and posed for photos with motorcycles and riders, and lead the parade in a sidecar. (Previous years we have been there they have been a little timid around the scary bikers…? And don‘t stay long.) She even got friendly with Joe Casey (WNY Rep.) and Randy Tefft (New Hampshire Rep.)! Look at their grins - brave young lady!!

Sunday morning saw an early start for many as they had long distances to get back home. Joe, Frank and Penny left before we got up Sunday morning. We stayed around until late morning for all guzzi friends to head home.

Jim and I went for a ride in Iowa following scenic roads along the Upper Mississippi River, through fields, historic small towns, even ended up on a dirt road. Stopped in St Olaf Tap for a light snack and Iowa beers. St Olaf Tap has a reputation for a huge tenderloin sandwich. The owner showed us one, and it was about 30cm in diametre (12 inches)! The sign outside says “Put Something Big Between Your Buns”.

Internet: A pork tenderloin sandwich (a “tenderloin”) is a very thinly sliced piece of pork, uniquely battered and breaded, deep fried and served on a hamburger bun. This sandwich is generally only sold in the US Midwest (it is similar to a wiener schnitzel).

Indiana and Iowa both vie for the reputation of “Best Tenderloin”.

The funny part is that the huge tenderloin is between a normal sized split bun.

We got back to the truck mid afternoon, did laundry and loaded the bike and stayed overnight at the rally site - it was very quiet! The “scattered thunderstorms” that had been forecast for each day eventuated Sunday night - thunder, lightning and a downpour. We also acquired about 50 Iowan flies as hitchhikers and they stayed with us for a couple of days!

Our next load was in New Hampton, Iowa only 100 kms north - two shipping containers for a windmill project in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The first time we have been in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia for about 20 years - back in the household moving days and when we had the Moto Guzzi V65 C on the truck.

Entering from Maine, USA into New Brunswick, Canada we went on Atlantic time which is one hour ahead of East coast time. Also, all signs and information is written is both English and French - road signs, menus, tourist brochures, etc.

We delivered in Springhill, Nova Scotia on Friday morning 15 July, about 40 kms into Nova Scotia. The directions were “go through Springhill and head to the windmills“. After going through Springhill, Jim noticed a truck with an oversize load way up in the distance. Along the next straight road, there were two oversize loads. We knew two excavators were being brought in to unload us, so we managed to catch a glimpse of them from time to time and saw where their wheel tracks turned on to a dirt track. At least the track was going towards a windmill! Yes! We were in the right place! We would not have found it otherwise. Turned out to be an easy delivery, we had been nervous. The operators put the excavator buckets under the narrow edge of the container and lifted in unison while Jim drove out from under. Then they lowered the container to the ground.

From website: Emergya Wind Technologies (EWT). The company delivers wind farms on a full turn-key basis, as well as individual turbines and wind turbine components. The wind turbines of EWT are based on the highly advanced direct drive (gearless) technology.

We stopped briefly in Springhill after delivering. Nowhere safe/legal to park for any length of time. We stopped outside the Anne Murray Centre, but were there an hour early before it opened.

Website: In early records, the town was called “Springhill Mines”. Coal mining lead to the establishment and growth of the town until the 1960’s. The town is famous for both the Springhill Mining Disaster and being the childhood home of international recording star Anne Murray.

Interesting reading about Springhill: Coal was so prevalent in the town that “there was a time when men got coal out of their backyards; shallow pits were found everywhere. In recent years, there have been instances when a homeowner would step out his door only to find a big gaping hole where his driveway had been.

Another part of an old mine had caved in.”

Springhill was the site of three devastating mining disasters during the era of industrial mining in the 1870’s until the early 1960’s. The first two disasters in 1891 and 1956 were caused by explosions and fires in the mines. The third disaster in 1958 accelerated the closure of the mines and was what was known as a ‘bump’, or underground upheaval.

An unexpected legacy and benefit from the abandoned coal mines is being realized in the form of geothermal energy. Since their closure, the mines have filled with ground water which is heated to an average temperature of 18C (65F) by the surrounding earth. This heat source has been utilized by companies located in Springhill’s Industrial Park, reducing winter heating bills substantially.

There was a truckstop at the first exit in New Brunswick, so we parked the rig there and got the bike off the truck late Friday morning.

Weather was cool and rain showers predicted. We decided to travel part of the Fundy Coastal Drive in New Brunswick. We were at the eastern end of it.

Tourist Brochure: This is one of the most distinctive, unspoiled ecosystems in North America.

We traveled about a quarter of it before going back to the truck. Lots of interesting things and adventure along the Bay of Fundy. Whale watching, lighthouses, covered bridges, beaches, chocolate museum, amusement parks, national parks, natural sites, wildlife, museums, etc.

Internet: The Bay of Fundy is known for its high tidal range. Rivaled by Ungava Bay in northern Quebec, King Sound in Western Australia and the Severn Estuary in the UK, it has one of the highest vertical tidal ranges in the world. Fundy Bay - 17 metres (55.8 feet) tidal range (difference from low tide to high tide.) The tides of the Bay of Fundy are semidiurnal - tides that have two highs and two lows each day. The height that the water rises and falls each day during these tides are approximately equal. There are approx. six hours and thirteen minutes between high and low tide.

We followed the route from Aulac (where the truck was) along the river and marshes to the city of Moncton, along the Petitcodiac River to Hopewell Cape.

The Petitcodiac River is also known informally as the Chocolate River. When the Petitcodiac River Causeway was built in 1968, 10 million cubic metres (13 million cubic yards) of sediment began to accumulate downstream from it. Which led to the nickname, due to the brown tint. (The colour of milk chocolate!)

The number one tourist attraction in New Brunswick is Hopewell Rocks, so we stopped there.

Travel Brochure: As you walk down the steps to the ocean floor, you find yourself surrounded by awe inspiring rock formations. You peer up to the tops of the giant “flowerpots” and run your fingers along their rough striations. A few hours later you find those towering flowerpots are now low islands in the surf, and you had been walking on the ocean floor.

It was $9.00 per person and good for two days. It was close to low tide when we visited. I walked down the steps to the ocean floor. Curious: all the photos in the travel brochures showed the rocks a light ‘sandstone’ colour, they were dark gray when we were there. I was surprised the overcast sky made that much difference to the colour.

Several warning signs about getting off the ocean floor before the tide comes in and becoming trapped! For high tide, there are kayaks available for rent to get close to the rocks.

Many covered bridges and lighthouses along the drive. We stopped at Sawmill Creek Bridge, built in 1905, it is 33 metres (105 ft) in length.

Stopped in Alma, a fishing village at the southern entrance to the Fundy National Park. Many restaurants with lobster as their specialty!

We rode through Fundy National Park and returned via the highway as it was getting cold and late. 220 miles (350 kms) on the bike, it was interesting, but a lot of traffic because it was peak summer holiday time. The rain held off, but it rained overnight and into the next morning.

Saturday morning we started out with rain gear on, temperatures were chilly (for us). Weather forecast was for “sizzling temperatures”, we had quilted liners in our jackets and I had on a long sleeved shirt and a hooded jacket. Late morning I bought a wool scarf and put on my glove liners… Was NOT sizzling for us!! The locals were at the beach and lined up at the ice cream stands.

Our plan for the day was Prince Edward Island and the Central Coast Drive, which incorporated Green Gables Shore and Red Sands Shore.

Internet: Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest and greenest province. It is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence north of the Nova Scotia peninsula and east of New Brunswick. Its southern shore bounds the Northumberland Strait. Because of its irregular shape and many bays and inlets, Prince Edward island has a long coastline.

The island’s landscape is pastoral. Rolling hills, woods, reddish white sand beaches, ocean coves and the famous red soil have given PEI a reputation of outstanding natural beauty.

In June 1997 the Confederation Bridge opened, connecting PEI to New Brunswick. Thirteen kilometres long - the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world. Since then the transportation link to the mainland has altered the province’s tourism, agricultural and fisheries export economies.

We went anti-clockwise around the central drive and into the town of Summerville - there were still large banners welcoming William and Kate to the town (they visited two weeks before us).

The northern section of the island involves the life of author Lucy Maud Montgomery and her

most famous novel, Anne of Green Gables which is set on Prince Edward Island. Montgomery was born in 1874 and spent her life on Prince Edward Island. She wrote 20 novels and numerous collections and anthologies.

Internet: Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908. Since publication it has been translated into 36 languages and sold more than 50 million copies.

We spent time at the Anne of Green Gables Museum.

The home that L.M. Montgomery called the “wonder of my childhood” was built in 1872 by her Uncle. The house is still owned by the Campbell family. Here, L.M. Montgomery was inspired to write many novels and it is the setting for Anne’s Lake of Shining Waters.

L.M. Montgomery chose to be married in front of the fireplace in the parlour on 5 July, 1922. The same organ and furnishings are still there and used today when young couples from around the world come tothe Campbell home to be married.

We rode around the downtown area of Charlottetown (PEI’s capital city) and the harbour, then

continued around the coast on the Red Sands Shore.

Many lighthouses around the coast - mostly the small wooden ones. Aquaculture - oysters, lobsters, shrimp, blue fin tuna, deep sea fishing, etc. Lots of fishing boats, crab and lobster pots and traps along the coastline. Several road kill porcupines, but NO moose!

The Lobster Barn in the village of Victoria-by-the-Sea was where we stopped for dinner - we

both had lobster rolls which is the restaurants most popular menu choice, and we agree!

Also PEI potatoes. Toasted rolls with spicy mayonnaise, lettuce and fresh picked lobster was yummy!

Back to Confederation Bridge, the toll for a motorbike is $14.25, but travellers are only required to pay when 'leaving' the island. The bridge and ferries are free going to PEI.

Back to the truck before dark. 240 miles (390 kms) for the day.

Sunday morning we loaded up the motorbike and gear and travelled back across the border to the first town in Maine and spent the night in Houlton.

We loaded the next morning in Medway, Maine at Scott’s. (Scott’s Miracle-Gro potting mix, NatureScapes mulch, and fertilizer products.) Pallets of fertilizer and mulch going to Home Depot stores.

A very heavy load, we were almost at the legal gross weight.

Delivered part of the load in Albany, New York on Tuesday morning and the rest near Syracuse, NY in the afternoon and then headed north to Watertown, NY.

I was sitting in the truck and heard a horse clip clopping past the truck. Hmm odd. A young Amish man tied his horse and buggy to a dumpster, then went over to the servo for a cold drink.

Loaded two military vehicles on Wednesday at Fort Drum and delivered them to Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Thursday.

Deadheaded north to Bristol, Virginia and loaded and tarped four large transformers. Arrived at the house in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday afternoon.

Jim delivered the transformers in Miami on Monday and we took the rest of the week off in Daytona Beach. Had been out for 8 weeks and there were things to do.

Jim worked on the truck - the driver’s side stack was getting loose. He had to cut a rusty piece out of the elbow and clamp it back together. The generator needed a relay. Also needed a new rear tyre on the le mans, Jim helped Jimmy put a new engine in his guzzi. Did some visiting as well: a relaxing evening with Bob and Wendy and their grandson, Maddox - a bbq and dip in their pool. Dinner with Ron, Tim and Helena in New Smyrna Beach, and dinner with Lis and Harvey in Deland.