The Baseball Trip 2014 / Day 7

Thursday, July 17, 2014

The hotel we finally found at 2:30 am was a massively overpriced Courtyard Inn in Middlebury, Vermont. To give you an idea of how we found it, consider this:

We took the nighttime ferry (hence no pictures) across Lake Champlain to Plattsburgh, NY, which is near the middle of the lake. We drove down the western shore towards the bottom of the lake only to cross the bridge back east into Vermont. Oh well.

Random Observation from Randy:
"That's the trouble with vacationing by the seat of your pants.You usually end up on the seat of your pants."

Nonetheless, the next morning we drove though the Adirondacks, enjoying the scenery and just taking it easy. Of course, we had to take another ferry back across Lake Champlain into New York.

Original ferry house at crossing.

Lake in the Adirondacks.

We are on our way to Canada, hoping we can finally do some camping. Even though it rained again this morning, things are clearing up.

Favorite Town Names:
Paradox, NY
Severance, NY
Oswegatchie, NY

Favorite Sign:
Faust Motel

Random Observation from Randy:
"I wonder what you have to pay to stay there?"

Our third ferry ride of the trip takes us into Picton, Ontario. The border guard there was hilarious because he was overzealous and reminded us of Dan Aykroyd impersonating a cop on Saturday Night Live. Same accent and phrasing.

"How do you guys know each other?"
"We're BFF's."
"Are you carrying any knives, tasers, or firearms for your personal protection?"
"No."
"Do you know those are illegal in Canada?"
"Yes."
"Where are you from?"
"Chicago."
"Do you own any of those weapons for your personal safety at home in Chicago?"
"Ummmm....no."
"Any tobacco or alcohol?"
(Here's where I wanted to do my Blues Brothers impersonation.)
"We've got half a pack of cigarettes, two Heineken's, and a pint of Jameson. It's raining and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it."

But I didn't. The second time I visited Canada my college roommate smarted off to the border patrol and ended up with a strip search.

There were three Provincial Parks where we could camp along the lake highway. None of them had an opening. Another damn hotel.

At least I got a picture from the ferry of this cool schooner on Lake Ontario

Military Weaponry:
1 tank, 1 jet, 1 howitzer in Kingston, Ont.

Tomorrow: Toronto