Jun 26 - under 12

It was a quick trip, all things considered.  A couple of rest-stop pit-stops, walk-the-dog stops, stop at Severn for dinner, 45 minutes lost at the border and at the cottage by 9:30.  I did my usual 7-mph-over in the US; 12-kph-over in Canada, saw plenty of cops, but I was under their threshold.  It's so annoying when the person in front of you slows down to the speed limit as they drive by the officer; surely they realize that their speed was checked oh, about a mile back.

Sandy was monitoring the border traffic as we got close and we opted for the Rainbow Bridge.  Our usual Queenston Lewiston was 30-60 and growing.  The Peace Bridge (too far out of the way) and the Rainbow were under 30.  Sure enough, they were even metering traffic going onto the Rainbow, rather than having the traffic sitting on the bridge.  There were also two officers on foot after the bridge directing you to queues.  All off the booths were open; all had equivalent queues.

Sandy had forgotten to get her Canadian Passport out of her suitcase so she only had the US Passport Card.  I had my Canuck document.  I was expecting some hassle but the agent said that the place of birth was on the card -- duh, of course -- so she was good.  In fact, the question was for me "what's your status in the US".  Next time I'll simply use the card entering the US and Canada; more convenient. 

Actually, next time will be flight to/from Denver from Pearson International (Toronto) - that will have to be passport.  I can simply bring my US Passport as that also shows place of birth.  I can leave my Canuck one behind.  We'll use the Canuck ones to fly to/from Italy and will also carry our US ones in case something came up and we had to fly back to the US.

Cassie went crazy when we got here, running up and down the stairs and embankment, clearly happy to be loose.  Later, when she saw the lights over at Davies, she apparently was running around their cottage and Kim brought her back.  She wasn't going to go far; she had her collar on.

Everything came into the house from the car when we arrived.  It's all piled at the entranceway.  Ugh.  Today I've got dirty clothes to attack and a bike to assemble.  You'd think that I could simply leave it until Denver but no, I won't take that chance.  I have to assemble it and at least ride it once.  Other rides can be on the Litespeed.

Sandy will go to Sudbury tomorrow to grocery shop.  Today we'll catch up.  In a short while, I'll call the Arnstein Garage to see if the rims and tires are in and ready for installation on Sandy's car.  If so, I'll go in later and hit the post office at the same time.

The next trip, for me, is flying to Denver on the 9th.  That made for a complicated answer at the border to the question -- How long are you staying in Canada -- me, two weeks; Sandy, mid August. 


I think that's it ... onward !