Chicago to Niagara Falls, ON via Detroit
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Officially the longest I have EVER driven in one day. Atlanta and Daytona don’t really count because I was able to kick up my feet and take a nice nap while someone else drove. Jenna was nice enough to stay awake the entire time! Here’s a quick recap, bullet style.
· McDonalds on Harlem: breakfast of champions!
· No “Welcome to Indiana” sign on 80/94. Hello to you too Indiana!
· Indiana, home of “adult” stores and fireworks. Krazy Kaplans buy one get one free!
· Jenna fumbles with the camera as we enter Michigan. No “Welcome to Michigan” photos.
· Michigan, second home of “adult” stores and fireworks. X - It here for books, movies, and arcade!
· Stop in Jackson, MI at rest stop. There’s a reason all the other rest stops are under construction.
· Gas stop near Ann Arbor, MI. Hot dogs and Bawls. Sugar free Bawls for Jenna!
· Detroit, MI. Home of every company’s automotive division and more bridges than we could count.
· Saw the skyline for about 5 seconds when 94 permitted.
· Final stretch to Canada!
· Blue Highway Bridge to Canada: $1.50 USD.
· Show the nice man my passport and drivers license. I will be visiting Niagara Falls for 2-3 days and I’m not currently transporting tobacco or alcohol. Canada let’s us in!
· Decide to follow gentleman from Michigan, seems to know what he’s doing.
· Change car from US to metric. Now doing 115 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. Keeping up with Americans, passing the Canadians.
· Realize that all measures of distance and temperature in the cars computer have been converted. My car has been driven 47,000km, our trip has been 700 or so km, the outside temp is 2, the inside temp is 22. I’ll spare you the rest of the measurements.
· Find amusement that highway markers are little crowns.
· Finally get passed by a Canadian.
· Road is smooth, straight, and cuts through farmland. Much like Illinois’ 39.
· Tim Horton’s are at every major exit. Decide to stop for some donuts and a much needed bathroom break.
· Our first interaction in Canada goes smoothly. The Tim Hortons does not accept credit cards but graciously accepts my $20 USD bill instead. No stereotypical Canadian accents here.
· Brentford, Ontario, “The Telephone City”
· The sun has set as we enter the Niagara Escapement. The surrounding town is lit up with lights and traffic. And on the shores giant flames shoot out from stacks from what we could only assume was an oil refinery. A sight to see as we passed through the town.
· More driving on QEW towards Niagara Falls.