July 30, 31 and August 1

July 30 ...
Crookston, MN to Ruth Lake UP Michigan (500ish miles)

Visited Aerostich - Mark got measured, modeled a suit, and we admired all the goodies - always a great place to stop by when you are near Duluth.  If you've never been.... the catalog looks flashy and the suits are about $1000.00.  When you get there you enter this old brick building through a service  entrance (it is the gray door across the road) and go up cement steps and look around to find a showroom of sorts... it is kind of sacred to enter.

They had a rack of returned suits, for repair I suspect, after crashes. One had a newspaper clipping attached. It was for a policeman that had been hit from behind in 70 mph traffic. The suit was pretty beat up - the policeman suffered a few broken bones, but was okay.  Yeah. That is why we wear All The Gear, All The Time.

We loved the Ruth Lake Resort - not sure why it is called a resort, I think there were 6 hotel-ish kind of rooms in one building  and then 3 or 4 little cabins.  We stayed in #2.

It was a pretty long day - but we decided to finish it off with a walk down the street to have a bite at the local bar & grill. It came highly recommended (since it was the only thing for miles).  We were served, using the term very loosely , by the surliest waitress we've ever met... to the point of being funny, but this needs to be translated in person, not in a blog.  She didn't warm up much, but we had a great conversation with another patron from the motel getting a little dinner as well....  The experience was memory worthy.

July 31 -
Ruth Lake - North Bay, Ontario-

The Soo canals.... pretty cool looking. They are between the U.S. and Canada at Sault Ste Marie.

Stopped for breakfast, got gas, and... Geez!

My right engine guard was rattling and upon closer inspection we realized I had yet another sheared bolt.  The thrill had worn thin.....  I knew I'd ridden on the last sheared bolt for two days and judge me if you must --  I figured I'd be home in two days and told the guys I was going to ride it.......

I didn't document the moment with a camera either.

430+ - to North Bay... interesting sites along the way -
This house seemed so full of character with its sweet bay window and the little gabled window upstairs........at one point in time somebody really loved this place.

We saw a number of these carriages and folks dressed in black head to toe-- and this was very warm weather. 

Finally into North Bay --

Sweet older woman rented us a room  in their little motel ..... had a hard time getting away as she was full of conversation - I learned a bit of history about the town, her husband's hobbies, her mother and the curtains she has in the hotel that were her mom's, as well as her daughter that helped run the place. Pretty funny on the wifi - I was wandering around in the parking lot to see if I could pick up a signal, ... I want to call her Betty... saw me and opened another room for me to see if the signal was stronger in that room - offered to let me work in that room if I  wanted to. Sweet. ...but no signal.

North Bay, Ontario to Burlington -> Fairfax
Called my sister early in the morning to let her know I thought I could make it to her house that night..

Vermont!!  Larry was proud of this picture  - all three of us AND the Welcome to Vermont sign.  Yeah, we kind of hated him for being exceptional in the photography department. :-)

My brother, Rick, and his wife Shuree are heading out for a full cross-country tour on his Harley from Maine to the West Coast ..... first stop, Burlington, Vermont where my sister lives.  I'd really hoped our paths would cross but didn't know if I'd be back from Alaska in time - --- we had dinner together which was just great. Shared some stories, enjoyed the anticipation of their upcoming adventure.

A home cooked meal. Thanks, Linda.  And while I'm thinking of it...  Nothing like paying for every meal and eating on a gas station curb to make you appreciate fine home cooking.  I know Larry took a picture of the family sitting down - try to find it tomorrow.

Oh... Mark, you'll love this..... on the way home from Linda's my headlight burned out - - - still had the high beam.  That is 3 for 3 on burned out headlights.

Tomorrow will be another day - and most likely, another adventure......