FZ1inTX
Adminstrator
First thing to mention.... I am angry! One of the media cards for the camera will not work. I've tried every known geek trick in the book to get it to read... A USB reader, the photo printer, the media center PC, my work laptop, several PC forensic programs, etc.... Not even the camera knows what it is at this point. Sadly, it held all the scenery shots! The card that works has part of the trip and some of the things was saw and did so this is what we have.
The trip was absolutely perfect! We rode almost 1630 miles without a single problem with either the FZ1 or the FZ6R. Both bike performed 100%! We had zero troubles along the route and no issues with the hotels in either direction. Customs into and out of Canada was very smooth with the exception of a long wait going into Canada on the way to MI.
Regarding customs... the Canadian side at both ends was very accommodating and rather friendly! They offered advice and directions and even pointed out places to eat, fuel up and exchange cash. I wish I could say the same for the U.S. sides... Those guys were very professional (read unfriendly) and of little help at all. As a US citizen, I didn't feel very welcomed to come back "home" to the U.S. Going into Michigan, the agent told me that I couldn't wait for my wife after I leave the gate! I explained that I had the GPS, she didn't and she had no idea where to go if not following me. He then told me I could wait "no longer than 3 minutes" ahead of a security van parked about 200 yds away on the side of the road. If he wasn't done with her inside of three minutes, I'd HAVE to move along. What I thought of saying and what I actually said (thankfully!) were two different things. I thought "I'll wait as long as it takes for you do get her through!" but I said "Yes, Sir. Thank you." and pulled ahead with zero intentions of leaving without her, which is EXACTLY what I did. So, this is my ONLY b*tch about the trip!
I had the GPS route us on state routes with highway and toll avoidances turned on. We travelled through central NH, central VT and into NY state where we stayed mostly on 49 and 104 through a lot of hills then rolling farm land. It was peaceful and the roads were mostly empty!
Given the range of the FZ1, we stopped if I was even near 100 miles on the tank in upstate NY because the gas stations were far and few between.
We drove to Webster and stayed there the first night. Saturday, we drove the remaining distance to MI. Canada was a fast ride! We hit the highway there and stayed on it all the way to Sarnia. We found some VERY FAST locals and kept up with them doing almost 150 km/hr. There are signs stating that 50km over the limit is $7,500 fine, 15 yrs imprisonment and roadside confiscation of your vehicle. STEEP!!! So we stayed just under THAT speed.
Okay... time for some pics before the story continues....
The trip was absolutely perfect! We rode almost 1630 miles without a single problem with either the FZ1 or the FZ6R. Both bike performed 100%! We had zero troubles along the route and no issues with the hotels in either direction. Customs into and out of Canada was very smooth with the exception of a long wait going into Canada on the way to MI.
Regarding customs... the Canadian side at both ends was very accommodating and rather friendly! They offered advice and directions and even pointed out places to eat, fuel up and exchange cash. I wish I could say the same for the U.S. sides... Those guys were very professional (read unfriendly) and of little help at all. As a US citizen, I didn't feel very welcomed to come back "home" to the U.S. Going into Michigan, the agent told me that I couldn't wait for my wife after I leave the gate! I explained that I had the GPS, she didn't and she had no idea where to go if not following me. He then told me I could wait "no longer than 3 minutes" ahead of a security van parked about 200 yds away on the side of the road. If he wasn't done with her inside of three minutes, I'd HAVE to move along. What I thought of saying and what I actually said (thankfully!) were two different things. I thought "I'll wait as long as it takes for you do get her through!" but I said "Yes, Sir. Thank you." and pulled ahead with zero intentions of leaving without her, which is EXACTLY what I did. So, this is my ONLY b*tch about the trip!
I had the GPS route us on state routes with highway and toll avoidances turned on. We travelled through central NH, central VT and into NY state where we stayed mostly on 49 and 104 through a lot of hills then rolling farm land. It was peaceful and the roads were mostly empty!
Given the range of the FZ1, we stopped if I was even near 100 miles on the tank in upstate NY because the gas stations were far and few between.
We drove to Webster and stayed there the first night. Saturday, we drove the remaining distance to MI. Canada was a fast ride! We hit the highway there and stayed on it all the way to Sarnia. We found some VERY FAST locals and kept up with them doing almost 150 km/hr. There are signs stating that 50km over the limit is $7,500 fine, 15 yrs imprisonment and roadside confiscation of your vehicle. STEEP!!! So we stayed just under THAT speed.
Okay... time for some pics before the story continues....
