The Wanderings of busman7

Sunday morning we head across the border to Cowansville http://www.ville.cowansville.qc.ca the site is in french as Fascist Quebec is not a democracy, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships http://www.easterntownships.org have to take the slightly  longer route through Sutton as the bridge is out the back way to Brome http://www.easterntownships.org/map

A buffet brunch had been planed at http://www.aubergedescarrefours.com this dilapidated 30 yr old former Days Inn wasn’t very inviting, especially with the lack of a sign for the restaurant. However there was a decent turnout, the food while nothing special was edible. Almost had a heart attack when it came time to pay the bill though $22.00 that’s right twenty-two dollars, ripoff those dumb Anglos n’est pas!!

We then adjourned to the Legion, that allowed to use their hall for the day, a mighty fine array of sandwiches, sweats etc were provided by a few of the local alumni ladies, a couple former students also provided some interesting entertainment. A silent auction was held of various handicrafts by former students there was also a raffle of a hooked wall hanging & a weeks stay at yours truly B & B, money going to the schools, now an elementary school http://heroesmemorial.etsb.qc.ca Also a talented alumni (who unfortunately couldn’t be present) donated the proceeds of a book she wrote from the comments on the reunion’s facebook page. http://www.amazon.com/Cowansville-School-Misremembered-Linda-Seccaspina/dp/1481810316

Also during the afternoon we were able to tour the old alma mater with some present students as guides where a group photo was taken of the gang attending the CHS Homecoming 2012  

Met a lot of old friends + a cousin that I think was a bit upset that I didn’t stay with them but I didn’t want to impose on then for four days. Sure could have used the 2 days that I missed but—-:( Saw 3 of the Brombys but Bob never made it more :(  C’est la vie!

At the end of the afternoon the legion served a lasagne supper, I passed on this as the lunch goodies were so tempting that supper was not needed plus as it was getting late & driving strange winding roads at night is becoming a challenge, it was time to leave.

Monday it was off to The Big Brome Fair for my morning shift at the homecoming booth. As expected it was slow enjoyed being at the fair after a 37 year absence, it was still basically the same fair only bigger.

After my shift & a look around the grounds I headed out to the cemetery to make sure the family stone had been engraved with mothers date. A leisurely back road drive towards Richford until a mile from the border (Oh Shit) a front tire blew, fortunately a nice lady gave me a ride to the border where the dudes were a ‘wealth of information’ (sarcasm), it is 4pm on a holiday so nothing in tabernacland is open, if I leave the Scout on the side of the road (well off on a wide shoulder not bothering anything) the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surete_du_Quebec   (QPP back in the day) would tow it back to Cowansville (thanks for nothing)!

Plan B I hoof it over to the US side where the civilized folk  http://www.cbp.gov make a phone call & find me a tow truck, they then call the Canadian side to make sure they will let him cross to pick up Scout, the answer is yes (wonder of wonders).

An hour later I’m watching Canada disappear in the rear-view mirror of the tow truck carrying the Scout!  

Bye-bye  Au revoir  Adios

  Canada

D A V E has left the country!!!

Saturday morning after pigging out on the free Brekky at http://hamptoninn3hilton.com/en/hotels/ontario/hampton-inn-by-hilton-napanee-ONTNPHX/index.html , where I slept in Canada for the very last time (YEAH!), did the circle check on the Scout, fluids all up, the oil leak from the rear main seal on the engine has dried up but the right rear tire is darn near flat. (shit!) However there’s a Wally-mart next door, drive over & yup the shop is open, a couple hrs later we’re mobile again.

While waiting, losing time again, I decide to just bail for Richford  & forget about visiting so seeing Bob is out, he’s likely down in QC by now anyway (or so I thought) Danika is too far off route for the time I have & cousin is likely gone for the weekend.

On the road again, they just had to beak the tire down, clean up the rim & put it back together again. We (the Scout & I) hit the 401 heading eastbound & down, do to the late start & all the displaced Quebeckers heading home for the weekend I decided the sane thing  to do would be to skip Montreal with all it’s crazy Frenchmen, cross the http://www.sibcr.ca   the bridge at Cornwall & head straight to   http://thecrossingvt.com

An uneventful drive to Cornwall, Scout ran like a dream, typical IH fuel gauge not working properly after the 1/2 mark though, no biggie. At the bridge it became evident that 1/2 the population of eastern ON was heading stateside, took an hour to get across the bridge where US customs was a breeze with courteous officers, night n day compared to the CBSA a$$holes entering Canada.

A few minutes from the bridge we were on reserve lands complete with casinos & cheap gas (the main reason for all the bridge traffic) a fill up of both Scout & myself (in US so cheaper food to) we’re eastbound once more, on the south side of the river’s scenic New York state two lane roads, heading for http://www.rousespointny.com    and the border of Vermont, back in familiar road running territory from back in the day. From there it’s only a couple hours on Vermont’s twisting country roads that haven’t changed since we were kids going to the drive-in movies (horrid immoral things banned in Quebec back in the day) until I’m in Richford  http://www.richfordvt.com where my room, a good meal & a cold beer await, at The Crossing.

13 is a lucky number after all.

Friday Sept 31, 2012 the start of the Labour Day long weekend (hell of a day to start a road trip) pack my pack as I’m determined to hit the road today, come hell or high ... [Continue reading this entry]