7/14/15 Herkimer Diamond Mine, New York and London, Ontario

Herkimer KOA Camp Site

First day on the road of year two, we head to northern Michigan to visit friends via I-90 through Albany NY and Ontario. So glad we don't have to go down I-95 in Connecticut through New York City!  In New York the truck starts having problems as it jerks us around a bit going up long hills.  Can't tell if it is the transmission or the engine.  CRAP!  In Buffalo NY we hit a detour which brings us to a railroad bridge with a sign which says "11.5 Feet Right Lane".  Since we are 12.5 feet high it would be nice if the sign would also state the height of the left lane.  We pull over and as we contemplate an alternate route we watch a tractor trailer truck go under the left lane and happily follow.  Having had enough for one day we pull into

the Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA in Herkimer NY.  We camp on the banks of the extremely fast flowing West Canada Creek but arrive too late to tour the mines which are right across the street.   By the way, a Herkimer diamond is a very uniquely shaped diamond  best described as a rectangle with points at both ends. 

 Concerned about getting the truck in for repair the next day we leave early to be at the Utica Ford Dealer when it opens. Unfortunately it is Saturday and they have no time for us.  John decides "we will move on and take it easy".  What the heck does that mean when you are driving a 3 ton truck 65 miles an hour on interstate highways towing a 7 ton trailer?

Already biting my nails from the truck issue, we approach the Canadian Border at Niagara and decide to take a new tact when responding to the boarder guard's questions.  In past crossings on this journey, having gotten at a minimum the evil eye and twice searched, we skip the fact that we live in the camper and just say we are from South Dakota so it matches our drivers licenses. It works this time and we get right through without any question about our Montana plates :)    

Driving beside Lake Ontario, we admire the clear blue water as we again recognize that once outside of a city, Canada is very sparsely populated.  Debra, having grown up mostly in the densely  populated northeast, is always surprised at how sparsely populated most of our country is away from the coastlines.  We camp in London, Ontario and since it is our first time in this province, we get to put the Ontario sticker on our RV travel map. We are ready for bed and note that it is after 9:30 p.m. and the sun is still shining.