The call came a couple of weeks ago. Well, OK, it wasn't a
call, but a half page article in the Triumph Review, the
newsletter of the Detroit Triumph Sportscar Club. There it
was, an article on the 3 Nation, 2 Island tour. To be
completed in one day. I asked my wife if she would like to
go, and the answer was an immediate yes.
The night before, Friday, I filled the tank and checked the
oil and coolant on the Spit. Oil was a little low so I topped
it up, water was fine. I went inside, and the weather forecast
was for occasional thundershowers and rain. My wife said
let's see what the weather is like when we get up, and maybe
we'll take the sedan instead. I told her it's the Spitfire
or we stay home. She wasn't happy, but agreed.
Saturday morning, the weather forecasters called for rain
and the occasional thundershower late in the day. OK, we
go for it. Left the house about 7:40, a little later than
I had wanted to, but still pretty much on time. Stopped
for some ice and then hit the expressway. Fortunately, the
freeway closure had been cancelled for a couple of weeks,
so we made good time to the first meeting point. 55 miles
and about an hour later, we arrived to find a couple of
cars already in the restaurant parking lot. Three more cars
arrived, and we left for the second meeting point.
As we were driving to the second meeting point, my wife
told me that she was a little chilly, and we needed to
stop so that she could buy a sweat shirt. As we approached
the second meeting point, we saw a Target across the
freeway. So as everyone else turned right to go to the
meeting place, we turned left for the store. After making
her purchase, we arrived at the proper location to find
the original 5 cars and another 6 waiting for us.
We then headed out to go to Port Huron, Michigan. From
there, we would go to Sarnia, Ontario. Just before we were
to cross the bridge, I decided that I would top up the tank,
as it was indicating about half. A little over 3 gallons, and
we were going again. The rest of the group were waiting for us
on the approach to the bridge. Our gang of twelve. Two TR3s,
2 TR4s, 2 Spitfires, a TR6, a Stag, an MGB, a Jenson Healey,
a Buick sedan and Fiat 124. A Fiat?
After the Canadian immigration official checked us out,
including wondering about the 1973 Michigan license plate
on my Spit, we continued along the Canadian side of the
St. Clair River. After a stop to stock up on some adult
refreshments, we continued to Walpole Island First Nation.
As the title was 3 Nations, you may be wondering about that.
The first nation is the US, the second is Canada, and the
third is the Native American Nation of Walpole Island.
A quick drive to the ferry, and we squeezed 11 sports cars and
a Taurus on board. Across the St. Clair River and it was back
into the States. After relaxing for a little bit, we continued
to Harsens Island, and the second island of the trip. Another
ferry ride, and we then took the long way around to the home
of our leader's parents where we had a nice bar-b-que and
watched the freighters go down the river.
After a couple of burgers and a hot dog, we departed for home.
The trip home was uneventful, except for the last 15 miles or
so. We were running along, and we started to get some water
splats on the windshield. Here comes the rain that we had been
expecting all day. No, it was just the car in front of me washing
his windshield. Then, about 2 miles from home, the rain did
start, and we got wet. Including thunder. Got the car in the
garage, and the rain stopped. That was it. No more rain at all.
Saw lightning to the south all evening, but none at my house.
All in all, 236 miles, three nations, two islands and all in
one day. Great driving.
Doug
--
Doug Mitchell
mailto:dbmitch@peoplepc.com
'73 Spitfire 1500
|