Charlevoix county herald., 1913-08-23
EAST JORDAN TO NEW
YORK BY AUTO
Stafford, New York,
August Is, 1913.

While the chauffer is riding around
the country with the sheriff (who hap
pens to be in the family we ''women
folks" are set down on a lovely New
York farm long enough to breathe
twice. This particular visit is to last
twenty-four hours. But perhaps you
are waiting to know how we got out OF
Detroit.
When father came back from Toledo
Friday morning with the spring the
garage people had found broken cast
ing which might have been made in an
hour at any foundry but we preferred
the original article and another twenty
four hours wait, it seemed. AT least the
garage people thought so. Mother and
we girls spent most of Friday on Belle
Isle and the pleasure boats. Except for
the delay our time and experiences in
Detroit were interesting. But we like
to choose our own way so pretend to be
horribly bored.
Customs officers are jolly people.
Doubt if they could survive long other
wise. Getting from the garage to the
ferry dock father got in a hurry and
took the turn onto Woodward a few
feet nearer the left than right (both
meanings) and blue-coat' inquired
where we were from. We spread the
charge as thin as we could by saying
Northern Michigan" so East Jordan
ties need not feel diffident about visit
ing Detroit.
The customs officers asked a few
questions, gave advice, mysterious
papers and reduced toll because of
the ladies, then waved us majestically
onto the Excelsior Ferry. The crossing
took five minutes.
Canadian red tape must be of a stick
ey consistency it took so long to un-
wind it, Cost us $l4 to go through, "a
for the license and $40 for bonds, $500
of which we got back when we showed
them that our intentions were really
honest. AT $40 p. m. Saturday we were
ready to leave Windsor. Had some
trouble getting out of the city by the
right road. One, Bill by name, directed
us with eloquent gestures "turn this
way, then that way, then this way, then
that way, till you hit the telephone
poles =
just out of Walkerville we passed
several large fields of tobacco plants
and these occurred all through Canada.
We were SO anxious to make UP for
lost time we drove eighty-one miles be-
fore 11:45 when we stopped in Blen-
helm for the night. The dining room
and breakfast were decidedly English.
Where we Americans have big mirrors
and cut glass they had copper platters,
quear spears and arms. Three great
tusks of elephants decorated the side
board.
1t was raining when we left Blenheim
and rained by spells until late after
noon. The worst of the storm was east
and south of Blenheim in the country
through which we had TO go. Corn and
grain were laid flat or standing in great
puddles of water. The clay roads were
really dangerous. The car slowed dread
fully even with the chains on. AT Ridge
town we were warned of formidable
hill which we might not be able to
make. But because we are from Mich
igan rather than from Missouri, Canada
has yet to show us any hilly roads,
At London we stopped for dinner
and had "Seli tomatoes, green peas,
French flied potatoes, yah" with smiles
at Chinese restaurant.
The favorite salutation in Canadian
rural districts was "Hello, Jimmy"
Names of towns Highgate, Strathburr
Thamesford, Lambeth, Burford, sound
ed English enough and just fitted the
scenery which looked the original oi
little English prints we have seen ot
the Avon and Thames. BY the way, we
crossed the Thames river three times
and a muddy stream it is. We have not
seen, either in York state or Canada 8
clear, clean stream such as we find al
through Northern Michigan.
Coming out of London we passee
Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes building
From there to Brantford we took the
Governors Road and am sorry for the
Governor and all Canadians. Just on
of Brantford, two-hundred and si1
miles from Windsor, we saw the frs
speed limit board we encountered il
Canada. Father declared some OF then
we saw later were not on his speedom
eter however
Out of Brantford and after dark WI
came up against our sixth washed-ou
bridge. Slid down a CLAW bank, wallow
ed across a clay swamp, and after un
loading-first time on the trip, eigh