The almost international incident

July 30 2012

On Sunday we traveled across the border to the Canadian town of Niagara Falls. The Canadian side is much nicer than the American side; it is clean with flower gardens and parks all along the road that runs along the gorge. We enjoyed the head on views of the falls, did a little souvenir shopping and had an excellent meal while over the boarder. We also visited a beautiful old park honoring the defenders of Queenston Heights who on 13 October 1812 defeated an invasion by some of those pesky Americans.

On our return to the homeland the intrigue of the almost international incident begins. As you are probably aware the US and Canada have tightened the security of their respective borders. Vehicles routinely back up for long distances at the security stations. We were well out onto the bridge between countries when I got a check gauges message. The engine temperature was pegged at 260 degrees. With vehicles all around me there was no escape from the bridge, I turned off the AC and opened the windows, no change in temperature. I started turning the engine off and started it only when the line moved forward. The radiator cap started bleeding of pressure and coolant. Just as we got to the international border marker at the center of the bridge, the motor was overheated to the point that I stopped using it to avoid any internal damage.

So here we sit in the middle of a bridge between two countries and I’m thinking, I wonder whose problem we are? Help would most likely have to come from behind, as there were cars all around us, would the Canuck’s drag us back to Canada, would there be a tow truck war between Canadian and US companies? Would the powers that be think we were mad bombers sitting in a powder keg at the apex of the bridge? Where they assembling the anti terrorist commando’s?

It seemed like it took a long time, I guess they were checking with the IRS to make sure I had paid my taxes, but rescue was launched by the US side. Did they send a tow truck? Cops with flashing lights? An assault team? No they sent two maintenance men on a golf cart. They got in line in front of us and towed us up to security and after we cleared customs, they moved us off to the side. International incident averted.

That’s enough about that email me if you want the mechanical details.

This morning we departed the wonderful New York State Park we have been staying in and started the march south. We are night camped in a nice campground in Milton, Pennsylvania.