I know I’ve said this before, but entering Ontario via Buffalo and the Peace Bridge is a pain in the ass when you’re trying to cover new ground and there are no signs directing you. The Buffalo side has plenty of signs to point you to the border. The Canadian side continues to be a mystery, and finding your way — especially if you’re new to the area (or visiting after decades of absence) — is a royal pain.

The monolithic tourist information center visible across the way was a nice touch, but I never saw a sign pointing towards it from the convoluted road system, either. Thus, I was unable to discover Ontario in the fashion and manner to which, I’m certain, Ontario would desire.

The absence of meaningful directional signs until 20 miles past the border, on some road, is ridiculous. But of course, it’s Ontario the good, isn’t it? Idiots.

Here’s a Wikipedia explanation of concession roads in southern Ontario. After reading it, there is no doubt that southern Ontario has got to have one of the most convoluted and stupid highway naming conventions in North America. And I haven’t even begun to talk about those miniscule white on dark blue county road signs that are hidden on electrical posts and lighting standards. Try following those through a city some day.

Put up a series of meaningful directional signs, you morons. I’d prefer a variety that is plainly visible, of standard dimension and color, and that actually point me in a direction that I choose to proceed. Of course, that’s only me. I’m sure local yokels who never travel out of the valley and other miscreants are quite happy the way it is.

Otherwise, don’t bother — which appears to be the direction that Ontario chooses to follow.

Here’s an addendum to my original post on internet trolls.

The New York Times online has a seven page discourse on modern-day trolls and their absurdities. From that article you’ll find that trolls have graduated to an ever more mean and hateful presence, even making fun of and encouraging suicide.

Even if you only get as far as the first page, you’ll find it enlightening and disheartening.

Link to full New York Times article here.

Who is really targeted, and why?

U.S. authorities now have the power to seize and detain travellers’ electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones, and make copies of their contents at an off-site location, under newly disclosed customs policies. — cbc.ca news

Border agents may now seize documents, books, phamplets and hard drives from anyone who crosses the border. Such items may be duplicated and shared with other government agencies.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a lawyer with client data on your way to a trial? Or a business person with material in your care subject to non-disclosure agreements?

I suppose this isn’t really a huge deal, since it’s their border and they can do anything they want to anyone who desires entry. After all, it is their country, too. Look at what they’ve done to it over the past eight years.

Just more of the same.

I had an amazing trip this year — 6,000 miles in all kinds of weather — although I prefer to avoid the massive thunderstorms I experienced in the Dakotas. It’s no fun on a motorcycle to be hassled by hail, driving rain and strong winds, all at once. I followed the back side of that storm all the way east, during which time there was only one day that I could make 500 miles.

Okay, so I’m whining about the weather. I do have a very good rain suit, but I just hate to have to put it on.

I discovered a couple of great places to eat, and if I’m in the neighborhood again, I’ll stop for a bite.

On the other hand, I discovered a place where I will never ever stop at, never stay at and never eat at again!

Interstate riding is still boring, no matter the flora and fauna — and even when the countryside is green, treed and covered with lakes.

A rain shower in the northeast is not like a rain shower in other parts of America. You’ll get very, very wet and miserable if you don’t don your rain suit. I got fooled once this year. Two years ago, in the same area, I got lucky and rode through a sprinkle. I assumed that the storm cell I rode through this year would be the same light sprinkle I rode through then. Wrong! It turned into a downpour.

I learned that if you do a walking tour of D.C., wear the most comfortable shoes you own. Seriously — no matter how bad they look. You’ll be glad you did at day’s end. Fortunately for me, I could relax on the VRE (Virginia Railway Express) during the trip home.

Entering Ontario via Buffalo and the Peace Bridge is a pain in the ass when you’re trying to cover new ground and there are no signs directing you. The Buffalo side is fine; there are plenty of signs to direct you to the border. It’s the Canadian side that continues to be a mystery, and finding your way — especially if you’re new to the area (or visiting after decades of absence) — is a royal pain. The absence of directional signs until 20 miles past the border, on some road, is ridiculous. But of course, it’s Ontario the good, isn’t it? Idiots.

Here’s a Wikipedia explanation of concession roads in southern Ontario. After reading it, there is no doubt that southern Ontario has got to have one of the most stupid highway naming conventions in North America. And I haven’t even begun to talk about those miniscule blue and white county road signs. Try following those through a city some day. Put up a meaningful sign, you morons.

The Tobermory ferry is still the most motorcycle-friendly, two-hour ferry ride that I know of. Motorcycles do not require a reservation, they get first-on and first-off treatment, and the cost is only $35.00.

Shea’s Ice Cream Oasis is truly an oasis in the middle of nowhere.

Yet again, my motorcycle ran flawlessly with nary a whisper of any problem whatsoever.

I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

Well, all of it but the Lone Steer Motel, that is.

Ontario has, without a doubt, the ugliest and most boring license plates of any jurisdiction in North America.

I crossed the Peace Bridge from Buffalo into Ontario, Canada. No problem with that; however, while trying to find my way north to Toronto, I encountered two road signs: Concession Road North and Concession Road South.

I don’t know about anyone else, but to me, a concession road is a farm road. Now, why on earth would I take a farm road anywhere? Right. I wouldn’t. Unfortunately, the Ontario tourist information building — which I could see! — was across on another farm road, and there was absolutely no signage to direct me to it. I know this to be true, because I tried to get to it.

Twenty miles down a road, I finally discovered a sign with directions for Toronto, London and some other mystery destination.

How these southern Ontario farm boys find their way around their own country is a mystery to me, although, I suppose if one is a local farm boy, he already knows how to get to Toronto for his rub and tug.

How about some signage for the tourist?

Better yet, how about some meaningful directional signs right after one leaves the border station?

*With apologies to Lewis Carroll

A U.S. federal appeals court judgment has highlighted some of the most ridiculous claims of the government in the trials of the people unjustly rendered, detained and imprisoned at that bastion of American freedom and justice known as Guantanamo.

…a three-judge panel said the government contended that its accusations against the detainee should be accepted as true because they had been repeated in at least three secret documents. The court compared that to the absurd declaration of a character in the Lewis Carroll poem “The Hunting of the Snark”: “I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true.” — William Glaberson, nytimes.com online

Link to article here.

That courtroom must have been quite a sideshow during the prosecution’s arguments. After listening to that fine example of lawyerly logic and government jurisprudence, the appeals court threw out the charges and ordered that the defendant must either be released, transferred to another country, or given a new hearing to determine if the defendant had been properly classified.

Will the nightmare never end?

Remember seeing this? Have you heard the commercial on xmradio?

That guy has a smug smile on his face because he’s taking money from people who think that he can protect their identity.

Well, I’ve got news for you. He can’t, according to a class action lawsuit. In fact, that guy’s identity has been stolen — using just that information — more than 20 times.

Read about the lawsuit here.

in more ways than one.

It must have been a Flushabye^TM. Or not.

An upstate New York man embroiled in a dispute over his water bill is not being allowed to pay off his debt with a check written on toilet paper. — msnbc.com from AP

Link to article here.