August 14th

Thursday was cushy really. I didn't get to the first drop because it was way off in the boonies and I didn't know if I would be able to park there, so I waited and headed in on Thursday morning. They had a loading bay so I was able to just use a single set of ramps to take their machine off. Really nice people, too. Helped me set up and put it all back.

Second drop was also way out in the deepest, darkest Ontario, Carleton Place, although they also had someone help me set up the ramps (had to use both sets there as their machine was up top).
Once out of there I decided, with the blessing of Dispatch, to rearrange the delivery order and do drop four ahead of drop three. The routing originally planned took me 270 kms out of my way and had me doubling back. While being in Montreal for a reload made more sense than Quebec City, trying to battle Friday traffic back into Montreal to deliver then to reload makes less sense than trying just to get to the reload. As it turned out, going to drop four was a good shout. They had five machines, all on the lower deck, so just one set of ramps again and I was done and everything stowed in half an hour.
It was as I tried to get out of their place that I realised arriving at night was a good idea. They are on a set of lights and the road is one way, with a large kerb. When I got there, I was able to go in their top entrance and back into their parking lot. No traffic so it was easy. By the time I had dropped there, they had put all the display bikes and stuff where I wanted to go to get out, so I had a hell of a job. I had those lights backed up a ways...
Out of there and straight up to Quebec City. I knew roughly where it was and found it nice and easy. In their yard, I took the first third of the top deck down, put one set of ramps up inside the trailer and the other set to the ground. No A frame, nice and easy descent..
My reload was in Iberville, just south of Montreal, but I had till 10pm to get there. Just as well. That 300kms took 5 hours with the traffic... Montreal on Friday afternoon is not a quick drive. I got there at 7:30, left at 10 and parked up. I was in no hurry as Indiana is only a day and a bits drive.
So this morning I have, thanks to Adam, finally got the Ace sorted. The Customs is set up although I have no idea what they have done to get it set up as it is not the same as usual, and I am in the J in Montreal for a shower and such...


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