Or the day I almost missed my chance to go to Canada...
Ahem. Sometimes, despite the best laid plans things can go awry. Prior to leaving on MTTS I had received an email from the MINI Takes the States people notifying me of my selection as an "ambassador" to Canada (I entered a contest) - I thought cool, I get to go hang with some Canadians for their own MINI Invasion of the US. The email said I'd get more details in St. Louis, but SL came and went and nothing. I asked around, but being somewhat sleep deprived, hot lap high and just plain stupid from all the motoring I didn't ask the right people and found myself in the line up for the regular rally on this sunny morning.
Todd Pearson to the rescue! Todd notices I'm not lined up with the gang going to Canada and inquires why. Making it happen is what this man is about - he quickly gets help and lucky for me, my position in the rally line has an escape exit. I get moved over to the line headed for the border and minutes later madly scramble my way to Canada.
My thanks to Todd and the guys lining us up that morning for setting me straight. And to Caryn Grun from MINI USA for waiting for me to catch up on the highway so that I wasn't motoring alone into Canada.
This was a terrific experience! I finally got to see Niagara Falls. MINI Canada threw an awesome party complete with delicious food truck fare, a cannon blast launch, photo ops, a MINI Cooper roof to sign and the poshest outhouses ever. And thankfully, I didn't have to even mention the crazy speech I wrote for the contest...
A few notes about getting into Canada... odd traffic lanes funneling cars into the border patrol - takes what seems like forever! Very friendly border guards (I told 3 jokes to the one checking my passport); all speeds are noted in kilometers per hour - which to all my running friends will make for easy conversions; it is not ok to speed in the Canada; once inside it was pretty smooth sailing, er I mean motoring.
A few notes about getting back into the United States. Much faster process, but very sourpuss like border agents who make you feel like you are sneaking back into your own country. WTF! I swear I want to write the President and say really? It might be easier to swim across...
After we collected our entire party just inside the US border, we hightailed it to Buffalo for the party going on at the Riverworks. Cool venue, great atmosphere and way to end a day that could have gone completely wrong, but didn't due to the help of many friends. Jackpot!
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