Day 13. Back in the USA, Skowhegan, Maine

 A 190 mile day from Quebec, Quebec to Skowhagen, Maine. Rainy, overcast and 50 degrees most of the day but sill a very good day. 

 I woke up to this ominous weather radar of a storm basically squatting over Quebec.  We evaluated the different weather patterns and routes and rerouted our original plan which was to go northeast and around Maine through Quebec into New Brunswick. We decided we had a better chance of avoiding the most severe weather by heading southeast towards Bangor, Maine and then back into Canada from the west. 

 Around 11:30 the heaviest rain had passed so we hit the road!!!  But only for about 6 miles until we got on the freeway to head across the Saint Lawrence and quickly came to a halt. Apparently less than 30 minutes before there was an accident across the bridge. We burned up 1.5 hours moving about 1/4 mile. Usually I might have gotten mad or frustrated in such a situation. But today, sitting in a light drizzle, we practiced what little French we had trying to talk to all the stranded Quebec'r motorist around us.  C'est la vie!!

 15' at a time, yard by yard. 

 The view of the Pont Pierre Laporte bridge for about 90 minutes today. 

 "Je me souviens" means "I remember". I will always remember my time in Quebec. 

Finally a break from the highway and the rain about 60 miles down the road. Wet and a gray day, but we're still having fun. 😀

 Hey, only 1 click to the US Border and my first ever steps in Maine!

 WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES!!

The big test, how will the US Border agent compare to our surly Canadian Border agent in Sault Ste. Marie??  Actually Agent McGuire was very cool. We chatted for a while and I learned about his uncle who traveled globally with IBM. This came about because he persisted in asking what I used to do when I told him I do nothing now but stuff like this motorcycle trip.  He said he enjoys talking to people coming across the border and recommended Bishops for hot pizza when we got to Jackman about 16 miles down the road. I thanked him by giving him some Colorado weed and I was on my way!!

 

 We got some pizza and hot coffee at Bishops as recommended by Agent Biahop and I checked the weather radar. For now, the rough weather has moved on to the northeast. Yea!!  It's still 50 degrees with light intermittent mist. 

 Somehow the US, and in this case Maine offer simply a much more beautiful palette as a landscape than I saw in Ontario or Quebec. It really started changing about 10 miles before the border. 

 More beauty. 

 And more beauty along the Dead River. 

 A beautiful rest area along US 201 

 Thumbs up!!

 With the bridge delay in Quebec impacting our goal of making Bangor before darkness (we're in moose country now and we didn't want to run into one of those big fellows) we stopped about 60 miles short in Skowhagen, ME.  We found a room at the luxurious Belmont Motel.  It could have easily been an unpleaaant day but we had good spirits and good times the whole way. Very nice. Tomorrow we make another assault on Canada!

 Good night Belmont Motel. There is nothing at about your internet access that is high speed!!👎