June 23, 2023
Rise and shine! It was drizzling rain when we left our campground at 7:30 AM. Soon it was pouring rain as we drove 56 miles to Detroit and the Canadian border. In addition there were many, many, semi-trucks going our way. I have never seen so many trucks!
There are two ways to cross from Detroit into Windsor Canada: The Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. We chose the Ambassador Bridge. The Ambassador Bridge is a tolled suspension bridge across the Detroit River that connects Detroit, Michigan in the United States with Windsor, Ontario in Canada.
We sat in traffic for quite awhile just waiting to pay the toll to cross the bridge. After maneuvering our way through the semi-truck traffic, we found a series of very narrow lanes for collecting the bridge toll. Most of the lanes provide an unattended payment system designed for cars, not for motorcoaches.
Fortunately, we found a toll booth that had an attendant.
The fee to cross was $7 USD.
Once we made it to the bridge, we waited for quite awhile before we could actually make it onto the main part of the bridge. We could feel the bridge shaking as we waited in line.
Once the traffic began to move onto the bridge, there was not choice but to take it slow. A few more facts about the bridge: it was the longest suspended central span in the world when it was completed in 1929 at roughly 1,850 feet (560 m), the total length is 7,500 feet (2,286 m), and It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume. The four-lane bridge carries more than 10,000 commercial vehicles on a typical weekday. Hmmm, I guess that could be why we encountered so many trucks on a Friday morning!
Once across the bridge, it was time to enter the customs area. The signage was not very good. Autos in one direction and trucks in another. No signs for RVs or buses. Are we a Car or a Truck?
Once again we were stuck in truck traffic and even had to wait for a large semi-truck to turn around right in front of us! We eventuallly made it to the correct lane…we were considered the same as a car. The entrance into the customs lane was ridiculously narrow, with maybe two inches of clearance on either side. The customs agent was very friendly and asked her obligatory questions and sent us on our way. Whew! (I did not get any photos of the customs area. Cameras are prohibited.)
The rain continued throughout the remainder of the day. We drove 200 miles to Milton, ON and checked into the MIlton Heights Campground.for two nights.
Tomorrow- Toronto sightseeing! Hopefully no Rain
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