Day 5 -- Tuesday, June 30

I've really been having a wonderful time. Riding has been interesting, sleep fair but I'll get used to it, and there had been plenty of food.

As you know we got stuck at Saranac Lake but the next morning I was able to get out of town by 12:20. We rode through some rain and some sun and we were forced to put up about 50 miles from Buffalo at a gas station. That night night there were so many mosquitoes that I didn't sleep very well, but none of the others did either. I used the mosquito netting but I discovered that the buzzing of the flies bothered me as much as the stinging. That day we traveled 300 miles.

On Tuesday we traveled the few miles to Buffalo and then up to Niagara Falls. We went up the Canada side but customs only took us 10 minutes or so. The scenery on that side of the river was quite beautiful. By the way, on Monday we took a little detour and we were able to see Bob's folks at Clifton Springs. To continue, we reached Niagara Falls at about 1, took pictures of the beautiful, impressive Canadian Horseshoe Falls. I took a 75¢ trip under the falls but it was quite a farce for all we could see was water. It was interesting that for our little tour the people making the money (and they had quite a business) armed us with 2 ft. boots, raincoats, etc. Later we took an aero car which went a few hundred feet over the very famous whirlpool. All the while we stayed on the Canadian side. It was impressive, but too commercial. All in all we really liked the place. We continued our trip after some nice pictures (I hope I didn't expose them) through Ontario and camped about 70 miles from Detroit. That night I slept with Pop in a double bed, but boy did I sleep.

This morning we made our first meal. It was all cold but it was really very good -- melon, cereal with peaches, milk and cake. We then took the 70 miles in stride, went through customs at Windsor, across the bridge and then back to the U.S. and Detroit. Immediately we headed for the gigantic Ford plant in Dearborn 5 miles from Detroit to see whether we could see the plant. We were in luck. At 1:30 our guided tour began. The plant was gigantic, 2 miles square, about 4 square miles. Taken by bus, we first went to the motor assembly plant. It was really exciting. I have never seen mass production on as large a scale as that; it was really overwhelming. We saw the frame of the motors first and then saw it gain part after part until the finished product. It was wonderful to see how they made use of all space by having the motors and parts drawn by pulleys over and under our heads. We found out that the plant had railroads of it's own just to transport stuff. Next we went to the main assembly plant. We first saw the frame, the body and the frame, then the tires, headlights and by the end of the tour we saw the finished car come off the assembly line and we saw someone drive it off with all the accessories working. We got to know the guide which made the trip more pleasant. We found out that to complete one car from the very beginning of putting the frame together to the finished product takes 28 hours. Other interesting facts were: favorite car was maroon; convertibles have to have body changed; car should cost $1750 complete; there were 2 eight-hour shifts employing 70,000.

After an exciting and informative 2 hours we bought a watermelon and ate lunch. A funny procedure, eh? We then continued onto Lansing where we are now staying. We almost stayed in Detroit for the ball game -- too bad for we heard (on my radio) half of Lemon's no-hitter. Later this afternoon we saw Michigan University and tomorrow we'll see Notre Dame and Michigan U. We've been averaging about 300 miles per day. Lately I've been palling around with Bob and Billy Costia and we've been having a good time. Yesterday at supper the boys gave me a knife for my birthday. It was really a fine gesture. By the way thanks for the 10 bucks. It'll really come in handy.

Tonight we're sleeping in Lansing. I got mother's mail -- what happened to dad's, or doesn't he know how to write. By the way in the future you can address the mail to me not Pop. Tonight I went to the movies and saw the "Clock." I guess that takes care of all the news up to now. Just remembered something. At Saranac Lake we almost camped on the porch of the house (almost hotel) which the players of the Philadelphia Eagles and the N.Y. Rangers use when practicing at or near Lake Placid. I'm sure you'll get me mail but be sure, please, to give the mail list to Carl, Grandma, Jane, Jim or anyone who feels like writing. -- I thank you kindly for your kindness -- That's an expression that's been traveling around.

By the way, I think I have come to a result as to the type of college I want to attend. While eating supper at Michigan State College, then and there I decided that I was attending a 1000 pupil coed school. My mind might change but that's the way I feel right now. I hope you're not disappointed. By the way, you can let Carl see this mail so that I won't have to write to him continuously. I have enough trouble trying to get mail off to you. I'll try to get postcards off to you pretty regularly but I think you'll understand that it's pretty hard to write with a flashlight, with bugs buzzing, at 10 or 11 o'clock. However, I'll try my best. Please don't think I'm intoxicated because of the length of this letter. There won't be many more like these but I wanted to show you how much I am enjoying the trip. You'd be surprised at the things I've learned even up to this point. I'll send the Susies a few post-cards. That should satisfy them.

Love to all -- I really miss you.