Sault St. Marie, Bruce Mines, Iron Bridge, Blind River, Sudbury ...

Travelling along hwy 17, I was glad the Star didn’t succumb 'on the long decline.'  The road still winds along the Mississagi River but it's not the same as it was in '62 when Young wrote about his car ... that is except for the gas stations. Every gas station along the route was vintage and getting to them became an off road adventure. Blind River and 'her chromes still shining' and she's still running and tonight we're in Parry Sound.

I stopped to take a photo of the beautiful, twisting waterway when I heard the rumble of loud pipes slowing at the construction behind me. I turned to look at a group of riders advertising a possible involvement in organized crime on their vests. Not the first group I met today, so from there on I decided to wave only at brightly coloured sport bikes or cruisers hauling trailers. I’m pretty sure they won’t be sporting colours.

Now when I'm camping I expect to worry about bears, but this close to home and after 8 hours on the road I decided to hotel it (once again) and what did I find? My window faces the nice wooded area behind the hotel so maybe I'll get to see him. I'll have to keep the camera handy but I'll be keeping the window closed and sleeping with one eye open.

And for the last dinner on the road I was incredibly lucky to stumble on the award winning Food Truck Moose On The Loose - unbelievable! My only regret; that I didn't have three friends to help me eat it. (If you're ever in Parry Sound check them out - no moose on the menu.)

Neil Young

Long may you run.

Long may you run.

Although these changes

Have come

With your chrome heart shining

In the sun

Long may you run.

Well, it was

Back in Blind River in 1962

When I last saw you alive

But we missed that shift

On the long decline

Long may you run.