I'm a bit nervous about the Molly situation now that it's time to deal with it again. We are figuring the rectifier/voltage regulator is blown. As we determined when we left her behind, we're not sure how far we'd get on the new battery with the bad rectifier. We are going through Canada again because it's just too far around the lakes. For some reason this really makes me nervous. I don't know why, maybe it's because of the Canucks I've met here on ADV.

We're considering that U-haul might be best. Ohno calls. It's well over $300 and iffy whether a truck will be available this day. Pick-ups are hard to come by at the car rental places, too. No one seems to be able to give us a good quote either. So we decide to take our chances and try and limp her home, or at least closer to home.

Freewheeling Cycles is great! They let Ohno work on the bike in their shop. He disconnects the headlight and unhooks the heated grips. It is a possibility that the self-installed grips have a short and we're trying to cover all bases.

We thank Freewheeling Cycle once again and head to I-190 to take us over the border. Boy does it feel good to be back in my saddle.

I-90 cuts across Grand Island and as we come around the on-ramp, we find the first bridge to the island is under construction. Great. I was hoping for a little time to make sure Molly was somewhat functional before dealing with bumper to bumper traffic. We look around for an alternative but are quickly sardined. A small blue sedan lets us on in front of him on the highway. I wave a 'Thank You' and follow Ohno into the stop-and-go stream.

Please don't die here, I pray. There is no where to pull off. I am very careful not to stall because I don't know if she'll start again. I do not want push a bike, nor be towed, in this mess. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. G-Oh Crap! She just died. I panic and yell for Ohno who of course can't hear me nor has he seen me wave for him to hold up. The bike is still rolling, I ease her over as far as I can to the rail on the right. There's no way anyone can get around me if I stop here. Crap! Wait! I haven't even tried to start it again. I quick hit the start button. She purrs to life. I race to catch up with Ohno and thank God that I waved to the guy behind me so he didn't run me over. He diddn't even realized that I had a problem until I told him when we stop to cross into Canada, which is uneventful. The battery seems good and strong.

Molly is running well on the highway. We take the 403 to the 401, and are heading to the 402 to cross in Sarnia. Traffic is pretty heavy with a lot of trucks.

In London, Ontario, we stop for a bite to eat. I am too nervous to eat. I didn't think we should stop anywhere. I figure if she's running we should just keep going. But Ohno wants to check the voltage output to see if we are taxing the battery. She reads 12.9. Good! We turn the headlight on and it drops to 12.5. We turn the headlight back off.

I relax a bit knowing the readings. Yes, Ohno was rr-rrr-rr-- made a good call.

I start enjoying the ride, it really feels soooooo good to be back in on my gal, even with all her issues.

When we get to the Blue Water Bridge I am a happy camper. We are close enough to home for me. Literally, it was a long stop and go roll down the bridge to the border station. We turned the bike off this time and coasted her down. No one was going anywhere fast.

Ohno goes through border patrol first, telling my tale of woah. The border officer asks if I stopped anywhere in Canada. I said, "Are you kidding? I just want to get this bike back to Michigan."

He smiles. "I hope she starts for you," he says.

I push the start button and hold my breath. "Wah-Hooo!" I yell and give him a thumbs up then head off.

We pull in for food in Lexington, now that I can eat. I don't care where she dies, now. We're within 2.5 hours from home. I can come back with a trailer if I have to.

Ohno says his butt hurts so I play him the world's smallest violin.

Ohno wonders why my phone is acting up. Really. "What is it with you and electronics?" He asks.

We turn the headlight back on for the last leg of our trip. I really, really enjoy the ride across the Thumb. It is a beautiful evening.

When we are minutes from home I wave Ohno over for one last stop.

For a celebratory brew.

With the farm boys.

"Look me in the eye when you toast me!" (A German tradition we intend to uphold.)

So, where to next?

So Molly did make it all the way home for me. And we have ordered a rectifier for her. And, yes, I am hard on equipment.

But the anniversary adventure doesn't exactly end here ...