Smart claims World Record

On Friday 4 July, 2008, Rupert Lloyd Thomas, with navigator Annette Lloyd Thomas, drove his 2005 smart fortwo diesel over "The Top of the World" to an altitude of 10,974 feet (3,345 m) through the Beartooth Pass, along the Montana-Wyoming border, in the United States.

This is the highest known altitude for a smart car on public roads. If anybody can better this please let us know.
See previous.

North Carolina Road Trip

I have been researching the Fuller Family of Sussex for many years and recently have attempted to find the surviving cannons made at their Heathfield Forge, Sussex, England between 1693 - 1793. When I located one at a museum in Beaufort, North Carolina my hubby said, "I'll take you there if you want to go see it". How could I say no?
I've been re-reading Jan Karon's Mitford Series (see my Sabbatical Books blog) which she wrote while living in Blowing Rock, North Carolina so we'll be stopping there too.
Hubby has friends in Kannapolis and Kill Devil Hills, NC and I'm looking forward to meeting them.
We hit the road yesterday and had no problems getting out of metro Toronto and across the border at Niagara Falls. When we stopped for coffee at Tim Horton's, Grimsby, a very polite young man from Virginia asked if he could take pictures of our smart car Trudi. We wish him, and his family, a safe journey home.
Stayed last night at the Hampton Inn, Dubois (say doo-boys), Pennsylvania - amazing value for money. Heading south through Maryland into West Virginia today.

Miss Trudi meets Mr Lincoln

We went to the Street Classics Cruise a couple of weeks ago and saw some very cool vehicles. When we got back to our smart car, Trudi, a Lincoln Continental (circa 1974) was parked next to her. Check out the 59 De Soto Firedome in the background and its tail light below.

Trudi goes to New York (state)

Photo: Adirondack Scenic Railroad station in Lake Placid, New York
To read about our visit see my sabbatical blog here.

"New" Tour Day 7: Sussex, NB

Drove into Saint John, NB via provincial capital Frederickton. Took smart car Trudi in for her 24 000 km service and they took us downtown by taxi. Bite of lunch at the Old Market then an excellent tour of the Loyalist House. " One of the few surviving buildings of the Great Fire of 1877, the Loyalist House serves as a proud reminder of Saint John's British Loyalist heritage. Built in 1817, the Georgian features of this National Historic Site has remained structurally unaltered."
They have done a great job of making the downtown pedestrian friendly and attractive - due largely to the recent influx of cruise ships. Next we visited Barbour's General Store - "Over 2,000 artifacts are found within the store including china, farm tools and kitchen utensils. A combination barbershop dental office is located at the back of the store just as it would have been in the early days."
We phoned the dealership and found out that the smart was ready and they sent a B Class Mercedes to pick us up. No problems with the car so we were quickly on our way.
Fascinating tour of the Carleton Martello Tower, pictured above. It commands spectacular views of the city and harbour.
Stayed the night at the All Seasons Inn in Sussex, NB - named for the Duke of Sussex Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843), sixth son of King George III.
Early start this morning. Stopped for breakfast at Cora's in Moncton and blogging at the beautiful, new public library.