Detroit, Michigan
I left the campground little before 9:00 to enter the USA in
Windsor/Detroit by crossing a metallic bridge above the Detroit
River natural border between Ontario, Canada and Michigan, the USA.
I arrived at the first control at 10:10 where the vehicle is taken
in photograph and its identifiers noted by the customs officer to
leave the enclosure of the Customs at 11:40 after having waited in
the waiting room that my name is called for the first time to give
my passport and the duly filled out the ad hoc card, then for the
catch of the digital fingerprints of the two hands as my portrait
and the payment of $6 and finally for the third time for the
handing-over of my passport with the exit card of the USA in three
months maximum with my vehicle. I had noted the coordinates of
Tourism Bureau which alas had little documentation. The hostess
advised me to go to the AAA, equivalent of the ACF. There was no map
of Michigan! But I recovered a booklet of the campgrounds. Not
having lunched because the refrigerator was empty of foodstuffs to
enter the USA, I sought the museums which alas were closed on
Monday. Very disappointed I went to Walmart in Dearborn to make
supply and to bivouac on the spot. The security car required of me
to go my way. By chance I found an overland route behind Walmart
where I hoped to spend the night… The first contact with Detroit was
disappointing by the length of the entry procedure then by the lack
of tourist documentation. The city did not appear to me ruins some
as certain reports show it, certainly it would be necessary to go in
the depopulated suburbs. Alteration work is in hand in the center of
the city.
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| Bivouac in Detroit/Dearborn, close to Walmart |
Dearborn
The day of French National Holiday I went within the boundary of
"The Henry Ford" where ther are various activities. I started as of
9:30 by travelling by bus to go to visit the Ford Rouge Factory
where was assembled Ford "T". It was recently entirely renovated for
the assembly of Ford 150 of last generation out of aluminum. The
visit starts with two films on a picture wall accompanied by a
dazing wiring for sound. The first to the history of the innovative
organization with the vertical integration of the "T" manufacturing.
The second shows the design of the new generation of F150 with
stunning special effects. Then a gallery makes it possible to follow
the assembly of the vehicle as well as the robotization of certain
tasks. Throughout the visit of the guards take care of the
compliance with the rules in particular: No Photo. I returned by bus
within the boundary of "The Henry Ford" to visit the museum which
was created by Henry Ford in 1929 in a building with the red brick
frontage and the concrete roof, interior air-conditioning is
irrational. Of course the museography dates from the time of
creation. The set of themes typically American and is announced:
"An unforgettable way to discover and appreciate the American
history". In the gallery below I show the few photos which
challenged me with winks at France. I returned to my bivouac of the
day before.
Ford Rouge Factory
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| The roof of the factory, No Photo inside |
Photo gallery of Henry Ford Museum :
Here
Wednesday, July 15 was a sunny day very rich in visits. I started by
spending the morning to stroll in Greenfield Village made up of more
than 80 houses transplanted from their origin spot or entirely
rebuilt. The purpose is an immersion: “In 300 years of the American
life”. As for the museum a half-day is not enough for all to see.
The visitors are invited to use the means of transport of their
ancestors. Of course Ford Model T is at the honor in all its states.
Within the boundary of The Henry Ford I did not go to the IMAX
Theatre. At the beginning of afternoon I went to the Detroit
Institutes of Art richly equipped in art of all continents on three
levels. I was obliged to make a drastic selection taking into
account my remaining time. On the way back towards my bivouac in
Paul St I stopped to see the two more famous ruins:
Michigan Central Station in the style Art-Deco then the old factory
of the Packard luxury cars.
Photo gallery of the Greenfield Village :
Here
Detroit
Detroit Intitute of Art: DIA
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| Officer of the Hussars by Kehinde Wiley |
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| Sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett |
Tête de Balzac by Rodin |
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| Young Girl by Derain |
Selfie by Van Gogh |
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| Reclining Figure by Henry Moore |
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| Mural "Detroit Industry" by Diego
Rivera |
Detroit Ruins
Michigan Central Station
Packard Plant
Auburn, Indiana
On Thursday, July 16 I left before the daybreak to go to Auburn in
Indiana to approximately 270 km southwards from Detroit to visit the
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg-Automobile Museum in a splendid Art-Deco
building. Of course the museum is dedicated to the vehicles of the
company. However on the third level other luxury vehicles
appear in the collection, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar
type E etc. I discussed with one the guides who knew the Schlumpf
Museum in Mulhouse, France. The engineers of the company made major
innovations, the Cord front-drive, the engine supercharged etc. The
company disappeared at the time of the financial crash in 1930's.
The gallery below exposes the most sumptuous models of the mad years
on a Charleston music. In the west on the way towards Chicago I
wished to see the Amish Country in Middlebury. Bof I saw on the road
some buggies scurrying. Downtown no villagers of the sect. After a
stop in front of McDo to test the Wi-Fi connection, which was Ok. I
found by chance a bivouac on the carpark of deserted High-School in
summer period.
Photo gallery of Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg-Automobile
Museum :
Here
Middlebury, Iniana
Amish country
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| Amish's hypomobile |
Chicago, Illinois
1st Day !
Friday, July 17th started under bad auspices. It had rained all
during the night and at the time of my departure of the cloudburst
fell making the visibility problematic. I had approximately 300 km
to go to Chicago. Left at 6:30 local time i.e. 5:30 Chicago time. I
had programmed the GPS with the option of the shortest road whereas
usually I took the fastest road. Bad choice, I wandered in the
countryside on small roads with many stops and traffic lights
slowing down the progression in the rain. On the Loop of Chicago the
engine of “G” lost power and the exhaust produced a noise of Diesel
North-American loco. Concerned I continued my road towards the
center of Chicago because I cannot stop on the shoulder. My primary
goal was of going to Tourism Bureau of which I had taken the address
on Internet, 301 Cermak Rd, Chicago. I stationed the truck and went
in search of #301? At the end of one hour of walk and information
near the natives I warned two policemen who consulted their
telephones to give me a correct address. Back to the truck after one
hour of stop the engine had found its power. What had it occurred?
Heat was not excessive and speed is limited to 55 miles/hour on the
Loop. I was very dubitative of this incident of a vehicle of 33,000
km after a revision in St John, NB, Canada. I went to the given
address, 78 E Washington St, Chicago. No problem Visitors Bureau is
well at this address. But no parking. I drove in the adjacent
streets without anything to find. I was diverted towards Columbus
Dr. where I took the place of a vehicle therefore, phew! I made my
harvest of booklets by asking for the address of a Mercedes-Benz
workshop, one never knows. The only campground close to Chicago is
the KAO in Union to approximately 100 km away from the center of
Chicago. At the reception I was informed that only transportation to
Chicago is a train with Park & Ride in Woodstock to approximately 21
km for a 90-minute trip to Chicago. I lunched around 14:30 hours
i.e. 9 hours of duration supplied with some concern. It is also that
the journeys. It is not always part of pleasure, as someone think it
sited in their armchair with a glass in hand… The temperature in
Chicago was of 34°C with 70% of moisture. This a little long report
wanted to be factual to show the reality of the daily overlooked.
Letter to a friend of the trip to the USA. But there is only one
Victor Hugo.
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| Michigan Ave |
2d day !
Saturday, July 18th was dedicated to “City Walk” proposed by Lonely
Planet to see the main buildings which made the reputation of
Chicago first city having inaugurated Skyscrapers which are in the
district of the business and finance included in the Loop, Elevated
Train Tracks, the elevated railway, made famous by many films and
televised series. But seen closely, for me, it is an ugliness
reinforces at least rusted and noisy. In this Saturday the motor
vehicle traffic inside the Loop is very sparse knowing that the
private carpark can reach tops with $26 per hour. The most
interesting buildings of the Thirties have an architecture Art-Deco
like Chicago Board of Trade. Chicago was the town of departure at
the time of the great depression of the mythical road 66 called
“Mother Road”. The Reliance building transformed into Burnham Hotel
is known by room 309 occupied by the dentist who looked after Al
Capone. The Park Millennium gathers some architectural jewels as
Cloud Gate also called “The Bean” for its resemblance to a bean. It
is about a remarkably polished metal structure in which Skyscraper's
Line with a selfie is reflected. It was a long day started at 7:00,
by heavy heat, which ended in a violent storm around 16:30 whereas I
was in the train. The frequency of the trains, commuter, during the
weekend is very seldom. I was back to KOA-campground around 17:45 to
harness me with administrative work.
Photos gallery of City Walk, The Loop :
ici
3d jour !
On Sunday, July 19 I went back to Chicago to immerse me in Art
Institute. Alas the trains circulate with parsimony on Sunday, I
spent only approximately three hours in the museum which gives the
visitors an excellent booklet to go to essence. Moreover the first
page mentions: “You are welcome to take photographs… please do not
uses flashes, tripods, and video cameras.” As much to say that crowd
compacts did not deprive any making problematic the approach of some
paintings. I concentrated on painting. To consult the photograph
gallery to click on the picture below, La Grande Jatte by Seurat
which is dear to my heart; I did not remember that it was the
property of the museum of Chicago as much of paintings of the French
school which reach exorbitant prices that only the American
collectors can pay. The gallery ends with the statue of Buddha
Sakyamuni meditating on the causes of the ignorance of humanity.
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| A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Seurat |
