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| Laid down this tower is longer than the town |
Today broke sunny and warm. The folks we talked with in Illinois were pleased to finally have two sunny days in a row after all the rain (from the thunder storms we stayed in Wisconsin an extra day to avoid).
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| Something new - wheat fields. |
We tried a different approach to navigation today. Road Trip America, the web site I use a lot for traveling gave us a 249 mile route smack through Chicago, Ill, Gary IN, all on major Interstate highways that we greatly disliked on the way west. Magellan gave us a “Least Use of Highways” route that was more than a hundred miles longer! Undaunted by this, Gloria drove (the first two hours) and I navigated as we made our own route through the corn, soybeans and fields of golden wheat via Illinois RTs 18 and 17 and finally routes 6 and 120 in Indiana. The end result was around 260 miles through little towns and small farms along roads with 55 mph speed limits and often no traffic at all. We drove by more massive wind farms, but the air was still today and few of the windmills were turning.
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| A nice little cash only independent restaurant in rural Indiana. |
Along the way we chatted up locals at small independent eateries and chain fast food places. We had lunch another little place that found they could do just fine without accepting credit cards and once again the food was inexpensive and good. We appeared to be the only non locals in this very much off he beaten path eatery. A common theme with most people we talked to was how everyone who has a job is working harder to get by. Those who can find work often have two jobs or more. Another common theme was the smiles in their eyes when the subject of quitting time came up. Some things are universal.
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| Fast moving horse drawn vehicle on Rt 120 near Freemont |
The end of the trip in Northeast Indiana passed through Amish country (Mennonites more properly). We were alerted to this fact by the Mennonite churches, manure on the highways, and the occasional horse and buggy on the shoulder of the road. Those rascals move pretty fast- I caught the back end of the rig in the picture as he burned up the miles at four or five mph.
Gloria and I switched off driving every two hours as has become our custom, and she drew the last two hours as we approached our destination in Freemont, IN. The GPS was back on and noted that the hotel was right on route 120 (Which runs right along Lake Erie, just under I 90 with almost no traffic). Just as I was complaining to Gloria that she gets all the easy drives, we came across the barrier in the picture. We could actually see the hotel a quarter mile away across the blocked overpass. We spent nearly a half hour on the wild side trying to get over the highway and back to the hotel.
Gloria opted to try a tiny rural road that kept getting smaller and smaller, and finally became a dirt track before merging with the road we needed. However, her instincts were good and we arrived intact.
A little independent restaurant not far from the dirt road provided an excellent meal and introduced us to some excellent local wines. The vineyard is nearby and we plan to stop in tomorrow if they open early enough.
Speaking of vineyards, we are changing our route home (yes, again). We opted to head toward Ashtabula, Ohio and drive along Lake Erie, before turning inland to spend a night in Syracuse. Along the way, south of Rochester, NY is the Jello Museum that some folks in Wisconsin said we should visit. There is also vineyard and orchard country and we want to check out what is growing (please, let it be something other than corn!).
Along the lines of corn, I noticed a great compulsion to start a garden when I get home. I have been dreaming about corn and soybeans and wheat and I am beginning to draw plants when I doodle. Sort of like the movie featuring Devils Tower. (Strange Encounters...?)
Buffalo Bob, if you are reading this, expect a call from us on Saturday afternoon when we are in your area to get together for a cup of coffee.
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