Putting on the miles to Lake Erie
Trip Start
Mar 12, 2011
1
100
109
Trip End
Dec 15, 2011
Where I stayed
Sandusky, Ohio
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Got on the road a bit later than we should have. The clocks went back last night, so it took us about an hour to figure out what time it was. (Bit of exaggeration, but you know what I mean.)
Set off quite happily, and then discovered that I have never downloaded the maps for the journey after Chicago, so wwe were satnavless. Had to resort to navigating by a bit of paper called a map! How quaint!
Anyway, went through Angola, that tells you just how far we were off track! Dowesnt look like I remember Angola, but times have changed.
Once again we folllowed minor roads, well, the 20 isnt a minor road, but its not a Freeway. Thats the best way to travel. Went past an area which has an Amish Community, so we saw signs of that, but left any exploring for a later discovery.
Stopped along the way for our Subway lunch. Next to an old barn, which was either in the process of falling down, or should be condemned. Still had a load of straw stored inside oon the second floor (or first floor if you are English) Maybe thats why they dont knock it down.
Anyway, now we are in Sandusky on lake Erie. Most of the hotels are closed for the season, but we eventually managed to find one that would rake us. Took about 30 minutes to raise soemone to book us in.
Not an exciting day, but we have added 296 miles, and we need to get to NY in time to book Stanley in for a sea journey
Martin's map moment:
So what was I saying about maps? Our paper version was perfectly adequate for the journey today and fortunately our circumnavigation of Toledo was quite straightforward.We - as you will see from the photos - were shadowed for a while by John in his '42 Ford into which he had infiltrated a V8 motor,lowered the suspension and nailed wider mag. wheels on the side.He and his pal Kenny met us at a pull in and very generously offered us assiastance should we need it.Ever confident we said we were OK.
Talking about Chicago apparently the river through it (same name as the city) is dyed green on St.Patrick's day - it being recognised as more Irish perhaps than even NY.There is apparently a civil order about not catching/eating/marrrying anything pulled out of the river while its green.The water that is.
We've pulled back a day and now need to time our run in with a bit more precision.Next bit is OK-it will position us in Pittsburgh but our trajectory to NY (touristy) New Jersey(Getting Stanley to warehouse) and JFK airport (your travellers exiting US) will be critical if we are to not spend 48 hours hauling our bags around.There's a bell ringing in my head about something I did along similar lines in Melbourne involving leaving left luggage at airport.
Stopped to get some fuel today and as we were leaving car pulled up alongside and lady had Adele playing on stereo.Just seemed a bit strange don't know why.
Knocked on a police station's door tonight looking for a bit of direction.12 cars outside but no sign of life until a returning officer parked up outside and I approached cautiously.Very helpful and gave us the right steer.
So we've pitched up in a motel which to all the world looked completely deserted.We stood at reception desk for about 5 mins until I picked up one of their business cards and rang the hotel
and got the receptionist who was elsewhere in the building to come to where we were.Marvellous innit?
