Day 2 post #2

We finally arrived at our fabulous hotel in Bloomington, Minnasota, home of the Mall of America. Actually, our hotel is directly across the street from the Mall. I really can't complain about the hotel. It's wicked cheap. There's a free breakfast, a pool, free wi-fi, and light rail service from the mall to downtown Minneapolis where we'll spend most of tomorrow. But you don't want to hear about tomorrow- you want to know about how the last two days have gone. Right?

Day 1 (Friday)

We actually leave 44 minutes ahead of schedule. I manage to beat Cougar to the rental car place at the airport (a rare event). I had time to stop at my local Starbucks for an iced coffee to get me going considering how little sleep I had Thursday night since I was up late cleaning and packing and sleeping in my empty apartment was kind of creepy. I realized after getting my Starbucks, that I really ought to be paying homeage to Dunken Donuts one last time, so I stopped for another iced coffee at the airport.

Here I am representing the Boston traditions:




We actually leave the airport with our Silver Chevy Impala (named The Count) by 8:30 and arrive back at my old apartment long enough to fill the trunk and part of the backseat.

Here I am one last time hanging out in front of 76 Myrtle. And yes, that is an ankle brace- I sprained my ankle last week.



We leave my place at 9:22 and actually are on the Mass Pike by 9:30. We don't make it to the New York State line until around 11:40 and cross the Hudson at 12:04.

We don't stop for lunch or gas until 2:15 (we did have an earlier pit stop) and at this point have already paid $9 in tolls. We've only managaged to go 292 miles but fill up half a tank (slightly undr $44. I haven't bought gas since 2005 and I about wet myself). The New York thruway is busy and slow and full of State Troopers. We actually hit the Buffallo Toll at 5:00 and spend a good half hour waiting to pay $13.85. At this point we are making making terrible time but we're having fun singing along to the radio. At our stop just before the Pennsylvania border I get a call about a job interview south of the Emerald City for late Thursday. They know I'm driving cross country, so our hope is to make it to the West Coast in time. This call lifts our spirits and we start to make better time through PA and Ohio.

Sidenote- did you know PA, along Lake Erie has some lovely reststops right next to wineries? Had we had time and weren't trying to get to Toledo to stay the night with Cougar's dad, we might have visited one or two.

It was nice to drive through Cleaveland and see the stadium. We'll actually get to see the Indians play the Twins on Sunday afternoon. We do find cheap gas in Ohio and wind up in Toledo at 11:13, nearly 14 hours after starting.

Our total mileage for Friday: 765.5.

Day 2: Saturday

Despite our late start (at 10), we left Toledo armed and dangerous (with iced coffees and Breaking Dawn). Immediately we started listening to the audio book. I think we made it through 6 discs today. I honestly don't ever listen to audio books, partly because I don't drive and partly because I like the sound of my own voice in my head when I read and not some actor. But the book is actually pretty good.

We arrived in Indiana around 11:20 and stopped in at a DQ. We decide to ignore AAA's advice about the route thru Chicago and proceed to spend 90 minutes and $5.85 in tolls (on top of the $6.75 to leave Indiana). At this point I feel like I'm spending more money on tolls than gas. The reason for the traffic in Chicago: Lollapalooza. But I did get to drive by the White Sox Stadium which was okay (it's no Fenway or even Wrigley Field).

After we get out of Chicago, we start to make much better time and seem to fly through the state. We stopped for a super late lunch and gas at a Subway where we saw two real cowboys (complete with gun holsters and hats) along with slot machines. We don't bother stopping again until Wisconsin when we spot a giant sign for cheese.

If you know Cougar or if you know me, you know we never say no to cheese. Of course we had to stop.

Here is Cougar and her cheesehead outside of the Cheese Chalet



And me (I'm actually pointing to where we are on the map)



And the shots of the cheese place (every kind of cheese imaginable: blueberry chedder, garlic cheddar, bacon cheddar...)





I guess the best story of the day was when we were getting gas and eating lunch in IL. and it occured to me that we were in a different time zone. We were thrilled to have an "extra" hour, though now I am beginning to feel the effects of another 12+ hours in the car. But I've been a great co-pilot: no naps! This is a first! Of course the oceans of diet coke and iced coffees I've consumed may have helped a bit.

Night!

xoxxo
sunshine