Kilometer 10,343 - Home!

Home.  It's a nice word.  And over 10,000 kms to get back to here.  I had a small panic moment at one point today when I looked at the odometer and saw that it was at two hundred and something...I thought it had gotten pushed and reset.  Then I realized, it resets itself at 10,000. 

I spent the night in the flea hotel.  It was the only one I saw (and I looked very hard for a while).  It was kind of gross little place though.  It seemed clean-ish, but there was an off smell about it, and for the first time, I left a light on in the bathroom, because I was just a little afraid something alive could be around.  I was awake at 0530, and this is when I realized this gem of a place had no hot water.  None.  I resolved at this point to be home tonight.  Enough.  I stopped at a gas station and got a coffee and kept going.

I was on the road before the sun came up, so got some nice pictures as I ambled through Vermont.  I had picked out at least two hiking trails that I wanted to do when I got here, but....wait for it....it was raining.  And this continued on and off all day.  I got my photography mojo back slightly today, and did stop to take pictures when it wasn't downpouring, but I can't help but think they would have been so much nicer if the sun had been shining.  Oh well.  Can't change the weather. 

I always feel a sense of relief when I get back in Canada.  Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful travelling through the states, especially Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.  The scenery was breathtaking in places.  But I love Canada. We may have our faults, but we are a great country, and I am proud to call it home.  So, end of blog.  For those that have endured the boring posts, thanks for tagging along.  And thanks for all the comments along the way.  Made the road crazies a little bit better!  Until the next trip....

Kilometer 9497 - On the border of New York State and Vermont

Spent a not too bad night sleeping in the car last night. I actually probably slept as much as I usually do. It wasn't as comfortable as a pillow top but it did the trick.  It was warm enough that all I needed was a fleece sheet.  Treated myself to a restaurant breakfast and hit the road. Again.

I soon made my way into New York state and there is where I remained all day long.  My CAA trip tik took me through the scenic route. When planning this trip I had been excited about that. After driving it I am not so sure. In the John Steinbeck book that I had been listening to (I finished it a few days ago) he described a time near the end of his trip that, although he still had days left of driving , he stated the trip was over in his mind.  He could only think of home, and nothing else really mattered anymore. I think I reached that point today. I knew that I should be happy to be off the interstate and seeing the beautiful countryside,  but all I felt was annoyance at it taking me longer to get through my route.  There was lots of pretty leaves but I hardly stopped at all. Except for the state trooper.  But he didn't seem to want his picture taken. 

I did stop for gas through this scenic route, which seemed to be hard to find.  I have been using my card at the gas tank for all if the trip, mostly because it is quicker.  I swiped several times but it wouldn't read and then finally told me to see the cashier inside.  I went in and explained my problem.  The cashier looked at my card, her lip visibly curled up, and she said "Oh, is it Canadian? ". Heads all across the store slowly turned towards me. Cue the banjo music.  She told me to pump the gas and pay inside which worked fine . And I left quickly.

So now I am in a motel on the border of NY and Vt.  There is no hair in the tub. Yay. But i may have just killed a flea.  The car is looking good again.

Kilometer 8649 - Erie Pennsylvania

So over 1000 km again today and over 11 hours driving . Long day for sure. And I have been in 5 different states - Wisconsin,  Illinois, Indiana,  Ohio and Pennsylvania. Can't tell you much about them though,  except a traffic report. 

To start out with this morning I was awake at 0515 so left motel shortly after 6, hoping to avoid bad traffic around Chicago.  Funny Shelley. Traffic was CRAZY there! At times there was 5 lanes on each side and people were just driving like maniacs.  I did fairly well, however got in the wrong lane once and that set me back 40 minutes as I all of a sudden was going the opposite way and had to make several exits and re-entery to get back on track.

Every morning I look at the map and try and gauge how far I might get. I am usually way off and have to change plans halfway through the day. I had hoped to make it to New York state today,  and although it's not a long long way, here I am in Pennsylvania.

I fear I may be losing my mind with all this confined time in the car and no one to speak to. I have started reacting to place names and tickling myself with it. For example,  I drove by "Adrian" and yelled out this in a Sylvester Stallone voice like the Rocky movie. At "Goshen" I remarked "Land 'a goshen" ...and so on. Who knows what I will be like by the time I am back in NB☺.

Again,  I have no pictures except one that I took at a highway side rest stop which made me want to vomit a little bit. I will include it for your perusal.  Mostly corn fields again today and woods.

By the time I found a campground it was after 7 and I am so tired.  I am sleeping in the car tonight in the campground. And I got a bag of chips at the local store for supper.  T'is a glamorous life I lead. It's not that cold and I couldn't imagine trying to get that tent up in the almost dark. Would love to be somewhere tomorrow that I could actually do some hiking.  But that will depend on weather too

Kilometer 7622 - Janesville Wisconsin

I am just noticing I drove 1000 km today.  That may be the most exciting thing you take away from this blog post.  Because, for the most part, it was a very boring day. I don't even have any pictures to post. You can't stop on the I 95 at all, except for emergencies,  so anything that I might have wanted to take pictures of was impossible.
The campground that I stayed at was great and it was my warmest night yet. I actually slept in until 0615! I took the tent down,  made some oatmeal, toast and coffee,  and hit the road. I quickly left South Dakota and entered Minnesota.  I am sure that it has some redeeming qualities.  Perhaps it was the many corn mazes I passed by, or the world's only "Corn palace" (who doesn't love a royalty infused domicile made of corn? ). But basically the whole way through Minnesota was fields of corn,  cows (and I do love cows ) and cars. There were windmills along the route which were great,  but that's about it. Thankfully,  as I worked my way into Wisconsin the scenery started to change some. Finally some trees and some coloured leaves.  But I traded lack of scenery for some traffic.  Currently I am just on the other side of the Illinois border and of course,  Chicago.  I plan on bypassing it altogether,  but judging from traffic today I expect it should be fun regardless. Hopefully tomorrow I will actually have some pictures that I can add ☺.

I forgot to add the great experience I had once I got here to Janesville.  I decided,  because of the rain all day (surprise again) that I would stay at a motel.  Once I checked in at close to 7 I realized I was really hungry.  Pizza is my comfort food so I looked on my GPS and found a "Papa Murphys" only 1.2 km away from here. I went there, ordered a pizza and suprisingly they said it would be ready in 4 minutes.  In my road weary enhanced brain state I didn't think to question this. Until I heard the person 2 people ahead of me ask how to cook it. I then realized it was all take home and bake yourself pizza.  I had to go up and cancel my order explaining I was in a motel.  They tried to talk me into taking it anyway and getting the "kitchen" to cook it but pretty sure there is no kitchen here. Sigh.