Driving through Chicago at Midnight on a Sunday DAY 2

2nd day Sunday April 27, 2014
Wisconsin is now showing green grass, unlike in Manitoba when we left.   5C.

It was still pouring buckets of rain down on us, so all we wanted was a nice hot breakfast.  We asked some nice elderly folk in the grocery store if they could point us in the direction of a good breakfast nook.  We ended up at Denny's Retro Diner in Hudson Wisconsin.  Sunday morning, it was full!

They didn't have much for selection on teas in the US but they did have HONEY

Busy diner

Waiting for our food at Denny's

Pam, our waitress extraordinaire! 

Oh Pam, we almost drove out of our way on the trip home ~ just to see you again!

 A tip for Pam

 It turned out to be a little cold for the slushies and the slushies themselves were a little runny.  Some buyers remorse going on ...

 Noticing that prices on chips were not that different.  Everywhere we went they were around $3 for a bag.

All the Barbie, Life in the Dreamhouse characters!!! EEEEEEE

Gregg couldn't get over how they sell guns in Wal Mart

Kate and Uncle Gordon ... opps, I mean Uncle Si

Jo and Midge

Driving through all the wind and rain was exhausting

Poor Gregg ~ so much wind!  Lots of tornado's to the South East of us

Paying tolls is not necessarily new to us, but we were getting it down pat!

Tolls were around $10 to get into Indiana on the I 94

Guacamole... in a tub, but in a bag inside.  Yup, kinda gross.

Travel stops with pinball machines made for a happy time!

A pumpkin Cheesecake cookie.  Only found in the US, but Made In Canada!  HA!

Travel stops were just the best!  We noticed later just how many of our memories and photos were taken in them.  Traveling with children would be easy.  We often got hot water and made our own tea as well.

There are also Fireworks stores everywhere and they are huge buildings with huge signs.

Gas stations have names like "Freedom" and "Tesero" and "Loves" and "BP" and "Holiday"

We are noticing Pro Life and Pro Fatherhood billboards a lot.  Something you don't see too much around Manitoba.

Chicago radio station report ~ "We have a report of a couch in the center lane.."

No pictures turned out of our drive through Chicago around midnight on a Sunday night.  It was stunning in it's own way.  Old buildings, run down areas and then sky scrapers and modern architecture.  I made sure Gregg was watching the road !  ha ha.

Chicago Skyway toll $4.

The temperature rose dramatically after Chicago from around 5 C to 15C. by 8:30 pm. We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Portage IA for $78 with a CAA discount.  We are traveling with a thermarest mattress for Mei to sleep on the floor.

They served a hot breakfast (continental style) but nothing really for Gluten Free.
 We're in biscuit and gravy areas now!

The quilts were so comfy!

The rain stopped just long enough for us to unpack into the motel and then it rained all night as well.

Steve and Bertha being interviewed by Oprah on their traveling tips

2nd day Sunday April 27
Family Fresh Groceries $84.14
Denny's Retro Diner $38.38
Tomah, WI Kwik Trip 20 L $75
Wal Mart groceries and trailer lock $19.48
I 94 Tolls to Chicago, $6.40
OH 6 Ohio Turnpike partial toll
Wisconsin is now green 5C raining
Skyway Chicago into Indiana $4.
Indiana tolls I 90 $1.80
Temperature rose dramatically up to 15C at 8:30 pm