Equinox is packed and house is closed up. Roof rack is tied down with extra straps and the back is packed tight. 7:45AM, Turnpike going west becoming more and more flat farm crop land, no doubt this is mega agriculture farming across the states we pass through today. Full sun no rain in sight. Today, we are passing through three I states, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa with their rich black soil for crops. Nearing the Indiana border, Ohio’s Maumee River is broad and deep, much larger than Cuyahoga River. South of Chicago high border walls have been erected along the highway and we can no longer see the Calumet River in Gary, Indiana, as it empties into Lake Michigan. It is now a protected conservation area and very impressive with wetlands overflow and birdlife. In the back ground is the large steel mill. This is our route chosen to avoid Chicago traffic, instead that is exactly what happens and we sit still for an hour. As we move along in the far distance is the blurry skyline of downtown Chicago, the Sears Tower is still the tallest. Southern Illinois is flat farmland with large planted fields. There are miles and miles of wind turbines throughout and the prairie wind is turning them constantly. The air blasts push on us and makes driving tricky with roof rack. We have also seen large solar panel farms in Indiana and Illinois. We pass by Springfield, Ill, a sign designates Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, where he was born. And we pass Peoria, Ill, where Ronald Reagan was born. As we pass over the Iowa border we cross the Mississippi River, it is even wider and deeper than the Ohio River, even this far north. All of Iowa’s large rivers will drain into the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, we make it to Coralville, IA, 4:30PM their time. It is a university and research center town. We are staying near a big shopping area with Tuesday Morning and Marshalls etc., alas so little time and no room in the car. We gained an hour along the way and now we are only 3 hours time difference from AK. Staying at Fairfield Inn, a Marriott hotel. We walk over to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner. Our waitress is local and recent uni grad on her way to Chicago for a job; we imagine a lot of local youth go to Chicago for first jobs. We have driven just under 600 miles and play Hey Mavis CD’s to while away the hours; we only stop 3 times, one to eat our packed lunch. Gas is around $5.00/gallon on the turnpike but looks to be the average everywhere. We are getting 29 miles to gallon. It’s time for sleep. Temperature has stayed around 76 degrees but low 80’s in Coralville, sunny weather and prairie winds are blowing. We are grateful for a day of safe travel. Another big day of driving tomorrow and the landscape will start to change. Nighty Night.
Total trip miles 582
Preparing the car
