So Day 2 began rather quietly. I awoke to beautiful day and the knowledge that I was one day closer to my destination. Thank you to the folks of the Holiday Inn for a wonderful stay. After a quick shower I was off to find some breakfast. I stopped at the local McDonalds. Walking inside it looked liked your normal Mc Donalds except for all the Pittsburgh Steeler memorabila inside. I forgot I was in Steeler country and they were sure proud to display their stuff. I wish I had my Patriots shirt on but I am sure that would have caused a stir.
Pennsylvania is one long state. It is over 310 miles driving through route 80. I only had 60 miles left when I started the day and a big cheer came when I finally made it into Ohio. I highly recommend the stretch of Route 80 in PA... The scenery is just beautiful. A must see!!!
Ohio came and went without much fanfare. I had visions of car problems after the last time I drove through the state and had my engine light come on which ended up being a bad converter.. Thanks Toyota and the 1200 dollars I had to pay to replace it. This time I flew through the state and entered the grand state of Indiana. A quick stop for lunch and shortly after that I hit South Bend. A city of grand tradition. The home of Norte Dame. Ok so I need to go back in time and tell you a quick story.
Back in July I drove my two dogs out to my brother in laws house in Huron, SD. Our first stop for the night was in South Bend. This day was long beginning back at 2:30am so needless to say I was exhausted after a 16 hour day. I saw a sign that listed all the hotels off the exit so I took it.
Driving down the road I was wondering where these hotels were. Tired and cranky I decided to stay at the first hotel I saw which was an airport hotel. We pull in and I go inside to check in.
Behind the desk I see a man who would be the spitting image of Skeev from the move Dukes of Hazzard. The new movie not the original TV show. For those of you who have seen this movie all this man needed was the armadillo hat. I see a sign that says no pets but ask if it was ok for me to bring in my dogs. He agreed and I continued to check in. I go back to the cars and bring them in. Now I have two dogs on leashes, my dinner and a cooler. I have my hands full and I am trying to fiddle around with the up button on the elevator while the dogs are fidgety because they dont know where they are.
We get into the elevator and arrive to our room. To my dismay the room is dirty. Knowing what I know now I am not suprised. Back to the desk to ask for a new room. Skeevs apologizes and gets me a new room. As we all try to get back onto the elevator Maddie slips through her collar and bolts out the front door. I drop my lunch in the elevator and I give chase. I told Kohli to stay at the front door and I was in a full sprint trying to catch up to Maddie. It was raining and she was slipping and sliding everywhere. She cut a path through the parking lot and headed up to the airport. This chase lasted nearly 15 minutes. She must have been so spooked that she wanted nothing to do with that hotel. I somehow got her to sit and stay. I was so exhausted. I looked back to the front door and there was Kohli being her good self. I scooped Maddie up and threw her back into my truck.I then called Kohli over and she hopped in. I proceeded back into the hotel to pick up my belongings and check out. Needless to say we did not sleep there. Once I was back in I also noticed the distinct odor of marajuana. Not sure where it was coming from but just another sign that this was not the place to be.
We left and continued down the road where we came upon the other hotels listed on the highway sign. We finally checked in at a Sleep inn where the dogs were much happier.
Ok sorry for the digression but driving through South Bend rekindled all those memories.
Ok I have typed enough for now..I will make this a two part blog on my second day of driving...
Stay tuned...
Cya all
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