Wednesday 26 June 2013

Day 36 Chicago, IL to Battle Creek, MI

June 24

Chicago, IL to Fort Custer Rec Area near Battle Creek, MI

Travel day, time to make some distance.  Thought I saw a Cardinal yesterday in the campsite, a red/orange bird.  This morning we did see him beating up a side mirror on a minivan.  I guess he didn’t like what he saw. 

We were glad we didn’t have to get onto I90.  From our campsite we were able to get onto Highway 47 by going under the interstate!  Whew!!  About 40 miles to connect with I80 below Chicago then head east.  This highway was very easy going country road with very little traffic until we got near Yorkville.  By avoiding the I90 we also missed a few tolls.  We only had one more toll on I80 leaving Illinois heading into Indiana.  The semi traffic here is nuts compared to Vancouver. 

Country scenery, still raining

Crossing into Michigan from Indiana, we are now on Eastern Time.  Had lunch at the Welcome Centre, back in the sunshine.  A lot of these highways are concrete so it feels and sounds like you are going over train tracks.  Did you know that “Springs bubbling up in a riverbed” are said to have been the inspiration for Kalamazoo’s catchy name, a Native American word that means “place where the water boils”. (No more, I think Embridge leak in 2010 fixed that)
 
We stopped in Fort Custer Recreation Area near Augusta.  Augusta is known for the Barn Theatre, the oldest professional resident summer theatre in Michigan which presents Broadway plays and musicals.  Nice campsite, lakes for fishing and hiking trails.  We found a turtle in one campsite so we turned him around to head back into the grass area.  We can hear the thunder in the back ground!!

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance: 408 km 
Weather:  Rain to drizzle to Sunshine; High: 29 degrees; Lo: 20 degrees
Diesel Price:  Near Gary, Indiana $3.59 gallon
Wildlife:  Red Crossbill bird in Chicago KOA, Turtle
Campsite:  Fort Custer Recreation Area
Walking:  5 km
Today's news event:  Severe Thunderstorm warnings in Ohio and Illinois coming our way  
Sports Event:  Chicago beat Boston in Boston Game 6, Chicago Stanley Cup Winners

Local News:  Protestor arrested near Kalamazoo due to Embridge!!
Michigan Stats:
Nickname:  Wolverine State
Flower:  Apple Blossom
Bird:  Robin

No comments:

Post a Comment