Setting off early to try and maximise our time in the Chicago area the journey time was 4 hours 15 minutes to do 288 miles. Taking a break at Aurora to visit the outlet mall there. The road was reasonably clear except for the continuous smoke that clouded the scenery. Apparently the smoke had been drifting southwards across from the wildfires that had been plaguing Canada this summer.
The landscape on the I80 is dotted with three bladed windmills as far as the eye can see. They don’t seem to move as quickly as the persistent winds suggest they should. For the most part between major towns the highway is two lanes wide and there were quite a few wide load trucks with escorting vehicles to manoeuvre around. One of these trucks was carrying a single windmill blade which was even longer than the bed of the truck.
We were grateful for the break in the journey at Aurora and spent an hour or so bargain hunting at the usual array of brands on offer. Outlets are very hit and miss and it is to arrive without having a shopping list and just go with the flow.
The remaining 48 miles from Aurora to the Bannockburn/Deerfield area northwest of the centre of Chicago took less than an hour. The hotel was situated in a quiet office area very close to the I94. We intended to use the area a base to take it easy for our remaining time together and were close by Highland Park where my only American relatives had been living and I had visited as a teen back in the early 1980’s. Obviously memories fade but the village centre did look familiar from all those years ago. Other names that I remembered were Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Deerfield.
I was craving ‘Matzo Ball Soup’ and in Highland Park we went to an Italian/Jewish Deli called Max’s. It was busy in there and they were super friendly and the food was great.
Most of the conversation was about what plans we had for day 5. Today’s drive could have been the last long travel day we would ever have to do as the two remaining states to do in the contiguous USA, Utah and New Mexico, would not involve a drive between the two.
Setting off early to try and maximise our time in the Chicago area the journey time was 4 hours 15 minutes to do 288 miles. Taking a break at Aurora to visit the outlet mall there. The road was reasonably clear except for the continuous smoke that clouded the scenery. Apparently the smoke had been drifting southwards across from the wildfires that had been plaguing Canada this summer.
The landscape on the I80 is dotted with three bladed windmills as far as the eye can see. They don’t seem to move as quickly as the persistent winds suggest they should. For the most part between major towns the highway is two lanes wide and there were quite a few wide load trucks with escorting vehicles to manoeuvre around. One of these trucks was carrying a single windmill blade which was even longer than the bed of the truck.
We were grateful for the break in the journey at Aurora and spent an hour or so bargain hunting at the usual array of brands on offer. Outlets are very hit and miss and it is to arrive without having a shopping list and just go with the flow.
The remaining 48 miles from Aurora to the Bannockburn/Deerfield area northwest of the centre of Chicago took less than an hour. The hotel was situated in a quiet office area very close to the I94. We intended to use the area a base to take it easy for our remaining time together and were close by Highland Park where my only American relatives had been living and I had visited as a teen back in the early 1980’s. Obviously memories fade but the village centre did look familiar from all those years ago. Other names that I remembered were Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Deerfield.
I was craving ‘Matzo Ball Soup’ and in Highland Park we went to an Italian/Jewish Deli called Max’s. It was busy in there and they were super friendly and the food was great.
Most of the conversation was about what plans we had for day 5. Today’s drive could have been the last long travel day we would ever have to do as the two remaining states to do in the contiguous USA, Utah and New Mexico, would not involve a drive between the two.
States 46 & 47 (Kenosha WI – Milwaukee WI – Chicago IL) Days 7 & 8
States 46 & 47 (Chicago IL – Kenosha WI) – Day 6
States 46 & 47 (Deerfield – Waukegan) – Day 5
States 46 & 47 – (Council Bluffs IA – Altoona IA) Day 3
USA Road Trips by Max 
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