On States 46 & 47 Road Trip these are some of the facts.
States visited – 5
Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota
Miles Driven – 1,500 (best estimation)
Hours in the car – 36
Hotels stayed in – 8
Starbucks Mug – Been There Series – 6
Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Indiana
Heinz ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise sachets are in packaging that shows each state’s favourite dish that goes with the different condiments. Just something else to add to my collections!
The last day of any visit to America is tinged with sadness to be leaving again. Would the GPS behave today, what could I purchase within the luggage allowance, have I missed something out. It is never a relaxing day to be honest.
I re-packed the suitcase to give me some idea as to how much I could get in there and checked out after breakfast. This time I plugged the GPS in via the USB socket rather than the 12V socket and this appeared to rectify the skipping through the menu constantly. What a relief at least I knew that I could get around.
The impression I am getting is that the days of the shopping mall seem to be numbered and more attractive town centres with residential accommodation as well as the shops are popping up. In a suburb called Vernon Hills is Hawthorn Mall with Macy’s but a lot of it was empty and plenty of available retail space. At one end that was no longer an exit there was an artist impressions of a new expansion of retail and a new place to live. It is being completed in sections but looks like it will be a new and vibrant improvement to the area.
Walmart and Kohl’s were afforded one more visit and then I headed to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg which is about 20 minutes away from O’Hare. The impression I am getting is that the days of the shopping mall seem to be numbered and more attractive town centres with residential accommodation as well as the shops are popping up.
I headed to the airport to return the most expensive rental car for 24 hours I had experienced and back to Terminal Three. This time I went to priority check-in for the Chicago to New York JFK leg to connect with BA to London LHR. Of course the flight was late leaving and that sent my anxiety up as I knew I had to get from Gate 42 to Gate 20 at Terminal 8 in JFK. I did make it with plenty of time in fact. American Airlines couldn’t print off a boarding pass for me for the BA leg so I spoke to the BA staff on arrival at JFK who printed one off for me. It was confusing about the check in with different airlines because I could see that BA assigned me the first row by the window in Premium Economy but as I was checking in with American I couldn’t get beyond that sector. Everything worked out perfectly in the end but there is always something to worry about that could go wrong. I guess it is a control thing and circumstances are outside of your actions.
Now planning will start on States 48 & 49 Utah and New Mexico. I will have to search for options in regard to Hawaii.
States 46 & 47 (Chicago IL – Fargo ND) – Days 9 & 10
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 IL – Waukegan IL) – Day 5
States 46 & 47 (Altoona IA – Deerfield IL) – Day 4
States 46 & 47 (Council Bluffs IA – Altoona IA) – Day 3
USA Road Trips by Max 
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