A Cross-Country Driving Trip in Our Morgan

Journal Pages
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Preparation

The Caboose Run

Boise and Park City

Bryce and Zion

Antelope Canyon

Grand Canyon

Cumbres & Toltek R'way

Getting to Nachez

Nachez Trace

Franklin & Athens

Blue Ridge Parkway

Concours

Autocross

Virginia

Annapolis

Finger Lakes

Niagara Falls

Iowa

The Home Stretch

From Toronto, ON to Winterset, IA

Sunday, July 23 - Toronto, ON to Marshall, MI

We found our way onto the highway and headed out of Toronto toward Michigan.  We hadn't gone very far when we were passed by several loud exotic cars.  They were going quite fast and were weaving through traffic.  On the backs of the cars was painted BULLRUN.COM.  I concluded that this was one of those gumball rallys where people with far too much money and no sense of responsibility use the public highways as a sort of race course.  We were passed by several more as we drove through Ontario.  We didn't see any more until we were in Michigan, then in the Detroit area we saw more of them.  There was also some fool in a Cadillac Escalade SUV chasing after them and passing people using the right-hand shoulder.  Then further south in Michigan we saw two separate sites where the Michigan State Police had nabbed some of them.  We learned later that the MSP had a field day.  We also learned that the driver of the Escalade totaled his SUV against a tree.  There is justice in this!

We got to Marshall, MI mid-afternoon and checked into the National House Inn.  We strolled around Marshall for a while, then had a nice dinner and returned to our digs.  We learned the next morning that we had checked into the wrong place.  Mel got a message on her cell phone from the place we were supposed to be in.  Seems we had made a mistake on reservations and the clerk at the National assumed one of their staff had done so also.  Fortunately, the nice man at the other B&B didn't charge us.

    The National House Inn in Marshall, MI

Monday, July 24 - Marshall, MI to Oglesby, IL

Oglesby, IL was our next stop and we stayed in a lovely place called the Brightwood Inn.  We went out and drove around a bit during the day and returned to the Inn for dinner.  The owners had heard that there might be thunderstorms with hail overnight and allowed us to park Moggie in their garage.  The inn had a number of videos and DVDs, so we watched "The Bridges of Madison County" (Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep) because we are going to be in Madison county in a few days.  I used to think Meryl Streep was a fine actress, but after watching this film again I have concluded that she only has one accent (of unknown origin) and it sure isn't Italian, like her character was supposed to be. 

We drove over to Starved Rock State Park - interesting name.  Apparently two tribes of Indians had a battle of some sorts - one tribe drove the other onto this very large rock and held them there until they starved.

We had dinner at the Brightwood, because it was out in the country and there isn't much going on in Oglesby

National House, the Brightwood, Hobbit's Hollow and Fredrick House are all part of Select Registry, a listing of Inns and B & Bs - we found each of them to be clean, comfortable and interesting.  They are not your average Comfort Inn.

Tuesday, July 25 - Oglesby, IL to Des Moines, IA

The weather forecast of hail did not materialize - thank heavens.  Frankly, the drive wasn't all that interesting - we saw mostly a lot of corn fields!  It was quite warm when we got to our hotel - humid.  We checked in and tried to cool off.  Not that much excitement.

Wednesday, July 26 - A day trip to Winterset, IA to see the Bridges of Madison County

            Hogback Bridge

        Cedar Bridge

            Holliwell Bridge

        Roseman Bridge

    An interesting type of silo

Today we just sort of 'bumped around' Madison county.  It is very picturesque, with lots of farms and rolling hillsides.  We stopped at most of the easily accessible covered bridges.  We didn't see Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, though.