Traveling North for the Holidays

December 18, 2016

We got up moving somewhat slower after a long day of moving the day before. Who would have thought we had that much stuff in the Crusader. Especially considering we had downsized knowing part of the plan this year was to find our motor home.

After a few last minute chores we bid our final farewells to the Crusader.

We stopped for gas and coffee, then pulled out onto I 75 at 7:30AM and started our trek north. The temperature was 76 degrees.

Leaving Florida

Entering Georgia

Driving North through Atlanta.

I missed the Tennessee sign. When we stopped for dinner we changed into winter boots and coats. Just before we reached Chattanooga we left I 75 and switched over to I 24.

About 12 hours after leaving the Crusader and driving 571 miles we stopped for the night in Chattanooga, TN and it was 32 degrees.


December 19, 2016

We were up, crossed the street, gassed up the truck, bought coffee, and were back on I 24 by 6:30AM. Just north of Nashville we left I 24 and continued onto I 65.

Driving through Louisville, Kentucky

Passing through Indianapolis we see snow.

We continued on I 65 until we intersected with I 94. I 94 brought us to 294 which took us around Chicago and $9.20 later we were in Wisconsin and back on I 94. After about 671 miles we stopped for the night in Kenosha, WI.

December 20, 2016

Our last travel day would only be about 264 miles so we took our time leaving and we were on the road around 8:30AM. In Milwaukee we connected with I 43 which would take us to just north of Green Bay.
We did stop in Sheboygan, WI briefly to spend some time with my sister who had just gotten home from Switzerland the night before. It was fun learning about her and her husband's trip and we are looking forward to hearing more about it next time we get together.

Snowbank outside motel in Kenosha, now we are seeing snow.

Driving through Milwaukee

Looking out at the mouth of the Fox River and the Green Bay (Lake Michigan)
as we cross the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge in Green Bay. 

 Just north of Green Bay I 43 ends and we turned onto US 41.

We had one more stop in Wisconsin and that was at Chrysler World in Abrams. After we purchased the Stinger B the next step was replacing our truck with a vehicle more suitable for towing. Tom had been doing research on what type of vehicle we would tow pretty much from the time we decided to start looking for a motor home. Our first thought was a Jeep Wrangler, which would be nice for doing off roading, the problem for us was comfort. Especially if we decided, like this year, to travel back to Michigan for the holidays. Once we decided on the type of vehicle, and it needed to be flat tow-able, Tom started the search for the right one for us. He found it at this dealership and after several back and forth conversations we were pretty convinced it was the right one. After seeing it we knew it and on December 20th it became ours. Since, the truck was fully loaded with stuff including the 5th wheel hitch they arranged for it to be delivered to us on Thursday the 22nd.

2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

It is trail rated, so though it will not take us where a wrangler would, we feel it will work to get us out on some back roads we could not reach with the truck. We are looking forward to the adventures it will take us on.

Back on our way north, though US 41 would take us all the way to Escanaba, we opted to switch to M 35 just north of Menominee, MI. We pulled into our driveway around 9:30PM.

Our welcome home table set up by our daughter and granddaughter.

"We travel not to escape life, 

but for life not to escape us."

~unknown