09.05 - Day 115 - Chicago to London
Thursday 9th May - Chicago, Illinois - London, Ontario (Day 115)
Whilst we might have wanted an extra night in Chicago, it’s a good thing we didn’t as we opened the curtains in the morning at the Clarion Inn to pouring rain. Car packed and charged we loop around the southern end of Lake Michigan after an early start to try and avoid the worst of rush hour to Portage / Kalamazoo where Seb and Sienna start their schoolwork for the day in the cafe section of a Meijer supermarket whilst the car charges outside.
11am and already our third state of the day having begun in Illinois, passed through Indiana and now in Michigan. The only giveaway is the change in branding on the registration plates. One addition to the roadside billboards are the large (of course) bulbous water tanks in towns we skirt past, often sponsored or advertising the town - looking like a spaceship on spindly legs.
After the first stint of 2.5 hours, another 2 hours takes us to downtown Detroit for mid-afternoon where a break in the rain allows us to park up and buy a pair of hotdogs at two local institutions. Kate, Sienna and Seb prefer American Coney Island, but I look past the indifferent staff next door at Lafayette Coney Island preferring the mince-topped-hotdog here.
And that’s the extent of our Detroit based activities, immediately after crossing the bridge into country number four on our travels, Canada. The immigration officer is disappointingly not dressed as a Canadian Mountie. After his surprise / admiration for our travels he’s answering his own autopilot questions for us - do you have any drugs? I’m guessing no, do you have any guns? Guessing definite no, before stamping our passports and sending us on our way.
A brief stop at Comber to charge, the rain discouraging us from even getting out of the car (except Kate to buy a tea) then onwards passing more wind turbines to the other London.
As we figured we’d arrive late and leave promptly tomorrow this is another edge-of-town affair, our Quality Suites surrounded by other chain hotels. Whilst the outside is unprepossessing, the room itself must have been renovated very recently and is spacious, clean and fresh. It’s ham wraps in the room for dinner then bed.