Experiencing America > Road Trip Year...2004 > 4-States, 2-Days, & America Junior > Day 1
Day ONE...
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
This is the first road-trip of the new year. Unlike the other trip, there are several changes. To start off, the starting point of the trips has changed. Although Scenic Diamond, Illinois is a wonderful starting point, now it has changed to Rustic Saratoga Township, Illinois. The nearest highway access is at Morris. So once on I-80 is was smooth sailing on east.
Now to Indiana...State 2!!
Now time for the first stop...a wonderful 7-Eleven in Griffith, Indiana on Cline Ave.
The destination for this trip was Sandusky, Ohio. For this we hoped on the Indiana East-West Toll Road. By this time in the morning it was nearing the snacking hour. So once on the toll road we stopped at the first travel plaza. It was located near Portage. Breakfast for the day took place a Hardee's. What's a road trip with out conflict. Hardee's has excellent biscuits and gravy. Would have reinforced that theory, but there were no biscuits. So lefts have a sausage croissant. Come to find out no sausage. After breakfast, we decided to try out hand on the Hoosier Lotto. The machine ate our dollars.
The Portage Travel Plaza on EB Toll Road.As we headed toward Ohio, the Indiana East-West Toll Road took use past South Bend and some new technology that the Indiana Department of Transportation is working one for wild animals. Between Portage and South Bend we encountered some heavy lake effect snow.
A Indiana State Trooper hard at work.
Now to Ohio...State 3!!
Shortly after we entered the State of Ohio, it was time to fill the Blazer with some unleaded motor fuel. At the first exit we found a nice little Mobil station. It seemed like an excellent place to purchase fuel and Buckeye State Lotto tickets. While fueling the truck we saw a welcome center. So we drove across the street. Turned out it the welcome center was in some guy’s living room...maybe the rumpus room.
The sign out front.This welcome center was not sparing on the transportation maps. Usually you have to sign a book and get one map. Here the guys like there here...and more our outside. Plus, don't forget the hotel coupons. As we headed toward Toledo, the Ohio State Troopers were in full force. One running radar, the other...driving as fast as he can.
The one actually working...
We were running ahead of time so we decided to circle Toledo. As I was getting off the Ohio Turnpike, I glanced down and say the nickel I need to for the toll. I grabbed a penny thinking it was the nickel. The lady at the toll plaza was not impressed. The four cents difference would have sent the Ohio Turnpike in to financial disarray.
The tollplaza.
While circling the city, we came a across the Home of the World Famous Jeep! It was located just off the interchange of Interstate 75 & 475. Strangely enough...on Jeep Blvd.
The sign out front of the factory.
The back side of the jeep high in the sky.
To finish the loop around the Toledo Metro we headed down Interstate 280. Here we encountered a major work project. The Ohio Department of Transportation was widening and re-doing the crossing of the Maumee River.
SB I-280 south of the Maumee River.
When on a road trip, there is always one question that comes up..."Should you inform the other motorist that his gas door is open?"
A car with their gas door open. Located on the ramp from I-280 to the Ohio Turnpike.
One thing that is nice about the Ohio Turnpike, is that at most of the travel plazas that we found, they had fresh fried chicken. Now how many toll roads in this great country offers their patrons fresh fried chicken.
A sign on the EB OH Turn.
When we got to Sandusky, it was still early in the day. The trip across to less time than we expected. So what better way to kill time than find out what there is to do in this great city on the lake.
The Pump...this must be Sandusky's hottest places...Well so far we have found nothing on this cold January day in Sandusky. It looked like a town that shut down at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time that is...). This town is located on a great lake. So we set out to find it. One problem...it is a cold January day.
A frozen Lake Erie.
A look at Cedar Point from Downtown Sandusky.
As the day wore on we approached another snacking' hour. So where to eat...
...and I was really hoping to eat here. I guess the trip was a waist...
After dinner at a Steak 'N Shake it was off to Clear Channel Radio-Sandusky. You can't really miss this place. Most of the studio air-boards here came from WLIT-FM in Chicago. That is when they were located at 150 North Michigan Ave; Suite 1135; Chicago, Illinois 60601.
A look at the building that houses CCU-Sandusky.
The storage trailers at CCU-Sandusky.
This is the home of...
Mix 102.7; WCPZ-FM
WLEC-AM 1450
100.9 The Coast; WMJK-FM
The logos on the front of the building. NOTE: That one logo has not been updated...
A tower out back of the building.
Now here is something you don't see often...The Blazer parked for FREE in a Clear Channel parking lot.
The station van...I wanted to drive it...
A look at the news room set-up of WLEC-AM.
The air-studio of WLEC-AM.
The air studio of Mix 102.7 (WCPZ-FM). Note the older verion of Prophet.
A look at the office area in CCU-Sandusky.
Although it was small...outdates and in a old army building, it was not the worst set-up we have been to. One last stop before we head in for the night. Best Buy-Sandusky! Now every Best Buy I have ever been to has been busy every night of the week at 8 p.m. Plus, has had more than three (3) rows of parking. Well, they say there is a first for everything.
Best Buy of Sandusky.Now the hotel we picked out from Choice Hotels, was located in Port Clinton. When calling for directions we were told 20 minute drive. It was far shorter. So we decided to tour the area. Although it was dark...so we saw alot of dark.
We did find a Arby's with at 5 for $5.00.It was early, according to road trip timetables, but late at night so we turned in at the hotel...that we were the only guests...
Day TWO