Day 97 Chicago Illinois
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
105
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Union,
Illinois,
United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
No hassles just get rolling in The Castle again in the morning, The State Fair RV park was ok but we are pleased to have avoided the "Week long Fair" firstly we would not have been able to obtain a site and secondly the park was fairly clear of the itinerant travellers associated with Fairs. Earnie had to go and ask about the length of one Fifth wheeler (or was it six?) it had three axles under the trailer section and was huge! He reported back it was 48 ft long!! Plus towing vehicle.
Also on the same note, we observed at least two others the same, they were decked out with 7 doors either side and were called bunk houses. Obviously used for the fair people for accommodation and they housed at least 14 people in separate units in the big 5th or 6 or 7 wheelers. Those two were travelling together, one being pulled by a big semi trailer tractor unit the other with a big pickup truck. We certainly are experiencing everything possible on the road!
Ok set Mandy to take us to the centre of the city, a little trepidation after our challenge yesterday but hey at least give the city a tryout!
Well the trip in was trouble and basically challenge free, no traffic hassles just a straight a run in.
The city was not crowded and easy enough to negotiate, so we kept heading easr figuring we would run into the Lake Michigan at some point.
We were pleasantly surprised to run directly into the an art development and design centre on the water, we found parking meters (yes we take two to fit) and walked around the water front and the building.
It is a Long walk along this pier
(some photos taken!) It was a nice change of scenery and allowed us to adjust our first impressions of this city.Ok load up, program Mandy to take us along the lake side route to Illinois.
Well the route chosen was "supposed" to take us along the lake, but again we travelled some back roads and in and around some suburban housing, better quality and maintained than yesterday, but still no water view for us, as well as very questionable roads with a lot of bouncy bits and vibrations.
Morning tea at a park and then reset the guidelines in the GPS to take us via freeways to Chicago, This time Mandy attempted to take us under a 12ft clearance rail bridge, she is not to know we are 12ft 6 inches, we guess! So around a few blocks to cross the rail line, and follow again some questionable road surface freeways.
Then we were in the traffic again, heading directly into Chicago, boy we challenge ourselves with the Castle along the freeways with the speed and exits. This city is not as RV friendly as Milwaukee, we couldn't find a park, so reprogram on the run and head to the nearest RV park we could find in our books. Great it is 50 miles West, and we had to take a tollway to get here. As well the traffic was bumper to bumper for about 50% of the way, maybe an accident or some other traffic holdup. Not good for the nerves after the rough roads and the City drive throughs. We survived and have booked into this KOA park for two nights, simply because to head back into the city is a 1.5 hour trip by castle and train. But we saw enough of Chicago to know we would like to give it a good day being a tourist in there.
So from here in the State of Illinois we bid you Gidday and still exploring our way around.
Comments
Howdy & Thanks!
Hi All, Sounds like the trip is going well. Your route map is very impressive. We received the lovely gift for Jessica. Thank you. Her first Disney Bear is soooo cute. Can't wait for you to meet her. Look forward to reading up on the rest of your journey. Jodee, Andy & Jessie xxx