It's time for a bike tour! The plan is to ride from my sister's house north of Chicago to my other sister's family fish camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
Today I set out for Winnetka, Illinois. The bike is all tuned up and perfect and ready to go.
The dogs are not happy. They have learned that when I pack bags I am going away for awhile. They watch intently with concern. Zippie here totally knows what's up, so she's sitting in the truck hoping maybe she can come too.
Six hours later, Debra sent me this picture of Zippie in the "Sad and Lonely Dog Spot". When someone goes away, Zippie sits here and mopes waiting for them to come back. It's right by the kitchen door. When Max went away to college, Zippie spent a solid month sitting here morosely.
The first highlight of this adventure was Breezewood, Pennsylvania. Breezewood is an amazing place. It's where I-70 meets the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Somehow, the fine people of Breezewood managed to prevent the construction of an interchange. So you have to get off I-70, then drive three blocks through Breezewood, before you can get on the turnpike. Those three blocks are jam-packed with truck stops, gas stations, convenience stores, and fast food.
Including this amazing survivor, a Pizza Hut that still has sit-down dining!
Including this amazing survivor, a Pizza Hut that still has sit-down dining!
Almost every Pizza Hut in the world is take out and delivery only now. There apparently are only a handful left where you can sit and eat a pizza. But this one in Breezewood is one of those few.
Look, it's a mob scene inside.
Look, it's a mob scene inside.
I got a Meat Lovers Personal Pan Pizza.
I think the downfall of Pizza Hut began back in the 90s when they started selling personal pan pizzas in workplace cafeterias. We had them at work then. Who is going to go out to a restaurant to get the food from the cafeteria at work? Nobody, that's who. I don't think I've been to Pizza Hut in 30 years. But I had to go this time because I may never have another chance.
It's the same as it ever was.
After lunch it was hours of driving across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Here's a picture of Ohio. Lots of people say driving across northern Ohio is really boring, because it's super flat and the scenery never changes, but I find this scenery comforting. I love the giant sky full of clouds and the green crops and trees.
It's the same as it ever was.
After lunch it was hours of driving across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Here's a picture of Ohio. Lots of people say driving across northern Ohio is really boring, because it's super flat and the scenery never changes, but I find this scenery comforting. I love the giant sky full of clouds and the green crops and trees.
In 2010, I did the RAGBRAI bike ride in Iowa, and at the end of it, I just rode the rest of the way home. It took me 10 days. I rode 10 consecutive centuries carrying all my gear. The trip updates are right here in this blog, August 2010.
When bike touring, at the end of a long day, you are going to be happy with whatever lodging is available. You are not going to be fussy. Which is how I found myself in the ironically named Holiday City, Ohio.
Holiday City is an exit off the Ohio Turnpike in the northeast corner of the state. It has some motels, a couple restaurants and a couple factories. It is ugly and unpleasant. But I remembered when I stayed in Holiday City in 2010, I had a decent cheap motel, and there was a restaurant across the street that had fried perch which was fabulous. I love a mess of perch. So I've been back to Holiday City, trying to recapture that magic. But I can never figure out where the restaurant where the perch was.
And here I am again, at the Rodeway Inn in Holiday City.
It's a decent cheap motel. I was greeted by a cheerful Indian girl, who checked me in, as the smell of yellow saffron rice wafted through the lobby. The room is clean and everything works, even if the furniture is pretty worn. RDOQ for the win.
One amusing thing about this Rodeway Inn is the Wifi is called "Econolodge2" and the password is "econolodge01". I wonder how long they've been a Rodeway and not bothered to change the Wifi? LOL.
Could this restaurant in the parking lot be the home of the fondly remembered mess of shrimp?
Could this restaurant in the parking lot be the home of the fondly remembered mess of shrimp?
It's not, but they did have an all you can eat fried fish special. But it was Alaskan Pollock, not Perch. Alaskan Pollock is most frequently encountered in the McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwich. The Four Seasons also had rice pudding for dessert which was a total win. This place looks unassuming, but it's a classic Greek diner.
After dinner, I went back and read my old tour journal entries from 2010. Turns out the mess of perch was not in Holiday City after all! It was the next night in Milan, Ohio!
But entry for Holiday City has this. It's a picture of my room at the Econolodge in 2010.
After dinner, I went back and read my old tour journal entries from 2010. Turns out the mess of perch was not in Holiday City after all! It was the next night in Milan, Ohio!
But entry for Holiday City has this. It's a picture of my room at the Econolodge in 2010.
Here's a picture of my room tonight. Same curtain, same light fixtures, 15 years later.
