25 December 2009

Day 7 Up North – Christmas 2009

Posted by BaBa under: Daily Life; Friends and Family; Travel .

We slept fitfully last night as we listened for Santa and the snow plows. I had loaded the car with most of the bags and boxes on Christmas Eve. So this morning, we had only to shower, dress and pack up the last items. It has been a long time since 2 of us have been home and they were anxious as well I was to head south.

I finished loading the last items and then turned my attention to the van. J had come out and brushed off the windows and I took Sheridan’s little plastic shovel and began on the roof which had accumulated a foot of snow on top. I knew that as soon as we started driving this would start blowing down in front of us causing a period of temporary blindness. This would occur at the worst possible time, so an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure later on. We got on the road after hugs, kisses and goodbyes shortly after 9am.

We have heard Bing Crosby signing about a White Christmas for many years and this was our year to experience one. It snowed on Christmas Eve and was snowing as we left so we had our White Christmas. The snow plows had run and we made a slow departure until we got to the interstates. Once on the Interstate, it was still a little slow going as it was still snowing. However, the plows had made the roads very passable and once we got through Saint Cloud the conditions improved.

Magoo was hungry from the time we left, but we had to explain to him that we would have limited choices today and that it could be a long wait before we could eat. He finally got the concept after about 6 requests for snack, or breakfast or some other method of indicating that he was hungry.

We stopped at a Trans America truck stop and had a late breakfast at the dinner. The food was good and we got our fill while one of the waitresses did a spot on impression of Alvin from the Chipmunks singing their Christmas tune. It was funny. We loaded up and once we crossed into Wisconsin, the snow turned to rain and we began to make good time.

We hit another snow flurry about 90 minutes from Chicago. Soon the snow was done and then the road was entirely clean and dry. What a change of pace for today. It was cloudy as the Sun started to set and we made the final turn outside of Chicago. This involved our only wrong turn of the day. Not a bad feat for being so far from home in winter weather conditions. It was a quick recovery and then we were back on track as Magoo says.

We were on our way to our overnight stop in Chicago. Dinner will be whatever we can find that is open and a good night sleep at a LaQuinta with breakfast before we begin the real journey south. We arrived at the LaQuinta at 5pm and just before arriving, I fixed my error which had the reservation tomorrow instead of today.

We arrived to find even the IHOP and Steak and Shake were closed. Fortunately we spotted a TGIF that was open otherwise it would have been time to call and see if Dominos was open for delivery. The Fridays was crowded, but the wait was not long and we had a really good meal. We were given a coupon by a lady that gave us a free appetizer. Magoo got dumplings and was thrilled. We were back at the hotel by 7pm and Magoo was asleep by 7:30.

We will spend another night on the road in Nashville probably and then on home on Sunday.

From our family to yours, we hope that Santa was good to you and that you took time to be with family and remember the true gift of Christmas.

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