So off we go, rather unexpectedly, with a 5:30 am departure from Cloverville and all hands in good spirits. Of course... most of the prep was done with DVD player packed, lots of "healthy" snacks, I-pod charged, e-book loaded and pillows with sookie blankets. Only thing I really forgot and wanted were some great fold-out maps that we use to track our trip through the Northeast US. We had great driving weather with overcast skies and mid-20's temperature.

We made excellent time, with very little traffic and scattered but fluid construction sites. We stopped only a couple of times to water and unwater!!! A special treat was dining on smoked meat sandwiches outside Montreal, in a Pointe-Claire diner just off the highway called "Deli Plus Frank & Fred". Then we made the best of the evening light to scurry as far as we could towards Toronto to hunker down for the night. With no reservations (we really hadn't planned a stopping place because we wanted to gauge how everyone was making out) Janie pulled a room out of the hat in Trenton. Not a luxurious night by any stretch of the imagination! However, a couple of steps closer to our destination and rested. Mom may not have liked the condition of the room, but Peter and Monica will have better memories of the Trenton "Ho-Jo".

At daylight we pulled out of Trenton and hit the road running with the plan of charting a course through the heart of southern Ontario on the 401, around Windsor and Detroit, and then crossing the states of Michigan and Indiana to our destination in Illinois. Great run indeed, with the kids proving real troopers in the back seat and Janie and I switching duties in the captains chair! Smooth sailing... Even
through Chicago's south side.

The GPS was amazing... directed us through city streets to our
accommodations for the duration. We decided to stay outside of the heart of the city, use the subway and park our car for the week. We found great lodging near Midway airport, which also links to the city centre via the Orange line. Free shuttles to Midway were the plan for getting back and forth.

After check-in, the kids hit the pool and Janie sourced a local grocer to stock the kitchenette in our room and prepare for a week of touring Chicago. Dad gathered plans for Day 3 of the trip making sure we knew where we were headed, what we needed to purchase and when we needed to be there. Yippee... we made it!!!