DATELINE: LAKE FOREST, IL, 5:30 p.m.
Miles today: 338
Whoa! Not many miles today for the effort I expended. As you recall, my goal for today was to drive up to Milwaukee from my starting point in southern IL to make my delivery. Things started out fine early this morning. I drove for 1-1/2 hours before stopping to fuel up in the city named for an accursed pork product--wait for it. . .Effingham, IL. I also fueled myself up with a good breakfast, which was a good thing 'cuz I wouldn't get to stop for lunch. As I was eating breakfast, it started snowing. And it kept on snowing and snowing and snowing as I drove north. Gradually conditions worsened on the road, though I never felt any trouble in my truck as I kept the speed down. But cars were sliding off into the ditch all over the place. Finally, after about 4 hours of driving through the snow, I came upon a spot where the police had closed the northbound lanes of my highway, I guess for an accident. So I (and the rest of the northbound traffic) had to hit the surface streets to find our way back to the open portion of the highway (I-57, by the way).
Once back on 57, this was nearing Chicago. Which meant--LOTS of traffic. I spent the next 4-1/2 to 5 hours in my efforts to get through the city. And when I made it out of the city, I-94 was slick, which caused a lot of accidents, which turned the road into a parking lot. I finally came upon the Lake Forest Oasis (the rest area built above the highway...those of you who have made the trip north out of Chicago know what I mean, and may have stopped here yourselves) and decided enough was enough. I had been driving for 10+ hours of my 11, I was tired and hungry, so I pulled in and will spend the night here. I'll have to deliver my load late, early tomorrow morning. I plan to be on the road at about 3:00 a.m. since I stopped at 5:00 tonight.
Anyway, to recap, it was a long day of driving, full of external stressors (snow & Chi-town traffic). I'll have to sign off now so I can get some sleep before tomorrow's early start. Keep warm, keep dry, keep reading and commenting, and keep on truckin'. Thanks.
P.S., from where I'm parked, I can look out my windshield and see I-94. The northbound side is STILL a sea of crawling taillights.
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1 comment:
"Oasis" is kind of a funny word for these places. Looking out over the freeway, cars and trucks zooming in both directions, makes me dizzy and naseous. Not at all relaxing. But on the other hand, I bet you can identify with a guy who's been riding his camel all day through blazing heat and sand storms and finally finds a quiet place with clean water, shade, and fresh fruit. Hope you've been able to relax after a gruelling day.
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