1 Bus, heading to Johnsonburg PA (delivered)

... spending the night at Cedar Rapids IA

No alarm, we are not up at 4 AM.

BB had left overs, I went down and got their to-go bag and yogurt. When I saw there was a bottle of water in the to-go, I got one for BB also. We start the trip with a 24 or 36 pack of water but we have run out for this trip.

Again, when we get up it is raining, but the time we get going it is snowing. We see various things in the ditch including two travel trailers. They look like a collapsed box once they roll over. At times traffic was moving at the posted, other places it was down to 45 mph for long periods. I did not use the cruise until after our 2nd stop this AM. Might have used it sooner but when these new radar's malfunction you can't use the cruise until the car has been restarted.

1st stop is in Howe IN at a rest area.

The snow finally let up in eastern IN and we were no longer using the wipers by the time we got to our 2nd stop.

2nd stop is in Lake Station at a TA / BP for fuel. We had planned on stopping at the Pilot next door but fuel there had gone from $1.87 to $2.29 since it was updated online. I get sidetracked and forget to ask for a receipt so before we leave the lot I have to go inside and wait in line to get one.

Chicago traffic, always fun. This time I was able to get behind a truck that was going closer to the speed limit and I just stayed there. People don't seem to ride my bumper as close if I am behind a big truck. One place a semi was signaling to get into my lane so I backed off, a 2nd semi behind him (and me) also wanted to get in my lane and when I backed off, almost hit the rear panel of our car. After that the 2nd semi stayed way back for a while.

Also going through Chicago we saw a semi in the on coming traffic doing about 5 miles an hour in the center lane, that was causing a few miles of back up for them. We didn't have any traffic issues after the snow stopped in mid-IN.

3rd stop was for a late lunch. Late so I could get my Rax in Joliet. Drive thru. Good as always, the Big Deluxe Rax. I've been told that was the first thing I asked for when I came out of surgery almost 40 years ago.

4th stop was in La Salle at a Flying J for the rest room.

5th stop was just a few miles down the road in Geneseo at a Culvers :) All I had ever seen from the freeway was two gas station / truck stops. A few more blocks off the freeway are fast food and a hotel. Didn't know, now I do. Culvers was for frozen custard, not more food.

6th stop was the Welcome Center in Davenport.

7th and final stop was at the Comfort Inn in Cedar Rapids. It is dark and we aren't going to get the car back in two days unless we run till close to midnight and that is not going to happen. Here we see something we haven't seen much of, a mostly full parking lot. BB had gotten the last king room but that has happened even when there are only five cars in the lot. Oh, this place has free beer at 5 PM, maybe that is why people stay here?

We aren't hungry after a late lunch and an even later snack, but we need to eat something before we go to bed. So BB orders online at Panera. It didn't go through the first time and if didn't the 2nd time I was going to have to call it in. Panera was about a half mile down the road but we were not walking tonight. Food was OK and what we ordered. But no butter for the extra bread they give.

Load board

US - 342

IA - 134

MN - 7

WI - 8

On the IA load board, the shortest 5 orders are all no tows and are all under 500 miles. Easy one day trips that we would make money on ... if we were not heading home. One is to Duluth, that has been out there since yesterday ... but we are heading home.

The longest 24 trips out of IA are all over 1,500 miles. Most are pairs or could be run together with another location close. It is supposed to be dead the month after their quarter end. That is why it works for me to work local those months.

Most of another day to get home, then home for a four day weekend before heading out again before Christmas.