Day Four

Time to leave Chicago.

Got up at 7am, out at http://eggsperiencecafe.com/ for breakfast again by 7.40am. I had waffles, Ann had eggs or something. She sat in blueberries and ruined her white shorts.

Back at hotel to pack up by 8.30am, checked out by 9am.

Walked out of hotel, taxi drove past, I looked at it, it stopped. We got in and were back at O'Hare Airport by 9.40am.

Taxi dropped us off right by the Alamo Car Rental office. So far, everything had gone to plan. That didn't last long.

We had booked our car pre holiday and as ever chose a standard SUV. Now both previous times we have ended up with decent size cars, but today we ended up getting the exact one it gives as an example of the size, a Hyundai Sante Fe.

We got in it and within seconds Ann got a paddy on. To sum it up succinctly, she hated the car and couldn't understand why we had it. I tried to point out that it was exactly what we had booked but she didn't want to know. I tried to point out that on both previous occasions we have ended up with bigger cars by luck rather than judgement (In Washington, we got to choose from four different ones that were ready to go out and in Miami they had nothing except a bigger SUV so the guy just said 'It's not the right one, but just take it'). This time however we got the standard SUV we had booked, end of argument.

At this point I offered to get on a plane and fly home to help out. Apparently, that wasn't a helpful solution. By the look in Ann's eye, I could tell that the next twenty five days were going to be hell if I put the car into drive and left the car park.  Eventually I told her if she wanted it changed she needed to go back inside and speak to someone. She did. She came back and said that we could change it if we paid for an upgrade. So, what do you do in this situation??

Answer: get your credit card out and shut up.

I did just that. The two ladies behind the desk were on Ann's side, but seeing as they work for the company presumably they wanted us to throw money at them. However, they also did their best to help us. We paid for a one level upgrade, but they sorted us a two level upgrade car. One of them then went and made their maintenance guys do an oil change on the one they wanted us to have, as we were doing such a long journey. She then had it washed and drove it over personally. Ann hugged them. They asked if they could come on holiday with us. Computer said no.

We got in the car. Ann was no longer in a paddy. She was in a Dodge Durango.

The right car!!

Set the sat nav for Stevensville and away we went. It took us back into Chicago as it felt that was the best route following I90 and I94. What this did mean was that two hours after leaving, we were right back where we started. Traffic was slow. Felt like we were never going to actually be able to get away from the city. An hour later and we were still within the outer reaches of the suburbs. Eventually we managed to break free of the city's force field and into the state of Indiana.

Didn't stay there for long, moving into Michigan and to Stevensville. You can tell when you get to Michigan as the road surfaces are bloody terrible. Arrived at 2pm, although it was now 3pm as we had changed time zones. Checked in, ate left over cheese and biscuits for lunch and then headed out for quiet afternoon.

Went to Jean Klock Park beach on the shore of Lake Michigan. Sat in the warm sun and swam in the warm water. The perfect antidote to two days in Chicago. It did resemble the Alfred Hitchcock film 'The Birds' though. Lots of seagulls all just stood motionless, staring at you. I stared back. Think I won the war of minds.

Eventually we headed off and stopped for dinner on the way back to the hotel. Visited an old favourite from the last time we were in Michigan.

Still Fabulous

Sat in the car and ate it. Ann dropped sauce over her other pair of white shorts. I got sauce on my shirt and the sun visor. Bought stain remover from Walgreens.

Headed home and now sat doing this whilst Ann has been down the launderette cleaning all her shorts.

Just seen another USA shooting massacre on the news, this time in Louisiana. Made us glad that we are literally dipping in and out of the state later on in the trip.

Bears seen - 0

Moose watch - low

Seagull Watch - extremely high

States visited - 3