Feb 12 2009
2009-02-12 Wednesday - The big trip day Nine - The Home Stretch
2009-02-12 Wednesday
The big trip day Nine
The Home Stretch
Crossing the Michigan State Line
Arriving in Battle Creek
Today our starting point is the Flying J at exit 9A on Eastbound I-80/I-94 in Gary, Indiana. We left out from Flying J at 8:38 AM (CST) and made our first engine stop at 8:54 AM (CST) at the Flying J on Indiana I-80/I-94 exit 15 B, Lake Station, Indiana. We bought 2 coffees (the coffee was awful) and one bag of donuts. $5.32 We left at 9:10 AM (CST.) We merged onto Indiana I-94 at 9:13 AM (CST).
At 9:28 AM (CST) we stopped at Indiana I-94 exit 26A in Chesterton, Indiana at Smoker Friendly [560 East Indainboundry Road, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219)395-9798] for a carton of Smoker Friendly brand cigarettes $29.41. We crossed the Indiana/Michigan State line at 10:03 AM (CST)/ 11:03 AM (EST)
At about 11:10 AM (EST) we made a stop at Michigan I-94 Exit 1 (New Buffalo, Michigan) for gas and Transmission fluid. Transmission Fluid was $4.55. Gas 28.513 gallons at $1.999 per gallon – total for gas $57.00. We got back onto I-94 at 11:20 AM (EST)
At 11:23 AM (EST) we turned off of I-94 onto US 12 (Michigan I-94 exit 4A). We made an engine stop at 12:07 PM (EST) at US-12 and US-62 (Eagle Lake, Michigan) back on road at 12:18 PM (EST.) We made another engine stop at 12:48 PM (EST) at White Pigeon, Michigan and got back on the road at 1:00 PM (EST). We stopped in Sturgis to see Fred’s birth mom at 1:23 PM (EST) but she wasn’t home. We called her and tried to call Fred’s aunt, but couldn’t find her. We were really disappointed that we missed her. We couldn’t wait for her because it was going to be getting dark soon and there was nowhere to park the RV. We got back onto the road at 1:40 PM (EST)
We turned onto Michigan State road 66 North towards Battle Creek. At 2:28 PM (EST) we stopped to let George rest near East Leroy and Joppa, MI; bought one pop and a package of twizzlers $1.50 cash no receipt. Left at 2:40 PM and arrived in Battle Creek shortly after. The money we were expecting to be here ahead of us has not arrived so we have no place to park. We got permission from our good friend Gary’s landlord to park the RV in a lot he owns where a house burned down some time ago, but this is not a permanent solution to the parking problem. Spent the evening catching up with old friends we have missed dearly. Traveled about 183 miles today.
