Day 4

Day 4 - July 22, 2014 - Wayne, Illinois to Fergus Falls, Minnesota

To start, I must confess for Tycoon. The insect population through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota along the I-90 I-94 corridor took a major hit today. And the serial killer is none other than our own Tycoon. Yes, it is true, sadly.

Anyway.

Tycoon and I set out solo today. We left Mamma Kirk in Chicago for one more day to visit with family before going home to Cape May, Nj. We took a picture together before I set out. Aunt Linda, Dr. O., Mamma Kirk and all the "poodies". Aunt Linda houses several show poodles as you can see from the photo!

Since I had everyone up bright and early for my departure, they insisted on a good breakfast for the preggo lady here and took me to Panera. Where of course, I found another MINI and by law MUST park next to it.

So after saying goodbyes to everyone and setting out I decided that I needed to take one last photograph while in Illinois before heading out and stopped by the Fox River in historic St. Charles to take a picture of Tycoon in the early morning sunlight.

 

So I followed my Waze and headed towards out to Illinois I-90, a tollway. Now let me tell you, if I had known the NONSENSE that would follow I would have chosen another route. Not only was I-90 completely under construction, the state had dropped the speed limit to 45 mph. 45MPH on a 4 lane tollway. Yes, you PAY to drive on this road, and it was 45mph. Completely ridiculous considering that the construction areas were all behind concrete barriers, no workers were anywhere near traffic, and there were no vehicles coming in and out of the areas. Talk about a grating drive, I was ready to pull my hair out. But once I was out of Illinois and in to Wisconsin things picked up. And boy did I find some fun stuff!!

 

Must get a photo with a cow in Wisconsin, rule #1 of Wisconsin.

And cheese, must find cheese in Wisconsin

But what oh what did I find here? Um, still not sure...Wisconsin

 

It is impossible to leave Wisconsin without finding Paul and Babe! I found them in Eau Claire. 

 Selfie with Paul and Babe in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Now, a side note on Eau Claire, let me tell you this place is out there my friends. OUT THERE. The looks that I got just going into the Kwik Fill for gas were as if Marilyn Manson had walked in or something. Slowly back away, I do not belong here...

And an even bigger reason to drive faster, DRIVE FASTER, WATCH OUT FOR THE GOVERNOR! 

Ok, I kid I kid, so after a good eight hours and change I arrived in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. A quaint, small town America kind of place. In parts it looks like you could have time warped back to the 20's or 30's. Everyone is so nice that for an East Coaster it almost makes you uncomfortable. As if someone is coming up behind you to beat you over the head because, really, no one is that nice without trying to distract you from something else. Bait and switch my friends, bait and switch. 

We stopped before dinner to look at the giant otter. The Otter Trail is apparently a big thing here in Fergus Falls.

 

I tried several local places for dinner, but all seemed to be closed after 7 on weekdays. Knowing that I was about to get hangry and Winnie was screaming for some dinner I decided to just bite the bullet and go to the Applebee's. Sitting there by myself, just reading my book, looking around to kind of people watch, the manager just sees me look up and catches my eye and happily says "Hey, how ya doin tooonahgt" (my attempt at typing that Minnisooootaaahh accent, think Bobbies Mom)

After dinner Tycoon and I decided to take a few quick pictures in front of the old theater in town. I just love those old buildings.

And then we set up camp for the evening. Goodnight till tomorrow!