North Carolina to Wisconsin – 9 Day Road Trip
Some road trips are just for fun while others are made with a purpose in mind. In mid-September(pre-covid) we headed out for a road trip from our home in North Carolina to Wisconsin. Our mission was to pick up my Mom, who was moving in with us. but, before we picked her up in Eau Claire, we decided to have a little vacation. Once she moved in, we would become caregivers and not be able to have a vacation for a while.
This road trip is a little over 1000 miles and takes about 17 hours if we drive straight to Eau Claire, WI. We always try to stop for the night about 8 hours down the road. We have a few options; stop in Cincinnati Ohio, Dayton Ohio, Louisville Kentucky or push it to Indianapolis Indiana(9 hours).
Day 1
The weather was great as we loaded our truck and hooked up the small trailer. It was early in the morning on a Tuesday, we had dropped off our dog, Poppie, at the kennel the night before.
Our plan was to get about halfway(8 hours) down the road. There was nothing special about our day, the first day is usually LONG and is ALL about getting down the road! We stopped for lunch at Bob Evans in Charleston, West Virginia, and then continued until we decided that was enough for one day. We stopped for the evening outside Louisville, Kentucky.
We tried to keep this first day inexpensive so we stayed at Sleep Inn. These hotels are usually clean, have good reviews, and are inexpensive. No time for a pool or fancy restaurant!
My husband and I really enjoy traveling, and a road trip always gives us time to talk, which is great! A lot of our problems are solved, and plans are made while heading down the highway.
If you have ever taken a road trip in the midwest, some of these states are long with only a few cities along the route. I spent some time looking at the clouds out my window while my husband was driving, These clouds were mesmerizing! They are really quite beautiful if you take the time to look at them!
Day 2
We left Kentucky and headed into Indiana. As I was taking in the sights, I saw something peculiar which made me do a double-take! A tree was growing on top of this clock tower in Greensburg, Indiana!
The history and mystery of the Tower Tree
Early in the 1807’s the people of Greensburg noticed what seemed to be a small sprig growing on the courthouse tower. It began to grow in height. It seems that it somehow had taken root in the crevices of the roof on the tower. Over the next few months, other sprouts started springing up at different places until five were counted, making a small grove. The courthouse officials became alarmed that the trees may cause permanent damage to the roof. They hired someone to ascend the building and remove some of the shrubs. Today two trees remain.
This photo was taken in the winter but during the spring and summer months, these trees put forth beautiful foliage. It has never been explained as to how the seeds of the first trees found their way to the roof. If you were wondering what kind of trees? They are Mulberry trees!
Continue Day 2
Day 2 was a lot more fun than Day 1, and we only had to drive 5 1/2 hours. We had a reservation at Starved Rock State Park near Oglesby, Illinois. We ALWAYS avoid Chicago traffic when traveling, so I found this place which is about 2 hours southwest of Chicago. We find it easier to travel through the center of Illinois when going to Wisconsin. It’s not necessarily the shortest route but it usually avoids a lot of traffic.
Starved Rock Lodge is near Utica, Illinois when you book your room you have the choice of the Lodge wing(built in the 1930s) and the Hotel wing, which is a little more modern. We stayed in the Hotel Wing. The Lodge was beautiful. It was a relaxing afternoon with a trolley ride through the park and surrounding towns, a dip in the pool and hot tub, a little shopping in the gift shop, and dinner in the main dining room.
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