A Lockdown Virtual Journey (North America) Day 6
Day six Sunday
We had decided that we would have a leisurely breakfast and plan what we wanted to do tomorrow in Chicago. Breakfast went well mainly cereal for the three of us although Chris declined the bacon, sausage and eggs. He told us that the remains of the steak were in his fridge and that he would make himself some sandwiches for lunch by taking some bread and butter up to his room. We plotted a route to the Apostolic Christian Church which was about a mile or so away. We needed the exercise.
We had packed and vacated the hotel by nine thirty. Our luggage, with the exception of a steak sandwich was loaded into the boot of the ‘Charger’. And we set off for church. We found the church just before ten. It looked smart and somehow prosperous. We were welcomed by a gentleman on the door. Shown to some empty seats and told that the readings were all in the bible in front of our seats. I think he meant that we would find them in the bible!
All stood to sing a song and then some men took their seats at the front. It went very quiet and then we had a reading from the Old Testament. It wasn’t long before we three were looking at each other and wondering if we could or even should leave. The comments after readings were good, the prayers spoken sounded meaningful. We did stand out being the only males not in dark suits and white shirts. There didn’t seem to be any female input to the service. We tacitly agreed to see it out and then leave. Pete wisely asked us to consider why the Lord had brought us here. I am still trying to work it out, maybe to remind us of the freedom we have in our home church.
When the service was completed we stood with the intention of leaving and getting back on the road. Many folk seemed to want to talk to us. Nobody seemed to have heard of Banbury until the nursery rhyme was mentioned then all had heard of Banbury. We were very polite about our thoughts on the service and focused on the positives. Friendliness of the congregation, the bible centred talk, Chris focused on the singing which he had enjoyed. He loves to sing.
The conversation back to our vehicles was about the inclusiveness of Banbury Community Church, I think it was Chris who pointed out that we didn’t know what they did during the week. So true – we decided to speak blessings over them. We did that for the remainder of the walk back.
With Chris again in the lead we followed the 475 south for a few miles before we all pulled into a petrol station. Refuelling completed, we recommenced our trip. We went over the I90 and it was then I had to do a double take. I thought I had seen a sign that read Tesco Express but on a second look, I realised, said Toledo Express Airport. We travelled Almost opposite the airport we again turned right and after a short time went under the I90 and joined it travelling west. For some reason this road was also known as the 80. When I first saw the sign saying 80 I had to take a quick look at the satnav to confirm I was following its route. We were.
Like the previous day the land was mostly flat. There were a lot of farms growing various crops interspersed with lots of wooded areas. It looked a peaceful landscape. To me though it was too flat. I like to see mountains or at least a few decent sized hills on the horizon. I guess my favourite horizons are mountains behind with beach and see in front.
The miles rolled past and I had set the speed at the sixty five and for long stretches I could have sat back and read a book. I found myself wondering why I had chosen the vehicle I had. Was it because I had heard and read about it? It was a great looking car, Pete’s choice was impressive and the Harley sounded and looked great. I found myself realising that my Peugeot at home, would do this journey, just as quickly but with greater fuel economy. The charger was more comfortable than the Peugeot, quicker to sixty five or a hundred than the Peugeot. The Peugeot would achieve the legal speed limits not so many seconds after the charger to make much difference over one, two or three hundred miles of driving.
It dawned on me that I had gotten so used to the charger that the only parts of the car I was looking at, when driving, were the wing mirrors, rear mirror and occasional glances at the satnav. So what was I looking at? Mostly the Ford and the Harley’s rear ends. I was also looking at the countryside and, of course, other road users vehicles. Most of the driving I had observed on the trip so far had been of a good standard. A few times someone had seemed to speed past then have to brake hard in order to get in the gap between either myself and Pete or Pete and Chris. This caused Pete and I to have to break then sort out the speed limiter again. I suppose they were opportunities for grace.
We transitioned from Ohio and into Indiana. And the miles rolled by. Near a place named Elkhart, Chris again pulled off the motorway followed by Pete and myself. After about a mile of so we pulled into a petrol station, Phillips 66. Chris refuelled and Pete and I strolled over to the ‘Subway’. We decided to eat a salad and have a drink, usual coffee for Pete and a diet coke no ice for me. We wandered back to the vehicles and Chris joined us in the Ford to have his steak sandwich and a bottle of pop he had bought. We got to chatting about Chicago and discovered that Pete had a real dislike of cities especially big cities. After a bit and some gentle persuasion Pete agreed to tag along tomorrow ‘just to keep an eye on us’.
Chris’s trike and us, refuelled, we once more retraced our route back to the I90. As we approached a river named St. Joseph’s I saw a huge lorry that had two trailer on tow. I wouldn’t fancy trying to reverse that I thought. After a short run northwards the road turned south. We were still travelling through mainly farm lands and woods. The landscape became more varied as we crossed and re-crossed the Grand Calumet River. A train trundled along on our left. I hadn’t realised there was a rail line there until I saw the train.
We three turned north and crossed Wolf Lake. The landscape still very flat. A rail yard appeared on the right and the road continued north. We started to climb, not a lot but it did make a change. The landscape had become more industrial. Out of Indiana and into Illinois we again crossed the Calumet River. The bridge has girders along and over the top of the bridge. It felt like going through one of the covered bridges without the covering. We kept right and followed the road onto the Chicago Skyway. Trusting the satnav, well Chris was, we found ourselves on the I94 expressway. There was a railway track between the two carriageways.
I felt as if I was surrounded by roads. There was the road we were on one to our right. Beyond the rail track on our left were another two roads. Then before us we could see the Chicago sky line. We cruised past several railway stations that were situated between the carriageways. I was really thankful for the directions being given by the satnav and trying to watch fast and dense traffic and stay on the I90/Kennedy Expressway. The road avoided the lake side and headed North West. Signs started to appear for the O’Hare International airport. We came off the I90 and seemed to re-cross the I90 several times before being directed by the satnav into the car park of the Holiday Inn, Elk Grove.
The hotel looked partially traditional squarish block but with a modern steel and glass attachment. We parked next to each other and after stretches congregated at the rear of the charger. Having retrieved our luggage from the boot and rechecked that we had secured our respective vehicles, we made for the lobby.
It looked quite sterile but the receptionist was efficient and we were soon heading up to our rooms. We agreed to meet in a half hour at the pool and have a swim before going out to find somewhere to eat.
The room I had was spacious and had a desk, settee, microwave and a very comfortable bed. I took the precaution of setting my phone alarm for fifteen minutes before testing it for size and comfort. The alarm went off and after quickly splashing water on my face I grabbed my swim shorts and a towel and made my way to the pool.
Pete was already swimming when I got to the pool. I had just got into the water when Pete told me that Chris was walking the tunnel to the pool. We talked of the ride to Chicago. All three of us were amazed at how flat the land had been. Chris commented on the names of places some very British sounding and some that were presumably taken from the Native Americans. I commented on the rivers we crossed and Pete was in awe of the amount of crops that had and were being grown.
We splashed around and were joined by a few couples who hearing our accents wanted to know where we were from. There always seems to someone who served in the Air Force somewhere in the UK. This occasion was no different. One chap had been based at Bentwaters in Suffolk. I’d worked there for a while back in the 70s. A little chat ensued about Ipswich and a few other places. Pete a fan of aircraft asked what he had flown. It turned out that he was an airframe mechanic and another conversation commenced. Chris meanwhile seemed to have made yet more ‘best’ friends with the other couple. It always amazes me how Chris seems to get to know folk so well so quickly.
After about a half hour we wished our fellow swimmers farewell changed and headed out of the hotel. We all put our wet swim wear in the flat bed of the Ford and hoped no one would pinch them. The sides were so high I doubted if most folk would be able to see over to be able to see them.
We wandered around the block looking for somewhere that wasn’t a fast food joint. There was a buzzing in the air that I thought was electrical but it seemed to be coming from the trees. We three decided to stop and investigate. Chris and I were fairly convinced it was electrical but why was it getting more noisy the nearer the trees we got. Pete worked it out, the row was created by cicadas. There must have been a lot of them to make so much noise.
We continued our stroll and kind of got used to the cacophony around us. We came across a place named the Thornwood Restaurant Lounge. It looked Ok so we went in. It was quite busy and we were asked if we wanted a table or to sit at the bar. We asked for a table and we were offered one on the patio area. This was great as I’m not a fan of gaming machines and much preferred the noise of the cicadas. We ordered a beer and a bottle of water each. When they arrived we ordered our food. Pete went for a Rise and Shine burger (with bacon and egg), Chris decided on a Texas burger (with bacon and cheddar), and I went for a Happy Harry Burger (cheese, avocado, bacon and pico de gallo) all came with fries and greenery. We thanked our Father for safe travel and hopefully good food. We drank and talked, mostly making plans for the following day. Plates were cleared away and more beers were consumed and the plan (always subject to change) was made. Payment and tips were given and we strolled back to the hotel.
We picked up our now dry swim gear and headed into the lobby. Chris asked the receptionist if we could leave our vehicles in the car park tomorrow when we visited Chicago. A call was made to the manager who confirmed it would be OK. We found out that the hotel ran a shuttle to O’Hare and from there we could get tickets for a day’s travel around Chicago. Good nights and thank yous to the receptionist and then each other and off to our rooms and sleep.
Apostolic Christian Church of America
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/elk-grove-village