2023 march 21st, shrewsbury to Erie PA via i-90
before i begin, the boys (our cats) were funny last night. Both came to my room at bedtime together, they NEVER do that. Twitch wanted a blue chair play session (a camping chair I keep in my room). He likes to lounge in it like a hammock and swat at the string I dangle over the arm rest. He’s a chonker and doesn’t like to run around. The most I can get him to do is spin in circles chasing the laser dot. Anyway, he saw Princess (his brother) and didn’t bolt, shocking. This morning when I was going in and out to load the truck, Princess was on his perch in the entry room by the front door. In a past life, he was a golden retriever for sure.
Anyway, the i-90 drive was nice and boring. good weather. At some point along the way, I’m going to look for a visor extension. As we go NorthWest, I get Sun on my left side, and it makes it hard to see.
Towards the end of the drive today, I just tried to find a semi doing a little over the speed limit, and I tucked in behind. My running joke is that it’s like being a sled dog. If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes, but it’s easier to relax.
Jeff and I go slow to save $ on the mpgs. Went 68mph most of the time. got 19.5mpg on the second tank when I spent more time behind a semi with the adaptive cruise on the shortest gap setting. First tank was low 17’s. There was a headwind most of the day.
I did get jeff to walk into the Chattanooga rest area just before Syracuse, so he could see how small it was. there was about 20 people in line at the Chick Fil A and it was 2:30p.m. I still think the State made a big mistake in the redesigns. They sized for average number of people, not peak numbers imho. Time will tell.
So far, I haven’t found that I forgot anything, but I’m sure I’ll discover I missed something soon. Might not find out until I’m camping in South Dakota. The truck is pretty loaded though. Winter gear takes up a lot of space. An extra duffel, and the diesel heater.
Tomorrow the goal is to get West of Chicago, hopefully Madison WI. Today we didn’t do any off highway stops. Jeff only ate stuff from his van, which is loaded with goodies, thanks to Maureen.
My right outer hip would get a little achy after a couple hours sitting, so we stopped so I could walk a bit and stretch. Getting old, and I find the Ranger cockpit just a smidge too short, but it’s not horrible. It would help if I lost some weight too. lol
Anyway, going to go hang out in the Van with Jeff, and then go to bed after Cracker Barrel closes, they’re open until 9 and it’s 7:45 now. I didn’t sleep much last night, so I’m sure I’ll sleep tonight. I hope so anyway, the Cracker Barrell is right next to the highway, but I have earplugs. The noise is steady, and there's no j braking so far
2023 march 22 wed Erie PA morning after
Waking up at erie….
Lies….lies. lies! Getting earmuffs to wear over my earplugs. It was loud last night. Fell asleep 10ish. Up at 2. Still loud. Woke up 6ish, very loud.
Thank goodness jacqui wasn't with me in the camper, or I'd be in trouble right now, Especially with a nice hotel 200 yards away. (a hilton chain) Pretty sure she'd have ghosted me in the middle of the night to go get a room.
There's a tractor supply that opens at 8, maybe i can get my small propane tank topped off after breakfast (nope, they were out of propane) and get ear muff hearing protectors too. If not, there's a home depot across the main road. (had to go to Home Depot)
My man purse worked great. Ditto on the silver duffel for all my bedroom stuff
2023 march 22 6:30 p.m. Madison Wi cracker barrel
long drive today over 600 miles. hit gary indiana and chicago during rush hour time, but google directed us around the worst of it.
Jeff had a glitch with his ez pass when we got off at Toledo so I couldd have Chipotle for lunch, but it was just that toll booth.
Got good gas mileage, but i need to doulble check vs what google says miles wise and what the gas pump says. Not sure i should believe he computer saying I got 20.4mpg’s today
So many semi’s , like crazy amt of semis. Jeff wanted to shoot for Badlands tomorrow but that’s a crazy drive like 12 hours. So I noped on that. we’ll hit a cracker barrel 7 hours away in Sioux Falls SD. then it’s just 4 hours the day after that to get to some of the stuff he wants to see. It’ll be good to do proper camping soon.
I got the earmuff style hearing protectors this morning, and I immediately used wire snips to cut one off. I plan to just cover my left ear, while I fall asleep. I’m sure it’ll come off while sleeping, but the goal is to get to sleep more easily. I usually sleep with my right ear down against the pillow, and I don’t hear as well out of the right, so fingers crossed it works. The Madison CB isn’t as close to the highway so that should help.
I should say my man purse worked well, and the silver duffel was nice for taking everything I needed up to the sleeping area. Happy with both.
March 23rd Thursday morning 6a.m. Madison Wi CB
the ear muff worked!!! even stayed on my head. Wearing a hat helps with padding so it doesn’t press on my skull too much.
I think if you’re in a rtt (roof top tent) and try to sleep at CB’s you need exceptional ear plugs and/or ear muff protetors on top of the ear plugs. semi’s engine brake and it’s loud. But I slept much, much better, and feel much more alert this morning. Just wait until I get caffeine in me! mwhahaha
it’s 32f and lightly snowing out, not even sure if it’s snow or just moisture freezing out of the air, it’s very, very light.
The challenge will be there’s frost in the tent, so hopefully I can open it up during the day somehere to dry out, I checked the forecast. It won't be above freeing here until mid morning and that’s too long to wait.
oh one last thing, I raised the seat in the Ranger, and that helped with the hip pain a lot. I was sitting too low and it was hyperextending my hip I think. Only downside is hitting my head on the door jamb when I get in/out. Just have to learn to duck my head more. Also helps with the sun visor. I’m not so far back now.
time to read a little and then start packing up before Jeff and I go into breakfast at CB at 7, On CDT time too, so the fact I slept until 6 is pretty good imho.
2023 mar 23 thursday 12:30 minnesota rest stop lunch
just used the toaster for a warm s’more pop tart used 3% of the battery now boiling water for tea
also popped the tent up so things can dry out from the morning
2023 march 23 thursday 4:30p.m. Sioux Falls, SD, Cracker Barrel
If I’d thought of it, I would have swung by Enlightened Equipment on the drive today. they made my lightweight goose down quilt 40F, and it’s where I got my synthetic down hoodie and booties. They’re like mini sleeping bags for your feet and head.
drive was so much easier than yesterday. Had a weird glitch with my dc/dc charge controller after lunch. I’d used power from the lithium to run the toaster and then boil water for tea. But the dc/dc charge controller wasn’t helping to recharge because I’ve been driving so much, the Ranger’s smart alternator wasn’t charging the truck battery. So, I had to turn off the dc/dc’s setting for engine shutdown detection to get it to pull from the truck battery. Just have to remember to turn it back on, or eventually I’d have a dead starter battery.
Anyway, we’re here early so just going to relax. I might go to Home Depot and look for a new rain jacket, my Frogg Toggs one is pretty tattered. I just don’t want anything too nice, because I’ll ruin it using it for camping. After that, going to get some greasy fast food. Had leftover salad and leftover chipotle for lunch.
The good news with this Cracker Barrel is that we’re well away from the highway, so far less road noise. The bad news, a low of 18F for tonight. I’ve slept fine in 15F though and I brought all the gear for that. Time to go relax.
had a quick dinner at wild buffalo wings (gourmet!!!!) anyway, after that, spotted this poor car. Hail damage I assume