Long Road to Chicago

We got over the bridge at about 4pm on Thursday and high tailed it up to the Mass Pike. Once we were on 90 west the goal was to drive until we got tired and see how far we'd get. We stopped for dinner in Ithaca at The Tailor and The Cook. What we thought would be a "just stop anywhere and eat something" ended up being one of the best meals I've ever had. It was a lovely spot with fresh farm-to-table options. If only we could have sampled the wine list!! 

We kept on driving through New York until I started feeling drowsy and the swaying tractor trailers started making me nervous. We pulled into a rest area around 2, locked the doors, and settled in for some much needed rest. 

The rising sun woke us up around 4:30. It was just beginning to get light out and, being already in the driver's seat, I fired up the engine and hit up I-90 once again- destined for Ohio. 

I rarely get to enjoy a sunrise and this one was spectacular: 

We passed into Pennsylvania and then Ohio which was a welcome sight.

Once in Ohio we were on the prowl for coffee. We found what we thought would be a local coffee shop and pulled off the highway. To our surprise and amusement we ended up having coffee and breakfast  at the Avon Cafe and Coffee House. Which was someone's basement/ home kitchen/ bakery/ antique store. We sat at a big dining table with a price tag on it, sipped ice coffee, and ate egg sandwiches on rye.

The smell in the "cafe" was unique. The owners were just about the friendliest people you could meet. They wanted to hear all about our trip, offered great suggestions of things to see in the area (if Avon OH was intended to be a major stop), and sent us on our way with a fresh maple scone. 

We soldiered on toward Chicago and nothing was more of a sight for sore eyes than this:

We were able to navigate fairly easily through the fog and rain to my grandmother's cousin's beautiful home. She welcomed us in and we had the most delightful evening catching up, laughing, and celebrating the day's history making marriage equality ruling. How lucky we are to be 1000 miles away and feel so much at home with Mary. The three of us devised a plan for seeing the city tomorrow and then, exhausted from the trip, we hit the hay for the best sleep of our lives.