FALL COLORS! 

Click on pics to enlarge

I've traveled 5,250 miles to see this, and much more!  All I can say is:

WAHOO! I'VE ARRIVED! 

Now, put on that tie-dye shirt and let's get ready to see some colors...

Oh Canada, eh!

Since I'm fairly close to Canada, and two more opportunities (Lake Erie & Lake Ontario) await to fulfill my Reader's Poll of how I should mark my 55th Birthday (How about 55 laps on one of the great lakes!) , I'm thinking I'll veer off the supercharger network once more and head up to Buffalo, NY.  I "fill up" at Town Place Suites over night (complimentary for guests) and cruise to Niagara Falls some 25 miles away in the morning.


I check into my room on the 40th floor and am greeted with an amazing view and a hot shower (where I don't feel the need to wear flip flops). 

The attached casino has a complementary EV charger, but I'm always a bit leery, as typically a garage like this, will have only one or two EV stations, often filled with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars.  I breath a sigh of relief when I pull up to the single EV spot and see this sign. 

Down in the lobby who do I see?  Kitt's namesake, Nikola Tesla!  Of course it's now peak traffic through this hallway, and when I explain to raised eyebrows that there's a story behind this, the bell hop coyly replies "I've learned not to ask questions".  I laugh at his comment and wear a smile the rest of the day.

"Huge horizontal and vertical generators process 422,600 gallons of water per second on the Canadian side of the falls.  Westinghouse Electric and Nikola Tesla created alternating current generators for Niagara Falls in 1895".  

I stop by Costco for provisions and notice regional differences; especially the Canadian's love for sausage and cheese.

French fries and poutine are on the menu in the food court. 

I pick up my first of 55 leaves, then there's just one more thing to do...

"55 laps on one of the great lakes".  I choose Lake Ontario. 

Check, got that one off the list.

On the road again...

I'm now starting to collect state welcome signs faster than supercharger pics!  Speaking of... did you notice the new "Trip Map with (Super)chargers (Ever Evolving)" icon on the top-right side bar?  Since I now have the goal of collecting 55 "personalized" supercharger pics, I thought I'd organize them on a map that also charts my route.  Go for it!  Click on "google maps" to view my route map, along with a list of visited (super)chargers. (Thanks Kiddo!)

Select a supercharger and view information on the site location along with photos.  Since I didn't get this idea until the Rockies, (no Medicinal Oasis involved here) there are some holes.  I worry not, as I will be back with shovel in hand to fill them in when I wrap around from the south.

Picture taken from Angola, Indiana Supercharger.

Sometimes it feels like I'm blowing through states too fast, but actually I think I'm right on time as I can see the beginning of the color change. I still have time to travel further up north.

The day starts out a pleasant 75 degrees in Illinois, but there is a noticeable difference as I travel east. The more miles I travel, the more the clouds fill with charcoal.  It's pretty certain I'm going to get rained on tonight.

A storm's a brewing and it's time to get off the road.  I have plenty of charge, so I mosey on into a "primitive" campsite.  Translation...no power.

Temperatures steadily drop over night to 41 degrees and I counter by incrementally adding layers, much like a Chipotle burrito; first, fuzzy socks, then long sleeve shirt, then vest and wrap it all up in a down blanket tortilla.  This is what I look like in the morning.  Best dressed list?  Uh, I think not.

Before last night, the cruise control was my favorite item in the car.  It's now got competition.

Privacy "kit"

Privacy is an important aspect of life when I'm hunkered down with Kitt. Whether sleeping, working on the computer, etc., I don't want prying eyes.  So before my first dry run, I set out to design a privacy system.   The "system" had to:

• be economical, as I didn't want to drop a lot of change. 
• be quick to implement (I had 2 days before my 1st dry run).
• be easy to use. 
• be compact and simple to store.   

When I was contemplating the task, I noticed that each of the back side windows as well as the rear hatch had a "slot" of sorts that I thought I could use to press fit a privacy screen into.  I then went about making a pattern.  I  took some tissue paper and with the aid from scotch tape, I traced out the pattern both for the back hatch, and the side window.  As I didn't have cardboard that was large enough, I took a trip to the back of a convenience store near my home to pick up some boxes.  I then used the tissue paper patterns to cut out the cardboard inserts, piecing the larger back screen together with duct tape.  As you can see, it's pretty rough, but it got the job done.  I had planned on improving the system (and probably still will), but it worked so well on that first dry run, I just kept using it.

Privacy screen as seen from
the outside.

When I have juice and can charge appliances, I run an extension cord through the side window.

I added "tabs" to the back hatch insert as it helps keep the privacy screen snug against the window.  All box "graffiti" gets placed inwards to match Kitt's class act outwards.  

The final area to conceal is just in front of the seats.  Here's my setup:  

I take a double folded sheet and drape it over the two front seats.  I then "attach" the sheet  to the sun roof from the inside using folded accordion "springs" made from cardboard.  Because it's pressed fit into the "ledge", I never have to open the sunroof.

Close up of folded accordion cardboard "spring"

Any slits of light that are formed, I now prevent by pinning the sheet  to the side cardboard privacy screen inserts.

If I'm feeling lazy, or the break down of my bed is done in the "wrong" order, I'll store the privacy screens strapped to the back seat.  Otherwise I put them under the mat in the covered back trunk area.  Voila, good to go!

Thank you to all, who participated in my birthday poll!  I very much enjoyed reading your great ideas, serious and goofy alike, on how to celebrate 55 years.  As you might have inferred from my comments, I'm going to try and accomplish each one, no matter how nutty, and post the results on my blog.  We're both in for some good laughs!  

To start the giggles off, this first one requires a little background.  My younger son, who came to visit me in Chicago is somewhat of an adrenaline junkie and has been wanting to go skydiving for quite some time.  He has asked me repeatedly if I would go with him and I have always said yes, placing it squarely on the back burner for "sometime" in the future.  With my computer sitting idle at 1 o'clock, he researched skydiving facilities in the greater Chicago area and after reminding me of this trip's purpose, "to wait no more", convinced me to take that afternoon's 4 o'clock availability. 

My heart awoke from its slumber, downed a cup of deathwishcoffee (www.deathwishcoffee.com) in response, and readied itself for the day ahead.

After the hour and a half drive, we arrive at Chicagoland Skydiving Center, located on the corner of, Out in the Boonies and Skydive Lane. 

After signing in, signing wavers, and signing release of liability, we watch an "instructional video" of how we just signed away our rights to sue.  K, got that out of the way.  Heart now decides to get on the treadmill.  

                                                                                                                                                          

We get suited up and with surprisingly very little instruction, head to the plane.  I now start to pepper my tandem-lifeline "Mikey" with questions.  Who would have guessed, I get the jokester of the bunch.  Heart commences a sprint.

 At this point, I'm asked to leave my camera behind and the videographer takes over.  Heart rate continues to rise, until 14,500 feet, when it goes into full cardiac arrest.  I tell Mikey "push me out" as I know I'm not going to want to "step out of a perfectly good airplane". He complies. Here's my ride.  Hope you enjoy.

I'm offered a "free" glass of wine afterwards which I accept as I've heard a glass of red is good for the heart. I buy the dang T-shirt, watch the most glorious sunset and wait for NSR.

Check, got that one off the list.

Austin's arm.  A man I met in Missouri.

The house we lived at when I was born.

Although I've spent a week in Chicago and the surrounding area, accomplished all that I've set out to do, I know I'll be back.  For every item checked, 3 fold has been added to the list, especially in the area of genealogy. 

My son flew in for a few days and we visited the graves of great-grandparents never met. I was very glad he was with me as we shared some pretty special moments together.

The warmest welcome and generous hospitality anyone could ever ask for. 
A full charge on my Uncle's NEMA 6-50 plug, a fabulous dinner with my Aunt, Uncle, Cousins and their families, shared CAD sewing projects, the coolest looking home grown gourd for a souvenir.  The list goes on and on.  I have the best family.  Love you guys!

Although he started off the trip in the passengers seat, it didn't take long before he moved stage left!  The acceleration, but especially the regenerative braking were the top two comments I heard from my son. 

Getting the last few items squeezed in

A "must stop". Garrett's popcorn, a Chicago icon.

Three hours (definitely not enough) at the Museum of Science & Industry, a member of the ASTC (Associaiton of Science-Technology Centers) which made our tickets free.  

DART buoy, used to detect tsunamis

U-505 Submarine, one of five in the world.

The savings however, were "equalized" by the overnight parking charge for a night's stay at a nearby hotel.  Fifty dollars, (I'm still in shock) and for less than 24 hours, and I parked it myself!  This has got to be the most ever paid for a single night of parking.  Have you paid more?

Dropping my kidlett off at the airport sounds the alarm for me to get back on the road.  Chicago has been great, but downtown, a little cramped.  I'm looking forward to stretching my legs again, out on the open road.