Trials, Cheap Gas, and Ickeys

So today began the adventure of Meghan and Jen! We awoke in Harleysville, PA itching to get on the road... 

The car and truck were ready to go! We shoved snacks, things to do, and blankets in the backseat. And we were ahead of schedule... go truck go!

When we came across a small unfortunate road block...We were planning to drop our overnight bags into the front seat of my car, but the trailer wheel well prevented opening the front door more than 12" or so. Luckily Jen and Jacob are skinny and masterminded the exchange and shifting of luggage from back to front so we could drop our bags into the back (which opens more)! (See Jen below reaching to put the keys in to get the windows down!)

Then we were leaving the garage after saying our last goodbyes... and we found a stray box! Geez oh man. We made room... and then made moves.

Here we are getting ready to hit the road!

Here is the full view of our magical packing work. Word to the doubters, we fit everything we both wanted to take with us! Thank you vacuum seal bags and Jacob's magical tarp work in the truck bed! Also Jen and I finally managed to look like friends...too bad Jacob doesn't want to be in the club!!

 Once on the road we had to adjust to the feel of a trailer on the back, but Jacob is a pro! So we finished our first leg, and arrived at Wawa. Doesn't it look like a promise? The packed car... driving our lives to new adventures on the West Coast.

Here's my ode to Wawa: 

We will miss you Wawa

We love your coffee and hoagies

I'll miss your clean floors and bathrooms

Your selection is superb and fresh

We shall not see your flying goose symbol in WA

But I'll continue to use my Wawa travel mug

I-80: Western Pennsylvania and Ohio:

Our second fill up was at a Petra station {what is that- we have no idea either} the inside had just a bunch of window scrapers and discount movies- and was connected to a diner- new to us! The car was still sitting pretty and after some stretching we were once again ready to hit the road.

Did I mention regular unleaded fuel was only $3.24/gallon... Shut the front door, right?

Here is just an exhibit of what we saw alllllllllll afternoon... Flat. Nothing. Some fields. A random farm house. Nothing of note on the horizon. BORING. We hope to have only one more day of the monotony.

We were nearing to Ohio/Indiana border (IN stands for Indiana Jennifer, not INN where they forgot the other N... she got a little confused road sign reading). We needed gas and food, but I-80/I-90 were slim pickings at that  point so we decided to wander a little off the grid. After paying a toll that charged me more than the ticket indicated for a class 2 vehicle (over which Jacob is still threatening to call Ohio's turnpike office) we headed south on Route 66 (Ohio Rt 66 that is) Not quite so exciting but still gave us that feeling of adventures to come!

The car was still secure and safe and lovely! Gas is still so cheap compared to at home. We were thrilled even though this looked like such a small midwestern town I was surprised there were 4 pumps at the station instead of just 1. We saw a bunch of children dressed up for Halloween looking quite as bored as they should in such a small town... even on the most sugar infested night of the year.

After heading into the Kwik-Stop, which serves discount priced wine and beer (very convenient vs PA state store crap), to ask the attendant what restaurants were in town, Jen got to pick our dinner destination. The choices were a new Mexican place (possibly questionable in corn country USA), Mom's Diner-which is also a pizzeria, Home Restaurant- serving "grandma's cooking" and Ickey's... guess which one Jen chose.

If you guessed Ickey's you would be correct. Of all restaurants- basing our decision off of close to no facts- Jen clearly would pick the place that has to taste like the name. Nah, it wasn't that bad, but there was questionable decor. There were TVs on the walls, but instead of sporting events of some variety they were watching GoldDiggers, and the ceiling tiles we painted tiles with various logos or slogans in no particular pattern or color scheme. I told my mom it had the 'someone's old kinda cleaned out barn' feel. Enough said. Glancing around the restaurant I observed that there was something in the faces of locals that made them all seem like they looked alike... Jacob agrees. Needless to say we are not moving to East Jesus Nowhere, Ohio- EVER. But seriously everyone seemed nice and one lady even nodded a hello to Jacob, and he -being the rude Pennsylvanian he is- quickly looked away like he hadn't noticed. Jeez oh Petes.

Indiana:

I caught the sign... It's not the big one because we were on less of a real road than the interstate, though we did enjoy the lack of large trucks passing us. We saw more flat countryside.

Finally we drove further over the border into the lovely and flat state of Indiana. We had a misguided incident with the GPS and no longer functioning motel... and finally checked ourselves into the wonderful Economy INN in Kendallsville, IN (sarcastic- for those of you who like Sheldon lack the ability to discern that all the time). The bathroom fan squeals alarmingly, but cheap and reasonably clean we have settled in for the night!

Now that we have each finished our Lagers the bed is calling my name. Jen and Jacob have punked out on helping to give more trip comments, as they both passed out while "thinking" of what to say and add...

Goodnight from Indiana. We're missing you all. Hope you have enjoyed experiencing Day 1 vicariously through this blog!