New INCOMPLETE Trip Report posted by BWPaddler.

Will be adding to it shortly!!!

Trip Name: NON-BWCA trip: Epic OBX Road Trip.

Entry Point: Other

Click Here to View Trip Report

Living in the Chicago area since 1976, and doing a 1 hour driving commute on I90, 355, and 290 for about 5 years, I would do just about anything to "Escape to Wisconsin", or just about anywhere else in the country. Luckily, I have lived about 15 minutes from work in the suburbs for the past 25 years. BTW - They just jacked the tolls, i.e. privilege to be stuck in traffic by at least 66%, and maybe more. I haven't paid a toll in years. That was done by "Temporary Governor Quinn", as our local newspaper calls him. Probably to pay for the legal fees for our last governor, Blagoivich.

Illinois - Not a great place to work, but our government is the best piece of work around. The absolute last state in the country without a concealed carry law. Not trying to start anything with the last comment. Wisconsin was the 49th state to have concealed carry, which goes into effect very shortly. Sorry to hijack your trip report. Sounds like you had a great time, and I'm really glad you liked it.

Tomster

Yes, I see many sides of Chicago - I have relatives there, and LOTS of friends there, and I went to kindergarten there... but on my road trips, it is simply a traffic trap. On the way home we went via Davenport Iowa to miss it, and I don't think it cost us what a jam would have cost had we tried going through it again. If you miss the traffic, it's a fun drive-through, if you don't it's hell. Often, not worth the risk.

Glad you've got a better setup now!

Nice TR so far. Chicago on any Friday after like noon, trying to go thru the whole metro area? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy bad choice, glad you survived. Then Gatlinburg, man, gluttons for punishment, lol.

The river walk your kids did is tooo funny. Young kids, river = magnet and steel, and usually = wet kids. The lost shoe was a bonus.

quote buz: "The river walk your kids did is tooo funny. Young kids, river = magnet and steel, and usually = wet kids. The lost shoe was a bonus. "

Oh yeah... and the mountain "rivers" with all the rocks and boulders are just twice as strong a magnet. Sadly it was her only pair of shoes packed. Since we were in TN and NC, we let her go barefoot everywhere for a day or two and no one even noticed ;-)

(KIDDING HERE! well actually we DID let her go barefoot everywhere, but kidding that it's a TN/NC stereotype)

Eventually, I bought her a $2 pair of flip flops and we made it back home like that.

Are you going to finish this winter season? Have enjoyed the read. Humorous, to say the least. Did you take writing classes in college or something?

Great report BW- never ever, I mean NEVER try head into Chicago on a Friday night! Sorry you learned that the hard way- but what a great trip fot the kids!

Yeah, I'll try to wrap it up when I get some time off from work this holiday. Thanks mj, nope, used to hate writing when I "had" to do it. Now, I like it when I "get" to do it :)