Captin’s Log

Thursday April 10, 2008

Our First Official Trekking Around Excursion

Trip Agenda:

Duration: 4 days

Travel from Nashville through Ohio to Michigan and return to Nashville
Budget: $500
Mode of Transportation: 2000 Ford Explorer
Actual Expenses: -$401.01
Net: $98.90 (whoot, whoot)

4-13-08

7:24 am Depart Cedar Springs for Home in Nashville, TN. Leisure Travel pace.

12:18 pm Arrive in Indianapolis, IN for lunch and to walk around Circle Center.

1:48 pm Depart Indianapolis, IN

5:24 pm Arrive in Nashville, TN HOME! (usually does not take this long but we quickly stopped several places to see some RV’s.)

Life Lesson #7 — What is Success

Success is setting goals, and achieving them. To know more visit Coach Kip’s blog here.

Four States! 554 miles, four stops

4-12-08

7:30 am Depart Detroit.

9:25 am Arrive Adrian, MI to visit with my Grandmother. Got a fill-up of pure Wisdom

10:40 am Depart Adrian, MI

1:38 pm Arrive in Cedar Springs, MI (Just North of Grand Rapids) to see my sister.

Life Lesson #6 - Save time for your elders

It may have been a bit out of the way and we did not have much time to spare but in the end it was more than worth it to visit with my Grandmother. Check out Life Lesson #6 for all the details

One State 250 Miles two stops

4-11-08

8:10 am depart Warren County. On our way out se saw that Warren County’s buses were fueled by Nexsol Biodiesel. Kudos to Warren County.

11:30 Stop at Grandpa’s Cheese Barn

1:30 Arrive in Oberlin, OH.
Spoke with Sam at Full Circle Fuels. What a great, enthusiastic, intelligent, well informed person. He gave us plenty of information on what we would like to ultimately do. You can read the article here.

2:22 Depart Oberlin, OH

5:20 Arrive in Macomb County (Detroit) Michigan.

Points of Intrest

We saw lots of the nicest cleanest farms that we have ever seen. We were both amazed at how well these farms have been kept up. If you are a fan of farms or barns or anything to do with farming the road from Columbus, OH to Cleveland, OH would be a great trip for you. Oh and while you are at it, don’t forget to stop at Grandpa’s Cheese Barn. There are plenty of great samples, and some nice looking and helpful ladies there to visit with you.

We had a long standing debate on the road too. What is the difference between a Ravine and a Valley and a Valley and a Canyon?

Life Lesson #4

When looking for inexpensive hotels and accommodations, always go one exit past the main strip. These will have cheaper rates and more availability. When you actually know where you are going stop at AAA or visitors centers (there will be one just after getting into the state on every major interstate) and pick-up a guide to hotels, motels, and inns. It will make your destination a lot better.

Life Lesson #5 - Get Organized

Having a couple of folders for maps and hotel information will save you time when you are traveling a lot. The information does not change that much year to year. If you will be traveling through here again you will already have the information. Also take one or two notebooks to write down points of interest and other interesting things that happen on the way. Keep them out and handy so that when you have an idea you can write it down immediately. This is great to do with kids and it keeps them interested.

Two States 382 Miles Two Stops

4-10-08

2:06 pm Depart Nashville, Tennessee via I 65 North.

3:15 pm Bathroom break north of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

4:53 pm Gas Stop north of Louisville Kentucky.

6:52 pm Stop in Cincinnati, Ohio for the night, Warren County Ohio’s largest playground and home of King’s Island.

Points of Interest

Our first official trip was great. We were able to reflect on what we have accomplished so far and what our future plans are going to be.

Although our trip was fairly uneventful we love the view of Cincinnati traveling on I 75/71 North just before you get to the Ohio River. As you are snaking down the valley you get a great view of the Cincinnati skyline with the two stadiums side by side.