Day 5

Our plan was to get up fairly early, eat some quick breakfast and then get out on the road toward Kalamazoo, MI. What actually happened was we got up not as early as we hoped, we ate a breakfast that took longer than expected and we left for Kalamazoo right at 9:00am – rush hour in Chicago.

We ate breakfast at a Dunkin’ Donuts that was a short walk from the hotel. It was actually right in front of the Trump International Tower or whatever you call it…the shiniest new building in Chicago. It was busy – because that seems to be where everyone is stopping for their coffee that morning. We scarf down entirely too many donuts for what a family of four should consume and we head back to the hotel to pack up the car.

Greta the Garmin was programmed for Kalamazoo the night before so we figured it would be no problem once we got in the car. Apparently, Greta the Garmin decided to not want to wake up and function that morning as she kept recalculating and acquiring her satellites really slow. So we tried to guess where to go while she was still napping and that wasn’t so great. She then seemed to wake up and then be with us for a bit until we were really on the highway – then she told us to exit and then immediately said turn back around and get back on the highway…Jesus, this is not what we need at 9am in Chicago on a Wednesday morning. So, we get out a map and do it the old fashioned way. Okay – now we’re good and on the road. Scenic point – Gary, IN is not very pretty and I’m glad I don’t live there. We thought for a moment that we might go see Michael Jackson’s birthplace and then quickly decided it wouldn’t be worth it.

We arrive in the Zoo at 12:45 on the dot – just like Greta told us we would (once she got her act together). Uncle Dave and Grandma were there – so we hung out, rested and visited until Kath came home and Mom arrived from her flight from Texas. Carolyne, Pat, Shannon, Preston, Riley and Quinn also arrived. Suddenly a full house! The weather was trying desperately to not cooperate with the eating outside plan. We made do and had great hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner. Delicious! We set up our sleeping situation and the night came to a close. Plans were still up in the air based on the weather for Thursday…so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.