After the July 4th weekend and the great time we all had at Lake Billie Chinook, I headed to Indiana to try out a job as a ‘drive away driver’ for a firm in Elkhart, IN. Elkhart has a reputation as the RV capital of the world since it has several RV manufacturers there. There are also several companies there that have sprouted up in order to drive vehicles from the manufacturers to their purchasers. As well as several companies that specialise in new parts for older RVs.
I figured I could make a quick $3,000 driving for one of those companies, while during my off time I could wander around and find replacement parts for my RV.
But before I got to Elkhart, to take the test I needed to take, I had to drive there from Portland. I decided to take the northerly route using the interstates as seldom as possible. I started by heading east on I84 and then turned north at Biggs Junction. There’s a bridge there that crosses the Columbia and puts you on US97 heading north to Yakima. Once far enough north, I got on US2 and stayed on that highway all the way to Michigan. I did get a few pictures and had a great time at a couple bars along the way, saw a real wicked lightning storm over North Dakota, saw a few historic sites, etc.
Sunset at Holter Lake in Montana.
Another view of Holter Lake.
Later on, in North Dakota, I found this place along US2. It has something to do with Lewis and Clark, I just don’t recall what it was. This is the Missouri River.
A couple of days later and I’m driving through areas like this in Minnesota. You could see for miles and miles and miles and miles…well, you get the idea.
Finally get to Wisconsin and find that I can’t see the great lake! US2 only goes right by it, it’s just that there are so many trees that you can just catch a glimpse or two as you drive by.
US2 goes right by three of the great lakes and crosses two of them. But because of the lack of good shots available from the highway, I didn’t get any pictures of Lake Superior except this one at Duluth.
Looking East toward Duluth from the hill overlooking Lake Superior
The next day I finally get to a place where I can actually take a picture or two and can get my feet wet. This is a shot I took while standing in 12″ of Lake Michigan, looking West. The water was surprisingly warm.
And the little park I stopped at.
This bridge crosses the narrow area between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and from Wisconsin to Michigan, it was difficult to both drive and take a picture.
After crossing the bridge, I headed due south on I75. About half way to Grand Rapids, I ran into a freak sudden onset rain and lightening storm. It was so powerful that I bailed off the freeway at a rest stop. Parked the rig so I had the best view and let the storm roll over me. There were several motor cycles parked around but the riders had already found places to hide or I would have offered safe haven.
When I took this shot the lightening was hitting the area hard. There was a strike less then 100 yards away. And I parked just about 15′ below the crest of the hill this rest stop was built on. After about 1/2 hour, it rolled on northward and I headed on. About 6 hours later I was in Indiana, and 2 hours after that, parked at a RV park in Elkhart.
