Tennessen Weil mile by mile: Semi-epic Road Trip: Days 2 & 3

Miles: Got to be close to 1,000 total

States: 2 (Not counting Indiana)

Memories:

Therese: Regretting not bringing a single camping lantern when we were hit by a power outage in the AirB&B

Danny: No towels at the pool - heading back to the room dripping wet. "Cluck Norris" restaurant where we didn't eat

Grace: Flying Pig Candy/Ice Cream store yesterday and octopus tentacle today

Gordon: Walking to Target in the middle of a power outage

Because Paul was under the weather, we skipped our backwards detour to Milwaukee and headed towards Columbus. Upon the recommendation of AAA we stayed in Danville, IL which was much cheaper than it would have been to stay in Indianapolis. Plus: not Indiana.

Before leaving we headed to the Flying Pig, a candy/ice cream store recommended by the admissions counselor at Beloit. Beloit gained a few points for being in very close proximity to such a local treasure.

Because ice cream wasn't enough, the kids each loaded up on bulk candy.. Mostly gummies. Because ice cream and candy wasn't enough Grace also got a boba tea.

Flying Pig: Too Many Choices

All that and Ice Cream, Too!

After an easy drive we stopped at the Holiday Inn for a pleasant rest in a very clean room. We tried to get as much of our money's worth at the free breakfast. They supplied bags for guests to take to-go items so we loaded up a few things. Breakfast highlight was an automatic pancake maker that pumped out batter onto a conveyer belt that eventually met up with a top belt that served as an upper griddle. It was slow but delicious and fascinating to watch. Somehow Danny figured out that they cost $700 and suggested we get one.

The drive to Columbus was pretty easy. Since we arrived before check-in, we made a stop at the Budd Dairy Food Building. It was a big open warehouse of different food vendors.. After looking at many tasty options including "Cluck Norris" we all ended up at the Poke place. It was just OK. The big selling point for Grace was that they had a "build your own bowl" which meant she could add roe and octopus.

A building full of delicious food...except no ice cream.

It was important (to me) to get photographed with this cow.

Is this the face of a picky eater?

Just as we hauled in the last piles of stuff from our car into the B&B, and by hauled I mean carried up an outside set of stairs...the power went out. It's pretty warm here and the State Fair is in full swing so the grid was probably overloaded. Gordon walked half a mile to Target to get flashlights and I lamented leaving the camping gear at home.

We had planned on checking out Italian Village and getting some really cool looking ice cream. However because we had no idea if we would have power tonight and the kids needed something to occupy their eyes since their phone batteries were running low, we changed up our plans and headed to German Town and the The Book Loft. It was in our plans for tomorrow and we will definitely be returning to finish browsing.

Entering The Book Loft through the patio.

Exiting through the patio $67 poorer but richer for it.

German Town was pretty stunning. It looks like something out of Georgetown in DC. This part of town has been around since before the Civil War and the buildings and small front yards are completely charming. Plus, judging from the lawn signs, it's a pretty progressive area. I was completely blown away. After scoping out the book store and coming out with plenty of books and a long wish list, we headed into German Town to an ice cream place recommended by our B&B host: jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. Yes. It was splendid. And we got in a nice walk after a day in the car.

A few photos of German Town:

I embarrassed everyone by taking a picture of the RBG sign in the window.

Finally: Ice Cream!

Home again and laundry is underway. It's one of those washer/dryer combos. They take forever, but it is set it and forget it because immediately after washing it starts the drying cycle.

I'm showered and worn out. This B&B is the perfect place to end a tiring day. It's super cute with a blue theme that is very relaxing. The boys are in a room with twin beds. I have the queen sized bedroom and Grace has a roll-away bed with a memory foam mattress which is set up in the living room right next to her writing desk.

Some pictures of our place for the next 36 hours: