Back in Amish Country

Moscow, Iowa, had just about run out of interesting things to show us, so we left this morning about 9, heading east on I80.  A few miles down the road we stopped at a truck stop along I80 that we saw last year, but didn't have time to visit.  

The Iowa 80 Truck Stop is billed as the worlds biggest truck stop, and I believe it. There were at least a 100 trucks parked in the parking lot.  There appeared to be 30 or more diesel fueling pumps, not to mention the gas pumps in another area for cars.  There were a dozen designated parking spots for buses, and 50 or so for cars.  The interior of the building was filled with shopping "ideas" for the lonely trucker away from his family, including jewelry, clothes and entertainment options, all displayed in an orderly, clean and professional manner, unlike the truck stop stereotype.

There is a Caribou Coffee shop inside as well as several restaurants.

Next door is the Iowa 80 Truck Museum, with restored trucks of every description.  We didn't visit due to time, but we did get this photo in the entrance.

We're heading east into rv country in Indiana to have a few minor things fixed on Nessie at the factory where she was "born", because they have all the parts and expertise to quickly and efficiently take care of the issues. At least if last year was any indication. We've taken a bit of a different route this year as we got closer to Chicago. Last year we turned off I80 just east of Joliet and took Hwy 30 east, which proved to be a bother as it went through South Chicago, with a stop light at every block for 30 miles.  This year we stayed on I80 through Chicago and Gary, Indiana, along the southern tip of Lake Michigan until we could head south on Hwy 421 and then east on Hwy 6 to our destination of Nappanee, IN.  The only problem with that route is that: 1. The traffic is horrible, I've never seen so many long haul trucks and trailers in one place at one time in my life. The interstate is 3 lanes wide, with the right two devoted to trucks and the left one used by cars.  Guess what kind of mixmaster action happens at every offramp.  2. The roads are in horrible shape, and 3. You have to pay a toll in Illinois for the use of about 2 miles of their road, and then again when you cross the state line into Indiana for the use of their road.  Not a lot of toll, less than $7 total, but maneuvering through toll booths with Nessie is kinda scary.

Glad to be off the interstate, we followed Hwy 6 to our destination.

After 293 miles, we're "camped" in front of the service area at the Newmar factory.  They provide full hookups for about 16 or so rigs, and we were (I guess) fortunate to get the same one that we stayed in last year when we were here.  Deja vu all over again.  There aren't very many people here, possibly 8 or so, so it's nice and quiet.  We notice that the factory appears to be in full production, with new chassis parked across the street ready to have homes built on them!  Help Wanted signs are posted all over the site.  We'll be here a week, so we'll have a chance to Kravitz the situation.