Before leaving Albert Lea, MN I remembered that my camera memory card was full. So I searched throughout the car to find another card with space on it. Then at 2:40pm I headed to Worthington,MN.  The drive was uneventful with a bit of rain every so often which helped clean bugs off the car.

At one point in the drive, two different SUVs passed by me (speeding). I found it funny that they were both from New Jersey.  Later, as I was driving at the speed limit through a construction zone, another SUV pulled up behind me and was stuck there since we only had one lane. When the zone ended, I surged forward to the new speed limit while moving to the right lane (to allow the SUV to speed past). But instead they drove up into my blind spot and drove there for what felt like an eternity. This actually happens a lot, since people are trying to check out the Tesla while driving adjacent to it. I am glad I resisted the urge to just drive away from them, because unlike the other 2 SUVs from NJ, this was a Minnesota Highway Patrol SUV which I only saw when they finally drove past me!!

I arrived in Worthington, MN at 4:28pm with odometer at 21,139 and temp of 82 degrees with 52 miles range remaining. I departed at 5:26pm with 183 range to get the 126 miles to Mitchell, South Dakota.

During stormy mixed with sunny weather, there can be very interesting cloud formations and beautiful sunsets. So, I tried to snap a few photos as I drove along 90 W. Since I had plenty of range left as I neared Mitchell, SD, I chose to visit the famous Corn Palace (free!) which I mentioned on my Eastward trek. I really thought the corn cob mosaics were pretty amazing.  They are made from natural corn bred for the colors (no dye is used). I asked someone to take my photo for me in a corn stalk cutout (so that my face appears in an ear of corn on the stalk)… I had to do something “corny” while I was there.  Then I was off to the supercharger.

I arrived at the Mitchell supercharger at 7:51pm with 49 range remaining and odometer at 21,268 and temp at 82 degrees. This is the charger near the Goodwill drop-off area so it is pretty quiet here. I replied to a couple of comments (one of the rangers from the Wisconsin wildlife refuge wrote in!) and typed up this posting. My next stop is Murdo, SD and then I will find a rest area.  Until tomorrow, Frugal Tesla  (Leaving Mitchell at 9:10pm with 204 range)

Last night I headed along 90 W to mile marker 22 rest area in Wisconsin arriving at 12:15am. I was up at 6:27am and out by 6:47am with odometer at 20,859 146 range and temp at 66 degrees.  I made it to the Onalaska, WI supercharger at 7:15am with odometer at 20,878 and 132 range with temp of 67 degrees. Everything seems closed since it is too early (parking lot of title company and dentist offices). Maybe the Home Depot across the street is open? I finished charging at 8am with 202 range.

While charging, I reviewed the map and noticed the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge nearby. I decided to go left on Main Street about a mile to get to 53 N to the town of Trempealeau. There I took some fun photos of the Mississippi River and the local area including the freight train that rolled by.  I spoke with Chris, a visiting cyclist from Saskatchewan who had driven with a friend for 15 hours to get to this amazing place for cycling.

Then, I  headed to 35 N to Centerville and turned left onto W Prairie Road which leads to the Refuge entrance. It was 9:07am and 73 degrees with 176 range.  I visited the Ranger Station and enjoyed meeting the rangers.  I went to the viewing overlook where I saw a white pelican, a bald eagle, and a flying crane along with countless songbirds.  There were also cool looking insects and lots of butterflies. At 11 am, after visiting there, I returned via W Prairie Road to 35 N to 54 N and onto 43 over the bridge to cross the Mississippi into Winona, MN and continued south on 43 to get back onto 90W.  During this journey through Minnesota to Albert Lea, there were intermittant torrential rains! I arrived at 1:02pm with 21,023 odometer and 46 range remaining. It was 67 degrees with light rain falling.  By 2:15pm, the rain stopped, the charging ended a while ago at 183 range, and I am finishing typing these words!  Next stop is Worthington, MN.  Frugal Tesla

I drove through horrible traffic, all stop and go, past Chicago. I stopped to view Lake Michigan in Highland Park, IL. Also at the beach there were Bobby and Zach, two ambulance drivers who had the same idea as I… to enjoy the lake view while the sun was shining.  Throughout this day there were scattered showers, so this stretch of sunshine was appreciated! Here my odometer was at 20,616 temp at 77 degrees and 90 miles of range at 4:32pm (central daylight time so I gained back an extra hour)

I exited the state of Illinois and found the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets in Wisconsin. It was 5:36pm, 62 range remained, and odometer was 20,644 with temp of 86 degrees. I charted a course for Mauston, WI and was ready to go when a black P85+ Tesla pulled in. Paul and his kids (Will, Anna, and Grace) from Illinois were using a supercharger for the first time ever with the car that they had for about 6 months. We talked briefly and took photos of the huge rainbow that crossed the sky. I left at 7:15pm with 204 range.

I arrived in Mauston, WI at the superchargers behind Culvers at 10:25pm.  I treated myself to a small vanilla ice cream cone ($2) since they were open until 11pm.  The odometer was at 20,810 with 58 miles range remaining and temp at 73 degrees.  I reviewed directions to Onalaska, WI and typed this post. Range is at 195 and it is 11:26pm.  It is time to seek a rest stop. Until tomorrow,  Frugal Tesla

I woke up at 5:30am and was exhausted and bleary eyed, but I needed to use the restroom.  I used the facilities and went back to sleep until 7:30am when I heard the loud roar of what I thought were Harleys parking adjacent to me. It turns out that they were racing roadsters heading to Bonneville. Pretty cool.  I spoke briefly with a man and his son, then I left in a hurry at 7:50am with temp at 64 degrees.

I paid the Ohio toll ($4.25) and also a toll just 22 minutes later in Indiana ($4.60) and drove really fast to the rest stop near Elkheart, IN to clean up and change for church. I left there at 9:15am to get to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.  I arrived at 9:40am with odometer at 20,481.  After Mass, I returned to the car which had only 26 miles range remaining (GOLDEN!).  It was 80 degrees and I left for Mishiwaka, IN at 11:30am.

The charger was only 4 miles away… were you worried? I was not.  In Mishiwaka, odometer was 20,485 and temp at 81 degrees with 21 range remaining… the lowest I have gone on this trip. I plugged in at 12:42pm and charging was complete to 206 by 1:43pm.  While charging, I typed up the Ohio post and this blog post, picked up an item at Barnes and Noble (at the 70% off table), and met another Tesla family.  Peggy and John were bringing their daughter Rachel from their home in St. Louis to gymnastics camp with a stop in Columbus, OH planned. They had a blue P85, but they were so early in Tesla production that their car has neither the number 85 nor the letter P.

They departed and I reviewed the toll free route to the supercharger at Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets in Wisconsin. I left at 2:15pm to do my “Chicago drive-by” and visit Lake Michigan en route to Wisconsin. There it will be Central Daylight Time.  Frugal Tesla

NOTE: This post was typed and published on Sunday, but it has info for Saturday August 2nd.

I arrived in Macedonia, Ohio at 7:07pm with odometer at 20,197 and temp of 70 degrees with 71 miles range. There was a gray P85 Tesla charging with no one in sight. I went to use the closest restroom which happened to be at Hobby Lobby. That place was like a Costco for crafts… crazy huge! Who knew there was so many craft supplies?!!

I typed up the PA blog post and left for Maumee, OH at 8:20pm with 206 range. Gray owner never appeared.  Once again I used a toll free route. I arrived in Maumee at 11:07pm with odometer at 20,334 and 88 range remaining with temp of 71 degrees. Lots of people were buying bottled water at the Meijer store (open 24 hours) since the water in Toledo was declared unsafe for drinking and bathing! This was due to a nasty algal bloom in Lake Erie according to one radio report. I stopped charging at 194 miles range at 11:55pm and headed to use the toll roads toward Mishawaka, IN (so I could use a rest stop along the way).  The Ohio Turnpike toll was $4.25 (but I didn’t pay until the next morning when leaving the roadway at 8:06am).

I arrived at the Indian Meadows rest area in Ohio (on 80W / 90W) near hwy 127 on the map.  It was 12:38am with 155 range, and odometer at 20,375 and temperature of 65 degrees.  Good night all, Frugal Tesla

I thought I would post something in Pennsylvania, but I either did not have time or the connection was not working. So now I am in Ohio but I will summarize the Pennsylvania information.

After leaving Hagerstown, MD after midnight last night, I headed about 29 miles on 70 W to stop at the rest area at Pennsylvania 70 W mile marker 171.  It is located near the MD/PA border.  I had 176 range remaining with odometer at 19,886 and 68 degrees at 1am.  I awoke in the morning with the temp at 64 degrees and left for Somerset, PA at 7:53am. My route would be a casual toll free drive on back roads and include a visit with a farmer named Bill and a stop to pay respects at the Flight 93 National Memorial.  (I will add this detailed info to this post later this week)

I arrived in Somerset, PA at 12:40pm with odometer at 19,987 with 74 range remaining and temp at 74 degrees. There I met Benny, who is in the navy and lives in the Washington, DC area (though he is from Texas). He was charging his scarlet Tesla and we both chatted with a professional photographer from Georgia about Tesla. I left at 1:15pm with 180 range to go to Cranberry, PA via a toll free route (remember that Eastward tolls in PA were very high, so I vowed to avoid them Westward!).

I arrived in Cranberry, PA at 4:11pm with odometer at 20,076, range at 103, and temp of 77 degrees. While there it began raining lightly.  I reset my Tesla touchscreen (since I could not get access to the blog) but the charging was done by the time I had finished looking up the route to  Macedonia, Ohio on googlemaps.  So, I departed on another toll free route at 4:55pm with 194 range.  Here I come Ohio!  Frugal Tesla

After leaving Newark, DE I paid another toll for $4 at 20:27 on the Delaware Turnpike.  Then, at 21:22 I paid a toll for $4 to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

I arrived in Hagerstown Maryland at 10:30pm with odometer at 19,855 and temp at 72 degrees and 76 miles range remaining.  No one else around except the security guard driving around the Mall in circles on his Segue (what I meant here was “Segway PT” as referenced by Brian H. comment. Thanks Brian!), which is sort of funny to see.

After typing some emails, the Delaware posting, and this one, it is already 11:40pm and time to move on to find a rest stop.  Good night all.  Tomorrow I will write from Pennsylvania.   Frugal Tesla

NOTE… I am writing very short posts while on the road, but I will edit them later to add more info. That way I can get going more quickly since the car is usually charged faster than I can type the blog!

Paid one toll on the way to this stop for the Delaware Memorial Bridge from NJ into Delaware.  This toll was for $4 at 18:26.

I arrived in Newark, DE at 6:41pm with temp at 74 degrees and scattered showers.  Range remaining is 91 miles.  odometer at 19,720. The striping here is messed up so it took me 2 tries to line up for the supercharger. I went in to use the restroom and when I returned outside, I met Craig who was riding a blue Kawasaki motorcycle. He had some questions about the Tesla and charging time, etc.  He had just returned from the airport after a visit to Miami and was heading home to NY.

Next I chatted with Jim and Andrew who pulled in with their P85 Model S. They were heading home to Virginia.

I left the Delaware rest stop just after 8pm with 206 range. On to Hagerstown, Maryland!   Frugal Tesla

After being treated out to breakfast by my brother, I finished loading the car and left for Beach Haven, NJ at noon. Range was topped up to 206 miles, odometer at 19,560 and it was 73 degrees. I enjoyed a toll free route so I could see parts of NJ that I had never visited before. It makes me want to return here during my next visit!

I arrived in Beach Haven at 1:30pm after driving through rain which cleaned the car nicely. There I met with the guys from Tesla of Short Hills, NJ who were providing test drives. Also, I met Steve who is the owner of The Gables Inn and Restaurant which hosted this event. He provides free charging for anyone dining there! Thanks for topping me up to 190 range and providing delicious gourmet food for all the participants.  With odometer at 19,615 and temp of 82 degrees, I departed for Newark, Delaware at 4pm.    Frugal Tesla

(This post was written late on Thursday July 31st)

These past few days have been occupied with many tasks including repair of the billiard cue sticks and getting a replacement cue ball so the nieces and nephews can play pool at Grandma’s house.  I also did some much needed re-caulking in the bathroom.  I attended a carnival and rode on rides with the kids, visited friends in Roseland,  West Orange, and Red Bank, NJ,  went shopping for a few travel staples at Costco, and even finished reading the C.S. Lewis book.

I have been to the Supercharger in NJ a few times (since charging at my Mom’s home is particularly slow from a 110 outlet).  On one day I met Mike from Western Massachusetts who was charging his blue 85kw.  He drives 1,000 miles a week in his Tesla for work between his home and South East Pennsylvania for work! He has already ordered his Tesla Model X.  On another day, I met Broades (cool name, but no known derivation).  He works for the Tesla Service Center in Devon, PA and he had just delivered a new Tesla to a customer who lives only 2 minutes away from the Hamilton, NJ Supercharger.  He was topping off a blue car so he could head back to work in Pennsylvania.

I enjoyed a nice dinner out with my brother, my Mom, and her two friends Betty and Ben.  We ate at The Four Winds in Wall, NJ.  The food was fantastic, and the service was wonderful too (thanks Jill!). While dining there, a man came up and said that it was rumored that someone at our table had driven there in a Tesla.  That caught me by surprise but I was happy to answer his questions about the car.  After dinner, I showed Ben the car and let him know about the upcoming test drives scheduled in NJ.

Later, I spent time packing up my belongings and researching the first leg of the journey West.  First stop will be in Beach Haven, NJ since the folks from Tesla headquarters are coordinating test drives there!  Then, it is off to Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.   The daily travel blog begins again…  Frugal Tesla