Our little cabin in Bradford, PA is solidly in our rear-view mirror, as today is a big driving day. As in a 13 hour driving day. We will cover 5 states today, with La Crosse, Wisconsin as our final destination.

We leave Bradford and within 10 minutes are back in NY state. There is some lake effect snow as we hug the Lake Erie coast, but the roads are clear and we are making good time. And the windshield wiper fluid is, well, fluid.

Before you know it we are in Ohio. It is farmland here, very pretty. I do notice a large billboard for a fireworks store that sells fireworks, pepper spray, swords and knives. Interesting mix of merchandise. Hmmm.

The first major city we do not stop at is Cleveland. I wish we had time to stop, there is much to do and see there, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the aquarium, the West Side Market, Progressive Field and more. We whiz right by all of it. We are on a mission.

Oh, right outside Cleveland is Duct Tape world headquarters. Fun fact. There are also vineyards and more farms. And adult shops. Don't ask me, I don't know.

Ohio gives way to Indiana, with more beautiful farmland. Indiana then gives way to Illinois, with Chicago as the first stop. Except we don't stop, we avoid downtown Chicago since it is 5:00pm. Very little traffic to speak of. There are lots of upscale-ish malls and the like in the Chicago suburbs, but this winds down the further away we get. There is little to see until we get to Wisconsin. It is dark, after all.

One of the first things we encounter in Wisconsin is a very large Hormel plant and a billbord for Wisconsin cheese. No sign of life from the highway for now. The first city we come across is Madison, which is big and sprawling. We keep driving. We pass Cascade Mt. ski area in Portage, WI, Kalahari Indoor Water Park, Christmas Mt. ski area, the National Guard Museum, state parks with hiking and camping. We stop at none of them.

We finally reach La Crosse, WI around 9:30pm. Cute college town with lots of well-maintained older brick buildings housing funky restauants and shops. Our hotel, the Charmant, is in a renovated candy factory, next to Riverside Park, which is lit up for the holidays in a major way. The hotel is very hip, just like me. I found it on Bring Fido. It has been a valuable resource for me this trip for obvious reasons.

Our room has a sitting area with a TV, which is good because the second half of Thursday night football is about to begin. We feed the dog, take him for a walk in the blistering cold, and then order some room service. It is good. After the game, we hit the hay.

The next morning, Bob heads to the fitness center while I feed the dog and take him for a walk through the park, which borders the Mississippi River. The park is a holiday wonderland! The local Rotary Club sponsors a light festival, and local businesses decorate trees. There are lights EVERYWHERE, and at least 50 trees decorated in different themes. They also have an ice skating rink, hayrides and Santa's Village complete with LIVE REINDEER! I shit you not. A boy and a girl. Jack is not so sure about them.

We continue our walk as the temperature is significantly warmer, then head back to the hotel for a quick in-room breakfast. Then we pack up and head out. Next stop: Rapid City, South Dakota. For more info on the Charmant Hotel, visit their web site: http://www.thecharmanthotel.com.

P.S. For those of you wondering how Jack is doing, let's just say he is not suffering.