Fall Trip 2025 Day 11

23 September 2025

I’m looking back with nostalgia now to a trip in recent years where the numbered day of the trip corresponded to the day of the month; that was so much simpler than having to count to see which day I’m on (which is also how I know it’s been a good trip for my mental health!). Today’s drive was 152 miles on back roads from Grand Rapids MI to Saline MI but the route took me to Hell and back (quite literally, as you’ll soon see). There were also periods of intense rain, especially on the way into and leaving Hell when the rains approached biblical proportions. Fitting, I suppose!

Although I didn’t need to stop for a charge at all today, I decided that the Tesla Superchargers in Jackson MI would make a good place for break so I did charge there. Of the 12 chargers, only 1 was occupied when I arrived and I went from 55-80% in 15 minutes. While these chargers weren’t as far from the Meijer store as the EA chargers were yesterday, it was still a solid 2-minute hike to the restroom at the other end of this massive store (good exercise).

From here, my route took me to Hell where I stood right at the Gates of Hell (but didn’t walk through). Yes, I did buy souvenirs at the gift shop but I didn’t stop for a drink at Hell’s Saloon because the rains were starting up again. The third picture here is of one of the dozens of t-shirts available for sale; this one made me laugh.

After finding my way out of Hell and driving through more Biblical rains, I made my way to Saline MI where I first visited Salt Springs Brewery, located in an old church building — so experiencing both Perdition and Salvation in one day, if you will — but you’ll need to head to my other blog for more photos and info on that visit (http://brews-and-pubs.jander.blog).

My hotel for the evening is an almost-new Hampton Inn in Saline and it is the best of this brand I’ve seen, tastefully decorated and spacious inside, and it still has that “new hotel” smell in spite of being almost a year and a half old. Here’s the view out my room’s window — it’s not a great vista but it certainly beats the room view from a few nights ago in Michigan City IN (and I like the clouds)!

The car turned in an efficiency of 3.9 miles/kWh for the day, and here’s where I’m at in this trip so far. Tomorrow, I head down to Columbus OH where I’ll relax for two days and three nights before finally heading back home.