Along Interstate-75, 1999: The Local Knowledge Driving Guide for Interstate-75 Between Detroit and the Florida Border - Softcover

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Completely updated for 1999, with knowledge that only the "Locals" know - puts you in complete control of your journeys to and from Florida . . . . . . which exit & side roads to take should the interstate become blocked; in cities, which road lanes to use and when to change lanes; where police radar hides; where to pickup free money-saving discount coupon books while on the interstate; which motels accept pets; which is the best local radio station for traffic; facilities with RV parking; "dry" counties; favorite local restaurants; how to save gasoline money; local shopping including malls & drugstores; which fast food places have children's playgrounds; how and when you can use city express lanes reserved for car poolers.

. . . all this and much much more to save you money and make your journey safer and more comfortable. Without this book, you'll drive right by . . . and never know!

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

One of the book's most popular sections is the 60 page Magic of the Interstate - here are a few excerpted pages:

"A journey along the Interstate-75 can either be a boring, fast-paced ride between two points, or an exciting adventurea chance to learn more about one of the most fascinating and historically rich areas in North America -- much of it right alongside the highway. For instance, did you know that as you drive the freeway you will pass the site of a War of 1812 massacre, drive across two Civil War battlefields, cross a two hundred year old pioneer path, traverse an area which not long ago was a swamp infested with rattlesnakes and panthers and travel across the bed of an ancient tropical sea?

In a more modern vein, you will pass by stealth bombers, moon rocks, a Voice of America transmitter and a plant building the ductless aircraft engines of the future. You will also pass a building so secret that only a few people are authorized to enter. Let's journey south from Detroit and I'll try to show you what I mean. . .

MI Exit 15 - Monroe & General Custer: This exit leads to one of the oldest communities in Michigan, the historic town of Monroe (settled by the French in 1780). General George Custer (of Civil War and Little Bighorn massacre fame) lived here for many years before joining the army and making a name for himself in the Cavalry. There are more than 23 sites and buildings associated with General Custer in Monroe. The Monroe Museum produces a brochure listing all the sites. One of the most interesting is the privately owned Nevin Custer farm, just west of Monroe on the north bank of the Raisin River. George and his brother, Nevin, purchased the farm in 1871, five years before his death at Little Bighorn. George's favorite horse, Dandy is buried in the orchard near the barn. Visitors to the farm have included Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley. Today, Custer is remembered by a statue of him riding his rearing horse, sword poised in his arm. The statue, "Sighting the Enemy" was unveiled in 1910 by his widow, Elizabeth (Libbie) Custer and President Taft.

MI Exit 14 - Battle of the Raisin River (map on page 48): Just west of this exit on the north bank of the Raisin River, lays the site of an early settlement called Frenchtown. It was here that one of largest battles between the British and American Armies took place during the War of 1812. On the evening of January 18, 1813, Frenchtown was occupied by an American force detached from an army recruited in Kentucky during the previous summer. The seven hundred men had faced a small British force earlier that day and after hours of tree to tree fighting, had driven them back north towards Detroit. Several days later their leader, General Winchester, arrived with the remainder of the troops, bringing the army to a strength of 934 men. In the quiet pre-dawn of January 21st, a huge British force of 597 British soldiers supported by 800 Indians, crept towards Frenchtown to take their revenge. The attack lasted less than twenty minutes before the American right (closest to the I-75) was outflanked and the men retreated to the river. Of the 400 men who fled, over 200 were killed and 147 were captured - including General Winchester. The remaining 500 Kentuckians, fighting from behind picket fences at Frenchtown, were unaware of the collapse on their right, and successfully drove off three fierce British attacks with their rifles. When they saw a British officer come towards them with a white flag, they thought that the British were going to surrender. They were surprised when the officer gave them orders from their own General, now a prisoner of the British, to surrender. After the surrender, the British withdrew and the Americans gathered their dying and injured to the settlers' homes in Frenchtown. The following morning, the Indian forces attacked burning and plundering the homes and scalping the American wounded. Over 60 were killed the action became known as the "Massacre of the Raisin River." The massacre shocked and enraged settlers throughout the Old Northwest Territory (today's Michigan). Ten months later, American troops chased the British army from Detroit to London, Ontario where a major battle took place on the banks of another river Ontario's River Thames. During this battle, the famous Indian chief and friend of the British, Tecumseh, was killed. The American battle cry at this engagement? "Remember the Raisin!"

MI Exit 9 - Lake Maumee: We cross through the plains south of Monroe giving little thought to the scene a million years ago when melting glaciers hundreds of feet thick formed an ancient lake which ran right across this section of Michigan and down as far as Exit 159 (Findlay) in Ohio. Geologists named it Lake Maumee and its water surface was about 230 feet above the present position of our car. How can scientists tell? They found the beach ridges of the lake permanently etched into rock at an elevation of 800 feet above sea level (we are driving at 570 feet above sea level). The lake finally broke through the Grand River Valley in Michigan and as its water level fell, the current shoreline of Lake Erie appeared.

MI Exit 5 - Five Miles to Toledo Construction?: For the past two years, Ohio Department of Transport has been widening I-75 to three lanes from the Michigan border. This $37 million project has resulted in improved lighting, new bridges and three lanes matching the Interstate just above the border line. The project has however caused horrendous traffic problems at times . . . but that is now over; it is now smooth sailing through this stretch. And so on all the way through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia . . . to Florida's sun.