Saturday, July 4, 2009

Back on track



We left Madison and drove two and a half hours. This took us to Central Illinois. Beth got on the Blackberry and found us a nice state park to stop at for the night. Unfortunately, Shabbona State Park only had one empty sight and it was first come first serve. We were 45 minutes out when we called and the lady at the park said come on down and hopefully we would get there first. When we pulled in there was a huge diesel pusher at the check in. I just knew he was there before us. Sure enough, he got the last spot. However when the rangers saw Anna sitting there, they said "we will find you a spot, no problem". 

Turns out that there was a handicapped space in each loop and they must be held until 8 p.m.. None of us are handicapped, but thank God for National Disabilities Act. It worked out well for us. What a great site we were given. The entire park was beautiful. Totally wooded, nice semi private sites with clean pit toilets a short walk away. The shower house was also a short walk away.

Turns out a few vintage trailers were there for the weekend. They were on their way to Indiana for a vintage trailer rally. Real nice folks. This is a 1965 Tag-a-long.

Not sure of the make, but they told me it was a 1966.


And a 1965 Shasta.


I was up at sunrise. I let the girls sleep a bit longer and headed down to the lake to enjoy Mother Nature waking up. This was a great campground and it was such a treat to stumble upon it. I highly recommend anyone passing through this region to stop in.


Farmers are turning to some alternative crops in Illinois. This guy has a very healthy field of windmills.


I find these windmills to be very beautiful and enhance the the landscape in a way coal fired power plants could not.

We passed into Indiana and changed over to a blue line highway. Actually it was a thin red line and the choice was perfect. The road was dead flat and as straight as an arrow. Along the way we found this sculptor. 

He turned old farm implements into whirlly gigs and flowers.

Finding things like this is what makes the trip worth the effort.

"Days Gone By"... a very good day for sure.


We are now parked in front of my Sister in Law's house for a few days. Anna looks out of place in the midst of suburbia, but maybe the natives visiting will come away with a touch of aluminitis.

4 comments:

the byamcaravanner said...

I can always count on my BFF for a good time on pavement or not... and a follow up of great blog posts. We'll be counting the days till the anti-jam.

crowldawg said...

Looking good parked at the curb.

Tom said...

You got a nicer site and had a better time than when we camped with the T@B last week at Shabbona(myfirsttrailer.blogspot.com).

It is a pretty lake though, and we found the campground hosts to be accommodating too.

If you get a chance, try Indiana Dunes State Park's campground - really quite liked that one and it's right behind the dunes. Great rib place down the road too.

Safe travels!
Tom M.

tinman54 said...

Hi Frank,I am glad to see you got off the blacktop in Madison. It Looks like you have found some much nicer surroundings.I would have liked to have talked with you some more, hopefully at a better rally or campground.Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Doug and Jan Roberts,Wi.