Sep 26, 2012 - Great to See Dave Again, It's Been Awhile

Started our day with an early trip to the local laundromat, it was either that or go au natural. This was by far the best equipped, cleanest laundromat we've ever used, a bonus was that the dryers were free. While we were waiting for the laundry to dry I went next door to a Dunkin Doughnuts for a cup of coffee and a couple of plain old fashioned doughnuts, I not only thought they were expensive but I've had better at local bakeries. My good buddy Dave Mc Cormick came by to me and Mary to a very nice lunch at Jimmy's Char house. I met Dave...

Sep 25, 2012 - What A Day

We were out of La Crosse and on the interstate by 8:30 with clear skies and a bit of a tail wind. Most all of the farms in Wisconsin and Illinois seem to be well kept up with large nicely mowed yards. Starting to see a lot more soy bean fields, still a lot of dairy farms though but we also seen quite a few goat farms along the way. I drove as far as Portage, Wi. when it was time for fresh coffee and get rid of the old. We totally surprised to see Doug, Nancy's boyfriend standing at the counter. Doug is on his way to Elkhart, In. and will be...

Mar 31, 2012 - Effingham,IL to Elgin,IL

The final leg brought us northward through a vital American breadbasket-central Illinois. Scenic farms passed our window as the newly black tilled fields promised crops in the months to come. Countless old barns contrasted with modern steel cylinders which now store and dry the grains produced. Oil wells are a frequent sight in the farm fields of southern Illinois. The landscape is peppered with flat black fields of rich soil that extend to the horizon. This is the area from which we originated and sparks countless emotions and memories of...

Oct 9, 2011 - Davenport to Elgin,IL

We drove the last 160 miles from Davenport,Iowa to Elgin in sparkling sunlight as it drenched the rolling prairies and fields in spectacular fall colors. We can't help but feel the old magnetism which this time of year generates in our hearts. Farm stands sell pumpkins and apples while children dash and splash through huge piles of autumn leaves. The earth is alive with splendor- its last hurrah before winter paints the earth white and gray. Our houses seemed empty as Barbara's mother was no longer there to welcome us in her special warm...

Aug 2, 2011 - We're on our way

Our departure was delayed a bit Sunday morning, but we headed out as planned. Traffic/construction delays have slowed our progress, but we are on track to Wisconsin tonight. Tomorrow we plan to take a scenic byway thru Minnesota, and then on to North Dakota.

Jul 31, 2011 - Our Journey Resumes

We spent very precious time with Mary Barbara's mother. We arrived back at her house in Elgin June 15. We were able to enjoy her until five days before her death. She became comatose and passed to a better place on July 13,2011. It was so fortunate we arrived in time and enjoyed her company. Many stories of her rich life were shared. She changed and influenced many with her wisdom and sage advice. She was one hundred years nine months and five days old! Reflect for a moment upon how much America and the world has changed during that time....

May 2, 2011 - Franklin,TN to Elgin,IL

Today we drove through torrential rain to reach our childhood home of Elgin,IL. It was a 10 hour driving day but the exquisite rural scenery was restful to the soul. Spring is such a beautiful time to experience a road trip. Multicolored flowers,shrubs and trees paint the green background of nature's palate. The farmer's fields sprawl black with their newly turned rich soil awaiting the magical seeds which sprout forth with such great anticipation of their future bounty. Many old farmsteads dot the landscape hiding their rich years of...

Oct 1, 2010 - Davenport to Elgin,IL

Our final leg was a short but scenic and memorable journey down memory lane. We passed countless pastoral farmlands with their signature barns and silos while the harvesters combed the golden fields. It is the perfect ending to a wonderful summer spent with the Wolfs. The memories are forever etched in our minds and we are so grateful for all the work and planning Bill puts into these journeys. It is no easy task finding all the top hikes,kayak and bike adventures and then organizing them into a workable event. This is a tedious and...

Sep 18, 2010 - The Old Stomping Grounds and New TV!

After leaving the Escapade, we headed back into Illinois stopping at Joliet for one night and then on to Elgin. We drove into the new part of Paul Wolff park, a Kane County RV park that we had last stayed at in 2007. Since their other RV park in Algonquin, Buffalo Park, had flooded out in 2007 and was permanently closed for overnights, they have expanded Paul Wolff with quite a few new spots and a new dump station that is much more user friendly than the old one. We really enjoy this part of the Chicago area. The first day back, we drove to...

May 25, 2010 - Elgin,IL to Davenport,Iowa

We began our westward journey in the late afternoon after saying the difficult goodbyes to Mary Barbara's 99 year old mother-an amazing lady still self sufficient and living independently in her own house. We had just planted a flowering crabapple tree at her request. She hopes to see that tree flower next spring. She had her driveway resurfaced so she could walk her stroller the several hundred feet to the mailbox. It was very tough to drive away from what was our home. We will return in time for her 100th birthday on October 8, 2010. We...

May 3, 2009 - Bowling Green, to Elgin, IL

In the morning my neighbor awakened me to report I had a railroad tie lodged beneath my Honda! Great! When I pulled in to my site last night I was so tired I failed to notice the car I was towing had caught the edge of the RR tie marking the border of the site. Well, it took a hydraulic jack and two men to pull the tie out-luckily I did not pull the coach forward and tear out the undercarriage of my car. The coach is so powerful one does not feel any drag from the tow car. We were soon on our way following that exciting start to the...

Jun 24, 2008 - Day 16: Streetsboro, OH to Elgin, IL

Got a reasonably early start for our first day back on the road in a week, heading through northwest Ohio and Indiana to just west of Chicago, Illinois. The weather was pleasant and the scenery rural and green (though still pretty flat). One feature of the Ohio fields are many plots of woodland, or copses to the English. If there had been hedgerows between the fields, it would have looked very much like parts of England. Most of the day’s trip was on the Interstates 80 and 90 tollways, which have very nice service areas, complete with fast...