On Monday the 15th we said good-by to our last big hill and headed north on I55 for the flat lands of the American corn belt. We started our tour in the land of Lincoln, Illinois.
On the way we just had to stop here
and here. We didn't actually tour the gift shop which was directly to the right of the candy factory, but we did go in here and get some good dark chocolate bark.
St. Louis skyline
Flat and straight to the McLean Co. fairgrounds, which is about 15 miles from my big brother and his wife.
Big bro Ed, Sis-in law Paula getting a computer lesson from Duane.
We did our stuff in the mornings and visited in the afternoons and evenings.
One evening we joined my niece Michelle and her family for supper at a sports bar. We ate outside while we chatted and watched Michelle's husband Pete play league volleyball. There were two sand courts next to the patio dining area.
Pete is far left in gray on the back court
The weather was muggy air, hot sun, cool breezes and lovely soft clover grass--all just begging for shorts and bare feet.
Loved this
Cookout at Michelle and Pete's. That's Pete on the left, then Duane, Ed, and nephew Brian. The other two boys live out of state so we didn't get to see them.
Nephew Tommy
Nephew Brian and wife Alice, sisters Heather and Michelle
Mom and daughters
Nieces--Michelle's two and Brian's two, plus Grandma
One of the things we did on two mornings was tour along and alongside parts of old Rt 66. The parts that are closed to motor vehicles are part of a hike bike path with occasional benched and picnic areas. Other parts were too deteriorated for any use.
One of the sites
We rode past miles and miles of corn fields. Its not called the corn belt for nothing!
Old railroad depot and old store at Funks's Grove. The town consisted of these two buildings and about 6 homes.
Atlanta's octagonal library and museum also the 40 foot clock tower which is hand wound every 8 days
The Bunyon Giant (formerly from Cicero, IL and brother to the Gemini Giant) and the Giant Hot Dog and the little Louise
Giant smiley face
Train mural in Lincoln, IL
Giant Abe on the biggest Conestoga wagon in the world
On Sunday we paid one last visit to Ed and Paula. After a nice chat and pizza we had one last game of Mexican Train dominoes before we had to say good-by.
We enjoyed our visit with relatives in IL and are now on our way to Ohio for more visits with family and friends.
Louise and Duane
1 comment:
I love dark chocolate!!!
Duane looks deep in thought at that computer.
Looks like a great visit. I bet there was a lot of bull flying with all those boys together.
The clock tower looks pretty cool. Amazing they still hand wind the clock.
Looks like you must of researched Roadside America with all those BIG statues. Especially the world's largest wagon. Wonder how they know that.
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