Burnidge Forest Preserve/Paul Wolff Campground Elgin, IL

Just a quick post about where we're staying while visiting our daughter, SIL and grandson, Aiden in the Chicago area. As I mentioned in the last post Glenda found this great campground in Elgin, IL. It's part of the Burnidge Forest Preserve in Kane County. The campground has some shaded sites and some open sites. The open sites are in the newer section and have longer sites with 3 pull throughs for big rigs. There are some tent camping areas too. There are 9 miles of hiking trails and 2.25 miles of multi use trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. The campground has 89 sites with 50 amp service and water. Some water hook ups must be shared. The sites are well spaced and has more of a campground feel than an RV park.

 

We're so happy to find a place like this so near our daughter's house and the things we want to do while here. The site fees are $15 for county residents and $25 for non residents. Right in our budget. Today we took our bikes to the Fox River Trail and rode for about 2 hours. I'll post later on that.

I checked in on the RVillage social media website when we got here and had a notification yesterday that another member had also checked in so I sent them a message and we plan to meet after the weekend. They're in the area visiting family too. This is exactly why I decided to live the full time RV lifestyle. Meeting new friends and finding hidden gems like this campground.

 

Going in Circles until we head to AZ

Well so far this summer we've been going in circles. As you've seen our travels have pretty much taken us to our daughter's home in Indiana(we stayed at either the local KOA or the Elkhart Campground each visit), our daughter's home in Streamwood(we stayed at the Sycamore RV park) and Bloomington/Normal, IL visiting my Dad and brother(we stayed at either Comlara County Park or Kamp Komfort RV Park). We've made at least 3 trips to Indian, 1 trip to Sycamore and 3 or more trips back to Bloomington/Normal. We did take a side trip to Geneseo, IL to ride our bikes on the Hennepin Canal trail and the Great River Trail by the Quad Cities. However most of traveling has been in circles to the above mentioned places. Since returning from Indiana to Bloomington/ Normal we have been at Comlara County Park with electric and water. Much quieter than Kamp Komfort and more space. The week days are pretty quiet in the campground and of course more busy on the weekends. The weather has been hot and humid lately with some threats of rain. My brother has been out of town this week so I needed to be around to help Dad with a CT scan appt and doing some grocery shopping for him. We were able to snag site #6 in the pull through area up front.

I've enjoyed helping Dad with his appt and I even tutored Dad on a tablet he got in preparation for him buying a smartphone in Sept. He does pretty good but doesn't have a great concept of how it works. A work in progress. We got some errands done while here and got some exercise. I've gotten very lazy recently so I'm trying to do better. Bike riding and walking the campground each day or both. Tomorrow we are heading to Elgin, IL and the Paul Wolff Campground at Burnidge Forest Preserve near our daughter, Heather and grandson Aiden. Looking forward to spending some time with Heather, her husband Paul and Aiden. We'll be in the area for abut 10 days. Of course they will be working and Aiden will be at Day Care but we get to see them in the evenings and next weekend. It'll be nice to have some new scenery. Then of course we'll be back in Bloomington/Normal for a few days an then head to our favorite campground in IL......Forrest "Bo" Wood COE near Sullivan, IL. They have some ne FHU sites and we snagged a nice one. Photos later. After some R&R there we'll be back in Bloomington/Normal. See I told you we're making circles.One reason we have to come back to B/N is for Glenda to have some gum surgery. Then we have to stick around a couple of weeks for follow up appts.

On August 28 we head back to Indiana to say our goodbyes to our daughter Sommer and her husband Todd and the grandkids there and then we move over to Elgin again Sept 2 to say our goodbyes to Heather, Paul and Aiden and then back to B/N on Sept 8 to say our goodbyes to Dad and my brother before we head for AZ on Sept 14.

We originally thought we would be making some trips to WI or MI this summer but family duty calls and we won't be coming back this way until June next year to see our granddaughter, Jasmyne graduate from high school. So it'll be quite a long time before our return. So I guess you could say our summer has been a circle of life, family and friends. That's what it's all about. Plans in Jello.

P.S.... This was our sky last night during our walk around the campground and lake. Makes it all worthwhile.

Celebrating Dad's birthday...90 years

We've been spending time off and on with my Dad and brother here in Bloomington/Normal, IL while staying at Kamp Komfort. Originally we were only going to stay here until July 8th and move to Comlara County Park until we headed to IN on the 12th but decided last minute to stay where we are. We talked with the camp hosts and our site was taken after the 8th so we thought we would have to move to another site. Fortunately, the owner looked at the reservation sheet and called me to see why I was moving to a new site. I explained the situation and he said they would move the other reservations and I could stay where I am. Thank you Cliff. That was great because it rained all day yesterday(the 8th) and would have been miserable. As a matter of fact it rained so much we actually had water all the way under the rig during the night. However it did finally soak in this morning and we were able to get out without stepping into water up to our ankles. Lots of rain around here.

 But I digress. Last Thursday July 2nd was my Dad's 90th birthday so we planned a little dinner at the Assisted Living home in one of their private dining rooms just for this type of event. We decided to buy some chopped brisket and smoked turkey at a local BBQ restaurant that does some catering. We also got some cole slaw and Glenda made some Jello. Along with that we bought a German chocolate cake(one of his favorites) and some brownies. As a surprise we invited some of his former boating friends from Peoria and Chillicothe, IL Dad and Mom used to have a boat on the Illinois River for many years before they retired and moved to Florida. We invited Charlie and Patty and they talked to Jerry and Judy who really wanted to see Dad too. The dinner went very well. We all had full stomachs and some good old reminiscing. Dad really appreciated the party and seeing his former boater friends.

Dad enjoying some BBQ

 

Kent(brother), Jerry, Judy and Patty

Patty, Charlie, Dad, Jerry and Judy

 

Dad looks so good for 90 years old and is feeling pretty good too. I told him it was all that clean living he's done. Ha-ha. I sure hope some of those genes rubbed off on me. I call him the Energizer Bunny. He's been through a lot the last few years but like the bunny he keeps on going.

 

Happy Birthday Dad.

We love you.



Geneseo , Hennepin Canal, Great River Trail and visiting family and friends

We left Indiana and headed to Geneseo, IL. We were in search of some bike trails to ride, visiting family and friends in IA and some down time. We had a reservation at the Geneseo Campground located next to the Hennepin Canal.

We had site #1 on the end of the back row of the campground. We had some shade and a nice cement patio. We checked out the canal the next day and took a nice ride.

We came across this home on the canal that was just right for the area. The canal has overgrown a lot over the last 30 years according to our campground neighbor. They are from the area but now live in FL and travel back to Geneseo each summer to visit family. He said they used to be able to water ski on the canal but wouldn't try it now with the algae and overgrowth. We took several rides on the canal path while we were there. Along with riding the canal path we wanted to go back to the Great River Trail along the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities(Bettendorf, IA, Davenport, IA, Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL) We used to camp at a KOA near Rock Island and ride our bike on the trail through the down town along the river. We hauled the bikes to a Marina/park area and took off from there.

Some parts are in an industrial area but most is nice scenery. The path is very flat and there were numerous other folks enjoying the trail. As we were riding through downtown Rock Island we came across a Crossfit competition. We stopped and watched some very fit young folks.

They had to do 6 toes to the bar then run over and dead lift 180 lbs and then the next person on their team would do the same. They would do this continually for as many rounds as they could over a 10 minute period.

After we loaded up the bikes we headed to our favorite ice cream shop in the Quad Cities called Whitey's Ice Cream.



While we were in Geneseo we were able to drive to Burlington, IA where we grew up and Glenda's brother still lives. He just built a new house last fall and this was our first opportunity to see it. They really did a nice job.

Brian and Ann Humphrey

Glenda and her brother

 



While in Burlington we went to see my best friend since we were 4 years old. Darrell and Sue came down to AZ last winter for a visit at the RV park. Looks like they will be coming back but renting a place for a month or so this winter.

 

 

 

We had some rain while in Geneseo so we just watched some TV and laundry. We did get some more riding in along the canal before we left but the main reason for being in Geneseo was visiting family and riding along the river. Mission accomplished. Our last day we drove to downtown Moline and took a ride on the Channel Cat River Taxi. The taxi takes folks back and forth to a couple of Riverboat Casinos and historic downtown Davenport.

 

All in all it was a great time and we got some good riding in along with visiting. We're back in Bloomington/Normal but we had to settle for Kamp Komfort right next to Interstate 74. We have full hook ups but the road noise is very annoying. Not much you can do when you need a site over the holiday weekend. We'll be here until July 12 and then headed back to Indiana to help with our granddaughter and her summer school.

Our site is very nice if only it were much further from the Interstate. We do have to move in a couple of days to a new site due to extending our stay here and they have this site reserved after July 8th. The next site is a little further back from the Interstate and some blockage of noise by a couple of buildings in the campground.

Next post will be a celebration of my Dad's 90th birthday. My dad with 9 lives.

Stay tuned.

Indiana family gathering and graduation party...Finally all together.

We left Comlara County Park last Thursday after attending a cookout at Dad's Assisted Living home for Fathers Day. We had the rig closed up and ready to hitch up and dump as soon as we got back from the cookout. After the meal we visited a short time and got hitched up, dumped and on the road at about 3 pm CDT which meant that we were actually starting out at 4 pm EDT. We lost an hour. We took IL Route 24 across to IN and then headed north on I 65 to the IN Toll Road to the KOA in Granger, IN. We got there about 9 pm EDT. We decided not to go see our daughter that night and just got set up and relaxed. The weekend was going to be busy.

Site #37 at the KOA

 

 

The next day after getting around we headed over to our daughters to help them with last minute set up and preparation for the party on Saturday. Sommer's husbands family was there to help too. We got the lawn mowed, a couple plants planted and some cleaning. We had a nice visit with Todd's family that evening but we didn't stay too late. Saturday morning we arrived with some ice for the beverages and some snacks for the party. Around noon or so our daughter, Heather, Paul and Aiden rolled in from Streamwood. It just so happened that our son in Mesa, AZ decided to fly up for the weekend too. That was a great surprise. Chris flew into O'Hare Airport and stayed with Heather and Paul and rode with them to the party. It was so great having the whole family back together.

 

Father and son - Chris

Daughters...Heather and Sommer

The whole family

Heather, Chris, Glenda, Me and Sommer

 

Sommer rented a blow up water slide for the kids and the big kids got into the action too. It really kept the kids occupied ALL day long.

 

 

Aiden, youngest grandson, with his cool sunglasses

The older grandkids

Jasmyne, Caden and Brooklyne

 

Ryleigh the youngest granddaughter

Couldn't get enough of the water slide



 

 

We had a Corn hole(Bags) Tournament. I certainly did not win. Most everyone gave it a try.

 

Aiden liked just dropping them in the hole

Grandpa had to show him how it was done.

 

We had plenty of food and beverages and everyone had a great time. Todd's Mom, Barb, his Aunt, Ellie and Glenda worked hard at preparing the food and keeping everyone full. No problem there.

 

Later in the afternoon we got as many family photos as we could which included Todd's family too.

The whole crew except Todd, Sommer's husband. He was out getting more ice and we didn't realize it until too late.

Mother and son

Sommer enjoying some treats

Todd made it back with some style

This is the whole group of grandkids, nieces and nephews from both our family and Todd's

 



Heather, Chris, Paul and Aiden had to leave that evening. Aiden was really getting tired and it was hot and humid all day. Everyone was feeling the weather. We had a fire later that night with S'mores and enjoyed a nice cool evening.

Todd's family left on Sunday but we stayed around to help clean up and do some more visiting It helps when you don't have to leave to go back to work during the week. It also helps to have your home with you to relax and sleep in your own bed.

On Monday I took Caden and Brooklyne to the movie....Avengers - Age of Ultron. We like action movies and this one had plenty. Glenda continued to do some cleaning and our laundry. I'll take my job over hers any day. :-)

Tuesday night we took the family out to dinner at Salsa Mexican Grill. The Guacamole was very good and the food was excellent. When we got back to their home we said our goodbyes because we were leaving the next day. It was another whirlwind visit in Indiana. But it doesn't stop there. We'll be back later in July to help while Ryleigh is in summer school. Not sure now when we will get our summer trip in that we had planned but that's how retirement is and spending time with family. I know I'm leaving some things out of this post but everything happened so fast.

We are now in Geneseo, IL at the Geneseo Campground on the north side of the town. The Hennepin Canal path is next door and we plan to take a short tri to the Quad Cities(Davenport, IA, Bettendorf, IA, Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL). We hope to ride our bikes on the Great River Trail unless some of the parts are flooded. The trail follows the Mississippi River and sits in some low areas where flooding has occurred from all the rain. We were fortunate yesterday to arrive and set up before it rained again. Thank goodness the severe weather they predicted did not appear. We're here until July 1 and then back to Bloomington/Normal for about 10 days before heading back to IN as I mentioned.
Here are a few more random photos from last weekend.

 

Mason and Todd

I forgot to mention the party was for Mason, Todd's son, who graduated from college in April.

He's a great kid and I know he'll go far with what ever he pursues.

Congratulation Mason

 

Next post will be of our time in Geneseo, IL