Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve CG, Seward, IL

Date of Stay:  Thursday July 14 – Thursday July 21, 2016 (7 nights)

Rate:  Shelley’s Treat

Website:  Seward Bluffs CG
   16999 Comly Road
   Seward, IL 61077
   815-877-6100

Description:  Mostly walk-in sites near Hwy 20 in north central Illinois.  Sites vary from tent to gravel with 30A to paved with 50A.  We stayed on site 58 which is paved with 50A electric and close enough to a water spigot to fill our fresh tank using only one additional hose.  The water does have a high nitrate warning.  Shelly had reserved site 57 for T&D but the tree branches were too low.  The camphost generously let them move to any other space they wanted.  Maggie and Vel joined in next door in site 59 which was much like ours.  Mike and Jeannie were also in the cg with their nice new 5th wheel.

Trash and Recycle:  A couple of dumpsters in the park with recycle for drink cans only.

Activities:  We all helped set up the party a bit more and then enjoyed a great time on Saturday with perfect weather.  It was so nice to see a lot of our winter friends during the summer and to meet many of Shelly’s other friends.  Bob took us and T&D for a nice ride around the countryside to see some of his many old tractors, farmland, and the house where he was raised.  His nephew lives there now.  We also rode to nearby Oregon to see the 48 foot tall statue of Black Hawk over looking the Rock River.  Vel and Maggie had a blowout with their rig on the way here so they were a day late.  Shelly had organized a “Ladies on the Loose” quilting trip so Tricia was gone for a couple of days.  Maggie fixed a Dutch oven dinner for everyone and we, along with Dan, joined them for a “so long” breakfast before they hit the road.  Bob took Dan and us for another nice ride in the countryside to see the tourist town of Galena, IL (hometown of President Grant) and over to Dubuque and Bellevue, IA  to see the lock and dam system.  We timed it just right to see a big barge come in to go down stream and two tour boats come in to go up stream.

 

On site 58

 

On site 58 with Maggie and Vel on site 59

 

Gin and Vel relax at our patio                     Wildflowers in the day use area

 

Fields of corn at the park entrance

 

Ready for the party!

 

Enjoying the wraparound porch

 

Lots of people enjoying themselves

 

Barge boat leaving the lock with indifferent white pelicans hanging around

 

One tour boat drops of a passenger at the boat launch…

 

…while the other approaches the lock

 

Distant view of the lock and dam with the tour boats going upstream

Residence, Winnebago, IL

Date of Stay:  Tuesday July 12 – Thursday July 14, 2016 (2 nights)

Rate:  Love of good friendship

Website:  ???
   Winnebago, IL

Description:  Rolling hills of farmland in northern Illinois with lots of corn and soybeans around.  Shelly and Bob’s main farm house is 100 years old as well as one of the barns.  They had an addition done in 2008 along with building a “shed” to store their MH and throw parties.  Beautiful here but the people make it even more welcoming.

Activities:  We got here a couple of days early to help Shelly and Bob set up for a “Life is Great!” party.  Shelly’s 65th birthday will be in August and she is having a big blow out for 150 people.  They are super hosts and fun to be around.  Tricia and Gin kept teasing Bob about needing a few campsites at “BS Go Away CG”.

 

Long driveway to beautifully maintained barns and house

 

Our two rv’s are small compared to the barns

 

Wrap around porch to enjoy the nice breeze

 

One barn used to house Bob’s horses…

 

…while one houses some of his collection of old tractors      Love the huge old beams!

Forrest W. “Bo” Wood CG (Lake Shelbyville COE), Sullivan, IL

Date:  Thursday June 30 – Tuesday July 12, 2016 (12 nights)

Rate: $12/night (Access Pass discount)

Website:  Forrest W. "Bo" Wood CG
   1060 CR 1025 N. (gps 39*33'12.06"N  88*36'46.59"W)
   Sullivan, IL 61951
   217-774-3951

Description:  Lake Shelbyville is a huge COE project (170 miles of shoreline) in central Illinois with about six COE campgrounds and several day use areas.  There are also a couple of state parks and commercial parks in the area.  This cg has about 140 sites with about 55 FHU (50A) and 75 electric (50A) only (dispersed water spigots).  We were on site 112 and T&D were on site 111 (both FHU).  The roads are paved with pea gravel pads and patios making for a good place to ride bikes.  The nice boat ramp area has a fish cleaning station.

Trash and Recycle:  Every camping loop has it’s own dumpsters but no recycle.

Activities:  Our time here began with my birthday, holiday then relaxing.  For my birthday, we all went to Shelbyville where the dam and Visitor Center is located to ride bikes on the General Dacey Trail.  It’s not a railtrail so there were a few hills and it went right over the dam.  A nice surprise in town was the Sunken Gardens right beside the trail and the historic Shelbyville Chautauqua Auditorium.  We wrapped up the day with loaded fries, burgers on the grill and blueberry pie!  Unfortunately, Gin’s e-bike messed up.  She and Dan tried to save the motor but had to order a new one which arrived at our next stop.  The park was full for the holiday but it stayed really quiet.  We enjoyed sharing meals with T&D and Dan smoked some great pulled pork and beef brisket.  It was nice to have FHU for several days to make relaxing a little easier.

 

On site 112 with T&D on site 111

 

Storm coming in

 

Gin and Dan at Bo Wood boat ramp         Lake Shelbyville from General Dacey Trail

 

Syl and Dan on the trail                            Sunflowers at the Sunken Gardens

   

General Dacey Trail surrounded by Sunken Garden flowers

 

 

 

Scenes from the Sunken Gardens

 

 

Shelbyville Chautauqua Auditorium

 

Gin and Syl approaching the dam                View from the Visitor Center