Now that our most recent trip is over I’m going to name it Midweek Getaway I. But back to the beginning before we get to the end.

It was a dark and stormy night – well it was, trite and florid doesn’t mean not true. How about now the night of our discontent is made glorious day? Too derivative? Ok, the morning was perfect, if you were filming a horror movie. The chill fog made the appearance of brain eating zombies not just possible but expected.

Matthiessen State Park was literally on the way to the interstate so we stopped to see the sights and stretch our legs. Another beautiful park, but hard to tell in the cold fog. So after a brief visit we were on the road again.

Except we had to stop for gas. Normally putting gas in the car is a no brainer, but this time was different. There were two regular unleadeds (do they even make leaded anymore?). The 88 octane regular was 4 cents cheaper than the 87 octane regular and had its own blue nozzle. Huh? The 88 octane gas had no ethanol, the 87 did and shared a black nozzle with the other grades that did. The yellow nozzle had the E85 gas. So there I stood, racking my brain trying to determine if it was ok to fill up from the blue nozzle. I did, and so far it’s been ok.

Three and a half hours with a stop at Culver’s for lunch we were home and only the clean up of Midway Getaway I was left. I hope you enjoyed reading about the trip almost as much we had taking it.

Tags: Midweek Getaway I

The day started cold and dreary, the kind of day only a corgi can love. We lingered over our breakfast, ordered the night before and delivered to our room in place of the free breakfast normally provided. And then with our bellies full and properly caffeinated it was off to Starved Rock and the day’s adventure.

We were about the tenth car in the main parking lot – we didn’t exactly have the place to ourself, but it was close. The trail led us along the Illinois River up and down various prominences including Starved Rock itself. The route back led us into several canyons which, despite the name, are the stars of the park. Somewhere along the way back the sun came out in full force and not long after so did the crowds.

Then it was off to lunch – a single smash burger for my better half and double smash burger for me – in beautiful downtown Utica which manages to pack a lot into its single block. Following lunch we took a bit of a scenic drive (sounds better than driving aimlessly while digesting) before heading to the far end of the park.

First we visited three canyons (Ottawa, Kaskaskia, Illinois) and had our obligatory vacation chat with a couple we’ll never meet again. Then we set off down the road to another parking lot and more trails leading back down to the river and more canyons. Eventually the clouds rolled in and thickened, the day grew late, and the dogs were growing hoarse from barking, so we called it a day.

Dinner was in LaSalle at a restaurant the other couple recommended – they live relatively close, come here often, and claimed this is the prettiest place in Northern Illinois – not a lot of competition, but it is really beautiful.

Our vacations aren’t any better than yours, they just have better press.

Tags: Midweek Getaway I

We hit the road again for a brief tour of scenic north central Illinois. Nothing says scenic beauty like absolutely flat with either the corn still standing but dead or mown down. Ok, we’ve heard tales and seen pictures of Starved Rock Park and decided to see it for ourselves.

After a late lunch with friends heading from Iowa to Florida (Kriss and Tammie Morris) – who wouldn’t this time of year – we checked into our hotel which seems to have different names that generally include the words “Grand”, “Grizzly”, “Bear”, and “Resort” but not always and is suffering from a lack of guests like all the other ones we’ve stayed in this year.

And then it was a hop, skimp, and a jump to the park itself where we braved the late hour and threat of rain to visit St Louis Canyon and a nameless (at least to us) ridge. Wow, is this northern Illinois? Because clearly, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Big elevation changes, trees, waterfalls, in two words natural beauty.

Tags: Midweek Getaway I