Day 31 : July 27 ILLINOIS
After four very hectic weeks, the group members have decided to take a few days ‘R & R’ – some wish to visit the Oshcosh Airshow in Wisconson, others plan to go to the John Deere establishment in Moline and Ron and Kerry are just going to do some sightseeing and fulfill some media arrangements. There is an arrangement to catch up with Cumber and Jeff in Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday August 1st. Diary notes will resume once all members are together again, and some may have their own stories to tell of their experiences.
Days 32 to 36 July 28 to August 1 ILLINOIS to IOWA
Five days have flown by and members of the group are looking relaxed and ready to start the second half of the trek bright and early on Sunday morning, with our first destination being Waterloo on Sunday and Clarion on Monday 3rd August
During the intervening days, many interesting places have been visited – Hannibal to ride the ‘Mark Twain Riverboat’ ; Galesburg to have fun with some paramedics ; Illinois City to visit with the Editor of ‘Farm Collector’, Leslie McManus ; John Deere Pavilion in Moline ; Blanding’s Landing on the Mississippi River ; One of the many lochs on the river ; Chestnut Mountain Resort to admire the wonderful views of the river ; “The House on the Rock’ – a wonderful collection of novel and imaginative displays ; Galena to investigate the wonderful little shops full of ‘tourist traps’ , and last, but by no means least, the sights and sounds of Dubuque – the Museum and Aquarium, the Food Fair and the Fenelon Place Elevator, the world’s steepest, shortest scenic railway.
Some discussion has taken place about the proposed route and suggestions for change have been made in an effort to maintain our critical time schedule. The new route will take us from Clarion in Iowa across to Sioux Falls, then via Mount Rushmore down to Loveland, Colorado. Unfortunately our plan to travel across Kansas will not eventuate and we apologize to those who may have been awaiting our arrival.
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| Ron enjoys a ride on the 'Mark Twain' Riverboat |
Jeff and Leslie McManus with two Corvettes |
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| Did Ron and Kerry enjoy that - you bet! |
'Wateloo Boy' at James Deere Pavilion |
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| Happy group at a loch |
Great views of River from Chestnut Mountain Resort |
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| Lovely Gardens at House on the Rock, Dubuque, Iowa |
Time for repairs - down and dirty |
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| Galena Historic Township |
Stiltman Dean makes our guys look small at Dubuque Fair |
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| 'Spirit of Dubuque' paddle steamer |
Group at the paddle from the 'William M Black' in Dubuque |
Visit to Oshcosh : July 29 – August 1
While there were a few rest days, Anne and George pursued their original plan and headed towards Oshkosh to the International Airshow. There were reports that the numbers attending were something to behold, not only those actually visiting the show grounds but the vast numbers who had flown to the show in all sorts of small planes and actually pitched their tent on the field alongside their plane. These were RVs, trailers, tents – you name it – almost every form of accommodation was there. Attendance was expected to possibly reach one million visitors throughout the week.
Highlights were numerous throughout the visit, but worth a big mention was seeing an A380 making sweeps over the airfield similar to those done by the small stunt planes – maybe not quite as nimble but never the less, an amazing effort for such a large plane.
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| A380 in action. |
US Air Force attracts attention. |
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| Aerobatic display. |
'Elvis' the Water Bomber |
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