Alton, IL - A Day on the Mississippi River

Sat (9-12-09): Well, back to the pigeon. Larry put a notice on Craig's list last night about finding a banded pigeon and long story short--the owner was found. Seems he lives about 20 miles away and had let some of his pigeon off in OK and elsewhere here in IL. He wasn't sure where this bird had flown from and wouldn't know until he saw it's number. He has a website at http://www.goldstarlofts.com/ .

Today was a wonderful day spent on Larry and Patty's beautiful 54-ft cabin cruiser out on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. (See pics below) Wonderful weather and good friends--what more could you ask for. Grafton (where the marina is located) was having a craft fair in the park and we wandered thru there after we came off the water. Nice fused glass jewelry and other things for sale. It was pork BBQ sandwiches for dinner after at the Hog Pit there in Grafton and then back to the coach to watch the Richmond NASCAR race. Lights went out for me before the race ended!

Hellrung's 54-ft Bayliner "Liberty"--What a Beauty!

Larry Doing What He Loves to Do!

Enjoying the Ride!

Bow Master Bedroom

Jim and Patty in Galley Making Margaritas--what else!

Dave Roth's New Development in Grafton, IL

Can-Am parked outside of the Hog Pit--

Chuck has been thinking about getting one of these! [And we did in May 2010!]

Hellrungs, Alton, IL

Fri (9-11-09): What a nice sunny warm day we have to travel! Even this last section of I70 in IN has smoothed out! We arrived at Larry and Patty Hellrungs early afternoon. As we drove into their driveway, we met Patty heading for her mailbox with a sign saying that they had found a banded pigeon. It just flew in and walked into their garage and acted like it was "home". So they were trying to find it's owner.

Hellrung's Visiting Homing Pigeon

Note: If you go to "Archives: 2007, 09/02 - 09/09, and then Tues, Aug 28th - Alton" in this blog, you will see pics of the Hellrungs house and our parking arrangement that we took on our visit here back in 07.

The guys parked the coaches and then we all sat and visited on their front porch watching the pigeon's coming and goings all the while. That evening we had dinner at Roper's Regal Beagle Sports Bar and Grille in Godfrey, IL.

Terre Haute, IN

Thu (9-10-09): We left Gallopilis, OH about 8:30 a.m. this morning and traveled with the Halsteads till they turned off in Indy to go to their daughter's house. Mem had given me several Charles Martin books to read and I took advantage of a lot of sitting time to get well into the first book, "The Dead Don't Dance". I would highly recommend this author!

I70 south and west of Indy was VERY bumpy. Chuck even found a screw on the floor and now wonders what it came out of! Wonder what else has loosened up! We met up with Jim and Lois Campbells at the Wal-Mart Supercenter [812-299-4677; 5555 S. US Hwy #41; 39.398650, -87.404300]. We all went inside to pay our camping fee and came out with a chicken for dinner and wiper blades for the Campbell's coach. This store even sold some liquor at the checkout counter where they also sell cigarettes.

Jim made Lois and I martinis for happy hour and we did get happy! We had dinner in their coach--chicken and salad--and enjoyed spending some time together catching up. We really enjoy getting to travel with this couple!

Tonight we'll sleep next to a corn field and hear a train in the distance. Tomorrow we'll have just a couple of hours of travel time before we get to our friends, Larry and Patty Hellrungs, where we'll camp in their driveway for a couple of days. Life is good!

Gallipolis, OH - Heading West

Wed (9-9-09): We are here at a Wal-Mart Supercenter [240-441-0406; 2145 Eastern Ave; 38.822960, -82.172650]. We ran into pouring rain in the afternoon just before we got into Ohio. So much for a clean car and coach! I worked on a yr old size little boys pullover for a friend who is getting her first grandchild in Oct! Love this new yarn--Red Heart Soft Baby Steps! Mem and Larry came over for a pork BBQ and salad supper and then we all went into Wally World to pay our camping fee! Tomorrow it's off to IN.