We woke up Sunday the 31st to another hot humid day in IL. Plan was made to get some relief and see some nature around Kankakee. Becca took us out to the Kankakee River State Park. We walked up a side creek for a bit, criss-crossing from shallow hole to rock bar wading thru the cool water. We had a gang with us that day. Tres and I with our two children and Becca with her six. We had a ball. The oldest boys were intent on finding all of the cool things in and around the water, the three younger boys were just down for play. It was like a western expedition. The older girls were so sweet with Hailey. They really made her feel like one of the them. It was a cool time to watch. We finished our hike at a nice waterfall that spilled into a few deep holes. Just big enough to jump into and really cool off. I had a great "father" moment with Lowman that day. Matt, Becca's oldest, wanted to jump off of a small rock ledge into the pool. He did it perfectly. Lowman decided that it looked like fun, so off he went to try it out. Those of you that know Lowman, know that he has not been the one to take chances. I watched as he climbed the rocks and tried to get his footing right. Well it was not meant to be...he fell. Right on the waterfall. He hit the left side of his body on the rocks, knocking his ribs and hip, leaving some small cuts and a really nice black and blue bruise. The look on his face when I grabbed him in the water was awesome. He was actually smiling. He had that nervous giggle and said he was good. Back he went jumping of the smaller rocks in the falls. It was a precious moment for me as a father, my boy was becoming a daring young man in front of my eyes. We had a wonderful time the rest of the way back to the rigs. That evening we enjoyed cake and ice cream for Hailey's birthday.
Monday was a big work day for Tres, almost nine hours of work. That meant that I needed to get things ready for our departure the next morning. Not bad under normal circumstances, but when it is as hot as the sun and the air is saturated with moisture, anything done outdoors is a chore. To top it off the generator providing power for our A/C took a crap. Great, a brand new generator with maybe three hours on it is now a lead weight. I called the manufacturer and did some trouble shooting but it would not give the juice. We decided to make a stop by Camping World on the drive east the next day. The night would have to be a hot one (and it was).
We said our good-byes tuesday morning. Again, it was bitter sweet. We had grown pretty fond of the family we have in IL. They are a very genuine bunch of folks. Down to earth and just really good people. They showed us around and made us feel right at home. We enjoyed the kids, I even got to teach the boys how to cast a fly rod. Hopefully it is something that they can continue and find their own joy in it. Watch out IL, those kids are going to do some great things. Artists one and all, each in their own right. From photography to drawing. The thirst for knowledge to the curiosity to see what is out there. Amazing group of youth. Once the tears were shed, we headed south thru IL and then east into IN, headed for Indy. We hit the Camping World like a tornado. Four sweaty, stinky travelers that wanted to get the generator issue handled and be back on the road. I spoke with the sales manager and he called his people who said lets fix it. I said you give me the part and I will fix it. I fixed my generator right in the Camping World store, about twenty feet inside the front door. Five minutes later we hooked it up to the trailer to double check and we were out. East thru the rest of IN and right into OH. We are on a mission to be in Gettysburg. No time for most of OH right now. We boondocked in a town, St.Clairsvill, just inside the OH border with WV. It was comical to see the want to be studs cruisiung the Walmart parking lot. Really?? Small towm americal at its best.
Happy Birthday to Hailey today!!!! My little girl is 10 today. We woke her up with some gifts and a breakfest on the go. Still trying to get to where we want to be for the next week. As we have been driving these last few days it has been a cool sight to see, the country changing with each mile. It was the flat farm fields of IL and IN, then into the gradually rolling hills of OH, now it is the tree covered hardwood hills of WV, PA and MD. What a glorious transformation. We chose a park that was out of the way for our base for the next week. Centrally located so we can get to all of the great battlefields of the civil war and drive easily into our nations capital. Well we found it. We are in the sticks now. We took the trailer up roads I never would have dreamed of before this trip. Narrow and steep. Hopefully the drive out in a week will be boring. Our park is nice, it is just not an easy place to get into. Nothing ventured nothing gained. We dropped the trailer and headed back into town for laundry and a birthday meal for the little sis. We ate in a neat old diner in a town that looks to be as old as dirt. I mean that in a good way. These folks here have definitely been around a while. Toured the country on the way back and walked around the park with my 10 year old daughter to cap off the night. Life is truly GOOD!!
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