On to IL and family

Monday after a shopping trip to Camping World where we (Dave) bit the bullet and purchased the things we need to set up for dish network. By 10:30 we were back to the rig and just about ready to get out of Indianapolis. While convenient Lake Haven was no place we wanted to linger, so off to Effingham we went a day early.

What a difference in private parks between the two days, Camp Lakewood in Effingham is less than 2 miles off the interstate, back in and pull thru, some sights share a pedestal which makes for some closeness on one side. We have site 7 which is on the end which makes the site feel roomy,our site is near the office so we are entertained by all the rigs coming in off the road at the end of the day, think over 15 came in yesterday we'll see how many stay awhile. Our neighbor has SD plates so assume he is a full timer, there are a few TX plates too, we shall see who we can meet while here.  There is a IN Good Sam chapter meeting here over the weekend, evidently there is a covered bridge festival in their area and they are escaping the madness.

Around 5pm my folks arrived, they have passed by the road to the campground for a few months now but had never had a reason to come down to the campground, they were quite surprised to find such a pleasant spot tucked into town. So while its not the COE we had planned as alternative it's pretty good, during the day we hear some distant road noise last night we slept fine, we've always used a white noise machine and once it was on I heard nothing from the outside. Wally World and many other major retailers and food chains are with in a mile of here, there is a small "lake" that Dave can throw a line in. Mom and Dad treated for dinner, thanks Mom and Dad (I know he reads the blog :)) at a local place nearby, forgot the name but dinner was great and Dave once again made our waitress's night-he was voted the funnest customer of the evening.

Dad & Mom

Camp Lakewood, Effingham IL site 7

Obviously we came to the area to see my folks but it is also like a homecoming of sorts, my folks have move is  back to my mom's hometown. Every summer no matter where we lived, TX or NY, my mom would bring my brother and I with her to Neoga IL, either by train or bus, where we spent a month at my grandparents home. Family picnics and gatherings with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, car rides through the countryside to see covered bridges and other sites always made for a fun month. In '76 & '77 my folks let me ride the Greyhound from NYC to Effingham by myself so I could work as a corn detassler, my first real job which in later years was an interesting job to have on a resume, made for some great ice breaking conversation.  My grandmother died in '77, during the years following I made a few brief trips out. In '85 a special trip was made, my grandfathers' 100th birthday, that was the last time I gathered with most of my cousins and their families, I've seen some of them over the years as we've traveled through and some have been out to VT for a visit, but since the 70's this will be the longest we've stayed in the area, we might even get some sightseeing in on this visit.

3 generations

Frank Overmyer with some of his grand kids

Tuesday morning after watching lots of folks leave early we took advantage of having a Wal-Mart nearby, since we are riding bikes so much I decided I needed one that fit the riding we do now, so while Dave got the truck oil changed I found myself a new cruiser bike with only 7 speeds :) The rest of the day was spent at my folks new home, Dave did some painting and I visited with my folks while taking advantage of their washer and dryer. We headed home and ended up watching the parade of rv's come in for the night,leftover pot roast for dinner,  a fire and a few drinks then we called it a day. We're looking forward to the next few days which will be spent reconnecting with some of the family and helping my folks out where we can.


And since it's Wednesday

Until next time...