Into Illinois - a Short Birthday Stop

 May 21-24, 2022

Geneseo, Illinois

Our original plan took us into Wisconsin and Minnesota for a few days before moving south to the Chicago area. When I made changes attempting to reduce fuel consumption I removed that route, added a couple days to Dubuque, and added a four day stop in Geneseo, Illinois. Figured it would be a nice peaceful stop before the big city over a holiday weekend. Only one thing went on the list - a lovely birthday dinner at the one nice restaurant. 

The 90 mile drive on Saturday is the first travel day without wind! I almost forgot how much I enjoy driving the motorhome, even with the rain of the last 25 miles. Not a lot of variety, but Iowa into Illinois is green and pretty with more rolling hills. They seem to have planted corn a little earlier here so the brown fields become light green, and add different textures. 

Geneseo Campground is in the tall hardwood trees and quite lovely. Of course after our Dubuque stop the bar is pretty low :-)) Their website is very detailed and I knew our space wouldn't get satellite, but we have 50 amp FHUs. Level, gravel pad with grass space that is muddy from the rains we drove through to get here. Sewer is a stretch into the neighbor's outdoor space, but on the plus side, they're motivated to move their camp fire pan to the other side :-)))

Checking out the little town as we always do, we find that every eatery is a bar and grill with pub fare. With the exception of the Cellar where I'm looking forward to my birthday dinner. It's a cute historic village with vintage Victorian homes surrounded by lots and lots of corn and soy bean fields.

 

There are a lot more trees here than anywhere since we left Colorado. With agriculture everywhere else, the hills look like dams around the fields.

Sunday is the birthday, and I'm not cooking. Breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe is okay. No problem with my special dinner coming up. This is the first place we've been with blue skies to the horizon. Between the dust from the winds and then all the storm clouds, the blue is a great birthday gift!

The Cellar opens at 5 PM and we're there before 6 PM. It looks lovely and smells great!

They're booked. It's graduation weekend. Apparently my birthday isn't on their calendar. Lame.

We end up driving 24 miles to find something that isn't pub food. Shouldn't have bothered. Brothers Family Restaurant is busy but we're able to get a table. My spaghetti is disappointing. I eat less than half. Take a piece of red velvet cake home. A tiny piece. It's fine.

Between my whining we both laugh. Whatcha gonna do? Take a raincheck on the birthday meal and move on.

And moving on is what we decide to do. More rain expected for our travel day on Wednesday, so even though we really love the park, there's nothing to do or see, and our next stop confirms our spot is available a day early. 

Monday we laze around, do laundry before 10 days without sewer hookups, enjoy the blue skies, and trees swaying in the light breeze.

The grands are all growing too fast, all healthy and happy. We miss them bunches.

Granddaughter Reese loving the water park.

M&M giggles with Mom.

Oliver with Mom and Dad

Elliott helping Dad make breakfast.

Tuesday we head east on I-80 for a week in the Chicago area.