2019 Summer Adventure Post #8 Wisconsin Fairgrounds
Wisconsin State Fair Grounds 6/25-6/27 and 6/27-6/30 Springfield, Illinois
So our next stop was Wisconsin. We actually chose to stay at a State Fair Grounds. These Fair Grounds are all different. When we stayed at the one for our Rally in Indiana we were in the middle of a Horse Race Track. For this one we were in the middle of a Parking Lot-literally. But for what we wanted for this stop it was perfect. We had decided to go to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game and this fairgrounds was just around the corner from the ball park. Made it a lot easier than when we head to Boston with a couple hour drive depending on traffic. So we got checked in and decided to make a nice dinner and take a walk.
The next day was the game. We had been to the park in one of our previous trips. But it was nice going again. They do have a dome over it but it was open for the game. It was a little warm to start but as the night went on it was beautiful. We enjoyed just exploring around the park and actually had great seats behind home plate but up a tier.
We were hoping since our beloved Red Sox are not doing all that well and they had lost that day that maybe we could see the home team win. Wishful thinking. It was a great game but the Brewers. It was a great night for baseball!
The next day we headed to Springfield, Illinois. A few interesting things happened on this part of the trip. Luckily I was reading the reviews for the next campground and someone said "great campground, don't get turned off by the narrow road driving into it". Well when you have a big truck and even bigger 5th wheel this can be a minor detail as they say. As we were driving in it definitely was a back road neighborhood. Then we came upon a road that was rather narrow and drove that about a mile and took another turn onto that 1 mile road to the campground. YIKES! We prayed the whole time that no one would be coming the other way especially someone with another camper. We took up most of the road and at one point there was a small bridge that was just one lane.
Well our prayers were answered no other car in sight. We both were thinking maybe when we leave here we leave during the night lol when we can be sure no other cars.
We got to the campground it was a small KOA but was very nice. They actually said they were doing the 4th of July celebration this weekend. They were doing festivities on Saturday and have fireworks Saturday night. So that would be an option depending on what we found to do in the area.
On Friday, I have to put in her that I attended daily mass and it was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. It was in Springfield, Illinois. I will put a few pictures.
We did some much needed grocery shopping. On the way we also saw this crazy street sign still not sure what it means? Don't turn on red if children present in your car? or present on the street? Who knows?
So our stay started our uneventful. Then on Saturday morning, I headed out to Mass. When I tried to start the truck the light that goes on for the diesel truck usually flashes quick and goes off and you are set to start the truck. Well the light wouldn't go off. So back into the camper I go and we do a little research about it. We tried to look at our options. We could stay here and get it fixed but that would delay our trip to Nathan and Elizabeth's. So we called around St. Charles near them and after a few calls we were able to get an appointment Tuesday(most places were not able to get us in for a week). After looking a little further into what we thought the problem might be(Mechanic Mary and Steve lol), we decided to stay here and get it checked. It seemed the problem we were have may cause the truck to go in Safe Mode and not run up to par. If we were just driving the truck and not pulling the 40 foot 5th wheel behind us maybe we would take that chance. The more we thought about it we decided to delay our next trip and we were amazingly able to get an appointment for that Monday quite close to the campground we were at. The only problem now was they said probably best not to drive it till they check it on Monday. So we were stuck at the campground all weekend.
But, as I mentioned before lucky for us they were doing their 4th of July festivities so we had things to do. They had a fun little auction and 50/50 raffles and free ice cream. But the best thing of all was the fireworks. We thought this was a small campground so probably not going to be the best display of fireworks but it was something. So basically we sat outside our camper and right in the field across they did the fireworks. Well we were amazed at the fireworks. It was a very professional display of fireworks and lasted quite a long time. It was so nice not to have to go somewhere, get there early find a place to park and then deal with the crowds. So it turned out to be a fun night.
Sunday we took a long walk just to get out of the camper. We actually got to visit with another camper that shared that they had just sold their home and were heading out on the road camping full time. They were excited but a little nervous of the adventure ahead. We had thought to have a campfire tonight but the rain prevented that. So let's hope tomorrow at the repair place will go well.
Monday we got there right when they opened. We knew they were fitting us in so we were ready for a long day ahead. It was actually quite the dealer/repair shop. You drove into a garage, they greeted you and someone put a plastic covering on your seat and paper to cover the floor to keep it clean. It went right in and they said they knew we were traveling so they would try to make it sooner than later-which we appreciated. Took about an hour and half to diagnose and as we thought it was what they call the glow bulb which is what is used to warm the diesel engine in cold weather. With our over 90 degree weather this wasn't an issue but since it was faulty the car(no knowing the temps)alerted us could have problems with going into that safe mode. So $270 and an hour later we were out the door. We were thankful and felt it could have been a lot worse. We headed back to the campground hooked up the 5th wheel and were on our way. That brings us back to the narrow road we said our prayers as we left and they were answered. We didn't come across another car the whole way out. We decided that as much as we liked the campground and the people there this probably would not make it on our return list of campgrounds to stay at. Well we are excited to spend the next 10 days with Nathan and Elizabeth!
So our next stop was Wisconsin. We actually chose to stay at a State Fair Grounds. These Fair Grounds are all different. When we stayed at the one for our Rally in Indiana we were in the middle of a Horse Race Track. For this one we were in the middle of a Parking Lot-literally. But for what we wanted for this stop it was perfect. We had decided to go to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game and this fairgrounds was just around the corner from the ball park. Made it a lot easier than when we head to Boston with a couple hour drive depending on traffic. So we got checked in and decided to make a nice dinner and take a walk.
The next day was the game. We had been to the park in one of our previous trips. But it was nice going again. They do have a dome over it but it was open for the game. It was a little warm to start but as the night went on it was beautiful. We enjoyed just exploring around the park and actually had great seats behind home plate but up a tier.
We were hoping since our beloved Red Sox are not doing all that well and they had lost that day that maybe we could see the home team win. Wishful thinking. It was a great game but the Brewers. It was a great night for baseball!
The next day we headed to Springfield, Illinois. A few interesting things happened on this part of the trip. Luckily I was reading the reviews for the next campground and someone said "great campground, don't get turned off by the narrow road driving into it". Well when you have a big truck and even bigger 5th wheel this can be a minor detail as they say. As we were driving in it definitely was a back road neighborhood. Then we came upon a road that was rather narrow and drove that about a mile and took another turn onto that 1 mile road to the campground. YIKES! We prayed the whole time that no one would be coming the other way especially someone with another camper. We took up most of the road and at one point there was a small bridge that was just one lane.
 |
| This is actually a two way bridge, no way anyone else getting over it while we go over it with the truck and camper. |
Well our prayers were answered no other car in sight. We both were thinking maybe when we leave here we leave during the night lol when we can be sure no other cars.
We got to the campground it was a small KOA but was very nice. They actually said they were doing the 4th of July celebration this weekend. They were doing festivities on Saturday and have fireworks Saturday night. So that would be an option depending on what we found to do in the area.
On Friday, I have to put in her that I attended daily mass and it was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. It was in Springfield, Illinois. I will put a few pictures.
We did some much needed grocery shopping. On the way we also saw this crazy street sign still not sure what it means? Don't turn on red if children present in your car? or present on the street? Who knows?
So our stay started our uneventful. Then on Saturday morning, I headed out to Mass. When I tried to start the truck the light that goes on for the diesel truck usually flashes quick and goes off and you are set to start the truck. Well the light wouldn't go off. So back into the camper I go and we do a little research about it. We tried to look at our options. We could stay here and get it fixed but that would delay our trip to Nathan and Elizabeth's. So we called around St. Charles near them and after a few calls we were able to get an appointment Tuesday(most places were not able to get us in for a week). After looking a little further into what we thought the problem might be(Mechanic Mary and Steve lol), we decided to stay here and get it checked. It seemed the problem we were have may cause the truck to go in Safe Mode and not run up to par. If we were just driving the truck and not pulling the 40 foot 5th wheel behind us maybe we would take that chance. The more we thought about it we decided to delay our next trip and we were amazingly able to get an appointment for that Monday quite close to the campground we were at. The only problem now was they said probably best not to drive it till they check it on Monday. So we were stuck at the campground all weekend.
But, as I mentioned before lucky for us they were doing their 4th of July festivities so we had things to do. They had a fun little auction and 50/50 raffles and free ice cream. But the best thing of all was the fireworks. We thought this was a small campground so probably not going to be the best display of fireworks but it was something. So basically we sat outside our camper and right in the field across they did the fireworks. Well we were amazed at the fireworks. It was a very professional display of fireworks and lasted quite a long time. It was so nice not to have to go somewhere, get there early find a place to park and then deal with the crowds. So it turned out to be a fun night.
 |
| Hard to tell how nice they were by these pictures. I was watching them more than focusing on getting good shots. |
Sunday we took a long walk just to get out of the camper. We actually got to visit with another camper that shared that they had just sold their home and were heading out on the road camping full time. They were excited but a little nervous of the adventure ahead. We had thought to have a campfire tonight but the rain prevented that. So let's hope tomorrow at the repair place will go well.
Monday we got there right when they opened. We knew they were fitting us in so we were ready for a long day ahead. It was actually quite the dealer/repair shop. You drove into a garage, they greeted you and someone put a plastic covering on your seat and paper to cover the floor to keep it clean. It went right in and they said they knew we were traveling so they would try to make it sooner than later-which we appreciated. Took about an hour and half to diagnose and as we thought it was what they call the glow bulb which is what is used to warm the diesel engine in cold weather. With our over 90 degree weather this wasn't an issue but since it was faulty the car(no knowing the temps)alerted us could have problems with going into that safe mode. So $270 and an hour later we were out the door. We were thankful and felt it could have been a lot worse. We headed back to the campground hooked up the 5th wheel and were on our way. That brings us back to the narrow road we said our prayers as we left and they were answered. We didn't come across another car the whole way out. We decided that as much as we liked the campground and the people there this probably would not make it on our return list of campgrounds to stay at. Well we are excited to spend the next 10 days with Nathan and Elizabeth!
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