After our whirlwind trip to Europe, we arrived back in Montague late on Tuesday and stayed in a hotel (both the boat and RV were in storage). Got up early the next morning and spent the next two days waxing and bottom painting the boat. Got RV out of storage (didn’t start – had to jump it), and headed to Elk Rapids for a beautiful wedding of our friends. Sunday made a one-night stop in Benton Harbor.
Had to drive south of Chicago on I-94/80, not my favorite drive in a car let alone an RV. I was hoping because Monday was a holiday there might be less traffic. Going west it seemed true and we got through pretty quickly. The eastbound lanes were backed for 30-40 miles. Joined Kate and Frank in Champaign, IL for 3 nights. Went out for drinks by campus the first night. Played trivia at a winery. The wine was good we sucked. We took last place and if Frank and Kate weren’t there I don’t think we would have had one answer. All the questions were about current music, movies, TV, literature, and grammar (we might have gotten those last two). No sports, current events, science, or anything else we might have known.
Arrived in the Carbondale area for 3 nights. Golfed one day at Union County Country Club. First time I golfed in two months. Did okay considering my thumb is still wrapped up from an infection (I think from working on the boat with toxic stuff and no gloves) and a trip to Urgent Care. On antibiotics for 5 days now, doesn’t seem to be working. My thumb hurts when I touch it the wrong way and there is there horrible growth on it.
Getting to holes 10-18 was a challenge. Nothing on the card and nothing we could see. I went into the bar and 3 guys were sitting there so I asked. He said you go down this trail about a mile, past a cemetery, and across the street. I really thought they were messing with me, they weren’t. Obviously, this originally was a nine-hole course and they bought more land. It reminds me of the differences between the new 9 at royal Scot and Berkshire in Williamston.
Did a hike in the state park next to our park. The trail was on a dried-up river bed so lots of walking on rocks covered by fall leaves. It was an out-and-back trail so decided to try another path back. Worked well most of the time (added an extra mile) except at the end when we had to climb up a steep incline on slippery ground. With John’s help, I made it without falling. Our 3.5 miles turned into over 4.5 miles. The good news is I walked in my new shoes I bought for Europe and my feet didn’t hurt at all. Woohoo.
Onto Tunica MS for some golf and gambling.
