Northern Illinois

Caravan Outline

September 19, 2010 - Sunday
Leave Du Quoin fairgrounds after closing ceremonies about 12:00. Travel about 75 miles. Route: Via SR 14 to SR 1 North to Intersection I-64 then another 1.5 mile north on SR 1 to North St., East 4 bocks to Water St. South on Water to Walnut. East on Walnut St. to Oxford St. South on Oxford passed Memorial park. Turn left into the woods at the end of Oxford to campground at top of the hill overlooking the river. Arrival about 4:00 Hilltop Campground (city park) Grayville, IL - No reservations required, fee $10. Pay the host when you arrive. Link to Grayville Google Map: click here Telephone 618-375-3671.

Link to Detail Goggle map of campground click here

September 20 – Monday
9:00 AM Leave from Grayville, Il to Walton, KY about 213 miles. Route: Via East on I- 64 (131 mi.) to Through Louisville.(stop and sightsee, if you wish) Google Maps Link: Click here Turn onto I-71 East (76 mi.) to I-75 Google Maps Link: Click heresouth one mile to (exit 171) to SR 16 West & then south 0.8 mile, passed Delightful Days RV and turn right on Oak Creek Dr. to Oak Creek Campground, lat 38.84937, lon -84.6050, Good Sam Park Rate $29, Good Sam Discount $3. Per the manager, sites usually available on Mondays without reservation. Google map link: click here Tel no. 859-485-9131

September 21 - Tuesday
Explore Cincinati, OH (24 miles away) on your own or with friends or just veg. out in the park. Carol will supply brochures.

September 22 – Wednesday
9:00 AM Leave Oak Creek Campground for Jackson Center - via Interstate Route 75 120 miles to State Route 274 east 5 miles. Stop in Dayton for some sightseeing, if you wish.
4:00 PM Arrive at the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, Ohio Google Map link: Click here for a night at their Campground (Terra Port) Free parking. Carol will be making the reservations.

September 23 Thursday
10:00 AM - Airstream Factory Scheduled tour (about 2 hours)
1:00 PM - Leave Jackson Center for Scenic Hills RV Park, East of Berlin OH. About 175 miles. Route: Via SR 274 12 mi. to US -33 East 48 mi. to I-270 East 13 mi. to SR 161 east 5 mi. to SR 62 East 72 mi. to Berlin.OH Campground is one mile east of Berlin. Continue on SR-39 to township road 367 (Hiland Rd) south 0.1 mi. to campground on your right. Google Map link: click here
Call 330-893-3607 to make your reservation for September 23, soon as they may fill up with other caravans.. Rate is $27. They honor only Good Sam Card for a 10 % discount. They do not take credit cards, so check must be mailed to: Scenic Hills RV Park 4483 Township Road 367 Millersburg, Ohio 44654

September 24 Friday 9:00 AM- Caravan 12 miles to Winklepleck Grove in Sugarcreek for the Swiss Festival National Rally, Route: via SR 39 east. In Sugarcreek turn left on County Rd 73 (Edelweiss becomes Winklepleck Rd.) to Winklepleck Grove. Google map link:Click here Caravaners must be preregistered to qualify for early parking on Sept. 24th.

September 25-October 2, 2010 - Swiss Festival Township run activities Schedule Link: Click Here Swiss Festival Township website: Click Here

Northern Illinois August 2010 newsletter link: click here

Link to Region 5 August newsletter click here

Link to Government NHTSA Recall subscription website Click here

Eight Northern Illinois couples participated in the caravan including, Bob Whitesell, our past president, and Norm White, our new incoming President. Other Northern Illinois couples included: Aarup’s, De Hahn’s, Dixon’s, Dutton’s, Mayo’s and Stuart’s. The caravan was led by Jerry and Louise Humble from the Southern Illinois Unit. Three other Southern Illinois couples came along.

The caravan started with a visit to the cranberry museum and a tour of the cranberry marshes in Warren, WI. The next day we traveled to Little Falls MN. to visit the Lindberghs’ home and air museum. On our way north on Interstate 94, we saw three Airstreams returning from the Alaska Caravan. It was Cristy’s, Koch’s and Matkovich’s. We waved but we were not able to reach them on the CB. We continued to Bemidji, MN and Lake Itasca, which is the source of the Mississippi River. We even walked across the stones at the very beginning of the river.

We followed the River east to Grand Rapids, MN. and toured the Forestry History Museum as well as visiting a mining museum and the Hull-Rust open pit iron mine, which is the largest in the world. Next it was a whirlwind tour of Minneapolis, MN. Five of us did the tour on Segway People Movers. The many bridges and multiple uses of the river make it an interesting old city with a modern flare.

The next stop was Wabasha, MN with its Eagle center. While we were camped in Wabasha, we also visited the Redwing Shoe factory and Red Wing Pottery as well as a day trip to Winona, MN for a guided tour of its colorful past. A midday stop in Prairie du Chien allowed us to tour Villa Louis and replace tires on Mayo’s and Whitesell’s Airstreams, which had gone flat. The next day we visited the Mississippi River museum in Dubuque, IA. Next, it was a day trip to Galena, IL and a guided trolley tour of the city.

Three couples dropped off the caravan after the Galena tour to return to work and other appointments. The rest continued on to Davenport, IA. Weather was great 95% of the time and the fall colors were at their peak.

The people really enjoyed the caravan and the International at Bozeman. The Kochs’ and Matkovich’s, and Cristy’s continued on to Alaska with the WBCCI caravan after the rally. See the July-August newsletter for lots of details.