We made it to Mississippi Palisades state Park just north of Savanna, IL for Labor Day weekend. This state park did not take reservations so we could get a site. It was a very nice campground, really green with a lot of hardwood trees and bushes. It was just off the Mississippi river about 1/4 mile but did not have a view of the river. Savanna was a nice little town of about 3,000 people with a lot of old buildings downtown. After settling into camp we went into town to check out things and found out that over labor day weekend they were having a big motorcycle rally in town and were expecting 3000 to 5000 bikers. Savanna is trying to turn itself into another Sturgis and they have been having rallies here for several years.
Turns out that Milwaukee was having a 105th Harley Davidson anniversary the same weekend so we dont think very many bikers turned up in Savanna. We went on a bike ride on the Mississippi River Great River Trail down to the next town and they were having a watermelon festival. seems like that must have been the weekend for all types of activities in this area. We bought some local produce, corn, cantelope and watermelon. It sure is sweet when you get it fresh like that.
I dont remember how many ears of corn we have had on this trip so far, but it has to be close to 2 dozen. The cantelope was very sweet also, we have been buying so much of that we are getting burned out on cantelope.
Illinois had a new fee schedule for their state parks this year, they raised their fee for camping by 5.00 a day, then for holiday weekends they also tacked on another fee of 10.00 per day. But according to local authorities holiday weekends are 4 days long as they charge you 10.00 a day for 4 days instead of the 3 for that labor day weekend.
Leave it to the government to come up with that one. I send an email to the state of Illinois letting them know how I felt about their "extra" fee for the weekend and how they added a day to it also. They wrote back saying thanks for your comments!!
The people at the gate told us that they were getting a lot of complaints on the fee increase for holiday weekends. The campground did not fill up for Labor Day, usually it is full but this year it was probably down 10 to 15% in the amount of campers in the park. Gas prices probably caused some of it also.
Turns out that Milwaukee was having a 105th Harley Davidson anniversary the same weekend so we dont think very many bikers turned up in Savanna. We went on a bike ride on the Mississippi River Great River Trail down to the next town and they were having a watermelon festival. seems like that must have been the weekend for all types of activities in this area. We bought some local produce, corn, cantelope and watermelon. It sure is sweet when you get it fresh like that.
I dont remember how many ears of corn we have had on this trip so far, but it has to be close to 2 dozen. The cantelope was very sweet also, we have been buying so much of that we are getting burned out on cantelope.
Illinois had a new fee schedule for their state parks this year, they raised their fee for camping by 5.00 a day, then for holiday weekends they also tacked on another fee of 10.00 per day. But according to local authorities holiday weekends are 4 days long as they charge you 10.00 a day for 4 days instead of the 3 for that labor day weekend.
Leave it to the government to come up with that one. I send an email to the state of Illinois letting them know how I felt about their "extra" fee for the weekend and how they added a day to it also. They wrote back saying thanks for your comments!!
The people at the gate told us that they were getting a lot of complaints on the fee increase for holiday weekends. The campground did not fill up for Labor Day, usually it is full but this year it was probably down 10 to 15% in the amount of campers in the park. Gas prices probably caused some of it also.
1 comment:
The price one pays for traveling around the states. Go Raiders....
Sounds like you and the wife are having a great time. I know you are missed here at work. But one does have to finally retire someday.
Enjoy life theres a lot to see out there.
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