Monday, which was the Chicago trip was also the last official day of the rally. Earlier I showed you how we got there, and here is a little more of what it looked like when we were there.
Coming in for a landing at O'hare. NOT!
The view from the tallest building in the United States.
Helloooooo down there.... Oh, those ants are cars and trucks. People are too small to be seen.
Big yachts fill the harbor. 20 foot boats like mine are those little white dots.
What kind of idiot stands on a thin layer of plexiglass this high up?
This idiot. And no, I didn't volunteer. My kids made me.
After cheating death 108 floors above the earth, we made our way back to what would be our home for a solid week.
Chris and family gets an A+ from me for facilitating a campground that has the right kind of tracks at the entrance. I'll be hard pressed to meet this requirement for next year.
Taken while crossing the campgrounds private grade crossing on UP's line which services the Chrysler Jeep plant in Belvidere.
Even though the rally was over, there was still more to do. 4 families were still there for a few more days, so we just continued as if the rally was still going on. Tuesday found us swimming at Magic Waters, which is a very good water park. Tuesday is $10 day, so the place was packed, and the lines were long. We didn't get to do all the rides, but the ones we did do were a lot of fun. Ron and I always enjoy daring each other to do something stupid, and like weight lifting, it helps to have someone egging you on. Unforunately cameras and swimming pools don't mix very well, so I have no pictures from there, but if your curious you can see the web site here. The kids did the Splash Blaster and waited 2 hours in line for it, but they said it was worth it.
By Wednesday, it had been a whole day since I saw trains, so I needed to get my fix and I dragged everyone to Rochelle Illinois to visit the famous Rochelle Railfan Park. This is a city park that was put up just for Foamers like me. My wife bit her lip, and my kids winced at the thought of being forced to watch choo choo's while their girlfriends languished unattended back at the camp. Ron's clan went along with us, and they are fully converted and needed no encouragement. I've already bored all of you with a lot of train pictures, so you can look at the album if your so inclined, however I'll share a couple with you worthy of note.
Naturally, now that I was going to get serious about photography, our string of great weather days had run out, and it was actually raining. The boys talk to some famous person they met from Tennessee in the parking lot.
The Moose Truck must atone. The deal with God is he will let me keep it, as long as mother nature can rust it out just a little more each year.
This little Whitcomb industrial unit probably wishes someone would take IT to a rally some day.
I wasn't looking forward to taking photos of this rabbit dying, but I figured if it was going to happen, I may as well get it so his little life would be remembered.
Ever see a rabbit do 50 MPH without being from Germany? I have. And so has the Grimm Reaper in the form BNSF ES-44-DC as it tries to run him down, but he stays off the rail and stays alive.
The rally wrap-up in part 5.
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Coming in for a landing at O'hare. NOT!
The view from the tallest building in the United States.
You must be registered for see images
Helloooooo down there.... Oh, those ants are cars and trucks. People are too small to be seen.
You must be registered for see images
Big yachts fill the harbor. 20 foot boats like mine are those little white dots.
You must be registered for see images
What kind of idiot stands on a thin layer of plexiglass this high up?
You must be registered for see images
This idiot. And no, I didn't volunteer. My kids made me.
After cheating death 108 floors above the earth, we made our way back to what would be our home for a solid week.
You must be registered for see images
Chris and family gets an A+ from me for facilitating a campground that has the right kind of tracks at the entrance. I'll be hard pressed to meet this requirement for next year.
You must be registered for see images
Taken while crossing the campgrounds private grade crossing on UP's line which services the Chrysler Jeep plant in Belvidere.
Even though the rally was over, there was still more to do. 4 families were still there for a few more days, so we just continued as if the rally was still going on. Tuesday found us swimming at Magic Waters, which is a very good water park. Tuesday is $10 day, so the place was packed, and the lines were long. We didn't get to do all the rides, but the ones we did do were a lot of fun. Ron and I always enjoy daring each other to do something stupid, and like weight lifting, it helps to have someone egging you on. Unforunately cameras and swimming pools don't mix very well, so I have no pictures from there, but if your curious you can see the web site here. The kids did the Splash Blaster and waited 2 hours in line for it, but they said it was worth it.
By Wednesday, it had been a whole day since I saw trains, so I needed to get my fix and I dragged everyone to Rochelle Illinois to visit the famous Rochelle Railfan Park. This is a city park that was put up just for Foamers like me. My wife bit her lip, and my kids winced at the thought of being forced to watch choo choo's while their girlfriends languished unattended back at the camp. Ron's clan went along with us, and they are fully converted and needed no encouragement. I've already bored all of you with a lot of train pictures, so you can look at the album if your so inclined, however I'll share a couple with you worthy of note.
You must be registered for see images
Naturally, now that I was going to get serious about photography, our string of great weather days had run out, and it was actually raining. The boys talk to some famous person they met from Tennessee in the parking lot.
You must be registered for see images
The Moose Truck must atone. The deal with God is he will let me keep it, as long as mother nature can rust it out just a little more each year.
You must be registered for see images
This little Whitcomb industrial unit probably wishes someone would take IT to a rally some day.
You must be registered for see images
I wasn't looking forward to taking photos of this rabbit dying, but I figured if it was going to happen, I may as well get it so his little life would be remembered.
You must be registered for see images
Ever see a rabbit do 50 MPH without being from Germany? I have. And so has the Grimm Reaper in the form BNSF ES-44-DC as it tries to run him down, but he stays off the rail and stays alive.
The rally wrap-up in part 5.
There is now a TVA power plant where Paradise, Ky and Peabody coal mine used to be. It's right on the Green River and coal bardges still run coal (as well as trucks) to the plant. I've been to Adrie hill and walked around the old Civil War prision and iron forges there. Dad worked at that very Peabody coal mine for years.
