Itinerary Tears By The River #4

jerry and tina

jerry and tina

Novice
TEARS BY THE RIVER 4

We will be hosting TBTR4 on September 9-11th @ Thomson Causeway in Thomson, Ilinois. We can not start reserving the campground until May 15th, due to finishing up renovations of the BR/shower houses, so mark your calendars.

Thomson Causeway is run by the Core of Engineer on the Mississippi River. This campground fills up fast. The cost is $16 per night.
We like the Hopi loop sites 99-125.

To see more about this park and/or reserve just go to:http://www.recreation.gov/ and type Thomson Causeway in the park or facility name.
 
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yup, caught that too...we were reading it wrong. Sorry! didn't think we could reserve until then when the park opens for camping.

We have decided to do a different loop this year then. We have reserved site 087 in the River loop or Area 3 on the map.

If you use the link above and type in Illinois and 61074 along with the date, it will give you the park choices and just click on Thomson causeway.
 
Jenn,

The palisades is a nice park also, esp if you like to hike. The only downfall is that they are very strict on alcohol use. Not that would bother me much, but others it would.

The causeway is right on the Mighty Mississippi River and there is a bike trail if that is of interest. If you don't want to haul bikes there is a bike shop in town that rents all types of bikes. It is near a big flee market and town garage sales that weekend. Also of interest in near by Fulton, illinois there is a real Dutch Windmill brought over from Holland and built on the River with a working mill. It is an interesting place to tour along with the Museum that just opened up.

Hope you can join us for the weekend.
 
we're off and running...6 sites reserved already! Can't wait for camping season to start ... thought spring was here but now it feels like winter again listening to the wind howl.
 
I know what you mean...we are getting the heavy rains & thunder/lightening & hail/sleet/snow all at the same time...been going on all day & is supposed to switch over to snow tonight, then rain/sleet again...the basement river has reached wall to wall...the backyard has a 15 ft. pond about 2" deep...another river (about 4" deep & 3 ft wide) just outside the fence & the huge snow pile slowly melting & feeding it all...

Will let you know when the basement is at flood stage...got the kayak ready!

:cool:
 
Linda,

March is always a crazy month here for weather. Anywhere from subzero to high 60s from one day/week to the next. Keeps things interesting. This heavy rain/snow thing is not typical & it won't last long.

We lived in Texas for short time on the Gulf Coast...people thought we were crazy when we went swimming in February. The ocean was still warmer than the North Atlantic in the summer (where I grew up). Had a good time...nice place to visit but not a long term place for us.

Every place has it's good things and not as good things. Having lived in a variety of climates, I'm truly happiest (& healthiest) in a northern climate...lots of variety, so I don't get bored! :) I'm not much of a fan of hot weather in the spring, like summers that are hot but don't require AC 24/7, love cool falls with amazing colors & the snow.

Time to go salt the sidewalk so the kiddos (and myself) don't slip on the way to school. :)

:cool:
 
Last week I was near Gainville, Florida the highest temp was mid '80's. An adjustment for this Minnesotian and required adjustment with the geocaching activies. Arrived home to temps around mid 30's.

Tomorrow is this years maiden voyage to attend a very large geocaching event in Southern Illinois at Rend Lake. Obviously when I return home on Monday Uff Da Inn will need a bath after traveling on sloppy roads.

At this point, wish mother nature would only send rain. But she is not going to do that just yet.

Jean
 
Jean W said:
Obviously when I return home on Monday Uff Da Inn will need a bath after traveling on sloppy roads.
Click to expand...

Jean,

Don't wait until you return to give the teardrop a bath. As soon as you are out of the wet/snow/salt get it in to a car wash & at least rinse it well, including underneath. You don't want salt residue on it for any length of time.

:cool:
 
Jenn,

Yikes! Sounds like your trip was rather exciting! Glad to hear you made it over & back safely. Craig said there were a couple of cars in the ditch on Hwy 21 on his way home from work, about 7:30 or so. People can drive so crazy when it's icy.

Jenn said:
I hope the lake in your backyard disappears quickly and the river in the basement reroutes the same!
Click to expand...

Well, the lake is now frozen, along with the river by the fence & both are under a couple inches of snow/sleet. Still snowing now. But the river in the basement continues to flow. We are supposed to have temps in the low 30's for awhile, so that should slow down the melting a bit & help with the basement. Of course, the torrential downpours we had yesterday didn't help things much!

Hope to see you at Tears 4. We have a really nice group for camping. Several have CIs, some have home builts & some have manufactured tears from other companies. So, you can see quite a variety!

Camping season is shaping up! We already have 8 "official" gatherings that we will be at & a few weekends away on our own...hopefully, more as the season gets going.

I have a box of new "stuff" for the tear...mostly replacing some old stuff & some for DO cooking...will be sporting the "new" kitchen option (it was the prototype). :)

:cool:
 
Jenn,
Don't worry no offense taken about the Palisades and hope to meet you at TBTR4...if you are a hiker you might enjoy driving up to the park and take it in. It really is a nice place to hike and the lookouts are great there and only a 15 min drive from where we are camping.

Glad to hear you made it home safe and sound. My husband doesn't like taking our trailer out in any kind of snowy, salty roads. Probably why we park it late october for the winter. Last year we went to Flordia for two weeks in November and made it home like 2 days before the first salt trucks came out for the winter.

We have 5 gatherings signed and paid for already! It's always nice to have that out of the way and just pack and go.

Betsey - I too have a box of items for the camper. I found some new melamine plates, bowls, glasses on clearance this winter that I liked and we received a few nice christmas gifts for the camper. It'll be fun comparing and seeing each others new finds.

think spring everyone!!!
 
Woo Hoo...welcome!

Only fee is to pay for the camp site...and then come an relax by the river. This is a carefree and relaxing weekend. Yours to do as you wish. Some like to garage sale, hike, bike, tour the countryside, or just hang at the campground.

I know you are in Chicago... but for directions not sure what part. 64 comes straight into Savanna and intersects 84 at the stoplight (only one in the county) where you turn left on 84 to go to Thomson.
 
Hey let us know if you come this way, we can come visit or camp with you. We live within 8-10 miles of both parks. Another great park on the river by the core of engineers is Grant Park near Ptosi just north of East Dubuque. It sits right on the river with great views. Just take interstate 20 to the river and head north. Ptosi has a brewery that gives tours and their restaurant has supposedly great food. We are thinking of trying that park sometime, have driven through it before when we have stayed at Cassville's Nelson Dewey State Park. If you are tenting it has awesome sites right up on the Mississippi bluffs overlooking the river. Only drawback is if you get up in the middle of the night and turn the wrong direction, lol it is a long way down....
 
Update...there are only 6 sites left in this loop. So far the loop is all teardrops....

82 Doug & Nan
83 Dave & Barb
84 Russ
85 Randy
86 Darrel & Joanne
87 Jerry & Tina
88 Craig & Betsey
89 Tom
90 Jenn
91 Tim K
92 Diane and troops
93 Steve
94 Dennis & Faye
96 Glenn & Opal
 
glad you spoke to them Jenn about this. Rick & Karen have expressed interest before about coming to Tears. I unfortunately don't have their contact info to get a message out to them but I know Rick has said they know where it is, as they have camped in the area (Palisades) prior.

tina
 
We will most likely have appetizers and "refreshments" on friday as everyone will be arriving at different times throughout the day.

Will plan on a Potluck for Saturday night as usual....that way Saturday can be for your entertainment of choice...

Some local things to do:
-stay at campsite and relax, fish, canoe, bike riding on the trails (rentals in town) -http://www.findbicycleshops.net/shops/i ... idery.html
-garage sales up the road in Riverview
-flee market down the highway on S 84
-Dutch Windmill and Heritage Canyon in Fulton -http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/2510093 and
http://www.cityoffulton.us/component/option,com_mtree/Itemid,76/task,viewlink/link_id,6/
-Wide River Winery in Clinton -http://www.wideriverwinery.com/
-Lock & Dam 13 -http://cityoffulton.us/index.php?option ... &Itemid=99
-Quilt shops - one in Fulton and one in Morrison (if need directions, can give you them that weekend)

See everyone soon!!!
 
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We're bummed we won't be able to make it to the Camp Inn Camp Out and will have our raindrop shipped instead when it's done. Ivan has to fly to Russia with Darcy to visit our family over there. We hope everyone has fun and that we'll get a chance to meet up at some point! Sounds like you're going to have a blast.
Best, Stelena (and Ivan & little Darcy)
 
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