Perfect weekend get-away

It looks like Lake Shelbyville is going to be a great place to go this weekend. Unforch, we have other plans, but YOU could check out the fishing and boating there.

Starved Rock Adventures, Ottawa

This weekend was the most fun I've had in years. Our hosts plan great group trips, like a weekend at Cedar Point immedately before their wedding. This trip was in honor of our friend T's birthday and everyone had an excellent time.

We were able to join the trip for Saturday and Sunday, but the houseboat was rented from Thursday to Sunday. Saturday morning the golfers did their thing. We all met up around 2 pm to leave the marina and sail to the island where we would spend the night. The boat rental company owns a small island where you can park the houseboat overnight and watch the barges go by.

We spent the evening playing bean bags (alternatively known as cornhole), enjoying all the good brews everyone brought, listening to music, and catching up. There were friends from college there we usually only see once a year and some we haven't even seen that much. I swam in the river for awhile. It wasn't as yucky as I expected. At sunset the guys built a bonfire and we spent the rest of the night sitting around talking about pregnancies, babies, hobbies, work, and college stories that always get trotted out for laughs.

It was so relaxing to not be in charge of anyone or anything. I didn't say "Stop that" or "Be careful" for a good 26 hours. We did have big excitement when a very large barge came by in the opposite direction as the other barges. The anchors started coming out of the sand and the boat went sideways. But we recovered and got the boat straightened out and anchored much better around trees.

This was a great weekend activity for adults. One major thing was the expense though. We contributed what we could to the hosts for the weekend. But if you look at the Starved Rock Adventure website prices, those are not the actual cost. The actual cost is significantly more because of all the add ons you have to pay for once you are there that are not included in the web price (insurance, john boat, etc).

Good Morning, Illinois River

Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton

I took my son to Weldon Springs State Recreation area outside of Clinton on this beautiful fall morning. We had a great time walking around this well maintained park. There is a restaurant, boat launch, playground, and many picnic tables and benches every where. The Boondocks II restaurant seemed to have quite a crowd for a Tuesday. We brought our lunch so we just drove by the boat launch and restaurant area. The bathrooms were super clean for pit toilets. We parked by the playground and entered the walking trail behind it. That trail seems to go all around the lake. We saw signs for other trails as well. Lots of shore fishing spots both along the main road and in the woods.

Wonderfully maintained wood chip and gravel path around the lake mainly in the woods.
Super nice fire pits. We ate our lunch here and were besieged by flies.
Veterans Memorial. I hadn't given much thought to today's date until we climbed a hill out of the woods and saw a clearing surrounded by flags. The main flags on the lake were at half mast. B and I were on our honeymoon in Canada six years ago today with no access to TV and were buffered from the 9-11 images.

This one is for Google

Google asks, I answer. What is going on in Central Illinois over Labor Day weekend? The following information is gleaned from the local newspapers. I did the sleuthing and decided what events were worthwhile for you. More events than this are happening so check out the newspaper links over on the right.

Friday, August 31st
Central Illinois Life favorites 56 Hope Road are playing in Decatur at the Cornerstone Tavern from 9pm to 1am.

In Peoria at the Riverfront Park, the Illinois Blues Festival will be going strong Friday and Saturday featuring Dave Mason, Watermelon Slim, Big James & the Chicago Playboys, Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones, and other blues performers. 6:45 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday. $12 for one day, $20 for both days.

All weekend in Decatur you can enjoy dancing at the Midwest Big Band Festival. The Decatur Conference Center and Hotel will be hosting four different orchestras; 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday. This is an event I have personal experience with because these dancers joyously invaded my wedding reception and showed off their awesome dancing skills to our hired jam band.

Another all weekend event is the Allerton Music Barn Festival in Monticello. It's pretty expensive, but a meal is included. The weather should be fabulous. Features Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Donald Schleicher Festival Chamber Orchestra, Gusti Sudarta Balinese Wayan Kulit Gamelan Musicians & Puppetry. Tickets are $51 /SC & Stu $41 (includes meal), Festival Passes $226.

This is too good to pass up.
The Sleeze Factor is playing at Mac's Tackle Box on Saturday night in Decatur from 9pm to 1am with a $3 cover charge. If you've ever driven along Lake Decatur, Mac's Tackle Box is the bar/bait shop with the giant fish sign by the entrance to Nelson Park. I have no idea about the band, but the fact that there will be live music at a bait shop tickles me to no end.

Saturday night in Penfield at the Indian Ridge Campground of the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve there will be a guided night hike from 8:30 to 9:30 pm along the trails of the Middle Fork. Call 217.896.2455 to register. Free.

Sunday afternoon you'll want to head to Arcola for the Illinois State Old Time Fiddle Contest at Rockome Gardens. Register tomorrow for $4, after Aug 29 it's a whopping $6; call 217.795.2035 or 217.268.4106. Fiddling begins at 1 pm.

Sunday night the Pantagraph is hosting Pops in the Park at Miller Park in Bloomington. Music begins at 6:30 pm and features the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, with "Springfield Idol" winner Melanie Dennison playing music of Sousa, LeRoy Anderson, "Harry Potter" songs, and more. Free.

And finally, the reason for the day, getting tow down at a labor hall. On Monday beginning at noon (after the parade is over I bet) head on over to the AIW hall in Decatur for a DJ and later Whiskey and a Pickle at 5 pm. If you have never been to the AIW hall it is the eye popping epitome of Decatur labor halls. And I mean that in only the most loving and sincere manner.

There ya go Google, what's happening over Labor Day weekend in Central Illinois in a nutshell. I'll amend this post when I find more.

Findlay Marina, Lake Shelbyville

With the cooler mornings and school starting in some districts it is clear fall is on the way. I love fall, it is my favorite season and I'm looking forward to the weather, but I still have SO many summer activities to tell you about.

While it is still over 90 degrees where can you go for a bit more summer fun? Lake Shelbyville! What I love about Lake Shelbyville is that there are so many different parks, golf courses, fishing tournaments, restaurants in one very rural area.

Findlay Marina is just one choice for renting a boat for the day. For B's 30th birthday we rented a pontoon boat and invited 4 couples to spend the day cruising around the lake. It was a blast! We boated and swam and even got pulled over by the Department of Natural Resources patrol. We arrived before lunch and returned just before dusk. And for $200 plus food and drink it was a memorable party.

I grew up fishing, but have not had the chance to fish on Lake Shelbyville. I hear it is a wonderful place to fish and worth a special trip.