Arg's Travel Log

[Argonne69]

Uneventful drive to Mineola today. My back is a mess, so no golf today. I'm just hoping that it'll survive 14 hours driving to Chicago. Definitely made the right call in packing up today instead of trying to drive early tomorrow morning. Traffic was very light given the holiday. Google Maps navigation took me on a narrow state highway that was a little too narrow for my tastes. Don't like driving on wavey roads with only 12 inches of shoulder. No hurry to get here, so I took my time. The strong cross winds on I-20 were fun as usual. 

 

I stayed at this RV park in Mineola two years ago when I had Bessie in for her one year service checkup. It's the town's civic center, and there is plenty of room. 

 

 

Might head out for a bite to eat if there's something open that isn't fast food. CowBurners BBQ has decent food and beer. Google Maps shows them being open, but I'll believe that when I see it. 

 

[Argonne69]

Here's the latest csv file with the courses and ratings. 744 rounds to date through 38 months. 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jijvz2lbfbpjd5cu293io/ArgsCourseRatings.csv?rlkey=wlmjew3zwfj0h54fvigda5qyw&st=4rpix5jq&dl=0

 

[ZephyrS4]

Happy New Year Arg…..safe travels home. Hopefully get some pics of your favorite local places. Been fun following along!

[Argonne69]

Long day. After dropping off Bessie at the RV dealer, I drove 500 miles to Sikeston in northeast Missouri. Seven and a half hours with three short stops for gas and stretching. Lol. My back did better than I expected. My right knee is killing me though. I'll have ~6 hours of driving tomorrow. 

 

I rolled into town at sunset, and needed a bite to eat. No brewpubs for a hundred miles, so I went with Mexican. I couldn't find a place with mole, but hey, it's not Saturday, so I opted for something not quite authentic, but it was certainly tasty. The Pollo Durango at El Cerrito was a full chicken breast covered with cheese sauce and mushrooms. Hit the spot. The margarita and salsa were also very good. 

 

 

Going to take a nice hot shower and turn in early. Should get an early start for the long, boring drive north on I-57. I've done the drive numerous times. Last time was late 2020 in Bessie heading back to Chicago from the RV dealer in Texas. 

 

[DifferentKinda]

On 1/1/2025 at 2:18 PM, Argonne69 said:

Here's the latest csv file with the courses and ratings. 744 rounds to date through 38 months. 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jijvz2lbfbpjd5cu293io/ArgsCourseRatings.csv?rlkey=wlmjew3zwfj0h54fvigda5qyw&st=4rpix5jq&dl=0

 

This is amazing, appreciate all the content!

[SnowbirdTom]

10 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Going to take a nice hot shower and turn in early. Should get an early start for the long, boring drive north on I-57. I've done the drive numerous times. Last time was late 2020 in Bessie heading back to Chicago from the RV dealer in Texas. 

 

 

Safe travels and make sure ya packed the long johns.  It's chilly out there. *shiver* Been up that section of 57 many times myself.

[ssp]

Arg,  Any Mole locations in suburbs of Chicago you would recommend?

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, ssp said:

Arg,  Any Mole locations in suburbs of Chicago you would recommend?

 

I lived downtown, so I didn't frequent the suburban restaurants. 'Sorry.

 

[Murphy76]

 

Arg-

 

Wave to me as you pass through Champaign-Urbana on I57

[Argonne69]

Made it safely to the Chicago area. Headed out an hour before sunrise this morning, and rolled it at noon. Other than the crazy winds it was uneventful. At least this time I was driving the Honda and not Bessie, as the crosswinds on I-57 were fierce. Traffic was fairly light, but one always seems to run into drivers who don't know how to pass. It's the long pedal on the right. Shouldn't take 2 miles to pass a vehicle traveling in the right lane. Oy. Lol. 

 

A bit of a shock to the system when I got north of Champaign. Been 4 years since I experienced actual winter weather. Lol. I've had a few chilly nights, have seen snow atop mountains in Vegas and Utah, and seen a glacier in July, but actual snow on the ground and temps in the teens? Get out. Looks like the Chicago area might catch the edge of the winter storm that's going to pound the Ohio River valley on Sunday. 

 

Probably going to have dinner with family tomorrow. I assume it'll be mole. Lol. 

 

[Argonne69]

2 minutes ago, Murphy76 said:

 

Arg-

 

Wave to me as you pass through Champaign-Urbana on I57

 

Lol. You didn't see me? I waved around 10 am.

 

Think I might have picked up a photo speeding ticket at the I-57/I-74 junction. The construction zone speed limit was down to 45 mph after a stretch of 55 mph, but there were no workers, and traffic was moving at 60 mph. I noticed a white van left of the concrete barrier, and as I passed it it looked like a mobile speed camera. Ugh. I didn't see a flash, and the speed display on the back of the van wasn't displaying "your speed", so hopefully it wasn't active. If it was I'm probably looking at a $300 ticket. 

 

[Mullenboy]

Arg - thanks again for the journey.  It has been very fun to follow.  I can say I will never look at mole or BBQ or craft beer the same way again.  🙂

If this is the end... as it seems.... take care. 

 

You have to be happy to be home...if only temporarily... right?

 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

28 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

If it was I'm probably looking at a $300 ticket. 

 

That's half of a round at Pebble Beach.

[Argonne69]

18 minutes ago, Mullenboy said:

Arg - thanks again for the journey.  It has been very fun to follow.  I can say I will never look at mole or BBQ or craft beer the same way again.  🙂

If this is the end... as it seems.... take care. 

 

You have to be happy to be home...if only temporarily... right?

 

 

No, it's not the end. With Bessie in the shop for a couple of weeks, and winter weather coming to Texas, I figured it was a good time for a break. I'll be back on the road in two weeks. Plans include Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Gulf Shores, Destin, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland at a minimum. Plenty of adventures await. 

 

[StoutKing]

3 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

No, it's not the end. With Bessie in the shop for a couple of weeks, and winter weather coming to Texas, I figured it was a good time for a break. I'll be back on the road in two weeks. Plans include Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Gulf Shores, Destin, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland at a minimum. Plenty of adventures await. 

 

Glad to hear that.  Keep on trucking

[Mullenboy]

25 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Glad to hear that.  Keep on trucking

Me too.  Keep on trucking most definitely.

[Dancin]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. You didn't see me? I waved around 10 am.

 

Think I might have picked up a photo speeding ticket at the I-57/I-74 junction. The construction zone speed limit was down to 45 mph after a stretch of 55 mph, but there were no workers, and traffic was moving at 60 mph. I noticed a white van left of the concrete barrier, and as I passed it it looked like a mobile speed camera. Ugh. I didn't see a flash, and the speed display on the back of the van wasn't displaying "your speed", so hopefully it wasn't active. If it was I'm probably looking at a $300 ticket. 

 

Was going to say in most states photo radar tickets aren't valid unless you are physically served them but it appears IL may be one of the few states that doesn't require physical service of photo radar tickets in order for it to be valid. sorry

Edited January 4 by Dancin

[hammergolf]

On 1/2/2025 at 6:43 PM, Argonne69 said:

Long day. After dropping off Bessie at the RV dealer, I drove 500 miles to Sikeston in northeast Missouri. Seven and a half hours with three short stops for gas and stretching. Lol. My back did better than I expected. My right knee is killing me though. I'll have ~6 hours of driving tomorrow. 

 

I rolled into town at sunset, and needed a bite to eat. No brewpubs for a hundred miles, so I went with Mexican. I couldn't find a place with mole, but hey, it's not Saturday, so I opted for something not quite authentic, but it was certainly tasty. The Pollo Durango at El Cerrito was a full chicken breast covered with cheese sauce and mushrooms. Hit the spot. The margarita and salsa were also very good. 

 

 

Going to take a nice hot shower and turn in early. Should get an early start for the long, boring drive north on I-57. I've done the drive numerous times. Last time was late 2020 in Bessie heading back to Chicago from the RV dealer in Texas. 

 

Good thing you’re getting into Chicago before the storm. Not looking good for the roads around here starting Sunday afternoon.

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Dancin said:

Was going to say in most states photo radar tickets aren't valid unless you are physically served them but it appears IL may be one of the few states that doesn't require physical service of photo radar tickets in order for it to be valid. sorry

Illinois leads the country when it comes to shaking down its residents…..

[ZephyrS4]

3 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Illinois leads the country when it comes to shaking down its residents…..

Al Capone loved golfing in Arizona too

[mci711]

18 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

No, it's not the end. With Bessie in the shop for a couple of weeks, and winter weather coming to Texas, I figured it was a good time for a break. I'll be back on the road in two weeks. Plans include Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Gulf Shores, Destin, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland at a minimum. Plenty of adventures await. 

 

 

Arg, you have a lot of followers of this thread who love your write ups and pictures.. Can you think about our enjoyement and skip Gulf Shores, Destin, Orlando and Jacksonville for us? I can't play Florida courses through your posts again. Put Bessie on a boat and go to Ireland or something instead. 😂 lol only kidding! Not much of an option in Jan-March

 

Enjoy Chicago, I was back last week for the first time in a year. I missed it!

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, mci711 said:

 

Arg, you have a lot of followers of this thread who love your write ups and pictures.. Can you think about our enjoyement and skip Gulf Shores, Destin, Orlando and Jacksonville for us? I can't play Florida courses through your posts again. Put Bessie on a boat and go to Ireland or something instead. 😂 lol only kidding! Not much of an option in Jan-March

 

Enjoy Chicago, I was back last week for the first time in a year. I missed it!

 

I did a little housekeeping in the Honda this morning. After 10 minutes I couldn't feel my hands. It was 18 degrees, and breezy. I miss the city, but not the cold! Lol.

 

[Murphy76]

21 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. You didn't see me? I waved around 10 am.

 

Think I might have picked up a photo speeding ticket at the I-57/I-74 junction. The construction zone speed limit was down to 45 mph after a stretch of 55 mph, but there were no workers, and traffic was moving at 60 mph. I noticed a white van left of the concrete barrier, and as I passed it it looked like a mobile speed camera. Ugh. I didn't see a flash, and the speed display on the back of the van wasn't displaying "your speed", so hopefully it wasn't active. If it was I'm probably looking at a $300 ticket. 

 

 

I saw you wave, but my hands were full at the time....

 

No worries on the ticket.  I go through that junction all the time going 80.

 

Now Chicagoland I-Pass is a different story.  They will hunt you down like a dog and steal your first-born son for $10.

 

 

[Murphy76]

14 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Illinois leads the country when it comes to shaking down its residents…..

 

Its' not a shake-down.  It is pure rape at gun-point.

 

We are taxed on the tax we were taxed the time we paid tax on the other tax.

Plus fees.

 

 

[tlknight]

Is Bessie getting major repairs that’s taking two weeks or is the RV shop just backed up?

[hammergolf]

48 minutes ago, Murphy76 said:

 

Its' not a shake-down.  It is pure rape at gun-point.

 

We are taxed on the tax we were taxed the time we paid tax on the other tax.

Plus fees.

 

 

I was being nice in calling it a shakedown.. lol.

[Argonne69]

13 minutes ago, tlknight said:

Is Bessie getting major repairs that’s taking two weeks or is the RV shop just backed up?

 

Mostly minor stuff, but a few parts may have to be ordered. Going to have the oil changed on the generator, and the hot water tank flushed. 

 

The passenger side windshield wiper arm may have to be replaced if they can't repair the fluid hose attach point that broke off. 

 

The main repair is to the living room slide topper. If replacing the end cap solves the problem it should be a quick repair. Worst case they have to custom order an entire topper (awning). 

 

I was planning at least 10 days in Chicago, so I told them no hurry.

 

[Nels55]

2 hours ago, Murphy76 said:

 

Its' not a shake-down.  It is pure rape at gun-point.

 

We are taxed on the tax we were taxed the time we paid tax on the other tax.

Plus fees.

 

 

On this list my state is number 8 and Illinois is number 10 for high taxes.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/a-comparison-state-tax-rates.html

 

Don't move to New York!  How are the roads and state parks etc. in Illinois?  

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, Nels55 said:

On this list my state is number 8 and Illinois is number 10 for high taxes.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/a-comparison-state-tax-rates.html

 

Don't move to New York!  How are the roads and state parks etc. in Illinois?  

 

Roads are generally bad, but better than Michigan. 

 

Parks are pretty good. 

 

[Argonne69]

Headed downtown for dinner tonight, but first a stop at Binny's Beverage Depot to stock up on my dwindling stash of Revolution Brewing Deth's Tar, and a little more Bourbon County. I couldn't get the cask variety in Riverside, but they had plenty here. $285 for a beer run. Lol.