Springfield has rain! My leisurely start to the day was wonderful in Wisconsin’s sun with time to eat breakfast and enjoy my coffee. This is when camping is best! But alas, I must move on.
As I cut away from interstates and decide to grocery shop in Peoria, the landscape scenery was miles and miles of corn fields. (By the way, Illinois is the 3rd largest grower of popcorn in the US.) I’m not sure what the other abundant crop was; however, the town of Varna has numerous and gigantic grain bins! I think we forget what our farmers in the midwest provide us. As one drives through, there will be windmills, large solar arrays, really huge farm equipment driven on the side of the road, many intersections with 4-way-stop signs, and small towns that proudly hang their “Welcome to …” signs. America is with such variety in landscape and sizes of towns. Getting away from large cities provides moments of reflection. Time to respect what each community offers the greater good. Time to understand our differences need not tear us apart. Time to appreciate the kindness humans are capable of when we treat each other as neighbors. The miles of cornfields are a gift of time for me to think how fortunate we Americans truly are when we work together for the benefit of all.
I’ve got grocery shopping done and off to the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Springfield campground in the rain. Unfortunately I saw a camper backing over a chair at the site next to me. I jumped out of my van and suggested they ask for a different site. They did with an upgrade and know now to reserve pull-through sites, and not back-in sites, at their next campgrounds. During one of my walks I was talking with them and they are from Minnesota and traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina … KOA’a the entire way.
My sightseeing day in Springfield included the following:
Dana-Thomas House … need to reserve a free tour ticket … fascinating 1 hour long tour of this Frank Lloyd Wright 1902 “Prairie School” construction for Susan Lawrence Dana in Springfield. I love his architecture style, which is not always the most comfortable seating, but the art glass throughout the home is beautiful! No photos can be taken of the house’s interior; so tour it if you are in the area. More research is needed my me regarding the woman who commissioned this house. My understanding is that she was an early suffragette.
Next stop: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. Researchers would be interested in the library. My $12 ticket was to visit the museum which was built 20 years ago. This is a “must-see” visit! A couple of different videos, and exhibits to walk through of his cabin and early life, Civil War and White House years. It is simply remarkable how the history was brought to life! I’m not a usual museum person, but this was worth a visit!
Final stop for the day: Lincoln’s Home. I walked from the museum to the home. Easy 15 minute walk and was able to jump in a tour leaving in 20 minutes. The National Park Service ranger led us through the home … the original home and only one Lincoln lived in besides the cabin he grew up in and the White House. The ranger explains what furniture is the original in each room and focused on Lincoln as a person, family man and lover of cats! It was a nice change of pace from the earlier museum time where I spent energy understanding the American conflict at that time.
I walked back to my van and stepped into the driver’s seat as a severe thunderstorm hit! Wow, lucked out as I would have been drenched. Good news… windshield is clean and no leaks in the van! Phew!
Tomorrow I leave Springfield with a breakfast stop at Charlie Parker’s Diner for a “Horseshoe”, or smaller version: a “pony” meal. We hear about Chicago-style pizza and other Illinois iconic foods. Well how about a horseshoe sandwich? Slices of toast, with ham or bacon, crispy fries and a gravy or cheese sauce on top of it all, a “horseshoe”? The 1928 original was open-faced sandwich with ham in horseshoe shape and fries representing the nails. A recipe for the original cheese sauce is available to the public. Here’s a “pony”. I ordered scrambled egg on the toast with ham and cubed American fries and small amount of each sauce. Photo below of the iconic “pony” breakfast sandwich:
