Good Times in Northeast Illinois...Well, and Wisconsin Too

This past weekend was another fine time here in McHenry and Lake counties.

FRIDAY- I attended the great AATW concert in Woodstock and greatly enjoyed it. AATW, by the way, is Asleep at the Wheel. As they say, Western Swing Ain't Dead, IT's Asleep at the Wheel." True words indeed. I will have an account of the concert posted later this week.

SATURDAY- We went to Libertyfest in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, just over the border from Spring Grove, about ten miles. We met up with JJ and Cruz at Main Street Tap, and then went outside to watch the Libertyfest parade go by. This is an annual tradition for us.

It was a good parade, but with only one marching band, a drum and bugle corps from Sault Ste Marie, Canada, and the Fireball 8 Plus 1 Dixieland Band from the McHenry VFW post. As usual, they were riding in their vintage 1920s fire engine, but it was being pulled on a flatbed. Something must have happened to the motor. They can sure rip out that great music.

The Shriners on their motorscooters are always a favorite. How they avoid collisions is amazing with all their moving around. Also enjoyed the twenty or so folks riding on the old, big-wheel bicycles. I salivated when the Southeast Wisconsin Corvette Club drove by with 20 of those great machines. I WANT a Corvette!!! Maybe one of these days.

Another group of old cars went by, including one like Ramone from the movie "Cars" which could rise up with one wheel off the ground.

Back inside Main Street after the parade, then a walk over to Lance Park to see what was going on for Libertyfest. Not much, so I walked over to Donovan's Reef (named after the movie with Lee Marvin and John Wayne, with pictures from it all over), our favorite watering hole in Twin Lakes. Met Liz and Kora there. We played NTN and managed a #3 national (well international counting Canada) ranking. That's not bad for four people, Coz played as well, on six boards up against about 10,000 people at 3000 sites. My "Parrot" board was #8 on the individual rankings. My other two, "Roadog" and "Mobeer" were numbers 15 and 16, respectively. Roadog is spelled that way as you only get six letters.

SUNDAY- After listening to Bob Stroud's Time Warp to July 1, 1967, and doing yardwork, I visited my mother-in-law Frances in Woodstock, with that beautiful town square.

When I came back, Liz and I left to check out the Rockin' Fenderskirts playing their 50s-60s music at Captain's Quarters. Captain's is right on Fox Lake. I have never seen it so crowded. Every table was packed. We finally got seats inside at the bar, but could still see and hear the band. After about eight songs, we left when no one had served us. They were all hustling, but just overwhelmed by the crowd. So we left. The Fenderskirts are playing Wednesday afternoon at Spring Groves 4th of July celebration, so I'll see them then.

Decided to check out the newly reopened Harbour Club on Bluff Lake, so went there. They also had a band playing outside by their gazebo. It was also packed. We got a table, but after seven songs, we had no better luck than we did at Captain's. No service, no drinks, the band was taking a break, and we were out of there as well.

At this point, we were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to enjoy the Chain. We figured a lot of people must be taking this next whole week off since they can do it with the Fourth occurring on Wednesday.

Stopped at an old favorite place on Fox Lake that is now called Baja Benny's. It used to be Costello's and was owned by good friends Frank and Sharon for 14 years. There was no band, but still a good-sized crowd. We got a seat at the bar and ACTUALLY got served. Liz talked with Sharon and I got a chance to catch up with good friend J.C.. We weren't too happy to see that they'd had a pigroast yesterday afternoon. All-you-can-eat for $6 as well as one of the better deejays on the Chain, Goldy playing his oldies (Goldie's Oldies, get it). Sure wish I'd known about that!!!

Neither Knuckleheads on Fox Lake, or El Puerto on Nippersink Lake had bands, but both were crowded. We didn't stop.

Out on the Chain and Feelin' No Pain. --RoadDog

Hope to get out on the boat today if it's not too crowded.