A Chain O' Lakes Oldie, a Long-Time Owner and Harley Wayne

MONDAY, AUGUST 1

We met Kevin and Kelly at Oak Park Lounge on Pistakee Lake where they were celebrating owner Tom Fuch's 46th year of owning the place.  That's a real long time to run a bar, especially considering that even though he grew up in the Johnsburg area, he had never gone there before buying it.  Talk about your on-the-job learning.

And, Oak Park Lounge is a Chain O' Lakes original, built in the 1890s and looking pretty much the same since then.  We had some drinks with Tom.

Afterwards, we went to Sunnyside Tavern for a couple or three more brews.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2

A history day for me, and I love history.  I drove out to Marengo, Illinois, and had lunch at The Spot, home of the 3/4 pound cheeseburger for $7.99.  What a deal and what a meal.

Then, I went to the McHenry County History Museum in Union and met with Bob and Ellen, who are busy working on a book about McHenry County's Harley Wayne, a captain in the 15th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.

They let me peruse some primary source materials about him and I even put in a couple suggestions for the book.  Later, Bob and I took a walk by Harley Wayne's mansion which is just a couple blocks from the museum.

Congratulations Tom.  --RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If you can make amends, can you just make one amend?

Johnny's Cafe, Legion, Ray Chevrolet, USO, BBQ, Plaquing a Cabin

JULY 15,  Friday

Met the usual suspects at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois, and afterwards, adjourned to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.

JULY 16, SATURDAY

Went over to Ray Chevrolet (where we bought our last two Malibus) in Fox Lake for their cookout to raise money for the USO and met Glen and Barb.  Outstanding brats for just $2 as well as a classic car show.  

We then went over to where Pink Harrison's used to be on Pistakee Lake.  The McHenry County Historical Association was plaquing one of the original vacation cabins and there was a huge crowd in attendance.  Makes you think that History might just have a chance.

Oak Park Lounge is right next to it and is an original Chain  O' Lakes bar and resort.  Pictures of it on display show that it still looks much like it did in the 1930s.  Had a couple brews there.  It opened in the 1890s.

--RoadOld

Just Like Old Times Around Here-- Part 2: A Great Time at the Pistakee Lakehouse

THURSDAY, JUNE 24

This ended up as one of those decision days (well, not really).  I had planned on going to Antioch, Illinois,  for their It's Thursday concert out at the bandshell.  They always have great bands, plus food tents and lots of drinks.  The local restaurants all have stuff as well.  We especially like going to the Lodge, which is adjacent to the bandshell.

However, Liz informed me that the Pistakee Lakehouse, on Pistakee Lake, had a special guest performing with the New Odyssey Guy, Gary, and that was his former bandmate for 30+ years, Mike.  Mike went to elementary school with Liz in Chicago and was her boyfriend for part of that time.  Well, I didn't have much of a choice now, did I?

So, we went to the Lakehouse and got seat right next to the stage at the tiki bar and enjoyed a really good show.  Mike had retired when the band (New Odyssey) decided to call it quits a couple years ago and this was his first time back performing.  I think we'll be seeing a lot more of him.

--RoadDog

Happy 44th Year to Tom Fuchs at Oak Park Lounge on Illinois' Pistakee Lake

In a few hours, we are going to go over to Oak Park Lounge to wish owner Tom Fuchs who will be celebrating his 44th year of owning the place today.  He opened for business on August 1, 1976.  Of course, the place dates to the 1890s and looks quite a bit like it did back in the 1930s (we've seen pictures of the inside of the place from back then).

In short, it is one of our favorite "Dive Bars."  It is a Chain of Lakes original.  A big party is planned with food, a band and deejay all outside.  Plus, our favorite bar mutt, Bomber, will be lording over everything.  He is a black lab.  Tom may think he's the boss, but all of us know better.  Is there any more spoiled dog than a bar dog?  He fits the bill.

Forty-four years owning a bar is a real long time.  So, congrats to Tom!!!

Of Course, Social Distancing.  --RoadBomber

After 33 Years, the Boat's Probably Gone-- Part 1

Kind of a sad, but happy day for us yesterday as I took our 19.5 foot Bayliner Capri open bow, i/o over to a local place who will attempt to sell it for us.

We bought out first boat in 1985, an 17-foot Imperial modified tri-hull.  In 1900, we bought a 19-ft Four Winns and in 2013 the present boat.

I had always thought having a boat was ridiculous growing up.  Our family never had one.  However, when I started deejaying at the Puppet Bar on Pistakee Lake and Neptune's Cove on Fox Lake in the early 1980s there were a lot of boaters and they were having really big fun, so I decided we'd have to get one for ourselves.

I didn't get one right away as I knew that with a boat, I'd have to learn how to tie at least one knot.  Knots are something I am not good at and a reason I never got past being a Tenderfoot in the Boy Scouts as I had to know my knots.  That just wasn't going to happen.  No problem, though, as the main reason I was in Scouts was for the camp outs.  Now those were a whole lot of fun.

Anyhow, the owner of the Puppet Bar (Eagle Point Park), Joe Gates, showed me a simple knot and after about a month I had "mastered" it.

So, I could now get a boat.

A Boating We Go.  --RoadDog

A PLETHORA OF TIDBITS:  Before Sir Thomas More was beheaded in 1535, he moved his lengthy beard aside, saying it "had never committed any treason."   A Man and His Beard.

Out Boating-- Part 2: The New Pirate Ship, Gangland Shootout and McDonald's

After Beer Can bridge, I saw a new wooden pirate ship, well, the front end of a pirate ship, complete with a Capt. Jack Sparrow statue and pirate flag.  I always like new things like that on the Chain.  By the way, I see that this Tuesday is "Talk Like a Pirate Day."

Not too far down from the new pirate ship is a real piece of Chicago Gangland History, the old Manning Hotel, where a shootout claimed 3 lives back in 1930.  The Chain of Lakes was essentially a gangland paradise back in those days and several mob leaders had homes on the Chain.

And, if you're really into it, the hotel, now a private home, is up for sale.  For $339,000 you could own your piece of history.  That is a really good price for waterfront property on the Chain.

Next door to it is a funeral home.  How convenient .

Next, I stopped at McDonald's.  This is one of only two McDonald's that you can boat into.

AAAARRRR, Matey!!  --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS:  It is bad to suppress laughter.  It goes back down and spreads to your hips.

End of the Boating Season, Well, for Us Anyway

Sad day for us today, as we pulled "School's Out... Forever" out of the water. That is our boat's name with a big thanks for good old Alice Cooper for his great song.

We were able to get out boating 38 times this season, far more than most boaters on the Chain. Of course, being retired definitely helps.

My buddy Frank came by and we went for a cruise on Fox and Pistakee lakes. I then dropped him off at Rick's, where I dock the boat. He went to Kora's to get the trailer and I boated across Fox Lake to Grasslake and up the Fox River a short way to the Chain of Lakes State Park where Frank met me and we pulled the boat out.

They have great boat ramps in the park, and best of all, they are FREE!!!! It normally costs around $20 to put or pull your boat at the private ramps.

Pulled the boat over to Midwest Marine where it will be winterized before I take it out to Hebron, Illinois, where it will be stored for the winter.

How Many Days Until the 2008 Boating Season? --RoadDog

Been Out Boatin'

Just got inside after having a bonfire on the Strand, what I call the lower patio by the gazebo. It is named after that great fun place by Myrtle Beach, SC, where we have had some great times. "Ya Just Can't Beat Fun" at the Bowery, home of the country group Alabama. This is where they cut their teeth, so to speak.

We definitely took advantage of the great weather we had this week to get some serious boating in. We boated every day since Tuesday.

Tuesday was essentially go out and float around, a very common thing to do for us. Nothing like turning the engine off, floating, reading a newspaper, magazine. or book, and listening to tunes on the radio or off a cassette (yes, we still use cassettes, and BY CHOICE I should add). Stopped by Baja Benny's and met Rich who grew up and lived in Chicago near where Liz grew up. They had a long talk about the good old days back there.

Wednesday, we boated over to McDonald's in the morning and had breakfast. Fox Lake has one of the two McDonald's you can actually boat to for a meal. We tie up at their piers and go inside to order. I usually get the steak, egg, cheese bagel meal. That is a real piece of steak and it actually is as big as it looks on the commercials. Have you ever noticed that the fast food sandwiches on the commercials are ALWAYS a lot bigger than what you get?

We then feed the mallard ducks, who are always there looking for food. Today, we also had three white geese, one of whom looked a bit like a descendant of old Crooked Neck who used to hang out there three years ago. Somehow, his neck was bent at a 45 degree angle. He was a character. Also, for the first time ever, we had three Canadian Geese. They ruled the water, but the mallards were faster and still managed to get some food.

We then did some floating in Pistakee Lake before putting the boat up so I could go to McHenry to visit Liz's mom Frances.

To Be Continued... --RoadDog