Whoppers, Old Cars and Old Friends

MONDAY, JULY 18

We drove to McHenry, Illinois, and had Whopper dinners at Burger King.  Still one of my favorite burgers after all these years.  We then walked around the Green Street car show admiring the rides, especially ared '67 Firebird convertible, my favorite oldies car.

We saw the same band as yesterday, Aging Teen Idols, who were providing entertainment.

Afterwards went to Sunnyside and had a great time with the Stucky folks:  Angie, Wayne and Carrie.

TUESDAY, JULY 19

Met the Sunnyside folks at Granny's Diner on the Fox River River in Johnsburg and had that excellent chopped steak, two eggs over easy, gash browns and bread.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

National Hot Dog Day,  One of my favorite foods.  Didn't have one though.  Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for trivia and happy hour.

--RoadDog

One Last Hurrah at Stucky's-- Part 2: A Good Send Off Party

We  sure enjoyed the owners, Deb and Ron, and had many great talks with them.  Their daughter Crystal often worked there as well and is a real good friend with Kelly, another one of our favorites, who was once the commander of the Fox Lake American Legion.  Also, bartenders/waitresses Teesha and Carrie.

We also enjoyed good times with a whole bunch of regulars like Joe and Randy and others.

Stucky's, which was located in the Johnsbrg shopping center by Angelo's grocery store (the former Val's, now located in Fox Lake).

The place was packed and, of course, they were out of most everything as they were getting rid of stock and not buying much of anything.  Lots of trips had to be made over to next door Angelo's when they would run out of items.  

We drank the $2 cans of Busch Light (all their cans were as cold as you can get without freezing).  Michelle was there doing karaoke (which she had been doing on Saturdays).  

About half the people were from Sunnyside as it was a favorite of Sunnysiders.  We even would have to do the Sunnyside Shuffle at times there.  (Where you moved from tables to the bar.)  Mark Hume and the Sunnyside owner Amy and her boyfriend Denny (they now co-own Cullon Knoll in Cullon Lake near McHenry) were there as well.

Crystal bought a round and said a tearful goodbye and thank you.  Bartender/waitress Carrie will be working Tuesday nights at Cullom Knoll.

We Sure Are Going to Miss Stucky's.  --RoadDog

One Last Hurrah at Stucky's-- Part 1

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

We really thought that Stucky's in Johnsburg Road in Johnsburg, Illinois, had turned the corner and was starting to get a good turnout of diners and drinkers, but we were wrong.  And, they sure had some great prices and lost of fun times.

Mondays:  $1 tacos

Tuesday:  Half price burgers

Fridays:  $8.95  Fish Fry and $2 bottles

Saturdays:  $1 domestic draft pints

Everyday:  $2 domestic cans.

Plus, Saturdays fo awhile we had live trivia and then karaoke.  And every Thursday, Jim Sieg had his open mic.  There were also performers inside and outside at times.

But, today was the last day.

--RoadMissStucky's

Saying Goodbye to Stucky's: No Tacos But Oh Those Burgers

MONDAY, JUNE 27

This was to be the last week that one of our favorite places to go was to be open.  Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois.  (Stucky's was also the same place that Tom's Cafe was located back in the 1990s and we also hung out there a lot.)

So, we decided to go to Stucky's as much as we could.

I went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw "Top Gun:  Maverick."  Then Liz and I went to Sunnyside for their $1.50 Monday draft beer special and then over to Stucky's where we planned on getting their $1 tacos.  Sadly, however, they ran out of tacos before we could order.

That is a problen there right now.  They are running out of many things.  You never know "what" you can order and hope to get."  Enjoyed the $2 12 ounce cans, always ice cold.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28

Went to Stucky's for the last half price burgers and were happy to find out that they had restocked a little, but there were many times employees were sent over to the next door Angelo's grocery store to buy stuff.  

I had my last Roland's Swiss cheese and mushroom burger with loads of grilled onions and Liz had her last bacon cheeseburger.  Both came with fries or tots of homemade chips.  I dare you to get a burger that good and big anywhere for $4.75 anymore, especially in these days of runaway food prices.

--RoadStuck

No MCCWRT for Me, Yucky Sox, One Last Stucky's Saturday Party, a Legion and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

I wanted to go, but didn't go to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group in Crystal Lake because of those ridiculous gas prices.  Curse you GRBs.  And talk about getting disgusted,  MAN THOSE SOX.  They should be running away with the AL Central Division, but they are stinking it up.  I am just not going to pay attention to them for awhile.

We met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's and used up the very last of our many gift cards.  Enjoyed those $1 Saturday domestic pints for the last time.  And, of course, the last Saturday night karaoke.  George and I sang a few songs.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Went to the McHenry Legion for good talk and those $2 rail drinks and Hamm's tall boys.  Stopped at Stucky's in Johnsburg for one last Sunday party.

Going to Miss Stucky's.  --RoadDog

All These Blogs Ago, Stucky's, a Fish Fry and Those Old Bars of Ours

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Entered posts in all eight blogs.  Believe me, that is time consuming.  Got some yardwork done and we went to Stucky's in Johnsburg to use up some of out $25 gift cards that we had won in their live trivia games.  In a few days they will not be worth anything.  Local entertainer Jim Seig had a long-standing open mic night at Stucky's on Thursdays but canceled for the last two times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Breakfast on FP.  Again, finished all eight blogs.  Too hot to work outside.  Normally we go to the Spring Grove Fish Boil every year to raise money for the old Spring Grove Fish Hatchery which has been turned into a village park, but today was the last day of Stucky's fish fry so we went there instead.

We sure are going to miss Stucky's  It is always sad when one of your favorite hangouts closes.  But, usually another one comes along.

Several years back three of our favorite places closed:  Tommy's and Antonio's in Spring Grove and the Twisted Moose in McHenry, but we ended up getting Sunnyside and Stucky's in Johnsburg.  And then there was Costello's in Fox Lake where we hung out for a really long time.  And, there was also Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, when Jeff Stewart sold it, but we still hang out there.

Things Go On.  --RoadDog

Stucky's Is Closing, Granny's Diner, Gas Prices and 'Mikie' Dies

MONDAY, JUNE 20

We went to Sunnyside for the Monday $1.50 draft beer special and were not happy to find out that Stucky's was going to close June 30.  This is one of our main places to go in Johnsburg, Illinois.

So, we went over to Stucky's and found out it was true.  Deb, the owner, had just reached the point of no-return as far as the place goes.  That's too bad.  We'll have to see it out of business with a lot of trips these last few days.  We have a lot of people that we know from there.  (There was a general concensus that there were already some people interested in buying the place.)

We did have the $1 tacos, their Monday special.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21

Met the Sunnyside folks at Granny's Diner in Johnsburg for breakfast, then went to some flower places and grocery shopping.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Gas in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, now "down" to $4.90.  Nice to see it going down, but man is that way too high.  Played trivia with Uncle Jeffie at Donovan's Reef.

We were saddened to learn that Mike Bornhorst, "Mikie," had died at Donovan's.  He lived in one of the motel rooms for many years and was quite a regular.  He was friends with everybody.  There will be a celebration of life in July for him at Donovan's.  We will be there.

--RoadDog

Celebrating the Chicago Tribune's 175th Year, A Fish Fry, Cheap Beer, 1972, McHenry and Johnsburg

FRIDAY, JUNE 10

Celebrating the Chicago Tribune's 175th Year and I read their anniversary edition out FP (Front Porch).  I have subscribed to this paper since 1973 (except about a year when I had a problem with its editorial process).  In my mind it is the best newspaper in the country.

But sadly, my days of subscribing are about over because the price is now up to $130 for two months of Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sunday delivery.  I'm sure going to miss it.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch.  The other name for the place is "Iceboc" because ot is so cold in there, but the food really good so we dress for the ooccasion.  They have a great Friday fish fry for $10.99, all you can eat.  

Afterwards, we went to Lake View Place on Grasslake and enjoyed their Friday $1.50 draft beer.  Came home and likewise enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

Went to Stucky's where we enjoyed the $1 draft pints and it was Angie's 50th birthday.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

Bob Stroud played his Summerof 1972 special on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive.  These were the songs on the radio and in your record collection fifty years ago on June 12, 1972.  I have listed the songs elsewhere in this blog.

Drove over to Miller Park in McHenry (right on the Fox River) to hear the band, but it was too crowded.  We went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed the cocktails there.  On the way home, we found Stucky's was closed, but Sunnyside wasn't, so went there before heading home.

--RoadDog

Two Legions, a Band, Sunday Radio and Stucky's

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

Worked in the yard.  Met Barb, Glenn, Kelly and Kevin at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois, for dinner and then went to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.  Didn't win.

SATURDAY, JUNE, 4

Crummy day, overcast, cool and rain.  So we were forced to go to the Fox Lake Legion for entertainment in the afternoon.  I hate when that happens.  Cold outside, but a band inside.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

Listened to my usual Sunday morning radio: Acoustic Storm on WDRV, Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT, Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV and Johnny Miller and Big John Ruth playing Beach Music in WFJA out of North Carolina (internet).

We went to the McHenry American Legion.  I went over to Miller Park to see a band, but there was no band today.  Forced to go back to the Legion and resume.  Stopped at Stucky's in Johnsburg on the way back home.

--RoadDog

Wisconsin and Johnsburg

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

As usual, we're going to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, to play trivia with Uncle Jeffie and enjoy those great half price happy hour drinks.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

Drove to Bristol, Wisconsn, and met the Magee teachers for breakfast, something we do once a month.  It is good to see an d talk wih folks I worked with all those many years ago.

The gas gouge is really hitting hard right now with gas in Spring Grove, Illinois, at $5.56.

That evening, we went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and enjoyed listening to Jim Seig and all the others at Open Mic.

--RoadDog

Mighty Cool and Rainy Spring: Granny's, Donovan's, Fox Lake Historical Society, Stucky's, Gas Over $5!!! and McHenry Legion

MAY 17, Tuesday

Met the Sunnyside crowd at Granny's Diner in Johnsburg for the weekly breakfast. Did some yardwork and cut the grass.  Saw two of my favorite movies on TV "Gran Torino" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

MAY 18, Wednesday

Met the usual suspects at Donovan's in Twin Lakes.

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MAY 19, THURSDAY

I spent quite a lot of time cutting down weed trees by the back  deck

MAY 20, FRIDAY

Two more really good movies on TV:  "The Breakfast Club" and "Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy."

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MAY 21, SATURDAY

Sad time at the Fox Lake Historical Society this Monday as our long-time president died Thursday.  

Gas above $5 in Fox Lake!!!  We need to do something about the GRBs!!

Liz and I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner and karaoke (and, of course, those wonderful $1draft pints.

MAY 22, SUNDAY

Man has it gotten cool.  The furnace was running this morning.  All in all, this has been a really crummy spring and with all this rain and wind, I was unable to burn the tree limbs and branches.  Today was the last day I could legally do this because I will be out of town next weekend.

Liz and I went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed the $3 rail drinks ($1.50 during happy hour which really makes me happy.

--RoadDog

Gas Gouge Continues, a Fish Fry, Bars and Yardwork

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Sitting FP for coffee and enjoying the colors of trees, tulips and perennials.  I aim to have color in the yard all the way from April to the end of October.  Went to McDonald's for their two for $2 sausage/cheese McMuffins and $1 pop.  I love those McMuffins (and for that price especially).

Saw the movie "Fantastic Beasts:  The Secrets of Dumbledore."  It is good to be back in the theaters after a two-year period because on you-know-what.  Gas in Fox Lake to $4.80 and $4.90.  Who'd have ever figured.  You finally get a chance to go places and can't afford to go places.  Curse you GRBs.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake for fish fry.  Then went to the Legion for 50-50, but too many people.  Same problem at Stucky's in Johnsburg, but finally got seats at the bar at Sunnyside.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Got some yardwork done, primarily cutting down weed trees which are trying to take over the yard.  Went to Stucky's for burgers and sang karaoke with George.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

Went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed bourbon and Cokes for $3 (and especially $1.50 during happy hour).  Then Stucky's and home.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TOSAY:  Yes.  I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

The Gas Gouge Comes Back: The Sunnyside Shuffle, Margaritaville & the Ultimate Jukebox, Goldfish Racing and Joining the Moose

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

It rained all day.  Last year we had a drought, but that sure is not the case this year.

Went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg.  We always laugh at folks doing what is called the Sunnyside Shuffle.  This is where you move from the tables are far reaches of the bar to the horseshoe, where all the fun and talking is.  We have done this on many occasions.

Came home and enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox in the basement.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Maybe spring has finally arrived,  A dry day and fairly warm in the 70s!!  I even got some yardwork done and sat out OD.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed those hard-to-beat $1 draft pints and they ran something we'd bever seen before:  goldfish races.  For $5 you pick a fish and they run heats down the length of a double gutter course to see who first crosses the finish line.  It was double elimination.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

I went to the McHenry Moose Riders breakfast and met Mark and finally got around to joining the Moose.

Later in the afternoon, Liz and I went to the McHenry American Legion and Stucky's on the way home.

Don't Look Now, But IT'S Back.  --RoadDog

Fun With Taxes: MCCWRT, Wendy's $1 Breakfast Sandwiches, Taxes, Jumbo Wings at Kelly's, Fox Lake Legion, Stucky's and McHenry Moose Lodge

FRIDAY,APRIL 15

Met Steve from the McHenry County Civil War Round Table at the Aldi parking lot in McHenry where he handed me the copies of the student entries for this year's $1000 college scholarship.  While there, went to Aldi's of course.  How they can sell groceries for those prices is amazing.  Then to Wendy's for their wonderful $1 breakfast sandwiches.

Later, I went to H&R Block and picked up the taxes.  A new record in how much we have to pay.

Gas prices today:  McHenry $3.94, Fox Lake $4.17 and Trevor, Wisconsin $4.00.  When I say McHenry was $3.94, that means it was $3.93.9.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Kelly's Bar and Grill in Trevor, Wisconsin, for their fish fry, only Liz and I split the ten chicken wings for $15.99.  Now, that might sound like a lot, but these are truly gargantuan wings and have both parts.  We could only finish five of them, that's how big they are.

Then went to the Fox Lake Legion for 50-50 and home to Margaritaville in our basement.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 16

How about 28 degrees for half way through April?   And here I was thinking it was spring.  Foolish me.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg where we had the $14.50 buffet, sang karaoke and, of course, enjoyed those $1 draft beers.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

It was enjoyable seeing the family across the street having an Easter Egg Hunt with the grandkids this afternoon.  They raised five children who are now off and married and having children of their own.  There were about ten kids running around.  Went to the McHenry American Legion in the afternoon.

--RoadDog

Bringing April Showers: More Wendy's, Even Snow, a Historical Society and Board Games, Vinyl Revolution, Larry and Stucky's

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Dropped our taxes off at H&R Block and went onto Dollar Tree, former home of the everything $1, now everything $1.25.  Still cheap.  Then went to Aldi, another inexpensive place selling groceries.

Stopped at Wendy's and had one of their great breakfast sausage sandwiches, now just $1.  I would put that up against any fast food breakfast sandwich, especially at that price (sadly temporarily).

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SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Wike up to...SNOW!!  Didn't stick though.

Drove to the McHenry Savings Bank on Il-31 where the McHenry Area Historical Society was having a meeting and presentation on board games.  The presenter had around fifty old games, including one from Germany during WW II.

On the way home, stopped at the Vinyl Frontier record store and bought five CDs.

In the afternoon, I went to Larry Verjinski's wake.  He was a former student and friend of ours as well as one-time commander of the Fox Lake American Legion.

That evening, met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's for dinner and karaoke.  George and I are getting quite good at that classic old song "It's Hard to Be Humble."

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Went to the McHenry American Legion in the afternoon.

--RoadDog

Ending March: No Sliders for Me, Boring Elite 8, Stucky's, Cullom Knoll and Legion

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

I then drove over to White Castle to buy some Sliders, but there must have been 12 cars in line at the drive-thru.  I tried the front door, but it was still locked.  Come on guys, you can open up now.  So, no Sliders for me.

Disappointed, I got back in the car and drove home, stopping along the way at the new Popeye's in McHenry and bought the shrimp box which was quite good (but not Sliders).

We went to Stucky's and enjoyed the $1 pints and watched two very boring games in the Elite 8.  I guess we got spoiled in the NCAA Tournament up to now with all those upsets and close games.  Those Sweet Sixteen ones Thursday and Friday were eight of the best-ever Tournament games.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27

We went to Cullom Knoll in McCullom Lake near McHenry for their $6 pizza special and $6 pitchers.  Then checked out the newly redone inside of the McHenry American Legion before going to Stucky's on the way home for the NASCAR party.  I actually was watching the NASCAR race more than the NCAA Tournament games as they were again blowouts.

Here's hoping that the Final Four will be better than the Elite 8.

--RoadDog

The Second St. Patrick's Weekend: That Great Tournament!! Margaritaville, Ultimate Jukebox, CB&C, Stucky's and the PLAV

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Yesterday was a great day for college basketball, especially with that St. Peter's (#15) upset of Kentucky (#2).  I had to loon up to find it where this college was.  It turns out to be in Jersey City, New Jersey, two miles from New York City. I don't like Kentucky at all.  

Anyway, it was just one upset or close game after another on Friday.  That's the way I like my NCAA Tournament games.  We didn't even go anywhere.  I just enjoyed my Margaritaville Bar in the basement.  I've got a fully stocked refrigerator, a TV in the corner of the bar and the Ultimate Jukebox (300 discs).

Why go anywhere else?

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Again, saw a bunch of games in Margaritaville before going to Stucky's in Johnsburg where we had the corned beef & cabbage (cb&c) dinners.  I sure wish we had cb&c dinners more often during the year besides just around this time.

Now, a perfect cb&c bite consists of equal parts corned beef and cabbage, heavily peppered and with a dash of horseradish and/or mustard.  But, I hate when I run out of corned beef or cabbage before the other.  Not cool man.

Had a great time watching the tournament games and singing karaoke.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

We were hoping to check out the newly remodeled McHenry American Legion, but there were too many cars parked outside it.  So ended up at the Polish Legion of American Veterans around the corner and had a great time as we know a lot of people there as well.

Afterwards, we found Stucky's was closed so went home and watched some more great Tournament games at Margaritaville.

--RoadDog

Going Green for Paddy's Day: Stucky's for Fish Fry and Dublin Burger, Moose Lodge for CB&C and Back to Stucky's

FRIDAY, MARCH 11

We met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's in Johnsburg.  Everyone had a fish fry but me since they have one of my favorite hamburgers, the Dublin Burger for just the month of March, something about a St. Patrick's thing.

This burger consists of a half pound of beef on a marble rye bun along with corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut.  This is one of my all-time favorites.  But just once a year in March, so gotta eat 'em when I can.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

Just found out that they will be tearing down my freshman dorm at NIU, Lincoln Hall.  A bit of history goes with it.  They already have torn down Liz's dorm, Douglas Hall.  Lincoln and Douglas Halls were built at the same time in the early 1960s.

This is the day many places are celebrating St. Patrick's Day, especially McHenry and Lake Villa.  McHenry has a parade, bar crawl, dying of the Fox River to green and a huge tent with bands all day and e into the evening.  But, today and yesterday are two of the coldest days I ever remember.  Temps were in the low 20s, but the wind really blew it through you.

As such, we didn't go to anything.  We did drive to McHenry to go to the Legion, but there were cars parked all over the place so decided not to try to get in.  Drove over to the McHenry Moose Lodge and had a corned beef & cabbage dinner and then to Stucky's for $1 drafts and karaoke.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

We went to Stucky's on the afternoon for their NASCAR party.

--RoadO'Dog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

March Coming in Like a Gas Gouge: Gas Gouge!! Sunnyside, Legion, Band, Stuck's and Karaoke

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

Gas prices are going nuts around here.  Yesterday I got gas for $3.60 in Wisconsin.  It was $4 at Rock Corner on Il-173 by the Wisconsin border.  Today, gas in Spring Grove and Johnsburg was $4.10.  And, we know the problem is the GRBs from Big Oil out to make a profit from the crisis.

We went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

Well, the temps hit mid 60s.  Helps take the edge off the Gas Gouge.  I went to the Fox Lake American Legion in the afternoon and enjoyed watching the duo called the Hunnymooners from 3 to 6 p.m.  Then met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner and karaoke, not to mention the $1 draft beer pints.  Who'd have figured gas would cost four times a gallon than beers?

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

We went to Stucky's for the NASCAR race.  We aren't NASCAR fans, especially with the Bubba, but, it is a fun party there and every time there is a caution flag that is good for somebody.

--RoadDog

Last of February: Johnny's Cafe, Legion, MCCWRT, Half-Price Books, Sliders, Chili Cookoff, Band and Stucky's

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Went to Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois, for their pasta special and then the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26

I can't imagine doing more of the things I like to do around home as I did today.

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting at Panera Bread (about Sherman's March to the Sea and Through the Carolinas).  Then, on to Algonquin for Half-Price Books where I bought eight CDs and then to White Castle for a ten-pack of Sliders.  Ate two on the way home.

In the afternoon, we went to the Fox Lake American Legion for their chili cookoff and they had entertainment in the bar.  Came home and watched some movies on TV.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27

We were going to go to Sunnyside in Johnsburg, but the parking lot was too full.  Ended up at Stucky's and had a great time there.

--RoadDog