May 23-June 24, 2016-Our visit in Illinois- Starved Rock State Park~Lunch with Ron & Terrie~

Thursday June 2, 2016-We hope it doesn't rain today our plans are to go to Starved Rock State Park for a picnic lunch & a little walking around, Otis.....Are you up to some walking????

He may NOT look like he's ready to go, but all we have to do is pick up his leash & he's ready to roll!

We pack our picnic lunch & head off to Ottawa. Starved Rock is a real nice park, right on the Illinois River.

               It seems we just finished having oatmeal but.....Lennie is always ready for a meal!?!

 I hope we're not pushing Otis, he's still favoring his leg. If it's a short walk, he'll walk all paws down, he's discovered he can run faster on his 3 legs than 3 good legs & one gimpy leg.

After our lunch, Lennie went to the Lodge to get a map of the trails. Because of Otis' condition, we drive to the trail head.

                                         We chose to walk to the LaSalle Canyon Waterfalls.

                                                         There goes "Andy & Opie"!!!!

 It's really pretty here. We've had soooooo much rain that it's pretty wet plus the fact there's so much foliage the paths probably never really dry out.....

               Oh noooooo, I thought this was going to be an easy walk to some waterfalls.....

                                                        They're always waiting on me!

Giving Otis a break, or waiting for me to catch up!

Look.....HUMP DAY!!!

Only 1/3 mile to go! Hey, if Otis can do it....I can do it!

                           At this point I can finally hear the sound of the waterfalls

                                                  Lot of KIDS were down there playing!!!

 Because there's been so much rain, the falls were abundant, without a lot a rain, they usually dry up by June. I guess we timed it right, & here I had been complaining about all the rain!!!

                                                          It wasn't just kids having fun!

                               Taking a break before we head back to the trail head parking lot.

                                                           "I feel sooooo safe here with dad...."

Okay......here we go!!!!

After this day there's only one thing left to do.....head back to the Campgrounds to relax!

Friday June 3, 2016-When we saw Ron & Terrie at Reese's graduation party, we made plans to go to Harner's Restaurant for lunch sometime while we're here. Ron likes to go there on the first Friday of the month, that's Pig Roast Day!

Ron's lady friend, Terrie had recently gone through cancer diagnoses, including surgery & chemo. We weren't sure if she was going to make it for lunch as she hadn't been feeling good, which is understandable for what she's been going through. I was glad to see she made it, I feel like the 3rd wheel when I'm the only female present in the group!!!

Harner's has been in business for over 40 years. It's always a good place to go eat &....you get a free cookie on your way out!

I wanted to do some shopping after lunch but Lennie wanted to go back to the campgrounds to Otis. He felt he over walked Otis yesterday! We compromised, we stopped at one store, Carson's, I didn't want to shop at CARSON'S, but in their basement.....they have some real bargains! I had just started looking when Lennie said...."Otis called" I swear.....I'm taking Otis' cell phone away from him!!!