Craig Allen’s Summer Vacation

You may have noticed that, when the music has come out to play the past two weekends...I have been...missing.  And while it has been quite a few years since I have written a "what I did on my summer vacation" essay...I don't want you to miss out on the fun and frolic...so here goes:

On Monday afternoon (September 14th), I headed out to the Poconos to see my mom...and get a good night's sleep before driving to the Midwest.

Last November, I drove to St Louis for my second cousin's wedding. I had a great time, and promised to return.

Now that the summer is done...and all my NJ101.5 friends that I fill-in for (or engineer for) have gone on their vacations...I can go on mine!

Unlike Joe V's sojourn across the USA...I am the only driver.

I put the pedal to the metal...driving from the Poconos, to just inside the Illinois state line on Rt 70...12 hours and 852 miles...before pulling into the same rest stop as last November, and curling up on my back seat for a nap.

As I get back on the road, I am listening to my buddy Bill Spadea, on the Radio Pup app (go to the app store and download it now...its FREE). He's talking with you on NJ101.5 about doing things ALONE. I text him that I am driving cross-country SOLO.

I drove the remaining 175 miles...

As you see above, 1,029 miles total, arriving in St Louis, at 11am Wednesday morning.

Its FAMILY time...and my vacation is ON.

My Aunt and Uncle's business makes bowling balls:

Many of my cousins work at the plant. Of course, I want to learn, I want to help!

They are busy filling a large order of balls for shipment to Korea.

I ask: "What do you need me to do?" So...I am also "working" on my vacation.

After marking several "tables" of balls...

...I move over to another step in bowling ball manufacture...

...the lathe.

Thursday and Friday, I help at the bowling ball plant. Very interesting, and exacting work!

Saturday is an all-sports day! The morning starts with Josh's son's soccer game...and while Shawn is scoring a goal...

...his twin sisters are playing a few fields away!

Next: Cousin Jim's kids...

...its a 50+ miles run to the north, for Logan's football game.

Then, back for Caleb's football game.

Both teams WIN!

On Sunday, its on to Cousin Jason's place. Yes, its a whirlwind family vacation!

Kya has a trampoline...and the BIG kid in me can't resist!

Its all fun and games...before some serious cheerleading!

And...

...and serious SILLINESS!

After dinner, its dinnertime for the "pets."

Ian and Kya have raised several ducks from eggs...so, while the ducks are afraid of the barking neighborhood dogs...

...they are friendly to people...especially those bearing cracked corn! COOL!

On Monday afternoon, I headed back to Ferguson.

Last November, just before the not guilty verdict (which brought on another round of looting and burning), I shared my pictures and thoughts about this formerly quiet St. Louis suburb, which was suddenly thrust into the world spotlight.

This time, the store windows aren't covered over in plywood...

...although some businesses will never re-open.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon for a walk. I said hello to people that I encountered along the way, and got many smiles in return.

There are signs of hope...and I think that Ferguson gets a bad rap. The residents and business owners are nice people...

After my walking tour, I return to the bowling ball plant, and write (in detail) about Ferguson NOW. The changes I see from my last (first) visit.

Click here to see more pictures, and to read the Ferguson-only blog, on my Craig's List page!

As I have said several times over the past year, please keep Ferguson in your prayers.

Monday evening, I get on the Metro with my cousin Johnny, and head into St Louis...

...for my first St. Louis Cardinals game!

Busch Stadium is beautiful! As you enter, there is a great view of the Arch!

The Cardinals start out slow...stranding players...til they get "hot" in the 8th inning...

...beating the Reds, 2-1. What a FUN night...with a WIN, at my first Cards game!

After pitching in again at the plant

Now, I know enough to just see what needs to be done, and jump in...

Tuesday evening, we head out to spend the evening with Jim and his family, at their new home.

Had it been a little  (OK...a LOT) warmer...

I would have had fun on the home made "slip n slide!"

Besides a great dinner and (adult) conversation...the night was all "fun and games!"

What's the night, without  a good Nerf war?

But...what happens when your gun runs out of ammo?? And, you're being double-teamed?

Below:

The photo, after the "truce." Thanks for the generous terms, guys!

How can I spend 8 days with my bowling-ball-making family, without going to the bowling alley? Seriously!

And, no...I did NOT bowl (I love it, though!)...this is league bowling, and I am NOT part of the Visionary Bowling Team...

I am there for moral support...to see the other team members that I met last November (including Paul, who was in St. Louis radio for over 30 years, and now enjoys my show via the Radio Pup app)...

...and, I'm there for the PIZZA!

Thursday afternoon (September 24th), its time to say goodbye to St.Louis, and head up I-55 to Aurora, Illinois (a Chicago suburb), to see Jeff...the only cousin who does not live in the St. Louis area.

We have a fun evening talking about life...politics...and I'm joking around (one of the things I do best). Oh....and the BIG dog...

...is afraid of me.

What a WUS!

Now, its is Friday morning. Are you still with me? We've got another state to visit!

I SHOULD have taken the time to snap a "selfie" by the "Welcome To Wisconsin" sign...but, I was on a tight schedule.

I had decided to wait until I got into "America's Dairyland" to fill up the tank, knowing that gas would be "cheaper" than in Illinois...

I was WRONG. Janesville Wisconsin is the most expensive gas my trip (while I am reading on social media that gas in NJ had dipped below $2). BUMMER.......

But, the 5 and a half hour drive to Northern Wisconsin, is the most beautiful, scenic part of my multi-state journey!

As I arrive in Monico, Wisconsin, Friday evening...it is abundantly clear that...I won't be driving again...for awhile...

On Saturday and Sunday, there is crisp, cool weather, and the great outdoors to enjoy...and football a-plenty on the tube!

Sunday afternoon, I am invited to take part in something that I have read about...but never seen before. Rick asks me: "What does a former radio engineer do in his spare time?"

I'm thinking...start up a "pirate" radio station....but he says that he joins a "paranormal society" as the sound engineer and "resident skeptic."

We gather up his equipment, and drive a few miles to the (small) town of Jenings.

It literally is a 4-way stop, with 3 buildings, and a private home (that you can't see in this photo). It was once a thriving logging town!

We walked down the street to an overgrown cemetery, that the town would like to restore.

Johnann is the oldest person buried in the cemetery, which started falling on hard times in the 1930's.

After finding more burial sites that were overgown...we headed back into town.

This saloon has been restored to its former glory, and is operated by the local historical society. It is one of only a few remaining "stovewood" structures in the United Sates!

Above: What is stovewood?  Below: Stovewood as seen from inside the saloon!

There are many historical artifacts to see...

...and story plaques to read, inside the "stovewood" building!

One of the other "stores" in town is now run by the historic society, as a greeting center. It was built as a competitor to the "stovewood" building...

...and this is the site where another paranormal reading was done...

...on the second floor...the residence area. Everything is recorded...and the group will go over the recordings to see if there is something that couldn't be heard in "real time."

This was a very interesting experience...I am a skeptic (like Rick)...but I am left with something to think about...and research to do!

As we walked out...the lunar eclipse had just begun...the "blood moon."

In Northern Wisconsin, the sky was CLEAR: no light pollution! Incredible sight!

Monday...was a rain day...

Tuesday (September 29th) was a practice fishing day!

Rick has "built" a man-made lake on his property...its stocked...

...and the place to go to relax!

And practice. This guy from New Jersey hasn't fished since I was last in Northern Wisconsin in October 2008. At that time, I fished in a tournament with my friend, on the Chippewa Flowage" in northwestern Wisconsin.

This past Wednesday, Rick and I joined his fishing buddy, Joe, on Pelican Lake!

Its a beautiful, large body of water!

And...I caught fish!

And...

Rick got one, too!

None were big enough to keep...or to take back, and put in Rick's private lake.

Fish and release is FUN...and challenging...and relaxing!

One more look...before I have to leave Pelican Lake!

Thursday morning was "crunch time."

My vacation is QUICKLY coming to a close.

Time to pack up, and hit the road for my grandmother's place in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

5 hours, and 275 miles later, I pulled into the driveway of the house where I spent many Christmas and Summer vacations, in my youth!

The house was built by my great-grandfather in 1910! And, it has remained in the family!

On my way back from grabbing something for dinner, I had to stop by Lake Michigan!

As a kid, it always seemed so far away, but the lake is only a few blocks away!

The water is actually warmer than the air.......

And, I can barely hold my iPad, in the strong winds, as I snap the photo proof that I visited the lake...

I turn back for one more look...and see:

I haven't been in my grandparent's home in 4 years...and I don't know when I will be back. So...with a heavy heart, as I must get on the road...I have a schedule to keep...

I say goodbye to Kenosha, a mere 3 hours after I arrive.

Its through Chicago...

and onto I-80 for the long trip...East.

I had figured that I would stop for a power nap at some point in the middle of the night...but, at 3am I was doing fine...and decided to press on. To quote the Cyndi Lauper song from the 1980's: "I Drove All Night."

I had figured that I would arrive at my mom's place in the Poconos (once I decided not to stop) at around Noon on Friday.

I arrived at 10am! A new record... (13 hours).

I napped (twice)...too tired to really sleep.

Friday evening, I headed back into the Great Garden State, so that I would be ready to entertain you on New Jersey 101.5 on Saturday afternoon.

As I was coming into the "homestretch" on the show yesterday afternoon, I did the final tally...and turned it into an on-air break:

That's a LOT of driving...for ONE person!

And. a GREAT vacation with family and friends!

THANKS to all who helped make it so special for me!

And, thanks to YOU for coming along with me...in "spirit."