15/16 August - Traveling to CMI and back (via Chicago)

For the last 2 days we have been driving for many hours. It takes over 5 hours from Cadillac to Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin. During the trip we actually went through 4 States. Michigan, Indiana, Ilinois and Wisconsin. On the way to the camp we avoided Chicago (the traffic is horrendous there). We stopped and had lunch at Cracker Barrel, and Grant saw this sign for sale saying "In my family tree there are many nuts". Valerie said it was perfect for our family so she bought it. She is going to hand it up on the wall at home with photos of family members. She is so funny

Just before we arrived at the camp the heavens opened up so we had to stop at Walgreens so that Valerie and Kim could buy some umbrellas. Naturally when we arrived at the camp the rain had almost stopped.

The camp has been operating since the mid 1920's. It is huge. Camp Akatarawa would almost fit into the chapel at Camp Wonderland.

We went into the chapel to have a look and lucky for us Bill Himes were there so we got to have a chat with him (and get a photo with him). He actually remembered me from the 1996 trip Chicago Staff Band did when I was their tour guide. Amazing.

We then met up with Valeries kids (Andrew and Anna-Karin) and we got hugs from both of them. On that subject, it seems to be the custom in America that you hug people you meet (just like it is in Sweden). I guess I have gotten used to just shake hands when greating and farewelling people.

After a short wait we finally met the last cousin Randy & his wife Kathy. We went for dinner..... at MacDonalds. Got some nice photos of us all.

The concert was amazing and we have a few suggestions for both the Bandmaster and the Songster leader. It was worth the long trip. We also got introduced to Bill Himes replacement - Dr Harold Burgmayer. He is not as charismatic as Bill Himes. He told us that he has been to NZ several times but neither Grant or I knew that...

Earlier in the day we had discussed going to either Rockford Temple Corps or Willow Creek, and had decided on Willow Creek, but when we found out that Randy & Kathy was staying in Rockford it was reversed back to Rockford. We were going to meet at Stockholm Inn for breakfast. So after the concert (around 10.30pm) we drove to Rockford. It took about 1 hour to get there. 

We, of course, hadn't booked hotel rooms so we went to about 3 hotels before we got the 3 rooms we needed. By then it was after midnight.

The next morning we met up at Stockholm Inn at 9.30am. We had to wait for ages to get our food. It is the most popular restaurant in town, and suddenly Randy says that the meeting has been going for about 5 minutes. Allan said that family time is more important so we never made it to the meeting. Oh well, at least I have a photo of the Corps building. I had Swedish pancakes for breakfast. Yum! I have to start making them when I come home. They are so yummy with strawberry jam and whipped cream.

Randy, Allan, Grant and I was talking American football (and the deflate scandal) and Valeries eyes glazed over. Obviously the interest of sport is not family wide.

We had the pleasure to meet David's (Randys son) girlfriend and family. And again we got hugs. So cute.

I bought a small bag of polkagris candy (very expensive, but worth it) and saw a great mug on display with the words "Not only am I perfect. I'm Swedish too".

Then it was time to say farewell and start the track back to Cadillac. So we had added about 1 hour to the trip already, but Allan was kind enough (and all the others of course) to take us on the Chicago loop which take you down to the waterfront. On the way we saw the Salvation Army Training College. It was originally a mansion a wealthy man built for himself and his newly wedded wife. She died after 1 1/2 years and he later gifted it (and the whole city block of land) to the Salvation Army) 

Just a few blocks away is the Wrigley Stadium (where they play baseball). It is a really oldfashion stadium. So thrilled to have seen it>

The waterfront of Chicago is amazing. Beaches for as far as you can see, and so many boats.

We spotted buildings like the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the Trump Tower and some of the museum buildings.

For the rest of the trip Kim and Valerie on several occasions entertained us with some singing.

"I'm a little cocnut, siiting in a coco patch

Somebody came and stepped on me 

That's why I am crazy

I'm a nut (click, click)

In a rut (click click)

I'm crazy"

Very profound and spiritual.

We finally made it home just before 9pm. Man was it good to be home. Andrew and Anna-Karin arrived about an hour later. The dogs went nuts (especially Princess).

Time for bed but before that we had decided to spend the next day watching movies and just relax. A very good idea, me think

One thing I forgot to write about is that the other evening we spotted a skunk. We were told that the smell of the spray from a skunk is disgusting. Allan told us that once he got sprayed by a skunk when he was in his uniform. The spray is green in colour. He got it all over his shirt and hair. It took days to get the smell to go away (it gets into you blood stream). I think he had to get rid of the shirt. On the way to Camp Wonderland we got a wiff of the smell. Apparently, when a skunk is hit by a car it releases the spray. We can confirm is doesn't smell nice .