Category Archives: Sports

Illinois Dells

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Who’d have thought?  Despite all the Illinois license plates in Wisconsin Dells, turns out they have a “Dells” of their own.  I only saw one water park, however.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=41.30824,-89.04247&z=14&t=T

Matthessian State Park in Oglesby; the Vermillion River cuts deep into sandstone bedrock on its way to joining the Illinois River just upstream from an impressive, valley-spanning bridge on I-39.  It is quite literally the only interesting terrain anywhere on I-39 in Illinois.  Dozens of miles of flat vistas of corn and soybeans flank this one imposing place making its contrast with its surroundings all the more outstanding.

I stocked up on cupcakes from a place in nearby North Utica and had a very agreeable dinner at an inconspicuous bar and grill in downtown Oglesby called M.J.’s.  Shabby on the outside, modern and welcoming on the inside.  A framed portrait of Brian Urlacher and Aaron Rodgers staring each other down during the 2011 NFC Championship game graces the back bar:

https://i0.wp.com/www.tddaily.com/static/uploads/2013/05/Aaron%2BRodgers%2BBrian%2BUrlacher%2B2011%2BNFC%2BChampionship%2BxIUEkRI7xDwl.jpg

(photo credit-http://www.tddaily.com/static/uploads/2013/05/Aaron+Rodgers+Brian+Urlacher+2011+NFC+Championship+xIUEkRI7xDwl.jpg)

No partisan rhetoric, just two outstanding athletes exchanging professional pleasantries between plays.  And I saw it mounted on the wall in a bar in the heart of Bear Country.  Now that’s some ‘love of the game’ type stuff right there.  It’s like symbolism and junk.

-reporting from Exit 54 in Oglesby, Illinois

The Quad

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I’ve got a couple off days in this quartet of river towns straddling the Mississippi.  Spent much of today doing some fishing in the Rock River.   Lots of activity there!  Pelicans, cormorants, herons, hoards of little minnows that would nibble on your feet if you waded in.  I caught one drum, half a dozen wee catfish and this feisty little guy:Image

That’s a softshell turtle.  I was able to unhook it, but he got to keep my worm.  There were dozens of these things scooting around.

I was disappointed to see the local minor league baseball team is on the road this week.  It looks like a nice little stadium there in Davenport.  It’s a Midwest League team called the River Rats.  I may see about procuring some swag tomorrow.

My hotel room has a nice view of the cloverleaf interchange between I-74 and I-280 by the airport.  It’s one of only a handful of places where one needs to navigate a loop to follow the ‘mainline’ of an interstate highway.  (One of the other ones is the next interchange east!)

I expect to be in this area for the next several days so I have plenty of time to explore.