Gun Creek Campground Whittington, Illinois October 4

We left Arrow Rock in Missouri on Friday morning October 4th around 9:20 am and drove 272 miles, arriving at Gun Creek Campground in Whittington, Illinois around 2:30 pm. En route, we stopped at Costco in St. Louis to pick up Bella’s new medicine. I found a long line of empty parking spaces on the back side of the store so I could park Voyager and Nomad without bothering other vehicles and allowing us to more easily navigate out of the parking lot when we were finished.

We had to wait 30 minutes for the prescription to be filled and there was a Culver’s right next to the parking lot, so we indulged ourselves. The stop added about an hour to our travel time, but now Bella has her needed medications and we enjoyed one of our favorite burger places.

Gun Creek Campground

We got to Gun Creek Campground and there was no one at the entry to check us in so we proceeded to our reserved site. Just as we finished backing in a ranger stopped by to let us know there was now someone at the entry point and we could stop by after we set up and check-in. He also advised us that they had lots of skunks in park and campground, so to be on the look out for them. Especially with Bella since dogs would be curious about them and could trigger their natural defense system.

Thankfully, we never saw (or smelled) one during our entire stay.

This was another disappointing campsite, as far as upkeep and cleanliness. There was garbage in the firepit and even someone’s discarded floss pick on the ground by the site slab. I salute their dental hygiene habits but not their piggish behavior and actions.

Gun Lake Campground sits on the shores of Rend Lake in Southern Illinois. They are several different loops and overall the grounds were nice. Just wish the camp hosts kept the individual sites clean.

Flu Shots

Saturday we both got our flu shots for 2024 and stocked up on groceries. Most of the year we’re not interacting that much with people, but during the winter in Florida we have a lot more interaction with family and friends and like to have the added protection.

Sunday, as usual, was spent with me recovering from the effects of the flu shot. Every year it takes me a day to get over the flu shot. It’s not nearly as bad as the way the Covid shots hit, but it still affects me. And I’d rather experience that one day of discomfort than the full effects of the flu or Covid.

Hurricane Milton

Monday and Tuesday we spent mostly watching Hurricane Milton as it hurtled toward our family and friends in Florida. We streamed our favorite Orlando news station, WFTV – Channel 9. Tom Terry is THE man when it comes to Central Florida hurricanes. Twenty years ago he was the only meteorologist in Florida who correctly predicted Hurricane Charlie’s sudden turn in the Gulf of Mexico that brought it right across the state and through Metropolitan Orlando.

We also made a Christmas tree ornament from Bella’s paw print using a kit that Cindy got so that we would have a keepsake of our girl. Bella wasn’t quite sure what to make of us putting her paw in the clay, but she sweetly indulged us.

Wednesday we had an expected call from our friends Kirk and Laura. Back in December we had all made plans to meet during our upcoming trip to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. But as we watched the path and fury of Milton we had a feeling they might not be able to make the planned roadtrip. There could have been road damage to deal with throughout the state, not to mention possible damage to their home in Orlando. It was disappointing to know we would not be able to experience the caves with them, but it was an expected and wise decision for them not to come. Better safe than sorry.

Neither Cindy nor I slept well Wednesday night as we worried about the strong Category 4 Hurricane Milton bearing down on Central Florida.

We were up early Thursday morning to see what the aftermath of Milton was in Florida. During Hurricane Helene my niece had her home on the coast flooded, so she was staying with her mom and my brother at their home in Tampa during Milton and they sustained very little damage there. My daughter and our two oldest grandchildren had no damage at their home in Orlando. Cindy’s daughter and our middle grandchild had no damage to their home in Orlando but lost electricity during the storm. It would be 36 hours before they had their power restored. We communicated with other friends either via text or their posts on Facebook and heard that they were all OK, so we were very thankful that none had suffered more than small amounts of damage as Milton rampaged across the state and out into the Atlantic Ocean.

It could have been so much worse.

We spent the rest of the day packing and getting ready to head out on Friday for Mammoth Cave.

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