Ok, guys, I know you've been waiting for this, but yes, Larry and I will be leaving in about a week to head up to MN for my high school reunion. . 10 yrs ;). . . yeah, right. . try about 30 years! ha ha
Anyway, we thought that with the price of fuel, it was silly to ONLY drive up and back, so although it's the absolute WORST time of year for us to be gone from the business, we decided it was only LOGICAL to take a side trip, and we settled on Chicago as our "destination" after the reunion.
We're thinking we'll be visiting Wrigley field, Blue's clubs, and maybe the Navy Pier. . .haven't really done a lot of research yet. The biggie question is "Where in the WORLD can we Camp in our Bus???" Anyone "in the know" on a place to stay in TempBus that is close to some of the things we want to do? Thanks, Christy Hicks
Christy,
A lot of busnuts in MN. What part of MN?
Sounds like fun...............Showing up for a reunion in a bus.....bet that will get
the tongues wagging!
Skip
Sorry, guess I should have said that. . .ha ha. . .I'm from Winona, MN. . .at least, that's where I went to high school .. . .I actually started out on a farm between Fountain City and Arcadia Wisconsin, moved to Winona when I was 10, and lived there through graduation. We lived so far out in the country that we were at the END of the bus route. . . the kids on the very next farm went to a school in a whole 'nother county, ha ha. Christy Hicks
Christy, can't help you with Chicago, but when are you going to be in Winona?
Hay Christy & Larry,
You can't go... It's summertime! >:( Just think of the mess you will come back to.. ;D
Impossible for me this year, I went through too many employees in the past year to trust them for more then a weekend.
It's getting busy as hell around here and we need it!
You guy's have a great time and be sure to visit Michigan St. for some great dining..
Nick-
QuoteChristy, can't help you with Chicago, but when are you going to be in Winona?
The reunion is June 28th, so we'll get there probably just a day or so ahead of time, and we'll stay long enough to visit a few friends and take a drive down memory lane before turning towards Chicago. You in the area????
QuoteYou can't go... It's summertime! Just think of the mess you will come back to
Well, of course, you know it's going to be a real nightmare to get all my work "pre-done" and "pre-plan" everything, and the reality is for us poor working fools is that most weekdays, I will spend quite a bit of time on Messenger on my laptop, in constant contact with my office, doing what I do. . solving problems, kicking butts (both employee and builder, ha ha) ;), ordering equipment, etc. As I told Larry. . . "Sure, I'd rather not have to work when we go on a trip, but I'd sure rather have a "working vacation" than no vacation at all. Right now, those are my two choices, so we takes what we can get!" :D
QuoteImpossible for me this year, I went through too many employees in the past year to trust them for more then a weekend.
We ARE lucky in that matter. . . our newest emplyee has been here a couple of years already and is our nephew. We waited for quite a few years for him to get tired of running his own framing company and look for a steady job, so when he finally told Larry he was hanging up the hammer, Larry came dashing into my office to give me the heads up so I could hire him before he found something. He's been everything we hoped for. Adding him to our existing crew gives us a close, tight knit group. . . oh, forgot, I did hire another plumber last year. . which gave us 3, count 'em THREE Davids working for us. He's been called by his last name, Hook, ever since, and he's been a good addition to our crew too. I think the best thing our company has going is the great crew we have, and usually, they'll put extra effort out if I'm gone, to try to make Margie's life just a little easier. . . can't figure out why they enjoy making mine so much harder ::) ??? :D.
QuoteIt's getting busy as hell around here and we need it! You guy's have a great time and be sure to visit Michigan St. for some great dining..
I'm so glad to hear that you're busy again. That's awesome! ;D Luckily, here in Oklahoma, things haven't been as bad as in other areas, and our housing values crept up yet a little bit more last year, rather than dropping. Our biggest threat is fuel prices, and, of course, material increases across the board, especially copper, equipment, pvc, etc. I did make a big buy on freon this Winter, which protected us from the big jump it took this Spring, but not enough to cover all those other price increases.
So, Michigan is a good street for restaurants, huh? We don't necessarily like "trendy" places, just good food and good service.
Thanks for the advice and have a great day! Christy
Be sure to go to Tino's pizza!!!!!!!!! never had any thing like it, ever!
Quote from: NewbeeMC9 on June 17, 2008, 03:15:44 PM
Be sure to go to Tino's pizza!!!!!!!!! never had any thing like it, ever!
I think maybe you meqn Gino's. They are legendary and well earned that status.
More info:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=7651.msg74983#msg74983 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=7651.msg74983#msg74983)
Christy, stop and look at the coaches at Liberty they are nice folks and will give you a tour of the plant they are located on the north side of Chicago you and Larry be safe
Personally, except for seeing Wrigley, and the water front in Chicago, I'd rather spend time on the Wisconsin river at the Wisconsin Dells. I worked out of Chicago for 12 years (truck driving) and learned very quickly to hate both the traffic and the weather changes. Believe me, Los Angeles has nothing on the traffic in Chicago. At least in Los Angeles you can get off the freeways and not worry about running into a low overpass on an alternative route. I would spend very little of my valuable time in Chicago. There are many other things to see in Wisconsin, and other parts of Illinois, Indiana. Good Luck, TomC
QuoteI think maybe you meqn Gino's
hmmmmm, sounds really, REALLY good 8). . I can feel those 20 lbs I lost this last year coming back to visit me already! Yum!
Quotestop and look at the coaches at Liberty
Now, do you REALLY think that's a good idea for us. . . remember, three buses. .. ALREADY. . do I REALLY need more??? ha ha :P
QuoteI'd rather spend time on the Wisconsin river at the Wisconsin Dells
Well, yes, the Dells are fun, but since I grew up in Winona,MN, (which qualifies me to be a true "river rat", and my grandparents lived fairly close to the Dells, we've done that trip plenty of times, ;). The ducks are cool, though, aren't they!
Quotehate both the traffic
I'm thinking we won't do a heck of a lot of DRIVING inside Chicago, instead will try to take advantage of public transportation. . .so I might advise everyone to stay tuned for THAT portion of the trip, ha ha. :D Here in Oklahoma, well, let's just say that we have too much land per person to have much of a public transportation system, sor our experience is EXTREMELY limited when it comes to navigating such a system. ???
Quoteand the weather changes
Ok, don't forget you're talking to someone who lives in Oklahoma now! My first Winter here, it was 70 degrees on Thursday, Friday it turned cold and by Saturday, we had a full blown blizzard :o. Sunday, I've got my snow shovel out and I'm shoveling the front walk. . . the neighbors pour out of their houses. . . "what ARE you doing?" "WHERE in the WORLD did you get that kind of a shovel" "Honey, why are you shoveling that snow???" :o
My response, of course, was, "Well, I brought the shovel with me from MN, and I'm shoveling the sidewalk! Don't you guys DO that down here?" ???
"Oh honey!" was the response. . ."It'll all be GONE tomorrow!" ;)
Sure enough, by Tuesday, it was 70 degrees! I packed that shovel away and never touched it again!
Christy Hicks
P.S. Come on guys, keep the ideas coming. . . we've got to kill several days before the first home game at Wrigley on July 8th, after which, we'll be racing on down to St. Louis, Nashville, and Memphis in a flurry of visits and activities before we get home.
Christy, if you email me your mailing address i will send you something that i think you will think is kinda cool and will want to take on your trip with you. ;D
Sure, I'm game. . .it's chicks@ionet.net.
Yep, I'm up in Maple Grove. Unfortunately, on the 28th I'll be out in SD somewhere. We are leaving after work on the 27th for a 3 week vacation! YEAH!
Are you going to be up here earlier?
After a couple or three decades of running into and out of Chicago and suburbs hauling groceries, equipment, machinery, steel, livestock, hazardous waste, paper and hospital waste, I think my very favorite part of it was the great big signs that said, "Now Leaving Chicago City Limits"! :D
Have fun Christy!
Dallas
Hi Tom,
The Dells now has fewer attractions since the dam that held back Lake Delton was washed out in the recent floods we have had in the area. Tourism is being greatly affected as a result. Resorts have received lots of cancelations, Tommy Barttlet water ski show area has little water, the Ducks won't be using the lake, no jet ski use or fishing on the lake, and many other things that depended on the lake are negatively affected.
Hi Christyhicks,
We live at La Crescent, MN and would have enjoyed a visit with you but we are co-hosting a Midwest Busnuts rally June 20-22 and a Pioneers rally June 27-29 at Rochester, MN so we will be gone for 10 days.
Good luck with your trip, Sam 4106
Hi Christy,
We live outside of Chicago.
What about something like staying at the Empress RV Resort in Joliet, then drive a short distance, taking the train ( Metra ) to downtown Chicago so as to avoid driving to and around the city? The trains are quite nice. You and husband can do quite well with a couple of quick taxi rides from one area to another. We've found most things w/in walking distance of where the train lets you out downtown. We could provide some assistance in that endeavor.
http://www.argosy.com/chicago/casinoandhotel.asp (http://www.argosy.com/chicago/casinoandhotel.asp) We've not stayed at this location, so it would need to be researched a bit.
We'd love to have you stay here, but our lone hookup is in use now as we pretty much live out of our bus kitchen, etc as we go through a major home renovation project. e.g, our house is out of commission!!
Anyways, Let me know if that is a help, and if we can offer any kind of assistance.
Kind Regards, Phil
PS - I've also sent you my cell # in case you need a direct line.
As Phil suggested...park it outside of town and take push/pull train into town and take an elevated train to wherever you want to go. I have done that many times whenever in Chicago. On Sunday, you can sight-seeing ride almost all over from the loop for a price.
About driving and parking in Chicago.....a big mistake....unless on Sunday but parking is expensive. Then it maybe too far to walk and time consuming.
I suggest a 2 hours tour bus such as Gray Line of the north side. Or any of #01 to 07 tours. Not cheap but you see & learn a lot more for your money.
http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/us/chicago.go?mode=activities&cd=&cat=Show%20All%20Tours&index=1&itemcount=20
About eating....all kinds everywhere. Depend how much you want spend...from fast food to an old restored warehouse Restaurant that specialize on sea food.
Shaw's Crab House (I would go to 21 Hubbard St)
http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/chicago/index.shtml
Or many restaurants along the State St., Wabash Ave. and Rush St. in the area of the famous old water tower & Chicago Ave. & State St. Corner.
Take horse & buggy ride near the old water tower at night or day.
Chicago has many museums. My favorite is Museum of Science and Industry. It takes at least a day to see most of it.
http://www.msichicago.org/
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/
If like transportation as well farming, walk through a working "heart" and many, many more. BTW they have the World War II captured German U-505 submarine. Explore all the most fascinating aspects of how humankind has flown, soared, chugged and sped throughout the years. Climb aboard the engine of the Empire State Express 999, the first machine to break the 100 mph barrier; walk through a real United 727, hanging from the Museum's balcony; take in the Spirit of America, the car that drove more than 530 miles per hour in 1965; or simply gaze in awe of the historic aircraft that fly above you ...
That just one of many museums.
Getting around the windy city:
http://maps.google.com/help/maps/transit/chicago/
Train Schedule:
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/rail/rail.html
So plan your trip well and have fun renting a bike to rides along the shore.
Three day at minimum to get the touch of the thing to see & enjoy eating.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
QuoteAre you going to be up here earlier?
No, unfortunately, :(, we need to wait until the last minute to go on up, as I'm trying to do three work's worth of planning, schedules, estimates, layouts, etc. before we leave. I went into the office late this afternoon and did the estimate and layouts for two big houses we will likely have to start while I'm out of town, so that I could concentrate without the phone interrupting me. I've got the hvac guys booked solid for the next three weeks and plumbers almost as tight. We'll leave Tuesday morn and take two or three days to drive up to MN, and we plan on hitting Chicago somewhere around the 2nd of July. We have to hang there until July 8, which is the first Cubs home game we'll be able to attend, then gradually we'll work out way down to St. Louise, Nashville, Memphis and back home around the 14-15th or so. Maybe we'll connect next time.
QuoteWe live at La Crescent, MN and would have enjoyed a visit with you but we are co-hosting. . .
Man, that's just a hop and a skip too yet. We used to rollerskate at a rink in LaCrescent, every Saturday night, back in the middle 70's. Sometimes, 1/2 the neighborhood piled into my parents van and rode down there with us!
QuoteAnyways, Let me know if that is a help, and if we can offer any kind of assistance.
Thanks for thinking of us, and we did check out the Empress, which will be out next choice if the Michigan City Campground doesn't have room for us. A helpful member of GMC Busnuts, Chris Fine, told us about it. . . so we're keeping our fingers crossed they'll have room for us! Thanks for your offer of help. . . I'll keep your number handy, as I'm still a bit nervous about the whole "public transit" thing, ha ha. ;)
QuoteSo plan your trip well . . . Three day at minimum to get the touch of the thing to see & enjoy eating.
Thanks for all of the helpful advice and links. Looks like we'll probably spend about a week in Chicago, so we should be able to explore several neat places. We know we want to do the Wrigley field ballgame thing, the Science & Industry Museum, and a couple of blues clubs, so the rest of the time there is sort of up in the air right now. . thinking maybe we'll just ride the train and take a tour or something the first day. . . maybe do the Sears Tower thing.
QuoteHave fun Christy!
Us? :o Have fun? :o. . . Do we know how to do anything else??? ha ha :D :D
Overall, our bus buddys have been really helpful in trying to help us figure out where to stay and what to do in a new city, and ALL of your help and thoughts have been REALLY appreciated!!!! ;D
We picked up some dramamine for our "Dallas, the Maine Coon Kitty", JUST IN CASE he has any motion sickness left in his system. . . we've got a full tank of Diesel, the lawn is mowed, laundry is done, and we've got less than 48 hrs to go before we hit the road! I am SO EXCITED! ;D Thanks again to everyone! :-* Christy Hicks
Christy & Larry enjoy the trip! And remember we are located 1 hr south of Paducah, KY at the end of the Purchase PKWY and the same distance from Nashville as Memphis on the TN/KY line if you want to stop in yer more than welcome! And by all means if yer anywhere near here and need help CALL US! ;D BK ;D
Quoteif you want to stop in yer more than welcome!
We sure appreciate the offer. . .I'll look you up on the map and see how far out of the way you are, and what roads go through there. Hopefully we won't need your help, goodness knows we've had some interesting things happen on our various trips, but I appreciate the offer of assistance. . it's ALWAYS great to have busnuts on standby! :D ;D Christy Hicks