I carried the chair to a local prairie. The park district had cut and burned most of the prairie, so I had to settle for this shot. On my way back home, I passed two young girls who were performing acrobatics in a front yard. I heard one of them say, “He’s carrying a chair.” The other one, with a tone of authority, said, “He’s a photographer.”
I had time for one last adventure. I drove about 20 miles west of Freeport on increasingly rural roads. At the intersection of two dirt tracks in the middle of miles of farmland, I found a small park and a stone monument on the site of Battle of Kellogg’s Grove which took place here in June, 1832.
A marker gave the history of the battle.
A double row of grave stones sat at the base of the monument.
I took some photos of the monument and a newer monument nearby because it seemed like the thing to do.
There was an old cabin in the park, but nothing to tell me if it was significant in any way.
The weather was delightful, the view, for Illinois, was impressive and the quiet was pleasant. There were no other people around, of course. You could wander around Illinois for a very long time before happening upon this place by accident.
I stayed for perhaps half an hour, then headed north on another dirt road to Route 20 and home.
My wife called me three times on the way. The first time, she asked me to pick up some Cool Whip. The second time, she said she needed a dozen eggs. The third time, she added powdered sugar and light sour cream to the list. I didn’t know what we were having for supper, but I guessed it would be something white.
Just west of Rockford, I passed this sign.
What on earth? The location of my next adventure? Anybody want to join me?
It was a grand day. In a sense, it was my birthday present to myself and it was exactly what I was in the mood for.
The end.
Little Cubs Field is located in a Freeport city park. It’s really very impressive, in a silly sort of way.
There is ivy on the outfield walls grown from Wrigley Field cuttings. The Cubs’ retired numbers fly from the flagpoles. A basket lines the outfield walls and signs mark the location of Sheffield and Waveland Avenues. For whatever reason, the statue of Harry Carey is missing from its pedestal, but I’m not sure this is a bad thing. One bit that isn’t very authentic is that the scoreboard has the Cubs beating the Mets 21-0.
The sports store across the street even had the Cubs’ tragic numbers and the slogan “Eamus Catuli!” which in Latin literally means “Go Whelps!”
I didn’t stay long. It wasn’t that impressive. But if I had gotten the chance to play here when I was a kid … I’m pretty sure I could have hit one out — the outfield wall is about 10 feet behind the infield.
My first thought after buying the chair was that I wished I’d had it in the morning when I toured the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square in Freeport, Illinois. My second thought was that I was only three blocks away. Lucky for me, Lincoln and Douglas were still arguing.
I put my chair in the car and set out walking again. I went up one street and down the next, looking for Dragon Popcorn. I still didn’t find it, but I did find A Cupcakery. It was almost 1:00 by this time, and I was hungry.
The cupcakes for sale were smaller than I’d expected. The woman on the right had just finished eating one and was singing its praises. I heard her mention whole raspberries, so I asked for one of the same kind. She assured me that I would love it. The clerk/baker asked me if I wanted it wrapped to go, and I told her I thought I’d just eat it as I walked down the street.
It was very good, although she went a little overboard with the lemon frosting. I asked her how to get to Dragon Popcorn. She directed me to an open doorway across the street and told me to walk through the building. I’d come out on the other side, and Dragon Popcorn would be just a few doors down.
I followed her directions and had soon gone an entire block without seeing it. I did see the City Coffee Company, however.
It advertised sandwiches. My entire diet for the day so far had consisted of two Frosted Raspberry Pop-Tarts, a huge triple chocolate ice cream cone and a raspberry cupcake with lemon frosting. (I hadn’t broken into the Freeport Pretzels yet.) I was craving something non-sugary, so I went inside and ordered a ham and Swiss sandwich.
A guy with a Mohawk haircut made it for me, and although it doesn’t look like much, it was very, very good. How do people do that?
I asked Mr. Mohawk about Dragon Popcorn, and he said it was right up the street — in the direction I’d just come from. I headed back the way he pointed and finally found it.
It was closed. A sign on the door said, “We’re in hiding right now, but the basket will be done by 5:00.” It sounded like they were only expecting one customer that day, and it wasn’t me.
I took a few more photos on the way back to the car, then headed out for further fun.
