2002 FALL CRUISE

            The early weather report for Sunday was for cold and rain, but Sunday morning dawned with clear blue skies, a light breeze, and crisp 45-degree temperature with bright warm sunshine.  Judy and I put up the top on the Mustang and put on our flannel sweatshirts to soften the early morning chill.  We knew that our most hardy SIMA members would show up early for the cruise.

            We rolled into the parking lot at 9^th & Belle Sts. in Alton at 9:00 sharp.   Four more convertibles and a fastback were parked and waiting for more company.  Joe and Janet Phillips arrived early; Jack and Marilyn Kell, Bill and Joyce Meyers, Nick and LuAnna Kirby, and Bob and Fran Colter came next.  We made the 6^th and last Mustang to arrive. 

            We visited for several minutes, and then laid out the plan for the day’s trip.  Most had not put on the feedbag yet, so the suggestion was made by Joe and Janet to stop at the Piasa creek harbor restaurant, on the River Road, for breakfast.  Good Idea!!  Joe and Janet led our Tour through Alton and up the River Road.  If you’re looking for a place to stop, all in our party were in agreement that the food was reasonable and very good.  The marina there has a new Restaurant/Bar/Gift shop/Grocery and Gas station.  Everything is first class, including the rest rooms. 

            We cruised into Grafton with light traffic, powered right through, passed the Brussels ferry and turned right into Pere-Marquette Park.  Although the leaves had not turned, the drive up through the Park was very scenic.  We passed out through the upper Park gates and circled to the Southeast and returned to the River road.  This brought us out just below the Brussels ferry entrance.   Both ferry tugs were running and the wait was short to cross the Illinois River there.  The weather was crisp, but the sun beamed  warm and steady.

In Calhoon County lots of markets were open and inviting a stop to purchase the fall fruit and vegetable crops.  Judy wanted to pick up some apples to make apple butter and some jack-o-lantern pumpkins for our grandsons.  Joe found an Apple shed with lots of parking and led our Mustangs  in.  Pumpkins were $1.00 each.  Judy and Ollie loaded up 5 pumpkins and 2 pecks of apples.   Everyone found something bring home.  Bill Meyers encouraged Joyce to load up their pony with lots of goodies.  Joe convinced Ollie to take the lead of the herd.   Although he had planned to lead the tour through Batchtown, Ollie missed the turn.   We toured through Hardin and crossed the kingdom of Calhoon to the West road along the Mississippi.

           We continued through Hamburg along the Mighty river and turned east onto route 96 towards Kampsville.  There we found the teepees and tents of the Old Settlers celebration.  Most enactors were dressed in early frontier  costumes.  They sold crafts, food and authentic native american type artifacts.  Judy and I were pleased to find two of our neighborhood friends, as well as others we knew, there also.  Jack and Marilyn left the tour to return home.  Jack is recovering from recent bypass surgery and we were pleased he could again make our fall tour.  Kampsville is located on the west bank of the Illinois river.  Two ferries were also operating at the Kampsville crossing.  We again loaded our ponies on the ferry barge and crossed over to the Green County side of the river.   At Eldred we turned south to follow the bluff road home.      

Eldred, IL sits next to the bluffs on the east side of the Illinois river bottom.  Several quarries have been worked along the bluffs there.   The native limestone is of excellent quality and has been used for building construction in the areafor many, many years.  We stopped at an old quarry located in Eldred.   This quarry was operated by the Schwallenstecker family in the 30's and 40's before being closed due to lack of manpower during W.W.II.  It's still used as storage caverns for agriculture chemicals.  We stopped for a pic, then cruised towards home.   The Koster dig archeological site of native American culture is  located several miles south of Eldred.  We cruised on South, and split off at the junction of Rt. 16 and 100.  Again the SIMA like the Mustang, does it!!!!!!!!!!

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