May 12, 2007 - The day started by meeting up at the gas station at Palmer Road and Rt 3 in Columbia, Illinois. We were off to explore Bluff Road heading south and just see where the day and the road would take us.

We know we were off to a good start when this guy pulled in on a Honda Rune. In my opinion (for what it's worth) this is one of the best production, 'pre-customized" rides ever built by any manufacturer.


Check out the "frenched-in" taillights

Then it was off to see what we could find.

Our first stop was at Maeystown... time for little lunch.

I'm smiling because Mo just agreed to be Second Officer...
Mo's smiling because he doesn't realize what he's in for...

This is a really cool town.. complete with general store


The one lane bridge provided more photo ops for our resident shutter bug, Sam

Then it off to Prairie Du Rochere and Fort De Chartres

Tapered rifle port windows allow a wide field of fire through a minimal opening

Canon doors and mounting pads. In the background is a framed bunkhouse

Sam on duty at one of the corner watch towers

Mo on the rampart, master of all he surveys...

Inside the powder magazine... now what was it Stevie Nicks said about "... livin in a powder keg..."?

Maybe now would not be the best time for a smoke.

Once again the seat of the HotRod is empty... must mean Sam's behind the camera

It was time to head back north on Rt 3 through Rochere, Ruma, Red Bud (man that's a lot of 'R' towns), Waterloo and Columbia

It was definitely an "excellent adventure"...