Days 37 and 38: Last day in Wisconsin and first (and last) day in Illinois

Yesterday, under cloudy skies (again), we drove to Waterford, about and hour and a half east of Madison.  We visited with (cousin) Dugan and his wife Lu and Dugan's dad Doug Robbins.  We were fortunate on the timing, as they will be leaving soon for their other home in Mesa, AZ, where they spend the winters.  (I will stop in for a visit with them when I go on my next Road Scholar hiking trip in January.)   Doug treated us to a fine lunch at a local restaurant, and then back to their home for dessert. 

By mid-afternoon when we were ready to do the drive back to the RV (and to rescue Ranger from a long day inside), the sun came out.  We took Ranger back to the dog park that he enjoyed so much earlier in the week, and again he had a ball!  He found a dog about his size to chase and be chased by, running and running at top speed.  He also made friends with a black-and-white dog that could have been his cousin---lots of play wrestling and other dog play.

Kak and Susan came for dinner, bringing left-over chili and salad, and we spent a pleasant evening, last one, with them.

In the morning, we headed south, crossed the border into Illinois, and drove most of the day through flat farm fields.  Our site tonight is at a private RV park in Effingham, Illinois.  It's not scenic, but it's clean and flat and we got a pull-through site so that we did not have to unhoook the car.  And surprisingly----it is HOT!  Upper 80's in early October---who would have predicted that, especially after I was in several layers of clothes the whole time we were in Madison.  

Tomorrow, we cross Indiana and should get half-way across Kentucky.