Summer of 18-#11-Strange thoughts, Prairie Pines Campground and the old Chanute AFB

May 20th, 2018

We left Dam West and headed to Prairie Pines Campground in Rantoul, Illinois.  We had changed our leaving day from tomorrow to today(Sunday).  Thank goodness we did as this road was scheduled to be closed tomorrow.  See, everything happens for a reason!!

We got stuck in traffic though, according to our app it was an accident that had just happened ahead.  

Bryan catching up with the news

Long line of traffic

Twenty minutes later, this was the cause of the slow traffic.  I guess this vehicle had broken down in the traffic lanes and the tow truck had to move it over to the shoulder.  Thank goodness it looked as though no one was hurt.

Finally, we arrived

Not a bad spot.  This was a military campground on Chanute AFB until the base closed down.  It is now run by the city.  We'll be here for two nights.

May 21st, 2018

I had some strange thoughts as I was brushing my teeth this morning.  Are you ready for this??

I thought about the two funerals that are happening this week, which led my mind to life after death.  Would I come back liking water on my face, or maybe whomever or whatever I was would always be afraid of that.  I always have wondered if it was thought I was a witch in a prior life and I got dunked.  Maybe I am doomed to always have a hatred of water on my face no matter who I am!!! I sure hope not, I would love to be able to swim and enjoy being in the water as much as I love looking and listening to it.
Then I wondered if bugs were nasty people before, and made to feel how they treated others, by being squashed underfoot, or squatted,  or crushed to death.
Hmmm, these thoughts were very fleeting.  It's amazing how much the brain can pack into so little a space of time!!!

Anyway, on to the rest of the day.  We wanted to look around the old air base which is in a sorry state of disrepair now.  One of the camphosts here used to work there.  In fact, he and Bryan had a lot in common and spent quite a while comparing bases and military lives. This is one of the reasons we like staying at military campgrounds.  They are like minded people with a lot in common with us.

The Octave Chanute Air Museum had to close at the end of 2015, as the City decided it was costing money, and they wouldn't be able to make it pay it's way.  They can probably get a lot more for the property by selling it to a developer!!!  What a shame.

Most of the planes have gone to other museums and the few that are left are being cut up as scrap.

Old Fire Station

Old Hospital

Back of the old hospital

The back of the old hospital building had ivy growing all over it.  It was a beautiful building.

The old base housing has now been sold and is available on the economy.

Someone still flying the flag, yay!!

This 4 bed, 3 bath property is for sale for $94,900

 and this 3 bed, 1.5 bath property is for rent for $775 a month.

It was sad to see the old base in a state of disrepair and reminded us of our beloved Upper Heyford base in the UK.  

On the way home we got stuck at the railway crossing but fortunately the train had just passed and so it was only a couple of minutes before we were on our way again.

We will leave here tomorrow, heading north.