Sheridan, IL to DeSoto, MO – 9/3/2016 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

September 3, 2016 (Saturday)

Moving day. We got up a little early for us and did all the things we needed to do to head on down the road. We stopped in Ottawa, Illinois for breakfast (me at McDonald’s and Michael at Subway). The drive today was a little over 300 miles to DeSoto, Missouri (another Silverleaf/Holiday Inn Vacation Club). The weather was very pleasant for the entire day.

We stopped in Springfield, Illinois to check out the Illinois State Capitol and then the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. We drove through the historic downtown area, which was very quaint and lovely. We found the Capitol and was a little surprised at the silver topped dome (so used to the bright gold domes).

Good drive and mile after mile of corn. This is supposed to be a bumper crop. Not sure what the futures play is on that, but there is still grain in the elevators and the harvest is very near.

When we weren't looking at corn, we were looking at soybeans, that too is bumper. — When we weren’t looking at corn, we were looking at soybeans, that too is bumper.

After so many gold ones it seems subdued with very odd add-ons on top.

An unimpressive metal color dome and a terrible flag pole with a protective czge that looks horrible for the poor fellow or gal that has to raise and lower the flag. — An unimpressive metal color dome and a terrible flag pole with a protective cage that looks horrible for the poor fellow or gal that has to raise and lower the flag. I say put a flag pole on the ground and make the top artistic again.

We found parking on the street (free on weekends) and headed onto the grounds. There was security to get into the lobby and we were told we could only stay on the 1^st floor. We walked around and saw all that we could see. The inside of the dome was beautiful.

Security to get inside, a metal detector.

Custom door knobs, I always like to see that.

Lots and lots of murals that portray history.

Nice stair case, but not being allowed on the first floor we are pretty sure we missed the grand staircase.

The detail is very nice, again looks to be state history.

Plant operations looks to be sloppy. Aip ties holding lights and extension cords hung over the side for power, very unimpressive. — Plant operations looks to be sloppy. Zip ties holding lights and extension cords hung over the side for power, very unimpressive.

The curved ceiling in the men's restroom. — The curved ceiling in the men’s restroom.

Once we were done inside, we went outside and walked the grounds to view all the statues and fountains. Very lovely.

They made a memorial out of the original cornerstone. Seemed odd.

We see these gifts to the capitols. — We see these gifts to the Capitols.

There are nice lines and views at the capitol. — There are nice lines and views at the Capitol.

Lots of statues out front and on the grounds, Steven Douglas is behind this one of Lincoln.

Everett Dirkson with bipartisian friends. — Everett Dirksen with bipartisan friends.

There should be such happiness between the major parties.

Boy do we need you now, — Boy do we need you now.

We left and headed over to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. I think this museum was one of my top three. Loved it. You feel like you are there. Very interactive and very wonderfully presented. You get to understand Lincoln as a child and see a replica of where he lived in a small cabin. You get to get a glimpse of his life as he was running for President; his life in the White House; how he lost his sons; and when he was shot. Really enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat if we’re here in the future.

One side is a museum and one side is a library.

Pretty woman with the first family, in front of the white house.

There are great murals depicting the fight at Fort Sumter.

There were no pictures allowed of the best show, there are great displays.

Lincoln's eyes were off, his left eye sat higher than his right. You can see it in all the photographs of him. — Lincoln’s eyes were off, his left eye sat higher than his right. You can see it in all the photographs of him.

I now appreciate that Lincoln didn't have the authority to issue the emancipation proclamation as the president. Only as the commander in chief, fighting a civil war did he have the power to do it as a war strategy. He had to couch everything he said and wrote in terms of war impact only. — I now appreciate that Lincoln didn’t have the authority to issue the emancipation proclamation as the president. Only as the commander in chief, fighting a civil war did he have the power to do it as a war strategy. He had to couch everything he said and wrote in terms of war impact only.

A wonderful display where they provide news coverage of the election as if it were modern times.

We left the Museum and debated on whether we should go over to the Library part of the museum across the street. We were told the Library part was closed so we opted not to go. Later on we were bummed because we forgot about a school friend of Michael’s who used to work for the Chicago Sun Times; when he died they dedicated a reading room in the Library to him. Quite a big deal and we would have liked to have seen it but we’ll have to come back and check it out. We ended up going across to the other side of the street to the train station where they filmed the Steven Spielberg film “Lincoln,” starring Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Fields. Very interesting. Got to see some of the film, some of the clothes, and some of the artifacts they used in the film that were of the time period.

Lots of statues in the park in front of the train station across the street.

Very ornate, four of them, very detailed in the depiction of the time of Lincoln.

When we left, we headed out to the Abraham Lincoln Tomb. It was in a cemetery that is still being used today (to my knowledge). It’s quite large and is on a hill type area. It’s just a few miles from the Museum/Library.

We left and headed out to drive the remainder of the way to Timber Creek Resort in DeSoto, Missouri.

Our car’s GPS got lost with new roads as we went through St Louis.

We got to the resort, checked in, and moved into our new home. This is another Silverleaf that is transitioning into Holiday Inn Vacation Club. It’s very similar to the Lodge units in Sheridan, Illinois. It even has the swan coffee table (used to be a snow sled) that I love. The bedrooms are nice sized, and the second is like a studio that has its own kitchen and bathroom. It doesn’t have a washer/dryer or internet (crying tears here). Bummed about no laundry but we were told they have one for pay near the RV park at the resort.

Pretty woman checking us in for the week.

Nice rec room over looking the lake. — Nice rec room overlooking the lake.

We are on the third floor, parking lot is on the second.

Masterbed/bath. An odd setup that makes for odd showers. — Master bed/bath. An odd setup that makes for odd showers.

Really feel like we are showering in the bedroom.

That was our day. Hope yours was great.