Campground Review: Bo Woods Campground Sullivan, IL

I'm relocating back to Texas for my annual November truck license sticker and to vote.  Heading south from Chicago I stopped at the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Bo Woods Campground on Lake Shelbyville south of Sullivan, IL.  For those who've never stayed at a COE campground, they are always very well kept campgrounds with lots of amenities that are extremely reasonably priced, especially if you have a Senior Pass that cuts the posted daily cost in half.

The Bo Woods boat ramp into Lake Shelbyville.

Bo Woods consists of over 140 spaciously laid out campsites, all with electric hookups and also several walkin tent campsites.  The campground has flush toilets, showers, a laundry and even a outdoor theatre.

The shower / laundry facility.

Here's the data sheet on Bo Woods Campground:

Hookups:                                             20, 30, 50 amp                                                                       

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                         

Water Access:                                     Yes                             

Fresh Water:                                        Yes                 

Trash Service:                                      Yes                 

Toilets:                                                 Yes (flush)                 

Showers:                                             Yes                             

Dump station:                                      Yes                 

WiFi:                                                    No                  

Level sites:                                          Yes                 

Laundry:                                              Yes                             

Store:                                                   No                                          

Pool:                                                    No                  

Shade:                                                 Yes                 

Verizon reception:                               4G. 2 bars                   

Internet reception                                2 bars

Cost:                                                    $18 / night ($9 / night with Senior Pass)

The outdoor theatre at Bo Woods.

The weather was perfect as I checked in to the campground so I decided to extend my stay to a full week, for a total stay cost of $63!  $9 a night for hookups is almost unheard of.

The Mini's campsite.

It was a great seven days at Bo Woods.  I wish I could always find COE campgrounds to stay at.  Usually they are fully occupied (especially on weekends and holidays) but if you can find one along your route it's worth checking on an opening.

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Wilton Campground Wilton, WI

As I made my way through central Wisconsin I decided to spend a couple days at Wilton Campground in the tiny village of Wilton, WI (Pop.503).

The campground is near a famous biking trail along a converted rail line.

Given the tiny size of Wilton the campground and it's facilities are pretty impressive.  It boasts a swimming pool (closed for the season when I was there):

The pool, covered for the winter.

A laundry with a washer / dryer combo:

The laundry thru the center door $2.50 wash $2.50 dry.

Twin sanded volley ball courts:

One of the 2 volley ball courts.

Along with a covered pavilion, a kiddie playground and a fenced softball field.

Here's the data sheet on Wilton Campground:

Hookups:                                             20 & 30 amp                                      

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                                                             

Water Access:                                     Yes (Kickapoo River)                                                

Fresh Water:                                        Yes                                                     

Trash Service:                                      Yes                                                     

Toilets:                                                 Yes                                                     

Showers:                                             Yes ($.50 for 4 minutes)                                            

Dump station:                                      Yes                                                     

WiFi:                                                    No                                                      

Level sites:                                          Yes                                         

Laundry:                                              Yes                                                     

Store:                                                   No                                                                  

Pool:                                                    Yes (Open Memorial day to Labor Day)                   

Shade:                                                 Yes                             

Verizon reception:                               4G, 3 bars                               

Internet reception                                3 bars

Cost:                                                    $7 / adult, $3 for electric per site

So using the above costs I camped at this great campground with electric for $10 per night, a great value! 

The park's fee sign.

My first night there was one other camper in the park, the second night I had the park completely to myself, I regretted having to continue on south towards Chicago.

The Mini's shaded site at Wilton Campground.

The park has an off-site attendant who comes by about 6 PM your first night there to collect the camping fee and offer plastic trash bags if you need them.  He cleaned the laundry, bathrooms and  showers promptly at 8 AM both my days there.

Like I mentioned I would have stayed at least a few more days at Wilton Campground if my niece's wedding outside Chicago didn't beckon.  Why turn down my own "private" $10 a nite campground?

Thanks for reading!

Leaving Michigan

It's been a great summer here in Michigan, I'm really glad I decided to spend so much time here.  However the nights are starting to venture into the upper-40's here in the Upper Peninsula which is Michigan's way of telling me it's time to start south.  I've got one more night here in Wakefield Park, which I reviewed here:  Wakefield Park Review then I cross south into Wisconsin on the way to my niece Carly's wedding this Saturday in Illinois.

I got the best site in the park, right on Sunday Lake!

The wedding concludes all my midwestern commitments for this year and then I will start meandering south with the eventual goal of arriving in Livingston, TX for voting in November.  No big rush to get there, obviously!

Thanks for reading!

Return of Football Season

In the six summers I've been full-timing I've never spent a whole one in Michigan until this year.  It's been kind of nice, Michigan has (mostly) great weather and temperatures in the summer and I hope I've documented all the great places there are to camp in the state. 

One thing I do each summer before ending my Michigan stay is attend one of my alma mater's (Michigan State) football games.  This year it was the season opener versus Utah State.

My friends Gary (left) and Steve (seated) at one of the tailgates we attended.

The game was played under perfect weather conditions and ended up being a lot more exciting for Spartan fans than it was supposed to be!

We went to the game hungry but the multiple tailgate parties cured that.

Sometimes early in the season we get up so far ahead of our opponents many fans leave early.  Not this year, Michigan State trailed by one point with time running out in the 4th quarter!

Getting ready for the winning score, right in front of our seats!

We scored to go up 38-31 but there were still two minutes left in the game and Utah State had moved the ball on us all night.  Fortunately, a Michigan State linebacker intercepted a Utah State pass with a minute left and we held on to a hard fought victory!  One of the most exciting MSU games I've seen in years!

Thanks for reading!