Illinois' Chain of Lakes-- Part 6: Aye, It's the Boating Life for Me

AUGUST 8, MONDAY

We boated over to Stormy Monday on Fox lake and were happy to find that they had a happy hour from 5-7 with $1.50 domestic bottles, $2.50 imports and $1 Miller High Lifes.  This place used to be a huge hangout for us back when it was Costello's Pub & Grub for many years, but not so often anymore.

We got our Chain Crawl passport stamped here.

We then drove the car over to Half-Times in Johnsburg, close to the Fox River for half price appetizers and $1 20 ounce draft and then to Sunnyside.

AUGUST 9, TUESDAY

I went boating around Fox Lake and Mineola Bay and then drove to Woodstock, Illinois, (not on the Chain but not too far away from it) to see a movie, enjoy the historic 1850s square (where the movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed.  met some friends at Papa G's on the  for dinner and then went to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table.

Like I said, Plenty to Do Here.  --CootChain

Illinois' Chain of Lakes-- Part 5: More Bands

Saturday, August 6th, continued.

We then drove over to the Fox Lake American Legion where they had a band playing from 3-6 p.m. and saw the Brother K. Blues Band.  The American Legion is on Nippersink Lake.

Last stop was Sunnyside and their happy hour and then home to Margaritaville.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7th.

Enjoyed Bob Stroud doung his Root Salute to Summer of 1976, where he played songs from this date forty years ago.

We then went to Sunnyside for the card draw and then to Captain's Quarters, on Fox Lake, and sat outside while enjoying the band called Mixx.  They had a male and female lead singer and played a long medley while we were there.  Like their name implies, they mix up the genres of music.

We then stopped at Lake View on Grasslake and enjoyed the view before returning to Sunnyside for Happy Hour.

--DaCoot

Illinois' Chain of Lakes-- Part 4: Cruisin', Eating and Drinking on the Chain

For example, the last few days, we went out boating three of four days.

Friday, we boated over to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake for their ribs special.  You get a full slab of ribs and wings for $9.999.  A REAL good deal.  We then put the boat up and drove to the Fox Lake American Legion and joined the Usual Suspects for the 50-50 drawing.

Saturday, we took a boat cruise over to the McDonald's on Pistakee Lake for breakfast and then did a sow cruise around Pistakee Lake, Nippersink Lake and Fox Lake.

We put the boat up (it tends to get quite hectic on the weekends as there are a real lot of boaters) and drove over to Oak Park Lounge on Pistakee Bay where owned Tom was celebrating his 40th anniversary of owning the place (which dates to 1895).  He had three bands and a deejay scheduled as well as 40 cent Hamms beer drafts.

We congratulated him and stuck around for the first band.

Chaining It Again.  --CootChain

Illinois' Chain of Lakes-- Part 2: Boating, Movies, Bars and a Gazebo

For example, yesterday this is what I did:

First, I went out boating on Fox Lake and after which I saw two movies:  "Ice Age: Collision Course" and the new "Ghostbusters."

Then, I went home and picked up Liz and we went on the Chain Crawl (only by car this time).  The Chain Crawl takes part every summer and you have to get your passport booked stamped and signed, this year at 41 places, most of which are also accessible by water.

First we went to Famous Freddie's and sat out at the tiki bar by the piers.  We then went to Moretti's.  Both are in Fox Lake, Illinois.

We had been planning to go to Antioch for its car show and It's Thursday music band, but it was way too bloomin' hot, so went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg, came home and I sat out in the gazebo.

Too Much Fun.  --DaCoot