One of our favorite campgrounds is Devil's Backbone Park in Grand Tower, Illinois. clickIt is right on the Mississippi River with beautiful views of the Father of Waters and the passing tow boats. Tower Rock which on the Missouri side was visited and climbed by the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is a place of great beauty and powerful history. Its also one of our favorite places to camp. Its almost unknown to people outside the area.Tower Rock is in the distance at sunrise from our TC's backdoorUnfortunately, we have been receiving torrents of rain. Last month was a record and this month is looking like another one. We were standing at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio last week, again a place visited by Lewis and Clark and the sky looked ominous.We soon learned that Devil's Backbone was under water - so was our 4th of July. It is inundated.You can see some of the hook-ups in the middle of the water. The place we usually stay is way to the right...and that is deeply underwater. Thats the way of the Mississippi. It doesn't flow at our convenience though we've tried to tame it for hundreds of years.We'll get back there soon we hope. In the meantime I invite anyone traveling mid USA near St. Louis (It's south a couple of hours) or on US 57 through Cairo, Illinois (It's north an hour or so), to make a stop at this beautiful location..when its dry. You'll be glad you did.

Great pictures!No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.Bruce

nomad297 wrote:Great pictures!No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.BruceMaybe I am missing something, but on the face of it.....always a danger when you just read a statement....your statement about Illinois seems a bit obtuse.

nomad297 wrote:Great pictures!No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.BruceHmmm.....maybe you could enlighten us all on our skewed way of thinking here. Sounds like you are accusing the rest of the country of your same small mindedness.

Seems to be a problem across a lot of the middle part of the country. Almost all the area lakes around here are closed or very limited use due to high water.

I think Bruce was purposely being obtuse since political comments are verboten on this forum, i.e., Illinois being known as a liberal, anti-gun state.

Flooded Out On The 4th of July | Good Sam Community

nomad297
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
Great pictures!

No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.

Bruce
egarant
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2015
nomad297 wrote:
Great pictures!

No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.

Bruce

Maybe I am missing something, but on the face of it.....always a danger when you just read a statement....your statement about Illinois seems a bit obtuse.
tbred
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2015
nomad297 wrote:
Great pictures!

No illinois for me, thank you very much. It's a shame, but they just don't think the same way the rest of the country does. I won't even risk driving through that state.

Bruce

Hmmm.....maybe you could enlighten us all on our skewed way of thinking here. Sounds like you are accusing the rest of the country of your same small mindedness.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 08, 2015
Seems to be a problem across a lot of the middle part of the country. Almost all the area lakes around here are closed or very limited use due to high water.
My_Blue_Heaven
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
I think Bruce was purposely being obtuse since political comments are verboten on this forum, i.e., Illinois being known as a liberal, anti-gun state.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
My Blue Heaven wrote:
I think Bruce was purposely being obtuse since political comments are verboten on this forum, i.e., Illinois being known as a liberal, anti-gun state.

Oh! Show's how much I pay attention to things! I would have never thought of that.

I was thinking because a good portion of Indiana has been under flood attack too! We get either .... lots of rain or lots of tornadoes through this Illinois-Indiana belt. But ... California gets wild fires and earthquakes. Louisiana to Florida gets hurricanes. And Washington DC get's the president! I guess we all have our problems!
67avion
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2015
Hey there ladies and gentlemen. I live in SOUTHERN Illinois. We are rural, friendly, mind your own business sort of folks. I'll personally show you around our beautiful countryside and buy a beer in honor of your presence. I think you'll like what you see.

As they say in Virginia mi casa, su casa!
Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 08, 2015
Two of our three trips south of St Louis required deviations in 2013 and 2011 due to flooding. We had planned to go this year, but Colorado and Utah are calling us to visit them instead.

Even the liberal west coast looks at IL as being more liberal. I haven't driven through the state in 20 years, but my friends that reside there do not fit the stereotype and are always asked how can live somewhere with such opposite views from their own.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2015
I think maybe too many people are a bit too sensitive. A passing comment was made, and many people jumped at the chance to hijack the thread. Think about it, is the comment really that important?

Having lived in California for many years, I can assure you sensitivity will not change your weather or politics. I suggest you not dwell on it.

The Thread is about the "Flooded Out On The 4th of July" and related photos.

Wayne
Moderator
egarant
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2015
Sorry Reddog1, that was not a passing comment, the first line was the only pertinent comment, the second was a statement that nomad267 felt he need to make about the State that had absolutely no relevance to the OP.

Most of us do not really know anyone personally on this forum, so we don't have any historical or visual context as we might have talking to our next door neighbor. If we did then maybe we "could" read in between the lines as suggested earlier, but we can't.