West to Savanna,
Take IL20 West to Ridott Corners Tavern to get your bearings. Actually it is here that we learned about this route to Savanna. A couple from

But this time go west on US20 to
There’s a lot of things named Blackhawk in Northern Illinois including a Chicago Hockey team and the
In April 1832, Blackhawk, without permission and with no hostile intent, returned to the ent several braves to Major Isaiah Stillman's camp with a truce flag. Many of Stillman's men were drunk at the time, and, upon seeing the braves, attacked them. Two braves were killed and two others captured and later killed. Blackhawk and his chief, Ne-o-pope, felt that their gesture for peace had been rejected, and thus the Blackhawk War began. Not until August 2, 1832 and the Battle of Bad Axe, was chief Blackhawk pushed into
After passing the golf course, turn south on

We went to a wine tasting event at the Illinois State Fair. It cost a nominal charge to get to this “agricultural exhibit,” but when we went around for the third time, the vintners figured out we weren’t going to buy their fermented grape juice and quit showing us their award certificates. They smiled politely as we knocked down those little plastic cups like a college kid on spring break.
Besides, I don’t like drinking anything that has rules – temperature, decanting, breathing….. Just put my drink in a glass and keep me upright.

Just passed the winery,
Exit at the north entrance. Go straight to the river and take a look at an old dinner boat. I don't know what this tub did before it became a dinner boat, but we did get a tour before the diner there shut down. I'm sure nobody is going to open this thing again - it kinda stunk before they closed it.
Heading into Savanna on the right in a cellar is a place that was called McCool's, last time we were there. This was the original site for Poopies, a biker destination. Upstairs you could get a tatoo, a T-shirt with an off color saying on the back, and biker trinkets and jewelry with skulls on them and such. In the cellar was the bar - a dark, damp, limestone-walled cave-like place. The bar is still there, but Poopies moved and became a place with big clean bathrooms with turbo-charged hand dryers. More about Poopies Lite, later.
Across the street is The Iron Horse Social Club - half museum, half bar. They say it's a bar and grill, but the only food we found was cooked and served by "Fat" Jack Fosdick just out side the front door to the place. Jack Fosdick is a four-time winner of the Globe Award at the American Royal Barbecue, the world-wide contest held each year in Kansas City.
The talk at the Iron Horse there is lame and predictable, but the old motorcycle stuff is, indeed, priceless. The odd thing here is that their web site (http://www.ironhorsesocialclub.com/) does require rather sophisticated technology to view. The stuff in this place reminds me of the Scrambles. These were motorcycle races in the 1950's on a dirt track near the farm I grew up on. It was basically a hilly pasture with a track with jumps and curves. The starts were a cloud of dust with an occassional guy with a flag rising up out of the dust flipping over and over. Dick Busky ran the thing and raced there from time to time. He lost his hearing from a racing accident.
Be sure to come home with an Iron Horse t-shirt or a halter top for the ole-lady - high fashion weekender wear for picnics, concerts, and festivals.
By far, the most interesting place to stop and talk in downtown Savanna is the VFW Club. Talk of wars and valour, fights and politics, honor and country, and old men looking for new people to tell their stale jokes to. The men here complain that the younger members are always too busy to help out, but excused them for their youth and family time. These old guys fought wars meant to be won and have little respect for the polite way we fight today. Their buddies died next to them so actors could have the freedom to support our enemies today.
For me, I don't care how we get into a war or who started it. I don't care how the enemy fights or prays. I feel bad that civilians die in wars, but that's the nature of it. I don't care what we do in carrying out the battles - I just want us to win. And that win needs to be so decisive that the enemy will not want to mess with the United States for generations to come.

When we go to Savanna, we spend some time in the Shaw-Leavens Post 2223 VFW.
More about Poopies Lite. Head south then east out of town and then turn right at IL84. You'll find the place a few blocks on the left. This is an interesting thing - an upscale, clean, trendy biker bar with drinks mixed well and edible food. In the well maintained back yard is room for primitive camping and a bandshell. I would guess this place rocks at night. Some afternoons have entertainment. They also sell and service Harley Davidsons. As I mentioned before - the most interesting things here are the restrooms. The mens' room has sinks, well scrubbed- sit down toilets, toilet paper, smell-good soft soap, and that turbo-charged hand dryer that will turn upwards to dry the face after one freshens up after sipping a raspberry martini in the fresh air at the covered pavilion bar. What's next - a tony homeless shelter?
There's lots more to see in Savanna, but to make this a day trip, it's time to move on. We head back out of town east on US52/IL64. Mount Carroll is worth a stop on the way home just for the cool old houses. You can turn left on IL78 by the gas station and head north to the Yield Sign, then right and you'll be right downtown. Both Kallemezoo's and Sievert's will be happy to see you.
Kallemezoo's has a collection of old cameras and the mens' room window is cemented up with iron bars across the bricks - the men must get a little randy in Mt. Carroll.
The ship's bell of the USS Hissem hangs at city hall. The Hissem was named after Ensign Joseph Hissem, whose photo, taken when he was 25 years old, hangs on the wall of City Hall. Hissem, of the U.S. Naval Reserve, was killed at the Battle of Midway in June of 1942. He was born in 1917 in Mount Carroll.
Information on the major parks, businesses, and attractions in Savanna is abundant and mainstream, and therefore, not covered here. We hope you enjoyed the account and its sarcasm, offensive opinion, and satire and take the trip. Please write me at the email in the introduction with comments and suggestions. No criticism will be accepted though, because it would certainly not be valid. - once again you're on your own getting home.