In this issue ... When it comes to travel, some people enjoy day trips, some are in it for the long haul, and some have more fun traveling with more than one, but they can all agree on one thing ...
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4 Hooked on travel
A Morrison couple loves a life of Adventures, hauling their home away from home on highways and byways and sharing their journeys with kindred wandering spirits.
10
A plan Four all Seasons
With age comes wisdom — and for customers with some seniority at Sterling Federal Bank, some perks too, courtesy of a club that offers members fun ways to make new friends and explore new places.
14 Get the drift
It took an ice age to make it, but it only takes a day to explore it: Enjoy a scenic drive through northwest Illinois .
Transportation for off-site
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Cable TV and Wi-Fi
ynn Crafts and Dan Dougherty love to explore new places, but there’s just one hitch — and that’s all they need.
The Morrison couple spends a lot of time on the road, hitching up their home on wheels and exploring the country in their 16-foot Scamp travel trailer that they’ve dubbed “Caboose,” and then share their journeys online, in travelogues they call “Caboose Adventures,” on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The posts feature highlights of their trips, glimpses of the scenery they’ve seen, and information about their stops along with way.
State parks, wineries, distilleries and places with unique natural history are among their favorite adventures, and sometimes they have no problem taking the long way to get to them. Traveling with a small trailer allows the couple to navigate along roads that aren’t suitable for large trailers and RVs, leading them to hidden gems tucked away in towns and along country roads.
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Most recently, they explored sites including White Pines State Forest Park in Mt. Morris, Rock Cut State Park in Rockford, and Anderson Japanese Gardens, also in Rockford.
“We’ve found we’re a good fit for a couple of kinds of places,” Crafts said. “One is state parks, and we prefer state parks over a lot of the national parks because it’s less crowded, and we go to get away from people — saying that in the nicest way — preferring nature over people. We don’t need to plan too far in advance to go out; we can go at the last minute when we have a nice window of weather.”
The couple’s Scamp adventures began in 2020 when they lived in Las Vegas. They had enjoyed traditional camping with tents for years, but when they laid eyes on the Scamp for the first time during a trip to Utah, they decided to make the step up from a tent to a travel trailer. HOOKED cont’d from page 4
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Lynn Crafts & Dan Dougherty, seen here in downtown Morrison
SCAMPSITE AHEAD
Lynn and Dan’s Scamp has been the perfect partner for the couple’s road trips. It’s compact size allows more flexibility when traveling, and the floor plan has proven to be “really ideal for us,” says Lynn.
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“We were tent campers for a long time, and we were camping one time and saw a lady with a tiny trailer that was pulled by her Subaru,” Crafts said. “We found out that you don’t actually have to have a big truck to have some of the luxuries that are an upgrade from tent camping.”
Scamps aren’t found at RV dealers; they’re made and sold exclusively by Eveland’s Inc. in Backus, Minnesota, and the wait time to get one can be up to 18 months, Crafts said. Theirs is a 16-foot model that offers about 90 square feet of interior space — 13 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 8 feet tall — and features a kitchenette with microwave, sink, two-burner stove, dinette space, restroom and a sleeping area in the back.
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Since moving to Morrison, Dan and Lynn have enjoyed exploring the Midwest, especially state parks. “We prefer state parks over a lot of the national parks because it’s less crowded,” says Lynn. Seen here is one of their stops: Blue Mound State Park in Wisconsin.
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The first two-and-a-half years they owned a Scamp, the couple traveled throughout the southwestern United States, taking in historic sites and natural wonders, such as the ghost town of Bodie, California, LaMoille Canyon in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains, and Kershaw Ryan State Park north of Las Vegas, a place they discovered only after detouring from another destination, and one they immediately fell in love with — so much so that they decided to start filming their adventures on the road.
“It was just amazing, we probably went there five or six times before we moved this way,” Dougherty said. “The scenery was just awesome. We were already taking photos and videos of our travels, but just weren’t putting them together. We talked a little bit and started putting them on a YouTube channel.”
Dougherty studied media arts at Columbia College in Chicago, and uses his expertise in filming to capture video of the voyages.
Crafts, who’s retired, is originally from San Diego, and Dougherty, who is semi-retired, was raised in the Chicago suburbs. They moved to Morrison two years ago to be closer to Dan’s family, but they didn’t leave their Scamp adventures behind; they now have new territory to explore and enjoy, learning about their new home’s history and heritage. On a trip to Bishop Hill in Henry County, a town rich in Swedish history, they visited on a day when there was a Civil War reenactment taking place.
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Follow their Adventures
Find Caboose Adventures on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram (@cabooseadventures) to see the adventures that Lynn Crafts and Dan Dougherty have made with their Scamp trailer "Caboose." Go to scamptrailers.com to learn more about Scamp trailers made by Eveland's Inc. of Bacus, Minnesota.
The couple are also members of the Harvest Hosts traveling club, where members can travel to and camp at various places such as wineries, golf courses, farms and small businesses at no cost, outside of the club’s membership fee. Exploring local cuisine and spirits is another one of their interests, with recent trips to Lena Brewing Company in Lena and Hawk’s Mill Winery in Browntown, Wisconsin. They said they weren’t really wine drinkers until exploring the wineries, but have come to enjoy sweet reds, as well as a house blend from Hawk’s Mill.
Traveling during the winter months wasn’t much of an issue when the couple lived in the southwestern part of the country, but Midwest weather is a different story. The caboose hibernates during the winter months as they put their travel plans on pause — but not their planning. The Scamp’s winter nap gives them time to plan their next adventures when the weather starts to get nicer.
“Northwest Illinois has a lot to offer,” Dougherty said. “There are a lot of cool places. There are a bunch of state parks that we haven’t gotten to yet, but they’re on the list.”
The Midwest isn’t new to Dougherty, but it is to Crafts, and she’s enjoyed seeing the countryside, with its farms, wooded areas, rolling hills and stretches of prairie land. She said it’s given her a new way of life to learn about, far from the big cities.
“When you’re in a city and it’s busy and it’s noisy, and life is chaotic when you’re go-go-going all of the time, to finding a place that is the opposite of that, it’s heaven for us,” Crafts said. n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media
There’s one thing you can always bank on living in the Midwest: the changing of the seasons.
Every year, nature’s branch offices fill out as trees wake from their winter nap, welcoming the buds of spring that will become the shade of summer and the colorful artwork of autumn — but those branches aren’t the only ones welcoming back friends each year.
At Sterling Federal Bank, The Four Seasons Club invites members to get together for fun and friendship during club events, parties, and trips.
The club, free to join for customers age 50 or older who maintain deposits of $20,000 or more with the bank, hosts day trips as well as offering a travel points program and free clerical services for members. Sterling Federal has eight branches in the Sauk Valley and one in Clinton, Iowa.
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Four Seasons was established in 1994 with the goal of creating a meaningful and special experience for the bank’s 50-and-older customers, club director Brandi Reeter said. The club gives members a chance to form friendships and make memories during trips, while also offering perks such as free checks, cashier checks and money orders; checkbook balancing assistance; photocopying and laminating.
Reeter has served as director since 2022 after serving as a teller at the bank’s main branches in Rock Falls and Sterling. Her role involves planning and coordinating club trips — which includes concerts, live entertainment, and sporting events — and leading travelers in their experiences. For her, the magic of those meaningful experiences isn’t just in the destinations, it’s in the connections formed along the way.
“What makes this club special isn’t just the places we go, it’s the people,” Reeter said. “I’ve had the privilege of forming genuine partnerships with our members. Whether we’re sharing stories, laughing on the bus ride home or helping each other through tough times, there’s a real sense of community in everything we do.”
From Broadway-style musicals and tribute concerts to baseball games, the club has been enjoying a lively season of entertainment excursions, with more coming to round out the year.
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ABOVE: Sometimes, Four Seasons members don’t have to travel far to find fun things to do — they’re right here at home, like this Red, White and Blue Bingo on July 3 , for Independence Day. RIGHT: Club members enjoyed a trip to The Barn III Dinner Theatre in Goodfield, near Peoria during a previous trip, and the club will take another trip there in October to see “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Other upcoming Four Seasons theater trips include shows at Circa 21 in Rock Island and the Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
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In recent months, club members have enjoyed seeing performances of “A Tribute to the Piano Men,” a tribute act featuring the music of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Joel aboard the Celebration Belle in Moline; “Always … Patsy Cline,” at Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook Terrace; “The Little Mermaid” at The Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; and “Mary Poppins” and “The King in Concert” (an Elvis Presley tribute) at Circa 21 in Rock Island. Upcoming trips include performances of “Oklahoma” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” both at Fireside, “Sister Act” at Drury Lane and “Arsenic and Old Lace” at The Barn III Theatre in Goodfield, near Peoria.
Four Seasons also takes members out to the ballpark for
Four Seasons members gather for a meal on a trip aboard the Celebration Belle on June 26 in Moline to see “A Tribute to the Piano Men,” a concert featuring the music of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Joel. Performances like this are among the popular destinations the club offers to members.
some fun. The club traveled to Milwaukee on July 30 to see the Brewers take on the Chicago Cubs, and will return there Sept. 14 when the St. Louis Cardinals come to town.
“We’ve explored a wide range of destinations, some close to home and others worth the drive, but each one offering something unique,” Reeter said. “Live theater, river cruises, cultural attractions, sporting events, there’s always something new to look forward to.”
Cost for the trips vary, depending on the destination, and members can earn travel points that can be used for trips by attending club events throughout the year. Contact the bank for more information.
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For holiday gatherings, the club recently played Red, White and Blue Bingo for Independence Day, and members will be treated (no tricks!) to Bingo again on Oct. 30 for Halloween. Its annual Christmas Party will return in early December.
In keeping with the club’s theme, a quarterly party is held each season to celebrate members’ birthdays.
The Four Seasons office, where Reeter works at, is located at the Sterling main branch. Four Seasons gathering rooms — for club events and for members to host meetings and connect for social occasions — are at the main branch and the South Galena Avenue branch in Dixon.
Reflecting on her journey with the bank’s senior travel club, Reeter shared how her manager helped open the door to a new role that would quickly became a source of great joy, she said.
“When the opportunity to lead the Four Seasons club came up, I was encouraged by my manager to pursue it,” Reeter said. “She saw my passion for connecting with people and my ability to engage with older adults in a genuine and thoughtful way. She wasn’t wrong. This role has been the most fulfilling of my career.”
Reeter hopes her enthusiasm is contagious and that more people will join the club. “If you’re looking for more than just a bank account,” she said, “if you want experiences, friendships and a few good laughs along the way,” then the Four Seasons Club should pay dividends for years to come. n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Sterling Federal Bank’s nine locations are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Sterling: 110 E. Fourth St. (main branch) and 3200 E. Lynn Blvd.; 815-626-0614
Dixon: 413 N. Galena Ave. and 402 S. Galena Ave.; 815-288-3327
Rock Falls: 821 First Ave.; 815-626-0614
Morrison: 401 E. Lincolnway; 815-772-7256
Mount Morris: 18 W. Main St.; 815-734-6051
Byron: 221 N. Union St.; 815-234-7601
Clinton, Iowa: 247 Seventh Ave. South; 563-242-9111
The Four Seasons office is located at the Sterling main branch, and Four Seasons gathering rooms are at the main branch and the South Galena Ave. branch. Find Sterling Federal Bank on Facebook go to sterlingfederal.com/fourseasons-club or call 815-622-3362 for more information on the bank and its Four Seasons club.
Taking a trip? Sure, planning has its perks — determining your destination and mapping out all the stops and shops you want to visit along the way.
But sometimes, it’s more fun to just point your car, or handlebars, the direction you want to go and let yourself drift away, and the Sauk Valley offers some great places to go.
Detours from the daily routine offer more than just a change of scenery; they provide a chance to discover new sights or reconnect with places we’ve overlooked and memories we’ve forgotten.
These quests can be as easy as simply picking a direction off the beaten path and following it, such as one that takes Sauk Valley road trippers in a north-northwest direction away from home: traveling from Mount Carroll to Scales Mound along the edge of Illinois’ Driftless Region.
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Just what is a Driftless Region? Massive ice sheets covered much of the northern continent through the millennia, scouring and reshaping the land, but during the last ice age, part of the Midwest was left out of the cold — about 15,000 square miles. As a result, the area wasn’t transformed by the glacial deposits known as drift — the clay, gravel, silt, sand and boulders left behind — creating an area marked by significant differences in topography, and some of the area’s most beautiful scenery: The Driftless Region.
Just how scenic is the route? Ask motorcyclists who’ve been on it, and there are plenty — it’s a favorite for two-wheeled travelers. The website greatmotorcycleroads.com ranked much of the stretch as one of its top seven Best Motorcycle Rides in Illinois.
In addition to all the scenery to be seen, the route that hugs curves and heads over hills takes travelers on a winding journey through an area that offers everything from a haunted house to historical sites.
Route 52 and state Routes 40, 64 and 78 lead to Carroll County’s seat, where the courthouse is in the center of town and surrounded on two sides by brick streets and mom-and-pop businesses (above), including the vintage-1886 Bridgewater Inn hotel (at right). The town also is home to an oddity that made it to the annals of Ripley’s Believe It or Not: The Civil War statue in front of the courthouse has an annex statue — the only such war memorial of its kind.
Other unique places in town include the former Shimer College campus (currently undergoing renovation), Raven’s Grin Inn, a haunted house open by appointment for small groups throughout the year, and a restored pony truss bridge over Carroll Creek that once was part of a stagecoach route from Peoria to Galena.
Take Route 78 north of town for two miles and turn left on Elizabeth Road.
MOUNT CARROLL
ELIZABETH BLACKTOP
his 20-mile stretch of curves and hills, referred to by locals as Elizabeth Blacktop (photo above), introduces travelers from the south into the Driftless Region toward the Jo Daviess County town of Elizabeth.
The views become more scenic the farther one travels north. Interesting sights include an old pony truss bridge (bottom right) over the Plum River and a small maple tree at Trinity Lutheran Church that turns a fire-orange color in the fall (center right). Detours from the path include the Rocky Waters and Massbach Ridge wineries, as well as the Schurmeier Teaching Forest — a walking path with kiosks featuring information about the forest.
The Blacktop takes three jogs along its path: 7 miles on Elizabeth Road to a right turn at Zion Road, which becomes Massbach Road at the county line; 5 miles to a left turn on Albrecht Road; and less than a half-mile to a right turn on Derinda Road, to be followed for 7.5 miles to a left turn on U.S. Route 20.
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
ABICENTENNIALCITY
lizabeth, founded in 1825, turns 200 years old in 2025. Its historic charm has its origins in stagecoach travel from Chicago to lead mines in Galena, as well as the Apple River Fort (above) in the Black Hawk War of 1832; a replica of the fort is now a State Historic Site that’s open year-round. Its staffed visitor center has several exhibits, a free 16-minute film and a gift shop. The fort itself is open for self-guided tours. Go to appleriverfort.org/ for more information.
Destinations in Elizabeth include the Highway 20 Brewing Company, the Chicago Great Western Railroad Museum and Paul’s Vintage Bikes bicycle museum (at right). The town’s former school building, built in the late 1800s, now is home to Elizabeth’s Grand Antique Co. Head west on Route 20 to the edge of town, and turn right on Elizabeth-Scales Mound Road.
he village of Scales Mound isn’t near a state or federal highway — the closest being the 13 miles it takes to get there from Elizabeth — but it’s worth the trip. The town’s slogan, “At the top in Illinois” doesn’t just refer to its place at top of the state’s map, but also proximity to the state’s tallest point, Charles Mound, which is open for hiking during select summer Saturdays.
Scales Mound has a couple of throwbacks to everyday life from several decades ago: It has a full service Sinclair gas station (above right) — where you can still drive over a hose and the bell rings for the attendant — and Country House Grocery (above left), where you can still hear the creak of those old wood floors.
FURTHER YET ...
f you’re itching for more travel beyond Scales Mound, Shullsburg, Wisconsin, is home to a spot on a country road, Gravity Hill, that seems to defy the laws of physics. The combination of the road’s incline and the surrounding topography gives drivers the illusion that their parked vehicle is rolling uphill. The quirky phenomenon is 3 miles north of Scales Mound.
Classic taverns such as the New Diggings General Store, Lead Mine Tavern and Council Hill Station each are within 15 miles from Scales Mound.
Who knows, maybe there is something else interesting to spot along the way. There’s only one way to find out — take a nice, scenic drive. n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Bridgewater Inn, Mount Carroll: 116 E. Market St.; go to ourbridgewaterinn.com, email ourbridgewaterinn@gmail.com, 815-244-0201 for reservations.
Apple River Fort, Elizabeth: 311 E. Myrtle St.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from April to October, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday from November to March; dnrhistoric.illinois. gov/experience/sites/ site.apple-river-fort. html, 815-858-2028.
MORE INFO
Paul's Vintage Bikes, Elizabeth: 137 N. Main St.; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday or by appointment; 815-238-0930.
Elizabeth's Grand Antique Co., Elizabeth: 300 West St.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; Facebook, Instagram, grandantiqueco.com; 815-858-9477.
Scales Mound Sinclair Service, Scales Mound: 310 Franklin St., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; Facebook; 815-845-2217. Country House Grocery, Scales Mound: 501 Main St., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon Sunday; Facebook, countryhousegrocery.com; 815-845-2316.
