Easter Family Field Trip. But, it almost didn’t happen. My son’s family, wife and two “Kids” (almost grown) wanted Gma to go with them. They called and I made plans to be over at their house after they had finished with their church chore–putting up 600 plus folding chairs.
My son was to call me when they were through putting up the chairs. So, I organized my morning and was almost ready for our Easter Family Field Trip. I looked at the clock and realized I’d not heard from him. “What was going on?” I wondered. I checked my phone and it was the culprit. It was very sluggish and when I tried to call him, it didn’t work. Then, I decided to check my minutes and realized I had forgotten to update. I did that and texted him immediately and wrote, “on the way.”
The Short Trip to my Son’s
Have you heard of Speedy Gonzalez? I was LATE. If I didn’t hurry up, they would have to go without me! I ran toward the front door and remembered that I didn’t even have my keys. Turned around, grabbed them and again ran to the truck. Started the truck and backed out of the drive.
Before I left the drive, I discovered an extra passenger–a red wasp walking along the widow frame next to my elbow! I opened the door and it flew off. Thank goodness! I hate being stung. I traveled one-third of the trip to my son’s while driving faster than normal. Well, another red wasp appeared! Then, I slowed down and rolled the window down to keep him away from me, for I didn’t have any extra time to stop.
So, as my son would say, I “put the pedal to the metal” and swung in his drive within 5 minutes. He told me to park at the side of his drive and get in his car. I started to open the driver’s door and it had done an automatic lock on me. I crawled across the seat and got out of the truck on the passenger side. The truck is a tempermental 1988 GMC.
Of course, I didn’t want to miss the trip to Giant City State Park Lodge and Restaurant. After I got in, he said he had tried to call me several times and couldn’t figure out where I was. I told him what had happened with the phone, keys and wasps and he just shook his head. We were on our way to Giant City Lodge!
The Field Trip South
Afterewards, he checked his phone maps and started on his way. He traveled down the road a bit, then stopped. He saw that there was a shorter way to the restaurant and we were fighting against time for the 3:00 p.m. reservation. He reversed his direction and we were finally on our way.
The trip was at least an hour long and he was driving some of the scenic backroads that populated our southern rural area. Just before a major turn, his phone decided to freeze up. He handed the android phone to his wife, but she didn’t know how to do anything with it because she has an iphone. The middle son, whose phone was also android, took the phone and corrected it. Good Thing, for the turn was right in front of us.
We were on some of the scenic backroads, but that just translates to roads that follow the twists and turns of the land, while also going up and down with the contour of the land. Oh, and narrow roads are the “normal style” of roadway. The Shawnee Hills Forest is beautiful, but roads are never very “roomy.” As long as I kept my head up and focused outside, my vertigo never gave me a problem.
The Giant City Lodge Restaurant
The youngest son is tall and autistic. He had decided that he didn’t want his dress clothes on anymore. His mother was ready for that and provided him with his casual clothes and shoes. Once that was done, my son let his wife park the car while he ran in to verify his scheduled time at 3:00. He had shaved 15 minutes off our travel time to get there on time.
The menu was fried chicken only today, but there were sides served “family style.” The food consisted of rolls and apple butter, cole slaw (delicious!) and veggies of cream-style corn and green beans. Dumplings, fresh mashed potatoes and oodles of gravy finished the venue. There wasn’t much conversation except for “Please pass the ___.” The waitress was excellent and kept our glasses filled, too. Dessert was available and I opted for the apple crisp with ice cream, also delicious.
The Sight-Seeing Tower
After “stuffing our faces,” we climbed the high sight-seeing tower at Giant City Lodge. Many steps upward and we could see several miles in the distance. We were literally above the treetops. My autistic grandson came over and draped his arm across my shoulders. I received a side-hug from my youngest (15 years old) grandson while viewing the tree-tops on the top platform of the tower!
I asked his Mother to take a picture of this unusual action of his. In addition, we were afforded a micro-view of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, our next destination. It was just 30 minutes “down the road.”
The Bald Knob Cross of Peace
We travelled more scenic roads and the last 3.7 miles took our breath with S-curves and winding back roads between the trees. Mother Nature was not nice a month or so ago and we observed many stumps that were from a foot to 3 feet in diameter. However, today’s weather was truly perfect for our outing.
We parked the car and traversed another hill to approach the Bald Knob Cross of Peace located in Alto Pass, IL. Currently, there are cosmetic features being constructed, but the 111-foot high cross gleams in the afternoon sunlight. It has the four cardinal directions identified with Faith, Hope, Charity and Love. It is a testament to the vision of two men, (in 1937) Wayman Presley, a native of Jackson County (Southern Illinois) and Reverend W. H. Lirely.
They wanted to provide a place where anyone of any religion or faith could come and worship. This was their vision and over the years, through “thick and thin” as we say around here, it now stands majestically on top of Bald Knob.
From 1948 to 1951 Presley secured 116 individuals who would willingly commit $100 apiece. He appeared on “This Is Your Life” TV Program (ran from 1952 to 1961) which gave national attention to the Bald Knob Cross of Peace vision. A happening that is scheduled later is the 33rd Annual Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday, May 18, 2025. It’s hosted in partnership with the Lord’s Paheece Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclist Association.
Easter Family Field Trip Visit
I sure hope our next scheduled outing will not have as many oops. Playing Speedy Gonzalez with my truck is not my favorite thing, especially when wasps intrude! That visit to Bald Knob Cross was the highlight of our Easter Family Field Trip.
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