Bayou Bluff’s campground – The Generous Spirit of the Midwest (How Fred saved us from the furnace) (July 23, 2012)

The campground store inside the pavilion.

Our wonderful trailer with the A/C going strong inside.

Fred and Pata on the morning of our departure.

Bayou Bluff’s campground – The Generous Spirit of the Midwest (How Fred saved us from the furnace) (July 23, 2012)

It was a broiling day and we were in the heat much of the day.  We end the day in Cornell, IL at Bayou Bluffs Campground.  We come into the camp down a long road and along the side are some old trailers and campers.  As we get into the main section, we see more trailers and campers that clearly look inhabited.  A big garage space has a sign that says “register here.”  We go in and are greeted by Fred the owner of the place.

I had called earlier and had spoken to his son.  He told me that they had space and showers.  Fred told us that what his son didn’t know and didn’t tell us is that he gives half off to folks on bikes.  So we were chatting, when David asked if he happened to have an open trailer that he would be willing to rent for the night.  (It was sweltering.)  Fred explained that there was one that was rented out, but it needed to be cleaned out and was not fit for inhabitants.  David said, that all we need is a bed.  Fred scratched his head, and said that his daughters and wife were away in Chicago and that his daughter’s trailer open.  When he brought us over, he commented that he was not sure what he was going to find inside.  He opened it up and turned on the air conditioning.  He said that we could sleep there for the night.

David commented that it was better than any five star hotel, and he meant it.  Fred still only charged us half price.  He told us about the visitors from other countries.  (He even pulled out a world map.)  We bought a couple of sodas and took a shower in the bath house. Later in the afternoon the temperature rose to above 100 degrees. The A/C in our trailer was a godsend!

I used the microwave in the camp store to make some pasta, and Fred kindly gave me fresh peaches and tomatoes to accompany our dinner.  The trailer was cool and we slept well for the first night in a few.  Again, the Midwestern hospitality proved to be wonderfully generous.  Fred couldn’t have been kinder and more trusting.  We are grateful for this – meeting people like him make the trip truly worthwhile.

DW: The next morning Fred offered Pata a cup of freshly brewed coffee which she gladly accepted. I filled our 6 water bottles with ice we had prepaid the day before. I took a photograph of Fred next to Pata and then we were off, rolling down the long gravel driveway into the warm morning air. The evening before some other residents of the campground made a comment to me that Fred had a heart of gold. They are right.