Labor Day – a last-ditch chance to enjoy this McHenry Summer in spite of COVID

The ‘unofficial’ end of summer is almost upon us. The astrological start of summer was June 20. And, astrologically, summer ends September 21. But most of us think of summer as running from Memorial Day (May 25) to Labor Day (September 7). If we abide by what ‘most people think,’ summer ends next Monday.

We generally welcome summer, and bid it adieu, with ‘ceremonial’ barbeques. That’s likely the case this year, too, as throwing some dogs and burgers on the barbie doesn’t really challenge social distancing. But, other than barbequing, there is very little about this summer this customary. Thanks to COVID-19, this has been an entirely unique summer and not of the kind we would like to repeat.

Summer is usually a time when we get out of the house. We take trips. We picnic. We go to events where, packed into crowds, we enjoy sports, music and other forms of entertainment. But this summer, we’ve spent a good portion of our time ‘sheltering in place’ and avoiding crowds. Getting out and doing the things we usually do in the summer has turned into a challenge.

Get a little more summer while you can

Though summer is ‘unofficially’ ending, and officially ending two weeks later, summer hasn’t ended yet. There’s still time.

What have you done this summer? When winter arrives, you’ll have an entirely different reason for not going to outdoor concerts in McHenry. Is there a way for you to have some good, solid, outdoor activity while you still have the chance? Maybe it’s time for a road trip. Hit the open road and go somewhere fun, even if you have to drive a bit to get there.

Here are some activities you might consider:

Hiking: There are trails in the McHenry area, including Moraine Hills State Park, Stickney Run Conservation Area and Glacial Park Conservation Area. You can also take a short drive to Starved Rock State Park in Ottawa.
Canoeing/Kayaking: Instead, you might give your feet a brake and float along instead. A leisurely day on the water is a great way to shake the COVID-cabin blues. It can put you in a better frame of mind. You can try Scull And Oars in Wonder Lake, River Guide Kayaks in Richmond or drive up to Lake Geneva for Codie’s Kayaking and Canoeing.
Fishing: Unless you want to take a charter out on Lake Michigan or head up to Northern Wisconsin for a fishing vacation, which are certainly options, you can go fishing right here in your McHenry County backyard. Options include Dufield Pond Conservation Area in Woodstock, The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary, Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam State Park. Wherever your fish, make sure you have your fishing license, and, if you go out in a boat, all necessary safety equipment.
Outdoor Dining: The options in McHenry County are too many to list. In McHenry, you have Vickie’s Place, The Snuggery, D.C. Cobbs, The Village Squire, Addison’s Steakhouse, Bimbo’s Italian Restaurant, Buddyz Pizzeria, and Cullom Knoll in McCullom Lake. Certainly, there are others. And many outdoor eateries will also offer live music over the weekend (you can dine out Saturday or Sunday and barbeque on Monday).

Whatever you do, don’t allow this Labor Day weekend to slide through your fingers as just another day in the Summer of COVID. As they said in the movie, “Carpe Diem” – Seize the Day.

Keep your vehicle in top running trim, too

You’ve got your plans made. You’re packed and ready to go … and the car wont’ start. Or, you head out, you’re several miles from home, and from your destination, when you start hearing a funny noise. Maybe the engine overheats. Maybe you have a flat tire. Whatever it is, your plans are a distant memory as you realize the focus of your day is now ‘how to get home’ and ‘having your car fixed.’

The key to avoid these problems is to have timely and proper maintenance performed on your car. Don’t wait for your car to tell you it’s time for service. You get to pick the time if you’re on top of maintaining your transportation.

And you can have your car picked up and dropped off with sanitary COVID-19 service during the pandemic. Just call your auto repair shop for details.

Is your antifreeze safe from freezing this Richmond winter

You still have time to have it checked Well, there’s no denying it – winter tends to get chilly here in Richmond. We have to deal with snow and ice on the roads, scraping the same off our windows and windshield, and staying warm while we drive. Of course, you had your antifreeze checked before winter rolled into town. What?! You didn’t have your antifreeze checked before winter clamped down on Richmond? So, how’s your antifreeze doing? If you haven’t had it checked, there’s really no way of knowing, is there? This car has overheated in the middle of a Richmond winter. But, on the other end of the spectrum, the antifreeze can also freeze if it's not up to its job. Hopefully, you haven’t had a serious problem with your antifreeze already. If you did, you’d probably know. When antifreeze fails, it’s a potentially catastrophic condition for your vehicle’s engine. You could have hoses that have burst because of freezing antifreeze. Worse than that, your engine block may have crac...

Blocks of ice falling from cars in McHenry could cause accidents or damage

We’ve all seen those blocks of snow falling from behind the rear tires of a car when the snow rolls into McHenry . Fortunately, they’re just packed snow that will disintegrate under your vehicle’s tires as you simply drive right through them, right? Don’t count on it. Those blocks of snow are often packed so tight, condensed by the thaw-and-freeze cycle, that they’re anything but oversized snowballs . They’re often more like boulders. Hit one of those blocks and the collision between the block and one of your tires could send you careening off the road or into oncoming traffic. In some cases, they’re so solid you could pound them with a sledgehammer with little effect. They truly can represent a serious road hazard. The problem is that it’s difficult to tell how solidly they’re packed when you see them on the road, left their unwittingly by another driver. Either way, your best bet is to try to avoid them. But you want to be careful dodging blocks of ice in the road, too. You need...

Get out to McHenry Music Festival for a good time and music near to home

Some folks here in McHenry will load up the car and head out to Red Rock Amphitheater near Denver to see a show. Some will go to the MSG Sphere near Las Vegas. Some will go to the Bonaroo Festival Concert to see a show. That’s quite a bit of driving and you’d better make sure your vehicle is up to the trip. What happens, however, if something goes wrong – if your vehicle breaks down while driving there or back? What happens if the show is canceled, as happened this year with the Bonaroo Festival? We’re talking about some serious inconvenience, aren’t we? Wherever you go, whether your driving to Colorado, Nevada, Tennessee or anywhere else in this continent, you want to perform your due diligence and make sure the vehicle is up for the trip before you go. And it doesn’t really matter if you’re driving somewhere to see some live music or for any other purpose. A breakdown can be costly and may put you at the mercy of weather conditions or nefarious characters that come across you while y...

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