Springfield, Illinois - #48

I spent the weekend with Eric and Kristine Hufford and Eric's family in Chicago. I spent a few hours walking around Chicago. We worked on building a loft bed for Eric and Kristine. I thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the Hufford's. After this, I spent several days visiting friends in Mahomet. I stayed at the Behern's place for several days and basically relaxed and visited friends.After several relaxing days, I took off for Springfield, Illinois. Now, I've been to the city of Springfield many times before, since I lived in Illinois for six years, but I needed to make it official and go to the capital building. After taking a shot next to Lincoln himself, I went inside where I found myself in the midst of a political something or another going on. I went into the senate area...and this girl, who was once a tour guide spent about 1/2 an hour telling me about the archecture and everything about the legislation. I decided that I needed to take off and was feeling abit of information overload. As I left, it began to rain. It poured. After I got in the car I turned on the radio and heard that there was a tornado watch. Sirens began to go off in the capital building and everyone was forced to go to the underground area. Everyone was stuck in the building. Fortunately I had gotten out only a few minutes prior to the sirens and was headed south on I-55. I met up with Justin and his friends at some Shakespeare play in the park. Flew out of St. Louis on Friday morning. I tagged eleven state capitals on this trip and put 5,000 miles on the rental car. Now I have finished the 48 state capitals and will have to wait for an opportunity to head to Hawaii and Alaska.