While driving to Casey, Illinois the two RV Gypsies drove by some interesting landmarks and items worth snapping a quick photo. The St. Louis Gateway Arch is a famous landmark, and although the two RV Gypsies have even been up in the top of the Arch, Karen Duquette wanted to get a few more photos of it.

Note: To see photos from when the two RV Gypsies visited the St. Louis Gateway Arch and took several photos of the Arch and more, go to the navigational buttons at the bottom of this and most pages. Choose the red letter G and then scroll down to Gateway Arch. But be sure to return to this page to continue the 2013 adventures in Illinois.

Below: The two RV Gypsies drove by a giant cross located just off I-70E in Effingham, Illinois. The sign at the bottom of the cross said "www.crossusa.org" so Karen Duquette went on-line to learn more about it. They were unable to stop their big RV at this spot.

Quote from www.crossusa.org:"The 10th anniversary celebration of the Cross at the Crossroads saw a record-smashing turnout. Members of the Cross Foundation were hoping for 1,000 people to turn out to set a national record for the number of people helping to form a human cross. Instead, volunteers counted 3,306 people inside the staked out cross area, obliterating the previous record. The record-breaking effort was just one of many memorable moments during the observance, which was also a celebration in honor of the cross anniversary and part commemorative to remember those killed or injured on September 11, 2001.

Reverend Roger Marshall of First Baptist Church, a longtime Cross Foundation board member, led the crowd in a prayer time for those lost on 9/11, the military, emergency service providers, government leaders, and those on the Cross Foundation and the many Cross volunteers. A special prayer was offered for those thousands of motorists who travel by the Cross daily, that they will grasp the message of the Cross, as well as for the nation. A group of children and youth launched some 250 balloons (provided in part from Party Word), and Chinese lanterns were lighted and launched in honor and memory of loved ones, with proceeds from the sale of the lanterns going to the Cross Foundation to help handle upkeep and other expenses."

Below: Oddities in Casey, Illinois

Below: The World's Largest Wind Chime, located in Casey, Illinois

The wind chime stands over 55 feet high and has five metal tubes suspended 49 feet from the ground. The longest chime measures 42 feet. The entire structure is made of steel. The total structure, including the chimes, weighs 16,932.4 pounds. The dream to build the World's Largest Wind Chime was inspired by Jim Bolin's childhood memories of listening to wind chimes at his Grandma Whitling's home. Combined with his knowledge of the pipeline maintenance industry, Jim spent almost two years designing, planning, and fabricating the wind chime. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of several Bolin family members and friends, the wind chime was assembled and officially measured on December 15, 2011.

Below: Lee Duquette pulling on the cord to ring The World's Largest Wind Chime

Below: The World's Largest Golf Tee, located in Casey, Illinois
Height: 30-feet, 9-inches

Jim Bolin constructed the Golf Tee with various widths of yellow pine wood, 60 gallons of glue and 120 pounds of screws. The 6,659 pound project took six months to complete. Future plans for the golf tee are to add an 18-foot diameter golf ball to the top of the golf tee and allow golfers to tee off from the inside. (Karen Duquette wondered why there wasn't a golf ball on top of the golf tee.)

Karen Duquette stood underneath the World's Largest Golf Tee and looked upward, as she took a photo.

Below: In order to set the World Record for the knitting needles and crochet hook, Jeanette Huisinga had to knit and crochet a tension square 10 stitches by 10 rows with the heavy tools. Both are made of solid white pine. The knitting needles weigh 50 pounds together, and the crochet hook weighs 9 pounds. Making the 10 x 10 squares was not easy feat and took around two hours to complete.

Jim Bolin constructed the record-breaking knitting needles and crochet hook as a gift for Jeanette, the owner of The Yarn Studio that showcases the giant crafting tools.

Note: If you enjoyed this page and want to see more of the World's Largest Oddities and other big stuff, use the TOC button at the bottom of this page and choose the red "Big Oddities" button. But be sure to return here to finish the 2013 travels of the two RV Gypsies. And please sign our guest book. Thank you.

Travel Menu for the two RV Gypsies Adventures
in Casey, Illinois
September 3, 2013

You may visit these four (4) sites in any order.

Some of the World's
Largest Oddities (this page)

Historic Road
and a Covered Bridge

Casey KOA

Richard's Farm Restaurant