{"id":9493,"date":"2021-12-29T17:03:24","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T01:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/?p=9493"},"modified":"2023-01-19T11:24:32","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T19:24:32","slug":"illinois-insulators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/2021\/12\/29\/illinois-insulators\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Insulators"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Our man Henry is nothing if not <em>just<\/em> a little bit obsessive &#x1f643;, and he spent many weeks ahead of our trip to Galena\u2014where he caught the insulator-collecting bug during our March trip\u2014plotting efforts to grab more of the little glass gems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On our very first afternoon in town, we headed to Dubuque to meet up with Uncle Ted&#8217;s friend Tom who gave us three insulators!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/ZHZaNxo9sMMevRb26\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"619\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I1-1024x619.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9509\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I1-1024x619.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I1-300x181.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I1-768x464.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The following morning, we grabbed some equipment &amp; root beer at the hardware store, then headed out to the 1888 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Winston_Tunnel\">Winston Tunnel<\/a>. The winding path got us turned around a few times, but thankfully Uncle Ted was our eye in the sky, texting us guidance right to the tunnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/ZHZaNxo9sMMevRb26\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I2-1024x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9513\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I2-1024x340.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I2-300x100.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I2-768x255.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite a huge application of my elbow grease as I stood atop a very sketchy stump, we just couldn&#8217;t dislodge any of the insulators we found. At least the root beers hit the spot before we refueled with fried cheese curds at Culver&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"9511\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/2021\/12\/29\/illinois-insulators\/i3\/\" class=\"wp-image-9511\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"9512\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/2021\/12\/29\/illinois-insulators\/i4\/\" class=\"wp-image-9512\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I4.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next day (Christmas), Hen &amp; I took a long walk down the tracks below Grandpa Nack&#8217;s childhood home. &#8220;I feel like Tantalus,&#8221; he said, as we noted tons of insulators that were <em>just<\/em> out of reach. We came away with just a shard of glass as a consolation prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterwards we dropped by Uncle Louie &amp; Aunt Dolores&#8217;s house, and in the course of catching up with their family, we talked insulators with Joe Nack. Having gathered insulators as a kid, he gave us some good pointers on where to go Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To our great surprise, Joe showed up at our house on Sunday morning, offering to take us out on a hunt. Thanks to his ladder &amp; tools, we immediately scored an insulator that had previously eluded us, and shortly thereafter we hit pay dirt\u2014finding tons of poles out past Rec Park. &#8220;I hope you brought diapers, Henry,&#8221; said Joe, &#8220;&#8217;cause <em>you&#8217;re about to crap your pants<\/em>.&#8221; &#x1f61d;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"9514\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/2021\/12\/29\/illinois-insulators\/i5\/\" class=\"wp-image-9514\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I5.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"9515\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/2021\/12\/29\/illinois-insulators\/i6\/\" class=\"wp-image-9515\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-576x1024.jpg 576w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-169x300.jpg 169w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-768x1365.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-864x1536.jpg 864w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I6.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end Joe &amp; I teamed up to climb high &amp; score an additional five insulators for Henry. As Margot texted in response, &#8220;Joe Nack saves Christmas!&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/ZHZaNxo9sMMevRb26\">gallery<\/a>, as well as Henry&#8217;s video recap of our three outings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Illinois Insulator Hunt\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5OjirNaygGs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/ZHZaNxo9sMMevRb26\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I7-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9516\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I7-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I7-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I7-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/I7.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our man Henry is nothing if not just a little bit obsessive &#x1f643;, and he spent many weeks ahead of our trip to Galena\u2014where he caught the insulator-collecting bug during our March trip\u2014plotting efforts to grab more of the little glass gems. On our very first afternoon in town, we headed to Dubuque to meet [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,43,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-insulators","category-photos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9493"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9519,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9493\/revisions\/9519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jnack.com\/micronaxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}