Sweet Home Indiana and the Lincoln Highway-- Part 2

Continued from yesterday.

We hadn't been to an oasis in a long time, and needed a bathroom break anyway. Gas was about 15 cents more than elsewhere, fairly common practice on the tollway.

All of the Illinois oases had been extensively remodeled several years back as they were showing their age. They had been built in the 1960s. The Lincoln Oasis had several fast food places. The McDonald's didn't have any dollar value items. There was also a Southland Tourist center information booth. We stood by the windows for awhile watching the cars and trucks whiz by several feet beneath us. Definitely an interesting experience.

Got back on I-80, and drove to exit three (later, it becomes the Indiana Toll Road, but not here). The object was to go to the Indiana Welcome Center to view the "A Christmas Story" movie exhibit that I had read about that was open until Jan. 11th.

This is one really nice welcome center with a John Dillinger Museum as well. Besides the tourist information available, there is a large exhibit hall and a wall of important people from this northwest part of Indiana.

The "Christmas Story" exhibit was well worth the extra travel (and, I heard on the way out, that it will be reopening for each of the next six years). It originally were the Macy's Windows in New York City. I wrote about it this past December.

We spent quite a bit of time in the gift store and I was sorely tempted to buy either the $40 set of 8 people and the lamp, or the $29 Leg Lamp Clock with the leg as the pendulum. Couldn't figure out where to put these things, so didn't buy any. Sure was neat, though.

More to Come. --RoadDog