North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 11-- Indiana

An absolutely gorgeous day to be on the road August 29th. I spent a lot more time in Vincennes than I had figured on, but didn't particularly rush to catch up.

I came across 105.3 FM out of Evansville, Indiana which had a show featuring all 1981 hits. I listened to this as long as I could. Indiana 550 crossed US-50/US-150 many times.

Caught US-50/US-150 heading east out past Washington, Indiana, on a bypass.Once east of Loogotee (how's that for a name), the scenery started getting REALLY pretty, then reached a crescendo after 50 and 150 split at Shoals. Much of this way I was in front of several old street rods. The truck had to feel so special. I know I did.

There were steep rock sides, curving roads, tree tunnels. It was every bit as impressive as Indiana Highway 46 from Columbus to Bloomington. Of anyone ever tells you Indiana is flat and boring, tain't true.

I was quite impressed with the little town of Paoli with its fine columned courthouse in the town circle and GAR Civil War cannons. For more info on Paoli, see the September 9th entry on my Civil War Blog: http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com. Paoli was one of the farthest-north northern towns occupied by Confederates during the Civil War.


The drive was still alright to Louisville (but not as intense) where I picked up I-64 and crossed the Ohio River on a double-decker bridge (I don't ever remember being on one of these before.

Some Mighty Fine Cruisin' So far and the Day Isn't Even Over. --RoadDog

What Do You Think About Route 66?-- Part 2

Continued from September 11th.

A non-scientific survey by the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce.

4. Travelers say they buy lots of souvenirs.

5. Domestic travelers stay in Mom and Pop motels sometimes, but groups don't because there is not enough room.

6. Mist travelers want to see the western Route 66 states the most because of less traffic, more scenery and less likely to get lost.


MY COMMENTS

4. I have and still continue to do my part for the economy along Route 66 by buying lots and much more stuff than I really need. This even though I am running out of places to put the stuff. I can't help it, I'm addicted and have pack rat tendencies.

5. I always stay in a Mom and Pop whenever possible. But that can get a bit dicey because you never know what you're going to get. But generally, if the outside os landscaped and kept up, it is probably a good place to stay.

I especially like it when the Mom and Pop is conducive to sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers.

6. The Western states are alright, but I like the eastern part better, especially Missouri and Oklahoma. And Illinois "ain't no slouch either."

Out on 66. --RoadDog

What Probably Not to Say or Do When Pulled Over for DUI

Or, Waylon Would be So Proud.

From the September 19th Chicago Tribune.

Few things mess a perfectly good drive down the road more than the flashing lights of a police car behind you, especially if you've had a few drinks.

This is a story out of Orland Park, Illinois. A 38-year-old Orland Park woman was pulled over early in the morning of September 9th on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police reported that when asked to walk a straight line, she sashayed back and forth, hands on hips, as though she was a runway model.

THEN, she asked officers to read her her "AMANDA RIGHTS."

Just what are her "Amanda Rights?"

The Tribune took a look at Waylon Jennings' 1979 #1 hot, "Amanda."

"You have the right to be a gentleman's wife. You have the right to light up the life of an aging country boy. If you can not afford a light, one will be provided for you at no charge."

I Only Had a Coupla beers, Occifer. --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z Again

Yesterday morning, while getting ready to listen to the Drive's (97.1 FM, WDRV) Ten at Ten, I found they were doing their great A to Z again and had started at 7:01 am. They expect to end sometime October 4th and play over 2,000 great songs (some Deep Tracks as well).

It is always neat to see how songs mix together alphabetically.

You can hear the whole thing live as the station streams at www.wdrv.com.

They just played "Come Sail Away" by Styx at 8.57 and now "Come to Papa" by Bob Seger.

These are their "Alls" from yesterday:

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER-- Jimi Hendrix
APOLOGIES-- Nirvana
ALL DAY AND ALL THE NIGHT-- Kinks
ALL DOWN THE LINE-- Rolling Stones

ALL I EVER WANTED-- Santana
ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE-- Mike and the Mechanics
ALL MIXED UP-- Cars
ALL MY LOVE-- Led Zeppelin

ALL MY LOVING-- Beatles
ALL NIGHT LONG-- Joe Walsh
ALL RIGHT NOW-- Free
ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE-- Don Henley

ALL SHOOK UP-- Elvis Presley
ALL THE GIRLS LOVE ALICE-- Elton John
ALL THE YOUNG DUDES-- Mott the Hoople
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE-- Beatles

Now, this is quite a lineup.

Since I started typing away with my two fingers on this list: "Come Together" by the Beatles and "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd.

After all, part of the fun of driving is listening to tunes. I'll be doing updates on my Down da Road I Go Blog at http://downdaroadigo.blogspot.com.

All I Want to Do Is Listen to the Drive's A to Z. --RoadDog

WLS Silver Dollar Survey July 21, 1962

Well, since I brought up the topic of radio stations, I will continue that vein.

For many years, the weekly list of Top 40 songs in Chicago on WLS was called the Silver Dollar Survey. The Chicagoland Radio and Media site (see previous post for url) has quite a few of them, so I picked one at random.

Once at the site, go to Features, then Memory Lane, then Music Surveys.

These songs were before I started listening to pop radio (ot took the Beatles to get me into that scene). Actually, I wasn't even living in Chicago in July that year, but about to move to a Chicago suburb called Rolling Meadows and start 6th grade.

1. SEALED WITH A KISS-- Brian Hyland (7)
2. RISES ARE RED-- Bobby Vinton (8)
3. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO-- Neil Sedaka (4)

4. JOHNNY GET ANGRY-- Joanie Sommers (6)
5. AL DI DA-- Emilio Pericoli (9) (Gives the era and international feeling.)
6. THE STRIPPER-- David Rose (10) (How About That? Dirty Music for 62!!)

7. I'LL NEVER DANCE AGAIN-- Bobby Rydell (8) (Hey, they named a high school after him.)
8. THE WAH WATUSI-- Orlons (7)
9. FORTUNE TELLER-- Bobby Curtela (10)

10. SPEEDY GONZALES-- Pat Boone (7)

The numbers in parentheses were how many weeks they were on the chart.

That was quite a broad spectrum of songs back then.

Play That Funky Watusi. --RoadDog

Why It Takes Me So Long to Post

Case in point today. I was happily looking at my Yahoo page and I have one setting called The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac. I happened to see that the author is one Bob Dearborn. It dawned on me that I was pretty sure that there was a disc jockey on Chicago radio back in the 70s by that name, so I looked further.

There was, and this is the same guy who was on WCFL, one of the two BIGGIE stations for us youthful sorts back in the 60s and 70s, the other being WLS. Both were AM stations. Turns out he is Canadian and also deejayed in Florida.

Then, I saw he had done one of the first major looks into Don McLean's "American Pie" song in 1971. Well, I had to read that and it was very interesting. http://bobdearbornamericanpie.cjb.net/.


BUT, WAIT

That took time, but not so much. But before I left for other things, I came across another site that focuses on old radio stations and one was WLS...so, of course, I had to check that out. http://radioville.andmuchmore.com/.

An hour later (and still not finished with it), I came across a site that had many old WLS, WCFL and several other old station surveys, so had to look at those as well. http://chicagoradioandmedia.com.

Now, I had over two hours invested in that chance notice of Bob Dearborn's name.

Just way too much interesting stuff out there. Curse you, internet.

That Just About Explains It. --RoadDog

Beach Music in Downtown Goldsboro, NC-- Part 2-- Da Beach

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation is to be commended for bringing a whole lot of the best in the Beach Music world inland for the every-other Thursday Goldsboro Center Street Jam.

Not only is there always a great band, but food (bbq of course) and drinks (beer and pop) are available for purchase. Best of all, IT'S FREE!!! Parking along the street is FREE also.

I knew most of the bands slated for this past summer and I'd have to figure even the ones i don't know would have to be good when you look at the rest.

May 13th-- Mighty Saints of Soul-- I don't know this group, but with a name like that they'd have to be good.

May 27th-- Jim Quick and the Coastline Band
June 10th-- Craig Woolard Band
June 24th-- Band of Oz
July 8th-- Spin Change-- I don't know then either
July 22nd-- The Embers
August 5th-- Mark Roberts and the Breeze Band
August 19th-- Legends of Beach

It doesn't get much better than this when it comes to Beach Music.

Check It Out Next Summer. --RoadDog

Some More Dixie Bee Highway, Dixie Highway and Trail Information

Near Rossvolle, Illinois is the original Milestone 121 of the Vincennes to Chicago Road, later, the Dixie Highway. The sign for it was erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Along an old buffalo trace, Gurdon Hubbard of John Astor's Fur Trading Company, established posts along the Vincennes to Chicago Trail. It was called Hubbard's Trace on early maps.

This trail eventually became two wagon lengths wide. In 1835, Illinois ordered a state road from Vincennes to Chicago. It later became known as the Vincennes Trail an Illinois Highway 1.

An original trail marker is located in Crete and monuments in the Beverly section of Chicago, Crete, Grant Park and Rossville.

Sure Goes By a Lot of Names. --RoadDog

Beach Music in Downtown Goldsboro, NC-- Part 1-- Overcoming Downtown Downturn

I was very happy to finally be able to catch a beach band outside on Goldsboro's main street in their summer series of shows. It was a make-up show for one earlier in August, but, most importantly, I happened to be in town September 2nd.

Earlier, I had read in the Goldsboro News-Argus that there was going to be one so definitely had it scheduled on my to-do list.

Goldsboro Center Street Jams are put on by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation (DGDC). Unfortunately, like so many downtowns across the country, the newer strip shopping areas elsewhere in town have taken a toll. There are many empty storefronts and foot traffic has greatly decreased. Some of the buildings are beginning to look run-down as well.

However, partly due to efforts of the DGDC, the downtown is on a rebound. The beautiful old city hall with the two gold statues has been restored. The old theater, the Paramount, was also restored, but an unfortunate fire destroyed it. Then they rebuilt it.

Many of the buildings have been restored to look as they did at the turn of last century. The Center Street Lunch restaurant, dating to 1900, has also been updated. Other restaurants have opened as well.

This is a great way to get people back downtown, especially those of us with Beach tendencies.

Good to See My Birth City's Downtown on the Rebound. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 10-- Indiana Wants Me

Still driving around Vincennes. It being early Sunday morning, there wasn't much open, so just walked around a bit. I also saw the Brouollet French House dating to 1806 and one of only six remaining upright log houses in North America from that era.

Further south was the impressive George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and the structure.

I took a ride across that beautiful bridge crossing the Wabash River to Illinois and saw the marker showing that this is where a young Abraham Lincoln first set foot in the state where he made a name for himself.

I also went to the impressive Civil War monument by the Knox County courthouse, the centerpiece of the Knox County Veterans memorial, honoring those who served in all conflicts since the Civil War. Over 2,000 men from Knox County marched off to the Civil War and even 12 blacks from the county became members of the famed 54th Massachusetts regiment.

There was an extensive listing of names for all the wars. I'm not sure whether they were names of those who lost their lives or served.

On the way out of town on Main Street, which very likely was the original US-50, I passed two old gas stations at Ninth and Thirteenth streets.

Out in the Country Now. --RoadDog

Want to Hear Some Really Old Music?

Right now, I am listening to four hours worth of Top Beach Music songs from 1954 on Fessa John Hook's survey on Cashbox.

I just heard:
#30 Outside of Paradise-- Ray-O-Vacs
#29 Trying to Get to You-- Elvis and the Eagles
Give Me Your Love-- Larry Darnell
#28 Don't You Know-- Ray Charles
#27 Honey Love-- Drifters
Hey Little School Girl/You Done me Wrong-- Fats Domino
#26 Ten Days in Jail-- Robins (later called the Coasters)
#25 Take Out Your False Teeth, Daddy-- Margie Day

Just this last one would make you want to listen to all of them. By the way, I was alive, but at age 3, not listening to much radio.

Good cruisin' songs if I could figure out a way to get them on tape.

He also has a current Beach Top 40 and a Blues Top 40 at the site and gives lots of background info.

http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/countdowns/beachmusicweekly.html.

I keep it in my favorites. I'll be listing all 40+ songs, lots of Honorable Mentions, on my Down Da Road I Go blog.

This Is really Some Different Stuff. --RoadDog

Around a Curve--Lickety-Split--Beautiful Car--Wasn't It?

Some of you just might know what the fifth part of this says, something about B.S., as in.......


BURMA SHAVE.

From the September 13th Canton Rep (Ohio) "Gary Brown: How many of you remember Burma Shave signs?" I've seen most of these little sayings, but always enjoy them, so here we go.

Of course, along the road, there would be five signs, the fifth one always with the obligatory Burma Shave logo.

Don't Stick Your Elbow-- Out So Far-- It May Go Home-- In Another Car-- Burma Shave


Drove Too Long-- Driver Snoozing-- What happened Next-- Is Not Amusing-- Burma Shave


She Kissed the Airbrush-- By Mistake-- She Thought It Was-- Her Husband Jake-- Burma Shave


Midnight Ride-- Of Paul for Beer-- Led to a Warmer-- Hemisphere-- Burma Shave


Hardly a Driver-- Is Now Alive-- Who passed On Hill-- At 75-- Burma Shave

The first ones came out in 1927 and they were quite popular in the 30s and 40s. They were small red signs about a hundred feet apart.

The Dumb Old RoadDog-- Typed a Blog-- Got Sore Fingers-- Now Can't Bend 'Em-- BurmaNet

Dixie Bee Highway-- Part 3

Again, Dixie Bee Line Highway started in Chicago and went as far south as Nashville. Evidently, parts ran along the Dixie Highway and part along what was called the Chicago-Vincennes Highway.

I came across a song about the road by Uncle Dave Mason who is called the first Grand 'Ol Opry superstar called "On the Dixie Bee Line (In That Henry of Mine). Henry here referring to an automobile. Uncle Dave was always against any form of modernization and sang about a Ford car driving along the new Dixie Bee Line.

Part of the Dixie bee Line also ran along the old Hubbard's Trace, or Trail which had mention of a Dixie Bee marker.

More on Hubbard's Trail Next. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010: Part 9-- Vincennes, Indiana

Finally reached target Vincennes as it got dark. Checked into the Econolodge and played NTN at the BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) before turning in.

I had driven 328 miles.

Drove around Vincennes the next day and found the national headquarters of the Sigma Pi fraternity near Vincennes University which boasts of being Indiana's first college, founded in 1801. Very pretty campus with, obviously, very old buildings.

Right by the main entrance of the campus, there are about six buildings reflecting back on when Vincennes was the capital of the Indiana Territory in the early 1800s. The territorial governor was one William Henry Harrison who went on to become US president after making a name for himself for his dealings and fighting with the Indians.

His home for the territorial years is still there and called Grouseland and open to the public thanks to the Daughters of the American Revolution. On the grounds there will soon be a site called Walnut Grove where in 1810 and 1811 Harrison met with Indian leader Tecumseh.

Still in Vincennes. --RoadDog

Dixie Bee Highway-- Part 2

So, the Dixie Bee Highway (Road or Bee Line)evidently was one of the named roads that existed before the codification of numbered highways in 1926. No doubt the Dixie came from the Dixie Highway which was aligned with it for some of the way.

Doing an address search, I came across Dixie Bee Roads in Danville, Illinois, and Covington, Indiana (to the east of Danville) and also found one in Sullivan, Indiana (south of Terre Haute).

The Dixie Highway went east from Danville to Covington so perhaps that would account for the Dixie Bee in Covington.

There is also a bluegrass band called the Dixie Bee-Liners founded in New York City in 2002 who do a lot of road songs. I wasn't able to find out if they took their name from the road in question.

A Very Confusing Road. --RoadDog

Dixie Bee Highway

Or was it the Dixie Bee Line. Or was it the Dixie Bee Road. Finding information on this road is very difficult. I've never heard of it, but Denny Gibson had.

I did some research and found that the Dixie Bee Line ran from Chicago to Nashville along today's US-41 and US-241.

Another , National Auto Trails, listed the Dixie Bee Line as starting in Chicago and the towns it went through:

Danville in Illinois
Terre Haute, Vincennes and Evansville in Indiana
Henderson and Hopkinsville in Kentucky
Springfield and Nashville in Tennessee.

I definitely saw the name in Terre Haute on both road signs plus a school and shopping center.

Part of the route was the old Dixie Highway which might have been part of the reason for the name. US-41 goes through Chicago today, but then into Indiana, running along the western border of the state to Evansville.

More Dixie Whatever Tomorrow. --RoadDog

Formation of General Motors This Date 1908

On September 16, 1908, William Crapo "Billy" Durant founded General Motors with the merger of Buick and Olds car companies. The name Crapo came from his maternal grandfather who was a two term governor of Michigan in the 1860s.

Starting out with virtually nothing, Durant proved to be an excellent business leader and became rich. In 1885, he created the Coldwater Road Cart Company (for horse carriages) and the following year, the Flint Rock Cart Company. With an initial $2,000 capital, he eventually grew the business to $2 million.

In 1904, the Buick car company approached him to be general manager. He then combines Buick with Olds car companies and in 1910 added Oakland, Cadillac and several parts companies.

Of course, the growth of the car industry had a huge impact on road building in America.

Billy Durant Helped Get Us on the Road. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 8

Gas in Terre Haute was $2.69. I really hate driving US-41/US-150 through Terre Haute and especially once you get to the area north and south of the interstate. This has to be the most stoplights ever assembled in one place and I always manage to catch the vast majority of them.. It's tradition, you know. I would REALLY welcome a bypass around the old T-H. (And also one around Evansville, Indiana, would be appreciated.

I don't know if this is a local thing or an Indiana State University thing, but I saw several pickup trucks and even a car with exhaust coming out of vertical pipes and no tail pipes, much like what you see on 18-wheelers. The car was a BMW and very may have been diesel. For that matter, the trucks might have been diesel as well.

Is this the next "Big Thing" for vehicles?

US-41/US-150 is called the Dixie Bell Road on this stretch. I even saw a school and a shopping plaza with that name.

South of T-H there is an original Stuckey's, but the last time I stopped there, the owners apparently were letting the place unfortunately run down.

Farther south, there are lots of large fruit and vegetable stands, the most impressive being called the Big Peach.

Starting to Get a Bit Tired. --RoadDog

NTN Cruisin'-- Part 1-- Buzztime

Whenever Liz and I travel, we always check out the NTN sitefinder to see where we can play, both during the day and especially at night. During the day and while still on the road, it is no alcoholic beverages.

However, once we get to where we spend the night, I'll have drinks as long as we are close to the motel. Otherwise, no drinks for me if it is too far.

This past trip to North Carolina for my mom's 80th birthday, I was able to stop in two places on the way there and two coming back. There was a new NTN site in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois. This brings our total of new NTN places to 904 overall and 46 for the year. I doubt that anyone else in NTNdom has been to as many places.

We're very happy to now have a GPS device which makes locating the places a lot easier (sometimes). Plus, we use the NTN Sitefinder for names addresses and, I write down directions as a backup.

Unfortunately, sometimes the places aren't in the place where the sitefinder says it is.

NTN Cruisin' and I Got to Get a Life. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 7-- Indiana Here I Come

I was wondering about why they would name the highway after Mother Guerin, so looked her up. She was Indiana's first saint and founded the convent and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Born 1798 and died 1856.

She founded the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary's and was known for her efforts in the advancement of education.

She came from France and was canonized in 2006.

I crossed the Wabash River and in a short distance, found myself by the huge county seat courthouse. I've been by this many times before on US-41, but going north or south, not east. I had no idea that the Wabash River was so close to the courthouse.

I turned on 41, which became aligned with US-150. It must have been always aligned since I've been driving it, but it never registered with me.

Terre Haute to Vincennes on US-150. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 6-- Indiana

Heading east from Dennison, Illinois, US-150 left Il-1 and picked up US-40 and eventually also became the National Road. I went through two really, really small towns that dropped the speed limit down to 30 mph, even though they were so small it shouldn't have been so low. One was West Terrie Haute.

I crossed the Wabash River and was in Terre Haute. I've been through this city, the home of Indiana State University many times, but never entering from the west, always from the north on Indiana-63 ( follow US-41, but it takes a big detour east south of Carbondale).

The land is heavily forested here and part of it is called Mother Guerrin Memorial Highway and there is a St. Mary of the Woods religious complex.

Indiana Wants me. I'm There. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 5-- Still in Illinois

O was happy to get to be on US-150 longer than I had thought I'd be since I picked it up at Danville, Illinois, where it was aligned with Illinois Highway 1 (Il-1).

With gas at $2.42 in Danville, I wished that i hadn't filled up in Gibson City.

Going south on US-150, I stopped for a history on a stick marker about Pontiac's Peace Treaty with the British which was initially signed July 18, 1765, at a place a few miles west of the marker.

CHIEF PONTIAC

After the French and Indian War, Britain received the French territory in what became the United States. This in no way pleased the Indians in the area, and one in particular, Ottawa Chief Pontiac became a real thorn to the British.

On May 3, 1763, Pontiac led an Indian attack on Fort Detroit and lay siege to it for six months. In the meantime, other tribes attacked other British forts. Eventually the British turned the tide and Pontiac withdrew.

George Crogham met with Pontiac in Illinois and got the chief to sign a preliminary peace treaty and then took him to Fort Detroit for finalization.

Pontiac was later killed in Cahokia, Illinois, in 1769 by an Indian.

This is for whom Pontiac, Illinois, on Route 66 is named.

In Chrisman I saw a place called Frost Up with a big root beer mug, but unfortunately it appeared to be closed.

US-150 cuts off Il-1 at Paris and heads east into Indiana. Paris is restoring the tower of its courthouse.

Indiana Wants Me. --RoadDog

What Do You Think About Route 66?-- Part 1

In this past year the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce at http://route66tvonline.homestead.com had a survey, which they admitted was not scientific, but I found it of great interest.

These are things said by visitors:

1. Liked the points of interest, friendly and helpful people, scenery, good food and cheap gas. (CHEAP GAS? Must be from Europe.)

2. Didn't Like getting lost, lack of directional signs, road construction and difficulty following guidebooks and maps.

Many locals don't know where Route 66 is in their own communities.

Many Route 66 businesses and visitors centers are closed when they visit.

Lack of wi-fi and cell phone service.

3. They were on 66 for adventure and believe it to be the best way to see the real America. The Best Road Trip.

MY COMMENTS

1. I completely agree with #1, except for the cheap gas, especially in Needles, California. Even as expensive as gas has gotten here in the US, it is still a LOT cheaper than in Europe and Australia.

2. Again, I thoroughly agree. With the exception of Illinois and Missouri (and Kansas), you can really get lost the rest of the way. I have come across locals who barely know of the road. Route 66. What?

3. Without a doubt, 66 is the way to see the real America, warts and all. Both from a people level but topography as well.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Some More on the Lincoln Highway's Birthday

According to good ol' Wikipedia, Carl Fisher first proposed a coast-to-coast rock highway to a group of automobile industry friends at a meeting on September 10m 1912. he wanted it completed by may 1, 1915, in time for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition being held in San Francisco.

The Lincoln Highway was dedicated October 31, 1913. To me, this would be the official birth date.

So, I was wrong with the first birthday announcement if this is correct.

Good 'Ol Loncoln. --RoadDog

Some more on the AVUS motorway. It is considered the world's first motorway (interstate) and opened this date in 1913. It is a short twelve-mile stretch of highway near southwest Berlin. It is still there and still serves as an automobile racetrack.

Its official name is Automobil Verkehrs--und Ubungs--StraBe.

A Big Happy Birthday to the Lincoln Highway

It was September 10, 1913, that the Lincoln Highway first opened. It was the first transcontinental US Highway as envisioned by Carl Fisher of Indianapolis who also started the Dixie Highway and Miami Beach. Talk about a man with huge vision!!

It eventually became the first paved coast-to-coast highway in the United States.

This road has become a big part of my life since I began my roadie days. I have driven it from eastern Ohio west to a little past Omaha with several trips along the whole length of Illinois. After getting interested in old roads via Route 66, I immediately fell upon the Lincoln.

I belong to the Lincoln Highway Association of Illinois as well.

Even before I really knew about it, I went to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, right on the Lincoln (Il-38 now). I spent many nights drinking at the downtown bars on the road. Later, Liz and I got married at the Newman Center on campus and had our reception at the Holiday Inn (now Best Western) right on the Lincoln.

Doing the Lincoln since 1969. --RoadDog

I should also mention that today is also the anniversary of the opening of the Avus Autobahn near Berlin, Germany. It featured a non-existent speed limit and could be considered the first interstate. And, I had always thought Hitler started the autobahns.

WGLT FM 89.1, Normal, Illinois

Earlier today, I posted about this really fine radio station which i came across while scanning for interesting and local stations. Actually, i was looking for a station called the Whip which I'd heard in the area in previous trips, but had neglected to write the call letters down.

I did some more research and found out that WGLT is affiliated with Public Radio and bills itself as "News, Blues and All That Jazz." They've been in business 44 years.

Weekends is for the Blues. Saturday the GLT Blues show is broadcast from noon to 4 am Sunday. On Sunday, Blues is the name of the show from noon to 6 pm.

Then from 6 to 8 pm Sunday, American Routes is broadcast. Being an old road type of person, I had to check it out and found that the show originates in New Orleans and features what is called American Roots Music: blues, jazz, gospel, soul, old-time country, rockabilly, Cajun, zydeco, Tejano and Latin music.

The station streams live so I might have to start listening to it.

I would figure you can pick it up over the airwaves in a thirty mile radius around Normal.

Mighty Good Music. --RoadDog

Listening to the Radio and Cruising Down the Road

When I go on trips, I bring along 3-5 Cds to listen to, but every so often take a listen to local stations which I get by scan and sometimes just using the tuner.

You never know what you're going to get. Unfortunately, sometimes you get out of range of weaker stations before you can find out their name.

WGLT NORMAL

On the way down, I came across WGLT out of Normal, Illinois at 89.1 as I was approaching Gibson City. They were having a Blues on the Weekend party.

At one point, they did a Blues Report segment telling where you can find that genre of music in Central Illinois. They mentioned one of my favorite bars in Springfield, the Alamo, that has a Blues Monday weekly. On several occasions, I have met up with fellow roadies there during the annual September Route 66 Festival in that city.

I'll definitely try to remember to tune in this station the next time I'm in the area.

Cruisin' On Down Da Road. --RoadDog

Back Home Again-- Part 2

Some more facts:

** I went to the fanciest McDonald's I ever saw.

** I was able to get together with buddy Denny G. in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.

** Most expensive gas that I bought (not saw) was $2.60. Least expensive $2.37.

** Stopped for gas ten times.

** Spent $260.91 on gas

** Drove 2243 miles

** Drove about half of US-150 from Danville, Illinois to Mount Vernon, Kentucky.

** Drove on five interstates

** Went to eight states

And, thanks Lulu for alerting me to the cop crackdown on Il-47 around Sugar Grove.

Mighty Good to be Back Home. __RoadDog

Back Home Again-- Part 1

As much as I love to be out on the road and visiting places, it is always great to get back home.

I was gone from August 28th to July 7th. A few facts:

** Gone 11 days

** Played NTN at four new places

** Spent three nights in motels

** Drove on Route 66 and the national Road and passed the old Lincoln Highway.

** Saw three bands

** Ate enough bbq that I don't want any for a while.

** Got together with lots of family members

More to Come. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 4-- Illinois

I had planned to take US-24 from Il-47 to Watseka, Illinois, near the Indiana border and then Illinois Highway 1 to US-50 opposite Vincennes, Indiana.

Watseka is the birthplace of Henry Bacon, 1866-1924, the architect best-known for designing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. His father, Henry Bacon, Sr., was transferred to Wilmington, NC, and supervised the construction of the "Rocks" which closed off New Inlet of the Cape Fear River.

But, because of my late departure, I decided to stay on 47 south to I-74 and then to Il-1. Highway 47 is smooth-sailing once you get past Morris even with a few small towns.

I was on I-74 and going by Danville when saw an exit for US-150. I hadn't looked on the map to see where else US-150, my old road objective for the trip, went in Illinois.

I got off and found that 150 ran into Illinois Highway 1, so took it. Gas in Danville was the lowest I've seen in Illinois, $2.42.

So, I got my Il-1 and US-150, too.

I Sure Wish Gas By Us Was This Low. --RoadDog

Lincoln Logs: Murals in Sterling and Rock Falls-- Lincoln Highway Days

Some New News About an Old Road.


1. MURALS IN STERLING AND ROCK FALLS-- Sterling is set to get a new mural in addition to the 18 the town already has. This time it is compliments of the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition which has been very busy placing interpretive gazebos and murals throughout the length of the road in Illinois. This one is 200 square feet and will show the Lincoln Tavern which was built in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The Taco Bell stands at its former site.

Nearby Rock Falls has already gotten their mural at 1412 W. State Route 30 and shows the now defunct Corn Carnival.

Great job ILHC.


2. LINCOLN HIGHWAY DAYS-- The 27th annual Lincoln Highway Days festival starts in Nevada, Iowa, this weekend.

More Fun Along the Lincoln. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 3-- Route 66

We also talked about Diana Oughton (1942-1970) who grew up in Dwight, the daughter of a prominent family. She was a founding member of the radical Students for a Democratic Society and eventually joined the very militant Weathermen and was killed in a bomb explosion in New York City.

She is now buried in Dwight.

The man at the station said the place had been really busy earlier and that one couple from Florence, Italy, had come by. While i was there, a truck came by and the occupants said their trailer had broken down out on the interstate and they wanted to know if there was any tow truck/repair shop in the area. I sure couldn't help them there.

I took a drive down 66 by Fedderson's. It's sad to see that place gone. We had some great meals there and had seen Route 66 friendliness on our first trip on the road back in 2002. Besides great food, they also the great automotive memorabilia and especially that complete run of Illinois license plates with the same number and letters from the 1920s to the 1980s. It was a sad day when Smaterjax sold all of it.

I also drove by the famous windmill by the fancy restaurant that Diana Oughton's parents owned.

A Short, But Enjoyable Stop Along the Mother Road. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 2-- Route 66

Illinois Highway 47 goes through Dwight about twenty miles south of Morris. And, even for a short stretch Il-47 is along the alignment of Route 66.

I stopped in Dwight, Illinois, to visit the Ambler-Becker Station which now serves as the town's welcome and visitors center. For many years, the station was in bad shape and falling apart, but it has been completely restored now and is open during the summer and on certain times during the winter.

I had a nice talk with the 82-year-old man who was there, who has lived in Dwight ever since he was five. He said the coffee place across the street is still for sale but h doubts there is enough business in town to keep it open.

The old Fedderson's restaurant, most recently Smaterjax, is now owned by a windmill company and has been remodeled. There are sure a lot of those giant electricity-generating windmills both south of town by Odell and now even north of Dwight. He says they will eventually hook up to form an even bigger wind farm.

The blinking red lights are really pretty at night and during the Christmas holidays lend a festive feeling. He thinks it is too bad they don't put up green lights on some of the windmill tops during the holidays.

Still in Dwight. More to Come. --RoadDog

North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 1

DAY ONE: AUGUST 28th, SATURDAY

I did not leave home until noon even though Liz wasn't with me. It is always hard to get Liz going in the mornings on our trips as she is definitely not a morning person. But this time, it was all my fault, but I have several big excuses.

The inside plants needed watering and I had not yet packed. Plus I had to cut the grass. I had intended to do this yesterday, but had ended up going to Gasoline Alley to meet up with some friends. It was too dark when I got back.

That meant I had to wait until the dew dried up to cut the grass. Then, I had to water the outside plants with extra helpings on the ones in pots and baskets. Those are the ones that dry out the quickest. Ever since the flooding, we have had a dry spell.


ON THE ROAD, FINALLY

Left at 12:09 and drove out to Woodstock, Illinois, where I picked up Il-47, our bypass around the Chicago hassle, even though it puts about 35 extra miles on our trips. Il-47 goes pretty much straight south all the way to a little past I-74 west of Champaign.

It is getting considerably slower these days as Chicago's sprawl has grown out to it. The towns of Woodstock, Huntley, Yorkville and Morris especially have a lot of traffic and stoplights.

Once you get past Morris, it is an easy ride, no more really big towns and very few stoplights. Plus, you get a little Route 66 in Dwight.

Finally, On My Way. --RoadDog

Seeing Some Music Here in North Carolina: Bluegrass and Beach Music

Last night we went over to the Wayne County Museum last night and saw Samantha and Daniel Casey put on an excellent program of primarily bluegrass music but also with some gospel and even an Irish jig.

They are father and daughter and I was really surprised to find out Samantha was only 14 and had been playing the violin/fiddle since she was five. Daniel alternated between playing the guitar and banjo. They have great vocals and are perfect musicians.

Daniels also told stories about all the songs, including one song written by Lester Flatt, while he was in Bill Monroe's Band. If they were in his band, they had to give part credit to old Bill for anything they wrote, so Monroe's name appears on the song writers.

BEACH MUSIC

One of the things I really like about North Carolina is the amount of Beach Music you find here. And, I am not talking about Beach Boys or Jan and Dean Beach music, but that good old southern east coast phenomenon called Beach Music which is a mish-mash of all sorts of sounds, but especially rhythm and blues.

I often listen to WNCT, The Surf, the Boardwalk. Fessa Hook and Pat Patterson's Large Time Network when I'm at home.

I see that a band I've heard of, but haven't seen yet, The Legends of the Beach, is playing tomorrow at Goldsboro's Center Street Jam and seriously considering going to it.

Great State. Great Music. --RoadDog