Looking Back to 1941: The New DeKalb-Sycamore Road

From the December 28, 2016, MidWeek (Dekalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

"Now that the 'closed' signs have been removed from both ends of the new DeKalb-Sycamore road some details of changes that have come to pass along its right of way are noticeable.

"Many have not noted that fact that a gateway is missing at Hopkins Park.  The wide central entrance to DeKalb's park has been done away with.  The gateway pillars have been removed and a curbing built across the former approach.

"Replacing the center entrance are two entrances, one at the north and the other at the south ends of the park."

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: The Gasconade Bridge

FEBRUARY 24--  Missouri is going to build a new bridge next to the Gasconade Bridge which is really good news.  We were at the Save-the-Bridge rally last April.

However, Route 66ers have to find an organization or entity to take over the running of the old bridge or the state might go back and decide to remove it.

Sure Glad That It Appears, Anyway, That the Old Bridge Will Remain.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: Lots Going On In Illinois

These stories are taken from the Route 66 News site which goes into much greater detail, has pictures, and also covers a lot more Route 66 items.  I just write about the ones of particular interest to me.

FEBRUARY 16--  The Tropics sign in Lincoln, Illinois, may get erected near its original site by next year.  If not there, I would say put it up by the welcome center or even the Mill.

FEBRUARY 17--  The Sprague Super service Station in Normal, Illinois, will likely reopen in May.  Looking forward to visiting it.  And again, I am really happy seeing Bloomington-Normal starting to embrace their Route 66 heritage.

FEBRUARY 24--  The Mill grand opening is set for April 29, 2017, in Lincoln, Illinois.  There will be a parade and all sorts of other things going on around it.

Lincoln is another town doing all that it can for its Route 66 heritage and is to be commended.

Lots Going On in Illinois.  --RoadIll

PCB 2017: Returning Home, Kentucky's Pennyrile Parkway

MARCH 2, 2017  Thursday.

We were taking a way home that we haven't driven in awhile.  This way we can go without passing through (l)ouisville.  There is no excuse for what they did with that Confederate statue.  I will continue to stay out of this place.

We took I-24 the short distance into Kentucky and then got on the Pennyrile Parkway.  This is always amazing in that, unlike Illinois, when the Pennyrile Parkway was established as a toll road, it was understood that it would cease to be a toll road once it was paid for.  In 1992, it was paid for and the toll booths removed.  That would NEVER happen in Illinois!!

The Pennyrile Parkway was the original name, but now the name of Kentucky's 51st governor, Edward T. Breathitt.  I was uinable to find out how it came to be called Pennyrile, though there is a state park by that name.

The Pennyrile Parkway runs alongside and on the US-41 and near the northern end is signed as I-69.

--RoadDog

PCB 2017: Clarksville, Tn., for the Night

As said, traffic was mighty heavy essentially the whole way to Clarksville.  Some people must commute this distance every work day.  At least it never came to a complete stop.

We got a room at the Baymont Hotel, off I-24.

We then drove around looking for a place to have a relaxing drink and perhaps engage in conversation with some locals.  We found a place called Overtime nearby and pulled in for that cocktail.  This is a sports bar and we saw East Carolina defeat Connecticut in a late season basketball game as well as part of the Blackhawks hockey game.

One guy in there was originally from Chicago and happy to see us in out Blackhawk gear.  We talked with a guy from Charlotte, North Carolina, in town on business.  he said he would be going to Panama City Beach next week on another business trip and we told him about the Driftwood Lodge where we had just spent 13 days.  He liked the idea of a smaller mom and pop place and said he'd look into it.

Good Night's Sleep After a Long Drive.  --RpadDog

PCB 2017: On to "Last Train From Clarksville," Tennessee

Traffic was heavy, but at least moving along all the 30-40 miles to Clarksville, Tennessee.

We've often joked about whether or not this Clarksville was the one the Monkees were singing about in their big hit "Last Train to Clarksville," their first hit that went all the way to #1 in the fall of 1966.

I looked the song up in Wikipedia and found it was written by the famed team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (Boyce and Hart) and, although many people think the name Clarksville comes from this Tennessee town because of its nearness to the huge Fort Campbell complex, home of the 101st Airborne, writer Bobby Hart says it isn't.

I always thought Clarksville was in California, myself.  I looked up towns with the name Clarksville and found there are quite a few.  A short list of them:  Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas, Ohio, Texas, New Hampshire, Virginia, Maryland, Indiana and Illinois.

Must be another of those "Simpsons" Springfield things.

Last Train to RoadDog.  --RoadDog

PCB 2017: The Horror That Is Nashville Traffic

MARCH 1, 2017

We had left Panama City Beach earlier this morning, driven through Alabama and now in Tennessee, approaching the horror that is the Nashville traffic, and at rush hour.  Not a good thing.

Surprisingly, no major tie-ups as we were going opposite rush hour, although big backups on the other side of I-65 going south out of town.  We went past the area where no matter what lane you're in, you're in the wrong lane, and still no big backups.

That all changed when we got to the I-24 exit off I-65, heading northwest.  We then had a major slowdown, but at least no complete stops.

Just Love That Nashville Traffic.  --RoadPanic

OK, Got Pretty Green This Past Weekend-- Part 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

After listening to Rock and Roll Roots, featuring Neil Young's Harvest album which was released today, in 1972.  We went to Sunnyside in Johns O'Burg for the ticket draw and found that they still had food from Friday left over.

We were still planning to go over to the Polish Legion (PLAV) in McHenry for their $10 all-you-can-eat corned beef and cabbage, but a couple bought in corned beef and cabbage soup as well as mini reubens so ended up staying there.  I's never hear of corned beef and cabbage soup and it is REALLY tasty.  Watched two games of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Then we went over to Kevin and Kelly's Lakeside Pub on Fox Lake and had some of Kelly's home made Irish Red beer and Irish Stout while watching the NCAA Tournament.

A Good Ol' Green B-Ball Time.  --RoadDog

Fox Lake/Grant Township Hist. Society-- Part 3: Dog 'N Suds, Lovin' What We Do

Your carhops here do not start off as carhops.  Before going outside, they have to learn how to operate everything inside and have to know the menu inside and out.  Just as important, they have to be people friendly.

They evidently just opened for the new season within the last couple days (it is right down the street from the historical society's museum).  But, I've already had my Coney Dog as they were at the Fox Lake Business Expo a few Saturdays back.

Every Saturday, they have a classic car show and about every two weeks they have entertainment, which really brings out a big crowd.

Roy Miller finished by saying, "We really love what we do."

And, of course, there is that great root beer, Charcoburgers and Coney dogs.

That Is Very Obvious.  --RoadHotDog

Fox Lake/Grant Township Hist. Society:-- Part 2: Dog 'N Suds

Of course, coming in as late as I did, I missed quite a bit of it.

The third generation of Roy Miller's  family, his son, is now running the place.  There is also a fourth generation in training.  It is so great when a family can pass a business down like this.

And, they are always looking to improve upon what they have and sell.

Several years back, they replaced the ordering system for the cars.  When the original system was put in, all wires were run through garden hose.  When they dug for the new system, they found that all the garden hoses were as pliable and in good shape as they were back when installed in 1966.

The Dog 'N Suds is about as 1950s-1960s retro as you can get.  You pull into a parking space and order on a system and a carhop brings it to you.  Very "Happy Daysish."  To me, a great Retro night is to go to Dog 'N Suds for dinner, order an extra large cup of root beer and drive over to the McHenry Outdoor Theater, about ten miles away.

Give Me a Coney Dog.  --RoadDog

OK, Got Pretty Green This Past Weekend-- Part 1

It is not all the time that you get two full weekends to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but we did this year, so Liz and I took advantage of it.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

This being the ACTUAL day, we got our green finery on and went over to Sunnyside Tap in Johns O'burg which had a day-long free buffet sitting out as well as specials on Irish drinks.  I had several of the Guinness Blondes, a light colored beer which is quite good.  In addition, Dana from the band Six Strings Down came in and put on an Irish show.

We had been planning on going over to the Fox Lake American Legion which was serving $8.50 plates of corned beef and cabbage, but we deemed better not to go.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

I went to the presentation on Miller's Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside at the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society (see this week's posts).

We met Kevin and Kelly and another friend at Stucky's in Johns O'Burg for pitchers and corned beef and cabbage.  I intended to order one of these plates until I learned they had a reuben calzone.  Never had one so that's what I got.  As good as I figured it to be.

Then we thoroughly enjoyed the music of Whitey O'Day, a noted local musician who is famous for his Irish shows.  He often plays at the Irish Mill in the area, your ultimate, but way too crowded place for celebrating that Irish thing.  .We had a REAL GOOD TIME with lots o' singin' and pitchers..

Drink Tongue and All.  --RoadO'Dog

Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Association Meeting: Ingleside's Don 'N Suds

The meeting was at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.  Almost didn't make it to this.  I woke up at 4:30 a.m. This morning and couldn't get back to sleep, but did get back to sleep at 7:30, but woke up at 10 (the meeting began at 9:30).  Dressed rapidly and drove to Ingleside (they raised gas in Fox Lake from $2.18 o $2.38 yesterday).  I then got stuck my a malfunctioning railroad crossing gate and had to back track.

But I finally got there.

Roy Miller, who owns the Ingleside Dog 'N Suds was giving a presentation on his place.  His parents bought it and opened in 1967, so this is the 50th anniversary  of family ownership.  At one time there were several hundred Dog 'N Suds, but now just seven.  And, we have three of them right here in the LakeCounty/McHenry County area:  Ingleside, Grayslake and Richmond.

Good Old Charburgers!!  --RoadDog

Gettin' Our Irish On-- Part 2: Some Irish Music

For many years I deejayed the St. Patrick's parade party at George's Cedar Inn in Lake Villa, Illinois.  I played lots of Irish music and made a lot of cassette tapes to cover it.  Generally, it was straight Irish music during the parade and the first hour or so after it.  Then, I would play oldies and Irish music.

This morning, I am playing one of those tapes.

This is Side One of my St. Paddy's Party #2 cassette tape:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling/My Wild Irish Rose--  DeKalb Footstompers
Footstompers Irish Medley (including the Notre Dame, Chicago Bears and NIU fight songs)

The Orange and the Green

Danny Boy--   Dennis Day
McNamara's Band--  Dennis Day
Clancy Lowered the Boom--  Dennis Day

Sweet Betsy from Pike
Scarce O-Tatties
Take Her Up to Monto

Wild Rover/Whiskey in a Jar
Big Strong Man
MacAlpines Fuzilliers

Mick McGuire
March Medley
Gentleman Soldier

Loch Lomond
Greensleaves

Some Good Irish Music Here, Even If I Do Say So.  --RoadDog

Getting Our Irish On-- Part 1

I'm sitting here right now on a gloomy, overcast, day after St. Patrick's Day.

For what we did for St. Patrick's Day last weekend, go to my Down Da Road I Go Blog.  We had a fish fry, two parades, a band and lots o' bars.

Yesterday, we went to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg where we had an Irish buffet set out all day and later Six Strings Down came in to perform.  Lots o' green beer, Guinness and folks dressed in green, including Mark O'Green, the biggest leprechaun ye ever did see.

Today, we're thinking of going to the huge outside (heated) tent over at Woodstock Square where five bars are having a joint St. Patrick's Day celebration.  Then, it will be back to Johnsburg where Stucky's is having noted Irish singer Whitey O'Day.

Sure Is Nice to Have St. Patrick's Day Yesterday, On a Friday, As That Gives Us Two Weekends to Celebrate It.  --RoadDog

Got My Civil War On in the Last Ten Days

I always enjoy meeting up with like-minded folks and talking Civil War.  This is the main reason I got into history.  On March 9th, I drove over to Grayslake, Illinois, for the meeting of the Lake County Civil War Round Table and heard a talk on Confederate flags.  Fortunately, certain people did not hear about it or no doubt they would have been there protesting this glorification of slavery as they like to say.

Then, this past Tuesday, March 14, I drove into McHenry, Illinois, for the meeting of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table and a talk on McHenry County in the Civil War.

Getting My Civil War On. --RoadDog

N.C. January 2017-- Part 7: WBRF and 77 Degrees

JANUARY 13, 2017

I got gas at Wytheville, Virginia, always the cheapest along the way (West Virginia, on the other hand, is usually about as expensive as Illinois, so I fill up in Ohio to make it through West Virginia's high prices).  It was $2.10 a gallon.

The rain that fell while on the West Virginia Turnpike was now over and a dry run through Virginia and no problem on that eight mile decline going into North Carolina.

I, of course, was now tuned into WBRF Classic Country broadcasting out of Galax, Virginia.  They play a whole lot of songs that I have never heard of before.  I listen to it the last ten miles in West Virginia, all the way through Virginia and to Greensboro, North Carolina.

Driving through North Carolina, the temperature gauge on the odometer kept rising until it registered 77 degrees.  I will definitely take 77 degrees in January.

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: Bizarre Foods and Art's Motel

FEBRUARY 13TH--  The Route 66 episode on "Bizarre Foods" on the Travel Channel aired Feb. 21, Tuesday, at 8 pm.  Wish I had seen it.

FEBRUARY 15TH--  Art's Motel in Farmersville, Illinois, has reopened after being closed for six years. They have eleven rooms and charge just $50 a night, niot a bad price for a slice of Americana.

 There are no plans to reopen the restaurant but the new owners are willing to lease it.

Art McAnamey opened it in 1937 so celebrating its 80th year this year.

Figure we'll have to stay there this summer (before it closes again).

Always Wanted to Do That.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: Tips for Tourism Success-- Part 2

Two small towns and their emphasis on Route 66 come to mind:  Atlanta and Pontiac, Illinois.

The Atlanta Clock Tower came from the high school and was placed in a structure by the library (itself an interesting building).  They are having tourists wind it.

Palms Grill.  At first they wanted it just as a non-working replica, but now it is one of the best places to eat along the old road.

They also moved the Paul Bunyan muffler man statue to main street.

Then, there is Pontiac with all their murals, museums and that wonderful old courthouse in the town square.

Two Cities to Emulate.  --RoadDog

"Silent Cop," "Silent Policeman"-- Part 3: "An Outdated Device"

Today's traffic round-abouts serve a similar purpose.  And, we are sure getting a lot of them around here.

Don't run over the silent cop.

Also called a "silent policeman."

It was used most recently in Australia and taken out of the Sydney streets in 2002 as "an outdated device."  Motorcyclists were particularly unhappy with them.  Wonder why?

According to Wikipedia, they were also referred to as "sleeping policeman" or "traffic dome."  they are usually painted yellow.  They are about 16 inches wide and five inches tall, usually painted yellow.

So, Now You and I Know.  --RoadDog

"Silent Cop," "Silent Policeman"-- Part 2: Most Recently Used in Australia

From the Macquarie Dictionary.

This traffic device was used in the U.S. during the early days of autoists, but dropped.  It was most recently used in Australia.

A circular steel plate about 60 cm in diameter with a pattern of steel projections on top, set in the center of the road at an intersection where there are no traffic lights.  This encourages traffic to keep to the left.  (Remember, Australia where they drive on the other side of the road.)

I've Never seen One.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: Tips for Route 66 Tourism Success-- Part 1

FEBRUARY 12, 2017  How to parley Route 66 heritage into tourism dollars, which undoubtedly will continue to grow as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.

**  Don't just preserve it, use it to generate tourism dollars.

**  Anything dating to the road's golden days, 1940s to 1960s, should be restored, renovated or some other use found for it.

**  Having festivals is good for the economy.

I am glad that Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, have finally figured out they have a nice bit of Route 66 heritage and I probably won't always drive around them on I-55.

--Roaddog

"Silent Cop," "Silent Policeman"-- Part 1: A Small Hemispherical Traffic Marker

OK, so I looked it up.

Silent Cop--  a small hemispherical traffic marker at an intersection back in the early days of driving.

--SilentDog

Looking Back to 1916: "A Policeman Was Run Down"

From the Decemeber14, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"A policeman was run down by a street car on the main business street yesterday morning and sent spinning.  This is not as terrible as it sounds at first for the policeman was not Sid Rowe, or Stanley Goukaas, or Chief Riddell.

"It was the "silent cop" which was recently placed at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway for the guidance of autoists and it was a bit too close to the car track with the result that the car (street car) hit it.

"Damage: one small flag."

I must admit that before the last two blog entries, I had never heard of "silent policemen" or "silent cops."

Must Be Some Kind Of An Obstacle.  --RoadDog

Looking Back to 1916: Need a "Silent Policeman"

From the December 14, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"An effort is being made to have one of the 'silent policemen' stationed at the dangerous corner of First and Locust streets.  Although the streets are rather narrow the competing of autoists to observe the right of the road would be a good thing for traffic.

OK, What Is a Silent Policeman?  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, February 2017: Calf Fries

These are taken from the Route 66 News Blog, which has an entry pretty much every day and a lot more information than what I give.  I just write about the ones of special interest to me.

FEBRUARY 1:  The Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" will feature Route 66 places on a show in its 9th season.  It will include calf fries at Clanton and Rocky Mountain oysters at the Big Texan.  I tried them at Big Texan.  Tastes like chicken.

FEBRUARY 5:  Readers vote Nat King Cole as recording the best version of "Get Your kicks on Route 66."  #2 was by the Rolling Stones, #3 by Chuck Berry, #4 by DePeche Mode, #5 by John Mayer and #6 by Asleep At the Wheel.

Others receiving votes were Glenn Frey, Manhattan Transfer, Pied Pipers, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como.

Personally, I think Asleep At the Wheel blows them all away.

FEBRUARY 9:   Congressman introduces bill to make Route 66 a National Historic Trail.  This by U.S. rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill).  Who says those Republicans are all bad?

--RoadDog

PCB 2017: Confusion in Montgomery, 'Cue in Cullman

As I mentioned in the last post, we got confused as to which way we were to go.  Did we take Southern Expressway Stoplights to I-65 or go to I-85 and then west to I-65.  It came up too fast to make a decision and we were unable to get over to head to I-85 so proceeded into Montgomery, hoping we weren't going to have to go through a bad area.

Turned out, it was a very pleasant drive until right before we got to the I-65 entrance ramp.

Traffic of I-65 was heavy all the way to Birmingham, I mean, VERY heavy.  Then, though it was about 2 in Birmingham had traffic as bad as a rush hour.

It was then that we started hitting a lot of rain.  It poured.  I was driving along looking for a place to get off and eat and saw a sign for a place called Sonny's BBQ in Cullman, Alabama, so got off.

It is about a mile from the interstate and well worth it.  They feature pulled pork and, as they say, "We'll serve no swine before its time."  Mighty tasty.

We'll Be Back.  --RoadDog

PCB 2017: Part 2: Return Trip to Alabama

Returning from Panama City Beach, Florida, we again took Fla. Highway 79 to the border.  Eventually it will be four lanes all the way south from I-10 and the major route to PCB, no doubt.

At the Alabama border, the road becomes Alabama Highway 167 and we take that to Troy, and through all those many, many, many (and real long) stoplights of Enterprise.  Once in Troy, we picked up US-321 to Montgomery where we got confused by signage showing the way to I-65 and I-85.

Getting to I-65 involves going on what they call Southern Expressway which has more stoplights than anywhere I have ever seen.  And, as soon as there is one car waiting to cross the road, we all stop.  Believe me, you don't want to go on this road.

--RoadDog

Over the Moon: Austin's Moonlight Towers-- Part 3: The Zilker Holiday Tree

**  17:  The number of Moonlight Towers that still exist.  Fifteen still stand and two are in storage.

In 2014, the Austin City Council passed a resolution authorizing an ongoing $3.9 million project to repair, restore and maintain the towers, which are managed by Austin Energy.

**  3,159:  Colored lights adorn the city's most iconic Moonlight Tower in Zilker Metropolitan Park each December when it is converted into Zilker Park Holiday Tree.

The structure was disassembled for repairs last April and reinstalled after four months of work.

**  6:  carbon arc lamps were originally fitted to each tower, giving off a blue-white light that reached 3,000 feet in diameter.

While they were commonly referred to as "moonlight towers" by the 1930s, the towers' lunar connection was referenced as early as 1894.

Gi Ahead, Moon Me.  --RoadMoon

Over the Moon: Austin's Moonlight Towers-- Part 2

A map accompanies the article showing the locations of the remaining towers.  One is in Zilker Metropolitan Parn, two south of the river and most of the rest around downtown Austin and East Austin.

$2.50:  was the daily salary of Austin's first "tower trimmer" in the years after the tower was built.  The trimmer would ascend all 31 original towers each day to maintain and replace the arc light lamps' carbon rods.

Good Work If You Don't Fall.  --RoadFall

Over the Moon: Austin's Moonlight Towers-- Part 1

From the Winter 2017 Preservation Magazine  of the National Trust for Historic Preservation by Katharine Keane.

The city of Austin, Texas, has long been associated with its 19th century Moonlight Towers, a precursor of modern-day streetlights, only much more impressive.  Many U.S. cities had them, but only those in Austin remain.

AT A GLANCE

HEIGHT:  Roughly 160 feet

WEIGHT:  About 5,000 pounds

MATERIAL:  Rust-proof wrought iron made by the Star Iron Company

CONSTRCTED:  1894-1895

--RoadTower

In Case You're Wondering About (l)ouisville-- The Shame

In the last post, I spelled that city's name (l)ouisville.  And, there is a reason for that.

It is because of their shame and the great disgrace they recently did to men from that city who cast their lot with the Confederacy during the Civil War.  As such, they will now be lower case.

A memorial was dedicated in 1895 and had to be removed because some people found it offensive, the slavery thing as we have heard and heard.  The memorial was taken down by the city and the university.  But, at least the city of Brandenburg, Kentucky, had the decency to accept it and it now stands there.

Because of the great dishonor louisville did to my heritage, it is not likely that I will be going there to visit, other than to drive through it.  I may even stop eating those "Hot Browns."  And, I really like them.

And, louisville charged a toll to drive across the river from Indiana.  It was $2 if you have I-Pass, (which we don't) and $4 if not (and you pay a bill by mail as there are no toll booths).  I am thinking of paying $2 and sending the other $2  to the SCV and UDC.

The Shame and Dishonor of louisville.  --RoadDog

PCB 2017: Got Home

We arrived home about 6 p.m. on March 2nd after driving 2,178 miles over the last couple weeks.  We left February 15th.

Going down, we took Illinois-47 to I-74 to Indianapolis and then I-65 south (l)ouisville to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the first day.  The second day it was I-65 through Nashville, Birmingham and Montgomery.  Then US-231 to Ala-167 to the Florida state line and Fla.-79 to Panama City Beach.

--RoadDog

Looking Back to 1941: Governor Green Dedicated the New DeKalb-Sycamore Super Highway

From the Nov,23, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"Governor Green did not open the new DeKalb-Sycamore road the other day.  He dedicated it.  Reason for that clarifying statement is that several people have asked whether the road was done.

"Some are yet refraining from driving on it because of the signs "'closed.'  Work is yet going on.  Today crews were busy near DeKalb.  For several days a curbing has been in the process of construction at the extreme DeKalb end, including the curve into Fourth Street near the high school."

Still, A Big Deal.  --RoadDog

Warm in PCB, But Warm At Home Too

A big reason to go to Florida during the winter is to catch some warm weather.  All that winter cold in northern Illinois starts to wear on you come February.

And, it was quite warm and sunny in Panama City Beach these last two weeks (we ended up staying 13 nights).  And, other than two days of a whole lot of rain, it was usually nice and sunny.  Usually a bit cool in the early morning, but getting into the upper 60s to mid 70s by afternoon.

Sadly, however, it was also pretty warm back home in Illinois, with temps in the 50s-60s range much of the time.  Hey, could have stayed home for that.  But, we did have this little old thing called a beach and the Gulf of Mexico about 200 feet from the front door of our cabana room.

Oh Well.  Tough Job But Somebody's Got To Do It.  --RoadDog

Looking Back to 1941: A "Humorous" Accident in Sycamore

From the November 30, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"A minor traffic trouble was experienced in Sycamore yesterday afternoon in the middle of the block on Elm Street between Maple and Somonauk Streets.  It was not serious, but funny.

"Dirt being hauled away from the scene of construction work at the corner of Maple and Elm fell out of a truck in a nice pile in the street.  It couldn't have happened any better if measurements had been taken beforehand as the pile landed in the center of the paving right where cars were parked on both sides of the narrow street.

"Men shoveled back into the truck as quickly as they could while motorists eased by all grinning at the accident."

Close, Real Close.  --RoadDog

Looking Back to 1916: How to Put In a Cement Road in the Cold

From the November 30, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Pronger & Fletcher, the paving contractors, who have been at work on the cement paving, are hard at work on the cement road next to the steel company's plant on Locust Street.

"In order that the new cement may be protected from the frost, several loads of straw have been hauled and scattered over the cement laid."

--RoadDog

Looking Back to 1916: Street Car Problems Due to Weather

From the November 30, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"The street cars running into the city had some little difficulty yesterday and last night on account of the weather conditions.  The rails were somewhat slippery and the getaway and stops were somewhat difficult.

"The rails were kept cleaned off today, however, and after one or two trips this morning the cars were coming in and leaving nearly in schedule time."

Not sure what city this was, but probably DeKalb.

Weather Problems.  --RoadDog

Decided to Stay Two More Days

After a lot of discussion (well, not), we decided to remain two more days in Panama City Beach and were able to get our room for the same.

You can take the boy from the beach, but not if  he can help it.

We still have places to go and enjoy ourselves, and food to eat, you know.  Drinks to consume.  Sun to soak and so on.

--RoadBeachBum