Something You've Got to See: Route 66 in Ten Minutes

As you know, I take my Route 66 events from the excellent Route 66 News site by Ron Warnick, but I usually run my things a month later(or more).  However, Ron has an article about Seeing Route 66 in Less Than Ten Minutes on his Dec. 28, 2019 article.

It is well worth watching and an excellent thing to show to people thinking about getting hooked on the Mother Road.

Well worth going to the Route 66 News and watching it.

--RoadDog

Some Neat Old Cars on My Stucky's Bar Grille 2019 Calendar: 1929 Buick

Earlier this year, I wrote down the cars from January to June.  here are the last six.  They are neat looking old cars:

JULY:  1948 Nash Super 600 in front of the Route 30 Classics & Roadside Refreshments.

AUGUST:  1939 Buick Special Convertible  in front of the Bayview Motel.

SEPTEMBER:  1956 Ford Victoria  in front of an old hamburger joint.

OCTOBER:  1940 Mercury Convertible Sedan in front of an old B.F. Goodrich store.

NOVEMBER:  1929 Buick in front of the Roadhouse Lodging Meals Bakery.

DECEMBER:  1953 Kaiser Manhattan  in front of XXX Root Beer stand.

Like I Said, Neat Old Cars.  --RoadDog

Along 66, Nov. 2019: Oklahoma Route 66 Assoc. Secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul

NOVEMBER 10--  The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has secured Bob Waldmire's U-Haul and is displaying it at the Chelsea Tunnel.

They acquired it through donations.  Famed and deceased Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire painted it for Ken and Marian Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who used it to carry her famed cookbooks to events.    They donated it to the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma, but they didn't have enough room to display it.

It was then given to David and Laurel Kane's Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, where it was exhibited.  After their deaths it was auctioned off and bought by an auto dealership in Minnesota.  The 66 Association bought it and it is now by the Chelsea Tunnel, which was a civilian underpass under Route 66 because it was so busy.

There is also a tunnel under 66 at Odell, Illinois.

It was a great pleasure for Liz and I to meet Bob Waldmire on several occasions.  If anyone more exhibited the qualities of being a hippy, it was Bob.  And, what a character, one of those who made the Mother Road what it was.

--RoadBob

Along 66, Nov. 2019: Gas Stations, a Death and Totem Poles

NOVEMBER 8--  The Route 66 Village Station opened in Tulsa. It is a welcome center in southwest Tulsa and modeled after a 1930s Phillips 66 cottage style gas station.  The $555,000 project is located at 3770 Southwest Boulevard  (Route 66)

Love those cottage style stations.

NOVEMBER 10--  Death of Jane Dippel who was very active in the Missouri Route 66 Association.  I am a member of that organization and the Illinois Route 66 Association.

NOVEMBER 12--  The restoration of Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park, near Foyil, Oklahoma, should be completed by the fall of 2020.

It would be too sad to lose this place so I am glad they're doing it.

--RoadDog

Military Convoy Comes to Clinton-- Part 2

Convoy participation wasn't limited to the United States.  Paul Baptist was in it and he is from New Zealand.  He is not driving a military vehicle, but follows the column and provides mechanical support.  This is his second convoy.

"It is absolutely inspirational to see the respect that the community shows towards its military and its veterans," said Baptist.  "It really humbles us to see that respect from the public, and that joy and enthusiasm that we're shown as we pass through towns, it's really incredible."

Young children were lifted by their parents or grandparents to peer into the vehicles.  Older veterans posed in front of vehicles from their era of service.   There were also older cars with the group.

The convoy was commemoration the historic 1919 military convoy that drove from coast-to-coast across the United States on its 100 anniversary.

It was quite a chance happening that we saw evidently the end of the convoy as only counted about 12 vehicles.

But, What a Rush.  --RoadDog

Military Convoy Comes to Clinton-- Part 1

From the August 23, 2019, Clinton (Iowa) Herald  "Crowd shows respect for military convoy" by Jake Mosbach.

History came alive in Clinton on Thursday as more than 50 military vehicles of various eras stopped for an hour at the town's riverfront (that'd be the Mississippi River).

They were part of the Military Vehicle Preservation Society and on a break from their coast-to-coast journey and they drew a crowd of onlookers and fielded questions.  They were there for an hour and a half and would drive on to DeWitt, Iowa, where they would spend the night.

York, Pennsylvania's Darryl Bensinger was driving a 1942 three-quarter ton WC-51 weapons carrier.  Talking about his group, he said:  "This is a great group of people that looks out for each other and works together.  Everybody pitches in.  It really promotes a good comaraderie."

Another good thing about the convoy, according to him, is that they are seeing that "small town America is alive and well, despite what we hear all the time."

We were fortunate to see part of this convoy in Clinton.

--RoadBang

Along 66, Nov. 2019: Another Bridge and Neon Sign Gone

NOVEMBER 4--  Road crews destroy Horse Creek Bridge in Afton despite local opposition.  It was built in 1936 and structurally deficient and functionally obsolete according to the Oklahoma DOT.

But, it had a pedestrian walkway on either side.

It was placed on the NRHP in 1994.

I don't remember it myself.

NOVEMBER 7--  The neon sign at the Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, was taken down for safekeeping.  There is nothing left of it but the stone frame and foundation.

Sadly, the motel has been closed for a long time.  The owner Nathan Lippe took it down and it is in storage.

The motel closed in 2014 after years of bad reviews.  It was built in 1945 and named for the Henry Shaw Gardenway.

Probably the best thing to do under the circumstances, but I imagine the large letter GARDENWAY on top of the building remains.

--RoadDog

A New Auto Dealer Showroom in DeKalb in 1919

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"A deal that is of interest to automobile owners of the vicinity was consummated this week whereby G.H. Deane & Co., leasing  one-half of the main floor of the new Knights of Columbus  building as a salesroom and also for demonstrating purposes.

"This will be one of the finest of such rooms in the vicinity, and with the additional cars that the local company will sell this year, the place should be busy."

I was unable to find out anything else about the company.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Nov. 2019: Sonrise Donuts Sign in Springfield, Illinois

Yep, it's correctly spelled Sonrise.

Eventually the half of the sign at Ace Sign Co. will be at a Springfield Signature  Spot to m ark the city's 66 sites.

Brian Figuera established   Sonrise Donuts in 1947 and the sign was put up in 1949.  Don "Donuts" Greenslade, a former employee,  bought the place in 1967 and at one time made more than 400 varieties a day.  he ran it until he died in 1998.

Several different places have tried to open there, but none lasted too long.  Liz and I did get to eat  breakfast there one time (but no donuts).

No Donuts For YOU!!!  --RoadDog

Along 66, November 2019: Update on Springfield's Sonrise Donuts Sign-- Part 1

These are from the Route 66 News site.  I just take the ones of most interest to me, but there are a whole lot more.  If you want to know what is going on along our favorite old road this is the site you want to check out.

NOVEMBER 1--   The Sonrise Donuts neon sign in Springfield glows to life for the first time in decades.

The Ace Sign Co. of Springfield, Illinois,restored the double-sided sign  after the city purchased it at auction for $22,000 back in December 2018.

It had been on the roof at 1055 S. Ninth St. (Route 66) for nearly 70 years.  It was removed by the building's new owner who wants to open a Mexican restaurant.  The sign would cause confusion with its customers.

Ace Sign Co. has its own little neon sign museum  which includes some which were on Route 66.  One side will remain in the museum located at 2540 S. First Street, for now.   The other side will be going to the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill at 600 Toronto Road (south of the city).

--RoadDog

Along 66, October 2019: Someone Stole the Kaiser-Frazer Sign in Mitchell, Illinois

OCTOBER 31--  Then Kaiser-Frazer sign near Mitchell, Illinois, has disappeared and its whereabouts are unknown.

It had been altered and painted with new neon tubing to  advertising for the Town & Country Motel, but the paint had peeled off.

Kaiser-Frazer was an auto maker from 1947-1953, so these signs are quite rare.

--RoadDog

John's Modern Cabins: A Cursed Place?

In 1935, a man killed his estranged wife during a Halloween dance at what became John's Modern Cabins.

In 1938, Walter Tyler, deputy sheriff, was killed in a freak accident near "Bill and Bea's Place" just west of Rolla.  This was one of the names John's Modern Cabins had before it became as we know it.

His gun discharged as he was pushing his vehicle while trying to disengage a stuck starter.  The gun apparently fell out of his pocket and onto the running board of his car and went off, striking him in the stomach.

He left behind a wife and three children.

And Now, It Is Getting Halloween Spooky.  --RoadBoo

Congratulations US-12 (Rand Road) and Richmond-Burton High School, Winners of 2019 IHSA Footbal Showdown

US-12 (Rand Road) defeated US-14 (Northwest Highway) here in the Northwestern Chicago suburbs 1-0.  Richmond-Burton Rockets went all the way to the Class 4A Championship.

Richmond-Burton serves students in Richmond Township and Burton Township, with main villages of Richmond and Spring Grove where we live.  I saw them play four times this year and was impressed.

They outscored opponents during regular season 403-53 and 209-41 in the playoffs.

To see a game-by-game breakdown go to my November 30, 2019, Down Da Road I Go blog.

They ended the season 14-0.

**************************************

WINNERS IN THE COMPETITION

2013  US-12
2014  US-14
2015  Tie
2016  US-14
2017  US-14
2018  US-14
2019  US-12

So Proud of Our Rockets!!!  --RoadDog

Way to Go East St. Louis, Williamsville, Lincoln-Way East and Newman Central Catholic: IHSA Route 66 and Lincoln Highway 2019 State Champions: We Have a Tie!!

We started with 256 teams and the last weekend in November came down to the final eight champions.

There were eight champions at the different classes and four of them were from out two roads.  Not bad.

Route 66 Champions
***********************

6A  East St. Louis

3A  Williamsville

Lincoln Highway Champions
************************

8A   Lincoln-Way East

2A   Newman Central Catholic
************************8

We ended up with a 2-2 tie

Winners by year:

2012  LH
2013  LH
2014  66
2015  LH
2016   66
2017  LH
2018   Tie
2019   Tie

Great Games.  Thank You.  --RoadDog

California Pearl Harbor Survivor Joe Feld Remembers Day of Infamy-- Part 4: Aboard the USS Enterprise

"We made three trips down to the battleships to help recover men.  Well, those three trips were all I could take.  I had never even seen a broken bone in my life (before this).

"However, we survived it and went on to other jobs that had to be done around the air station."

Feld and his fellow sailors stayed on the island for another six weeks under blackout conditions, doing those various jobs.  By the first of the year, most of then had returned to the USS Enterprise, believing that was their ticket home.

Not so.

Instead, he and his shipmates would sail into naval history.  The Enterprise drew first enemy blood in the war.  He was aboard the Enterprise when it took part in the Doolittle Raid and at Wake Island and  personally witnessed the turning point of the war in the Pacific when the Enterprise's planes took part in the sinking of three enemy aircraft carriers and a cruiser at the Battle of Midway.

--GreGen

California Pearl Harbor Survivor Joe Feld Remembers Day of Infamy-- Part 3: The Aftermath

A Chief Boatswain detailed Feld and the others to recover bodies at the dock.  Feld remembers seeing six battleships lined up and burning.  The water seemed to be an inferno with flames shooting eight inches up from it.

"But, we had our job to do, so we retrieved them from the water, placed them on a blanket and brought them back to the mess hall.

"When you're twenty years old and start fishing bodies out of the harbor, you don't last very long.  It's a part of the war I can hardly talk about because these guys had tried to swim in burning water to get to shore.

"But, that is what we did.

"We stood next to burning ships with flames going maybe 100 feet high.  It was hot.  You're not equipped to take all that in."

--GreGen

California Pearl Harbor Survivor Joe Feld Remembers Day of Infamy"-- Part 2: The Attack

"I called out to the other fellows, 'We're under attack!'

"We took cover in the mess hall.  Outside, the explosions were huge I'm sure I heard when the Arizona was hit.

"The ships were sitting two in a row.  Hitting one ship caused chain reactions and it was like shooting ducks in a barrel.  After the Japanese took care of the ships, they came after us.

"We fell on our stomachs as the bullets flew through the barracks.  The wood splintered on the columns that supported the roof and plaster rained down on us."

There wasn't much Feld and the others could do until it was over about three hours later.

--GreGen

California Pearl Harbor Survivor Joe Feld Remembers That Day-- Part 1

From the December 6, 2019, Nevada County, Ca. Union "Norris Burkes:  Grass Valley Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Feld remembers the Day of Infamy."

"My name is Joe Feld.   My name is one of the few things I remember,"  chuckles Joe Feld.

But he remembers a whole lot more than that.  He is one of 15 patients Norris Burkes visits at the Hospice of the Foot Hills, Grass Valley.

He joined the Navy in 1939.  After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the brand new aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, "The Big E."

Joe Feld was a metalsmith who fixed everything broken on aircraft except the engine.  After that, he spent 18 months cruising the Pacific Ocean between San Diego and Hawaii.  In late November, he and 30 other metalsmiths were sent ashore in earl harbor to fix land-based planes.  The Enterprise returned to sea.

On December 7, 1941, just a few hours before the Enterprise was  to return to Pearl Harbor, he heard an explosion outside his barracks and thought that a plane had crashed.  "I looked out the window to see Japanese planes strafing the airfield.  I was close enough to see the red circle on the plane."

--GreGen

It Just Turned 7:55 AM Here in the Chicago Area: The Beginning of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, 78 Years Ago

Japanese planes began their attack on U.S. Navy and Army installations around the island of Oahu in an effort to knock out  America right at the start of the war.

My flags are up outside.

All eight of my blogs will be about this event today.

"Tattooed On Your Soul" 78th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Tomorrow

Remember to put out your flags tomorrow to mark the 78th anniversary of Pearl harbor.

My World War II blog is titled "Tattooed On Your Soul,"  the words Frank Curre used to describe his Pearl Harbor experience.  He was on the USS Tennessee and died 70 years to the day after the attack, December 7, 2011.

Hang Those Flags.  --Pearl Harbor

Farm Implements On Display in 1919

From the January 23, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Commencing tomorrow and continuing to several days, the Fisk Garage will have a display of Fordson tractors and farm implements on display at the garage at the corner of First and Lincoln Highway.

"The display will include many of the most important machines necessary to successful farming and it is probable that many farmers, who come for the horse sale tomorrow will spend some time giving the Ford products the once over."

--RoadFarm

Teamsters Should Keep Horses From Slip, Sliding Away in 1919

From the January 30, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Right at this time, especially during the forenoon,  teamsters should see to it that the horses in their charge are sharp shod, so that the animals will not slip and slide when trying to pull away with a load.

"A teamster was seen this morning with a heavy load pulled by two heavy animals, but neither of the horses had sharp shoes and there was all kinds of of slipping and sliding, the driver finally getting help getting his wagon rolling with a heavy load."

--Cooter

Along 66, October 2019: John's Modern Cabins-- Part 2

John Dausch ran the place, now called John's Modern Cabins, until 1965, after his wife's death.  He closed the business, but continued to live in the main cabin  until his death in 1971 and it has essentially been abandoned ever since.

It has fallen into ruin, but the rusty sign remains.

Joe Sonderman found another photo of the place in August 2019.

Roamin' Rich and a crew went out to the place and cleared the property a year ago and did some structural work.  You can still get out to the site and well worth a visit.  I don't consider a trip through the Ozarks on 66 complete until I visit these ruins.

--RoadDog

Along 66, October 2019: Before It Was John's Modern Cabins-- Part 1

Most every Route 66 fan knows about the further deterioration of an old motel near Rolla, Missouri, called John's Modern Cabins.  We never go by that stretch without stopping to take a look at it.

OCTOBER26--  Joe Sonderman, Mr. Postcard, has found a rare image of the roadside business which later became John's Modern Cabins near Newburg, Missouri.

It's name in the photograph is Bill's Place taken sometime in the 1940s.  Courthouse documents list the name as Bill and Bessie's Place or Bill and Bess' Place, located between Rolla and Arlington, Missouri.

Bess died sometime in the mid-1930s.  Original owner Bill Bayless sold it in 1945.  After that, it changed hands several times until John Dausch bought it in 1951 and renamed it John's Modern Cabins and added a new neon sign with the name on it.

At least one of the cabins was razed when Route 66 was widened  shortly after he acquired i.

--RoadJohn

Illinois State Football Champions for 2019

We started with 256 teams and over five weeks, whittled that down to just 8 who were crowned Illinois IHSA Football Champions this last weekend.

They were:

8A

Lincoln-Way East  14-0

7A

Mt. Carmel  14-0

6A

East St. Louis  14-0

5A

Rochester  13-1

4A

Richmond-Burton  (My town's football team!!   Go  Rockets!!!)  14-0

3A

Williamsville  14-0

2A

Newman Central Catholic  13-1

1A

Lena   14-0

Congratulations Teams!!  --RoadDog

The Final Sixteen Vying for This Weekend's IHSA State Football Championship

These are the sixteen remaining teams of the 256 that started running after that state championship four weeks ago and now still have a shot at it.

Six of these teams are in the Route 66-Lincoln Highway and US-14-U.S. 12 competitions.  Shown by *

8A

Warren (Gurnee)  (13-0)
Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort)  (13-0)*

7A

Mt. Carmel (Chicago)  (13-0)
Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park)  (13-0)

6A

East St. Louis  (13-0)*
Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake)  (12-1)*

5A

St. Rita  (Chicago)  10-3)
Rochester  (12-1)

4A

Richmond-Burton  (Richmond/SpringGrove)  (13-0)*
Murphysboro   (11-2)

3A

Byron  (12-1)
Williamsville  (13-0)*

2A

Newman Central Catholic (Sterling)  (12-1)*
Nashville  (12-1)

1A

Lena  (13-0)
Moweaqua Central  (13-0)

Classes 1A to 4A play at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb today.  5A to 8A  play at Huskie Stadium on Saturday.  All games are televised.

Looking Forward to Some Great Football.   --RoadBall

It's Championship Time on the US-14 (Northwest Highway)- US-12 (Rand Road) Showdown

The IHSA State Champions of 2019 will be decided this Friday and Saturday at Huskie Stadiun (NIU)  in DeKalb.

Teams Remaining with US-14

6A

Prairie Ridge


Teams Remaining with US-12

4A

Richmond-Burton

So, like the US-66-Lincoln Highway Showdown, we have a tie.  1-1

Good Luck Guys!!  --RoadBall

It's Championship Time for the US-66 vs. Lincoln Highway Showdown

After four week of play, the original 256 Illinois high school football teams that started the journey is now pared down to 16 teams who will play each other by class this Friday and Saturday at Huskie Stadium (NIU) in DeKalb.

And, there is a tie between Route 66 and Lincoln Highway at two apiece.

********************

Remaining Lincoln Highway teams

8A

Lincoln-Way East (13-0)

2A

Newman Central Catholic (Sterling)  (12-1)

**********************

Remaining Route 66 teams:

6A

East St. Louis   (13-0)


3A

Williamsville   (13-0)

Good Luck Boys!!!  --RoadRah

Along 66, October 2019: Tulsa Getting the Works

OCTOBER 24--  OKPOP museum breaks ground in Tulsa..  Full name, Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture.  This museum will feature musicians, artists and authors with Oklahoma ties.

Another museum never hurts, especially one like this.

OCTOBER 27--  A new neon sign goes up at Tally's Good Food Cafe in Tulsa.  It is the beneficiary of Tulsa's Route 66 neon-sign grant program which puts up to $10,000 for 50% the cost of a new neon sign or the restoration of an old one.

The have already has a neon sign, but more was added to it.  It is quite impressive and has a "Get Your Eats on Route 66" around a skillet.

We Can ALWAYS Use More Neon and Museums. --RoadNeon

Along 66, October 2019: Kingman Is Nicest in Arizona and the Demise of the Route 66 E-mail Group.

OCTOBER 19--  The Readers' Digest has named Kingman as the nicest place in Arizona.  Always get your gas there because it is really, really expensive in Needles, California.

OCTOBER 23--  It's the end of an era:  Yahoo! will scale back the Route 66 e-mail group on October 28 and remove all uploaded content come December. This is according to long-time member and moderator Mike Ward.

The group may relocate and FaceBook has a dozen Route 66 pages..

So far this year, the group has only had 150 posts, as compared to more than 8,000 in 2003  In July 1999, there were 1,191 posts.

At last count, the 66 e-mail group had 1,934 members, but many are inactive or have died.

The culprit is Face Book.

--RoadDog

Goodbye Route 66 Yahoo Group

Mike Ward reported that Yahoo! is shutting down our famous Route 66 E-Mail group  This is due to declining readership and posts as more people are turning to various FaceBook sites.  I imagine this applies to all of the Yahoo e-mail groups, not just ours.

Posting to the Route 66 E-Mail group is way down, with just 150 so far this year, but still one of the most of any still-existing groups.  At one time, that would have been as many posts for one week.

One person replied and said there are multiple sites on FaceBook. I at one time belonged to at least ten and it is a very rare day when anyone posts on these.

With all these eight blogs, I haven't posted on the E-Mail group in many years, but continued to read it.

The End of an Era.  --RoadYahoo

Along 66, October 2019: Oklahoma's Tulsa Signage and Phillips 66 Cottage-Style Gas Station

OCTOBER 15:  Tulsa, Oklahoma, is adding 29 historical markers along Route 66 at a cost of $111,000.  With the various alignments of 66 in the city there are a total of 26 miles of our favorite road there.

Not sure if these are signs to show the various alignments are to point out interesting places.

Always room for another sign on 66.

OCTOBER 18:  The bank that owns the property of the Old 66 Phillips 66 gas station in Chandler, Oklahoma, has foreclosed on it.  They prefer to sell it to someone who wants to preserve it.

It is at 701 Manvel Avenue (Route 66) and was built in 1930 with one of those neat cottage-style designs.

Phillips 66 Station No. 1423.

Anyone Interested?  --RoadDog

Along 66, October 2019: Chatham Road Bridge in Illinois and 66 Drive-In in Carthage, Missouri

These articles come from the Route 66 News site, your place to go for any and everything you want to know about what's happening on Route 66.  I just write about the ones I have the most interest in.  The site has many more articles, almost always one a day and goes into much greater detail.  Check it out.

OCTOBER 5:  Springfield Illinois' City Water Light and Power company made quick work covering up graffiti on the Chatham Road Bridge.  The span dates to 1919 and is also called the Old Chatham Road bridge over Lick Creek in Chatham, south of Springfield.

It was closed in 1989 after the new Illinois Hwy 4 bridge was built.  It once carried Route 66 traffic south of Springfield.


OCTOBER 10:  The 66 Drive-In theater in Carthage, Missouri marks its 70th year at the site.  It closed in 1985 but reopened in 1998.

And, so glad glad to have it.

--RoadDog

2019 IHSA US-14 vs. US-12 Showdown: Going Into Today's Semi-Final Games There Is a Tie at 1 Apiece

There were 256 teams 4 weeks ago.  Now there are just 32 going into the semi-finals.  To reach this level is truly an accomplishment.

Teams remaining.

US-14 (NORTHWEST HIGHWAY)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (11-1)

US-12  (RAND ROAD)

4A

Richmond-Burton   (12-0)

Good Luck Teams!!   --RoadBall

2019 IHSA Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown Semi Finals This Weekend: Route 66 Leads Lincoln Highway 3-2

With just one week to go to the IHSA championship games in DeKalb, Illinois on Nov. 29 and 30, we are in the semi-final round.

ROUTE 66 TEAMS REMAINING

6A

East St. Louis 12-0
Chatham Glenwood  12-0

3A

Williamsville  12-0

One of the 6A teams will be going to the championship game as the two teams play each other.

*********************************************

LINCOLN HIGHWAY TEAMS REMAINING

8A

Lincoln-Way East  12-0

2A

Newman Central Catholic  11-1

Go Teams!!   RoadBall

Eatin' Southern Style Up North, Y'all

Yesterday, I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had their Wednesday night food special which varies every week, but is a five course dinner with a theme.  Yesterday's theme was "SOUTHERN STYLE."

FIRST COURSE:  Corn chowder and corn bread

SECOND COURSE:  Cat Fish, Black-eyed peas& grits

THIRD COURSE:  Fried chicken, collard greens & biscuits

FOURTH COURSE:  Jambalaya

FIFTH COURSE:  Peach cobbler and ice cream

All that for $12.99.  Now, that's eatin' good in the neighborhood.

So sad.  I'm from North Carolina and to look up how to spell Y'all.  Reckon I have to give up my Southern citizenship.

--RoadEatin'

Just Hangin' 'Round Here-- Part 2: Doing That History Thing, Tacos, Oak Park, Sunnyside, Legion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

I went to the Fox Lake Historical Society's meeting where a presentation was made on the role Waukegan, Illinois, played in the early days of he motion picture industry.  And, it was a big one.  Enjoyed talking with my buddy Frank who was also there.  We've had a great many good times boating in the past, but don't see much of each other anymore.

Afterwards had the delicious Baja Fish taco at Taco Bell (and a spicy tostada). The two of them came to $2.30, a hard deal to beat.

Later that afternoon, we went over to Oak Park Lounge on Pistakee Bay.  This place looks just about as it did when it was built back in the 1880s.  A real piece of history, and with $2 drafts, not bad.  And, we got to see Bomber, the much-spoiled bar dog.  He puts the lick of approval on customers.

Then, it was on to Sunnyside in Johnsburg where we had fun with the regulars and continued watching college football.  Too bad that Iowa beat Minnesota, but, at least Georgia eat Auburn.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Kind of a lost day for us, as no NFL football.  The Bears didn't play until night and the Packers were off for the week.  Enjoyed a rotisserie chicken from Jewel for $5.99.

We went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed talking with people there.  Crowds are improving as the Legion is trying to reopen again.  Then to Sunnyside again.

Watched Da Bears lose another game in Margaritaville.

--RoadDog

Just Hangin' 'Round Here-- Part 1: Ten at Tens, Crummy Weather, Bars and Friends

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14

As the days keep getting shorter and the early onslaught of winter (we've had about 12 inches of snow since Halloween and temps around 20-30 degrees colder than usual, rarely getting over freezing), we've still managed to cope.

As usual, during the day and early afternoon, we are on the internet (I'm doing these confounded blogs).

Later today, we went on our weekly excursion to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, a regular Cheers kind of place where everyone generally knows everybody else.  On the way home, we stopped at The Grove in Spring Grove, Illinois, and had their saganaki cheese "OooPahh!! and loaded nachos.

Met good friend Tom from Fanella's Pizza in Ingleside and talked with him.  He used to own Tom's Cafe in Johnsburg where I deejayed quite often.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15

After the usual morning (which often also involves recording Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  Yesterday it was ten songs from 1978 (my pick was "Magnet & Steel" by Walter Egan) and today Cocktails, ten tunes about drinking.  My pick of them "I Drink Alone" by George Thorogood.

Later we went to another Cheers kind of bar, Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg.

Too Much Fun To Go Elsewhere.  --RoadFun

US-12 vs. US-14 IHSA Football Showdown Going Into the Third Round

The second round has ended

These US-14 (Northwest Highway) teams lost their second round games:

8A   Fremd
7A  Hersey, Prospect

Teams remaining:

6A

Prairie Ridge
Cary Grove

Route 14 has two teams left.

***************************************************

These US-12 (Rand Road) teams lost their second round games:

8A  Fremd
7A   Hersey


These US-12 (Rand Road) teams remain:

7A

Lake Zurich

4A

Richmond-Burton

US-12 has two teams remaining.

Going into the third round this weekend  US-14 and US-12 are tied at two apiece.

--RoadDog

IHSA Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown-- Lincoln Highway Teams Remaining

These Lincoln Highway teams lost their second round games:

6A  Kaneland

5A  Sterling, Marmion Academy

These Lincoln Highway teams are still in the running:

8A

Lincoln Way East

7A

Batavia

6A

Providence Catholic

5A

Joliet Catholic

2A

Newman Central Catholic

1A

Morrison

Lincoln Highway has six teams left, as does Route 66, so right now, it is a tie.

Third Round Is This Weekend.--RoadDog

IHSA Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown Results of Second Round: Route 66

These Route 66 teams lost their second round game:

8A  Edwardsville
7A  Normal Community



Teams Remaining:

6A

East St. Louis
Chatham-Glenwood

5A

Joliet Catholic
Sacred Heart-Griffin

3A

Wilmington
Willaimsville

There are six Route 66 teams remaining.

--RoadDog

In Honor of Veterans Day: National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago

On November 10 and 11, I wrote about five places you should visit in honor of our veterans in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.

From Wikipedia.

I had never heard of this one.

The National Veterans Art Museum was formerly the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum and is located at 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Six Corners neighborhood.  Originally just for the Vietnam War, it now encompasses all wars.

It was originally a traveling exhibit, but when Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley saw it, he insisted Chicago have its permanent home.  The entrance hall had 58, 226 dog tags hanging from it, one for each American killed in Vietnam.

There are nearly 2,500 works of art in the museum.

--RoadDog

In Honor of Veterans Day: My Trip to Pearl Harbor

My mother took the family to Hawaii and then she took my sister and me on to Australia and New Zealand.

I have always wanted to go to Oahu so that I could go to Pearl Harbor.  If you don't go to that honored spot, you might as well not have gone to Hawaii.

Besides the Civil War, my three really interesting historical places are the Alamo, Titanic and Pearl Harbor.  I buy any books or magazines I come across on these  events.  And, of the three, Pearl Harbor is #1.

I just never will understand how we got caught so by surprise as we were.  Come on, you had to know that the Japanese fleet, when it escaped detection, was headed somewhere to bring about a knock out blow.  Everybody in the Pacific Ocean should have been on the highest alert.

So, the absolute highlight of my trip to Hawaii was Pearl Harbor.   That trip by boat from the visitors center/museum to the USS Arizona Memorial was a solemn one.  It reminded me of the Vietnam Wall.  The names on that wall of the men below us still entombed in ship.

But, what got me the most were the drops of oil still coming up from the ship.  It was like the ship was bleeding and a real connection to December 7,1941.

There were a lot of Japanese tourists there as well.  I had to wonder what they thought about it.

Thanks Mom.

In Honor of Veterans Day: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans

On Nov. 10 and 11,  I wrote about five places you should visit to commemorate Veterans Day in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.  This is one of them.

From Wikipedia.

Formerly known as the National D-Day Museum, it was founded in 2000, but later designated by Congress as our National WW II museum.  The museum opened on the 56th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2000.

New Orleans' D-Day legacy came from the fact that this is where those Higgins boats were made.  They were those small boats loaded with Allied soldiers coming ashore on that day.

This place is definitely on my list of places to visit, but sadly, that won't happen for awhile because I am boycotting one of my favorite cities in the world because of what they did to those Confederate statues.  But at some point I will get over it and will be there.

Looking Forward to That Time.  --RoadDog

In Honor of Veterans Day: My Trip to The National U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB on Anniversary of JFK's Assassination

I have been writing about five places to visit to honor our veterans on this day in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.  This is one of those places.

Back in 2013, I decided to stop and check out this museum on my way to visit my mom in North Carolina.  I always take I-70 from Indianapolis to Columbus, which goes right by Dayton, where the AFB is located as well as the museum.

What made this even more of a special stop was that it the date I would visit was November 22.  That would be exactly a half century after President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.  His body was taken back to Washington, D.C. on Air Force One and this is where Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the next president.

And, that airplane is at the museum.

Talk about history and I was going to experience it exactly fifty years to the day  after it occurred.  You could just feel the history all around you.  I saw the room where Johnson was sworn in as president with Jacqueline Kennedy standing next to him in that blood-smeared dress.  I saw the area where seats were cut out to carry JFK's coffin.

When it happened I was in 7th grade at Winston Park Junior High in Palatine, Illinois.  I sure remember that day and the next days after it.

10 More British Places With Hilariously Rude Names-- Part 2: Where Is Sluts Hole?

Again, go to the site to find pictures and more information. I'm just listing these funny names.


5.  Mudd

4.  Wide Open

3.  Penistone

2.  Sluts Hole

1.  Fanny Hands

So, the next time you're over there, some good photo ops.

Wide Open.  --RoadMudd

10 More British Places With Hilariously Rude Names-- Part 1: Crapstone

From the November 5, 2019, ListVerse by Matt Garrow.

I am just listing their names.  Go to the site to see pictures and a lot of information.

So, next time you're in England and driving around, visit these places.

10.  Bitchfield

9.  Townland of Stranagalwilly

8.  Crapstone

7.  Brokenwind

6.  Hole of Holcrum

Photo Ops?  --RoadDog

First Round Results IHSA US-12 vs. US-14 2019 Showdown: US-14 Leads 5-4 Going Into 2nd Round

The first round games were played last weekend.

There were six teams from US  Highway 12  (Rand Road) that entered it.  Two were eliminated:

8A   Maine South

7A   Grant

*******************************

These four teams are still playing:

8A

Fremd

7A

Hersey
Lake Zurich

4A

Richmond-Burton

Northwest Highway  (US-14) leads Rand Road  (US-12) 5-4.

Go You US-12.  --RoadDog

Results First Round IHSA US-14 vs. US-12 Showdown: Five US-14 (Northwest Highway) Teams Left

The first round of the playoffs, featuring 256 high school teams in eight classes of 32 teams is in.

NORTHWEST HIGHWAY  (US HIGHWAY 14) WENT IN WITH NINE TEAMS.

Four of the teams lost: 8A   Maine South and Barrington

6A:  Crystal Lake Central and Crystal Lake South.

Five teams are still in:

8A

Fremd

7A

Hersey
Prospect

6A

Prairie Ridge
Cary Grove

Go Northwest Highway.  --Road14

IHSA Lincoln Highway-Rt. 66 Showdown, First Round: Ten Lincoln Highway Teams Still Remain

The first round of the Illinois High School Association football playoffs of 2019 has been played.

Nine Lincoln Highway teams of the 19 who made it lost:

8A:  St. Charles East, Plainfield East, Plainfield North, Plainfield South
7A:  Lincoln-Way West, DeKalb
4A:  Dixon
3A:  West Frankfort
1A:  Aurora Christian

************************************

Lincoln Highway teams still in the playoffs:

8A:

Joliet West
Lincoln-Way east

7A:

Batavia

6A:

Kaneland
Providence Catholic

5A:

Sterling
Joliet Catholic
Marmion Academy

2A:

Newman Central Catholic

1A:  Morrison

********************************

Lincoln Highway still has ten teams in the playoffs and leads Route 66 by a 10-8 margin.

Go You Lincoln Highway.  --RoadDog

The Results Are In for IHSA First Round Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown: Route 66 Teams

Seven of the fifteen Route 66 teams were knocked out of competition:

8A:  Joliet West, Plainfield East, Plainfield North, and Plainfield South.  Definitely not a good weekend for Plainfield.

6A:  Springfield, Normal West

3A:  Carlinville

*********************************

Remaining Teams Play This Weekend:

8A

Edwardsville

7A:

Normal Community

6A:

East St. Louis
Chatham-Glenwood

5A:

Joliet Catholic
Sacred Heart-Griffin

3A:

Wilmington
Williamsville

**********************************

Route 66 has eight teams remaining.

Go You Route 66.  --RoadDog

Filling Shoes At the 'Shoeless' Joe Museum in Greenville, South Carolina-- Part 1

From the Oct. 22, 2019, Chicago Sun-Times by Mitch Dudek

Chicago bartender heading to South Carolina to run shrine to tarnished White Sox legend.

He may have been the greatest baseball player ever, but sadly is disgraces and was kicked out of baseball with the 1919 Chicago Black Sox.

Dan Wallach is a huge Joe Jackson fan.  His right foot even has a tattoo of Joe Jackson's autograph.  Even if his tattoo doesn't match the real Joe Jackson autograph.

Dan Wallach, 32, is abandoning his life in Chicago and moving to Greenville, S.C.  That means, selling his home in Skokie and quitting his job at Yakzies (across from Wrigley Field) and taking over operations at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum.

And, yes, despite working by Wrigley Field, Dan is a bona fide White Sox fan.

That museum is inside Joe Jackson's house.

Go You White Sox.  --CootSox

And, Then There Is That Good Old Pumpkin Beer

Eating pumpkin not just good enough for you? Wash it down with a pumpkin beer.

From the October 5, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Pumpkin beer skeptic finds 8 worthy of appreciation"  by Josh Noel.

"I tried to hate a beer that sounded like a Starbucks drink. I really did!"

But, he found that he liked eight pumpkin beers out of 25 that he tried.  (How do I get signed up for that job?)  He has pictures of the bottles and a glass of each and says what he likes about  each.  I don't know how many are still made since this article is from three years ago.

1.  Crypt Keeper  (Scorched Earth Brewing)

2.   Brandy Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Imperial Ale  (Lakefront Brewery)

3.  Jack O'Latte  (O'Fallon Brewery)

4.  Punkin Ale   (Dogfish Head Brewery)

5.  Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale  (Anderson Valley Brewing)

6.  Harvest Pumpkin Ale  (Blue Moon Brewing)

7.  Pumpkin Chal  (Saugutuck Brewing)

8.  Pumpkin Lager  (Lakefront Brewery

See For Yourself.  --PumpDog

It's That Pumpkin Anything Time of Year

From the October 5, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Autumn Love Affair" by Jean Marie Brownson.

Although, with the 6 inches of snow we received on Halloween,it seems more like a winter wonderland thing than fall, this is the time of the year that thoughts of many, including myself, turn to anything pumpkin flavored, especially pumpkin spice cappuccino from Thornton's.

She points out that you can even make your own pumpkin spice mix for better flavor.  Such items as cakes, pies, ice cream and puddings.  I see Steak 'N Shake has a Pumpkin Spice Shake.  What next?  Pumpkin Spice McRibs?

And, if cooking is your thing, she had recipes for several items:

Pumpkin spice and currant waffles

Homemade pumpkin pie spice.

Why, I have even seen little teeth marks from our friendly local bushy-tailed rats (squirrels) on our two pumpkins outside.

--Pumpkin Me.  --RoadPump

Here Are Your US-12, Rand Road Teams!!

Some of the teams are on both sides of the Showdown because US-14 and US-12 both go through the towns.

8A

Fremd  (7-2)
Maine South  (7-2)

7A

Hersey  (8-1)
Lake Zurich  (6-3)
Grant  (6-3)

4A

Richmond-Burton  (9-0)

***************

US-12 / Rand Road has 6 teams.  US-14 leads 9-6 right now.

Go US-12!!  --RoadDog

It's Here Again, the Annual Northwest Highway (US-14)-Rand Road (US-12) IHSA Football Showdown: US-14 (Northwest Highway) Teams

These two roads mean a lot to me because I grew up in Palatine, Illinois, where both roads have alignments and currently live just off US-12 here in Spring Grove, Illinois.  Both the Northwest Highway and Rand Road are important Chicagoland  roads.

Same rules as with my Route 66-Lincoln Highway Showdown.  essentially Last Man Standing.

I started this showdown in 2013.  US-14 leads 4-2-1.

8A

Fremd  (7-2)
Maine South  (7-2)
Barrington  (6-3)

7A

Hersey  (8-1)
Prospect  (7-2)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (8-1)
Crystal Lake Central  (6-3)
Crystal Lake South  (5-4)
Cary-Grove  (7-2)

Northwest Highway (US-14) has 9 teams.

Go US-14!!  --RoadDog

Here Are Your Lincoln Highway Teams for the IHSA Football Showdown 2019-- Part 2

U.S. Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway both go through Joliet and Plainfield, so those teams are on both 66 and Lincoln Highway lists.

In order to make the final list of playoff teams, a school has to have at least 5 wins in their 9 regular season games.  Sometimes, however, a 4-5 team like Joliet West will make the cut.

8A

Joliet West  (4-5)
St. Charles East   (7-2)
Plainfield East  (5-4)
Plainfield North  (6-3)
Plainfield South  (5-4)
Lincoln-Way East  (9-0)

7A

Lincoln-Way West  (5-4)
Batavia  (7-2)
DeKalb  (6-3)

6A

Kaneland  (7-2)
Providence Catholic  (New Lenox)  (6-3)

5A

Sterling  (9-0)
Joliet Catholic  (6-3)
Marmion Academy   (6-3)

4A

Dixon  (5-4)

3A

Frankfort West  (6-3)

2A

Newman Central Catholic  (Sterling)  (8-1)

1A

Morrison  ((-0)
Aurora Christian   (5-4)

There are 19 Lincoln Highway teams in the playoffs.  Right now, Lincoln Highway leads Route 66 19-15.

Good Luck Lincoln Highway teams!!

--RoadLinc

It's Here Again, the Annual U.S. Route 66-Lincoln Highway Showdown (As In IHSA Football Playoffs)-- Part 1: Route 66 Teams

There are 256 teams in eight divisions (8A largest to 1A) in the Illinois High School Association football playoffs, which start Friday.

I have been running this competition since 2012.  Winner is determined by last man standing, in other words the road with a team or teams left in the competition.  Right now, Lincoln Highway leads 4 to 2 with one tie in 2018.

I do not count the Chicago teams.

Okay, 66ers.  Here are your teams and regular season records:

8A

Joliet West  (4-5)
Edwardsville  (7-2)
Plainfield East  (5-4)
Plainfield North  (6-3)
Plainfield South  (5-4)

7A

Normal Community   (7-2)

6A

East St. Louis  (9-0)
Springfield  (7-2)
Normal West  (7-2)
Chatham Glenwood  (9-0)

5A

Joliet Catholic  (6-3)
Sacred Heart-Griffin  (6-3)

3A

Wilmington  (8-1)
Williamsville  (9-0)
Carlinville   (6-3)

So, there are 15 Route 66 teams in the Showdown.

Go Route 66.  --Road66

Along 66, Sept. 2019: Taylor's Chili Parlor in Carlinville, Illinois, Honored

SEPTEMBER 27--   Illinois Tourism honors Taylor's Mexican Chili Parlor of Carlinville, beating out eighteen other contenders.

Charles O. Taylor of Carlinville, Illinois, worked at the Mexican National Exposition at the St. Louis World's Fair (also called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition) in 1904 and this was his first experience with Mexican food.

When he came back to Carlinville afterwards, he had a push cart from which he sold tamales at local bars (and there were 25 of them).  he made money and wanted to expand his business.  He bailed a Mexican vagrant out of jail for $3, but made him work it off at the price of 50 cents a week.

However, this man showed Taylor how to make chili.  He purchased the recipe and opened a chili parlor at  218 W. main St. in Carlinville.

This place dates to 1904 and is on the 1926-1930 alignment of Route 66 on the north side of the square.  I didn't know about it until I read this in the Route 66 News, but definitely will give it a try the next time in town.

Ole. --RoadChili

Fall Color Trip to Geneva Lake, Wisconsin-- Part 2: Into the Town of Lake Geneva

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Once you get to the town of Lake Geneva (the town is named Lake Geneva, the lake is Geneva Lake) Highway H is routed over to the US-12 expressway, but to continue on the original US-12, you continue north on Wells Street, past the high school.

Continuing, you will see a lot of motels (and some of them are very old ones).  This is not surprising as these motels were built for travelers and vacationers as the Lake Geneva has always been a favorite of people from Chicago.  You will also pass a great old sign advertising a cheese place.  And, there is a lot of color.

When Wells Street ends, you are at Wis. Highway 50, which is Lake Geneva's Main Street, turn left and now you drive through a great old bustling main street.  All stores are occupied and lots of shoppers, but here in October nowhere near as busy as it is in the summer.  Parking is at a premium in the summer.  (parking is $2 an hour)

Just, keep a close eye on what lane you need to be in as it is somewhat confusing as to where you should be.

A nice side trip here is to turn at the last stop light before the beach and library and take a drive down by the lake, Riviera Docks and Popeye's, a popular eatery right across from the Riviera featuring rotisserie chicken and one of the best fish fried in Wisconsin on Fridays.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Sept. 2019: Stealing Signs and Going to Prison

SEPTEMBER 21--   The long-closed Los Alamitos Motel sign was taken down in Grants, New mexico.  The problem is though, that the city has no idea who took it.

Not nice, sign stealers.  Don't take our neon away from us.

SEPTEMBER  30--  The Old Joliet Prison has drawn 14,181 visitors since it opened in August 2018.  They have gone on tours and special events.  It was built in the 19th century and known officially as the Joliet Correctional Center.

Officials put the amount of revenue the prison has generated at $407,654.

What a great place for a Halloween spook house if it already isn't one.

--RoadHoosegow

Fall Color Trip Around Geneva Lake, Oct. 23-- Part 1: To Wisconsin

This past Wednesday, we took advantage of a sunny day and drove up to one of our favorite places to see fall tree color, and that is Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, about twenty miles from our house.  We hadn't driven it for a few years and I have noticed that our trees here in Spring Grove and our subdivision were finally starting their fall change to color.

Drove through our subdivision for that color and then took US Highway 12 to Richmond. North of that village, we stopped at the fairly new Mobil station.  This is not one of your average convenience store gas stations as it has a regular restaurant and a deli selling Boars Head meats, some of the best anywhere around.

Plus,their gas was $2.40 whereas in Spring Grove it is $2.80 because of our Gov. Toilets' doubling of the Illinois gas tax.

Instead of taking the US-12 expressway to Lake Geneva, we continued on what became Highway H into Wisconsin and through Genoa City.  Highway H used to be the original US-12 before the expressway was built and it is a pretty drive with color from trees as well.

--RoadDog

Along Rt. 66, September 2019: That's a Lot of Abes, Bridge Closed and Bridge Opens?

SEPTEMBER 18--  The 49th Annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitter  Festival was held in Lincoln, Illinois September 21-22.  This part of the festival was an attempt to break the records for most Abraham Lincoln lookalikes.

I was unable to find out if they broke it.

SEPTEMBER 19--  Lake Overholser Bridge on Oklahoma City has been closed to vehicular traffic after structural problems were found.

That is a neat looking old bridge.

SEPTEMBER 20--  A proposal is out to rebuild a replica of the long-gone toll house at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge near St. Louis.  I've seen pictures of the original and it was a neat looking structure.

It looks like it will be built on the Missouri side and I hope they clear up the problems that have happened there.

--RoadBridge

Along 66, September 2019: Now, That's Some Kind of Eatin', Two 72-ouncers in Less Than An Hour and That Wasn't Even the Record

SEPTEMBER 11--   Arizona woman eats not one, but TWO of those Big Texan 72-ouncers.  Unbelievable.  But, as that guy from Princess Bride would say, "Inconceivable."

But, she is a professional competitive eater named Miki Sudo who has won the Women's Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest six years in a row.  Oh yes, and she also had salad, shrimp cocktail, baked potato and roll with both meals.

But, the record for fastest meal consumed was set in 2015, when 120 pound Molly Schuyler of Nebraska ate three in just 20 minutes.  She ate the first one in just under five minutes and that beat fellow competitive Joey "Jaws" Chestnut's 8 minutes 52 seconds set in 2008.

The Big Texan's 72 ounce steak dinner in one hour began as a publicity stunt by founder Bob lee in 1962.  The Big Texan opened originally on Amarillo Boulevard (Route 66) in 1960.  It moved after the coming of I-40 in 1977.  The new place, however, turned out to be on an obscure 1920s alignment of 1966.

Hopefully the Steak Was Rare.  --RoadSteak

Along 66, September 2019: Cadillac Resists Arsonist, Roy's and the Photographer

SEPTEMBER 9--   An arsonist torched a car at the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo.  It was a 1949 Cadillac Fastback Coupe.  However, back then they built the GM behemoths sturdy and strong and in a short time people will have covered up all evidence of the evil deed.

SEPTEMBER 11--  Roy's Motel and Cafe will be relit in mid-November.  It is out in the middle of nowhere in Amboy, California.  A true ghost of 66.

SEPTEMBER 12--  Photographer Robert Frank died at age 94.  In 1958, he had a popular book called "Americans" which featured a Route 66 photograph which has led to many, many more since then.

--RoadDog

Along 66, September 2019: Tulsa Neon and Worrisome Elbow News

SEPTEMBER 6--  First neon sign restored with a Tulsa Route 66 grant program.  Billy Ray's BBQ and Catfish neon sign.  It has been dark for about fifteen years.  The program has gotten a lot of applications for this worthy project.

My idea is that you can never have too much neon.

SEPTEMBER 7--  Elbow Inn operators lose lease; owners will restore the place to its 1950s appearance.

The people operating it right now have had it since 2006, but the owners want the place to move in a different direction and it will reopen after a face lift.  They do say that it won't be a winery.  What would they do with those hundreds of bras on the ceiling?

I am a bit concerned about this news.  Other than the bathrooms, I like everything just the way it is.  Not only is the place rustic, but it really puts the dive in Dive Bar. It is a must-stop every time heading for the Munger-Moss.

Keep It Real.  --RoadElbow

Along 66, September 2019: Bottles and A Tourist Trap Named Totem

These are taken from the Route 66 News site which goes into much greater detail and has one or more posts every day.  I just pick out the ones of most interest to me.


SEPTEMBER 1--  Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro, California, reopens full-time after the death of its creator.  Elmer Long, 72, creator, died June 22.

This is a really eye-catching thing to see.  Probably my favorite thing in California other than the Santa Monica Pier.

SEPTEMBER 3--  The Phelps County Focus newspaper had an article about the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri.

It dates to 1931, when it opened in Arlington, Mo., (which today is essentially a ghost town at the end of one section of Route 66 which includes John's Modern Cabins).  With realignments, it moved to Rolla in the 1960s and to its present location since 1979.

Tim Jones has been a co-owner since 1974.

The last several times we stopped in (I really love Tourist Traps) it was sad to see how little business they had so I'm hoping it will find a way to continue.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Club Cafe Neon Signs Taken Down

AUGUST 31--  The two remaining neon signs from the long-closed Club cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were removed.

Sign Art removed them and it is rumored that they are destined to go to a collector who'll refurbish them and re-erect them at a future Route 66 Visitors Center in Albuquerque's west side.

Good news.  I always hate when something is removed and placed in a private collection, out of sight of the public.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Camp Cajon and Springfield's Motorheads

AUGUST 22--   Camp Cajon's 100th anniversary in California.  A recreation of the monument that marked the site wasunveiled as well.

Camp cajon was a free auto camp that opened July 4, 1919, on the National Old Trails Road which later became Route 66.  The site was badly damaged in the Great Flood of 1938 and never rebuilt.

The history.

AUGUST 29--  A closer look at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.  It was shown on PBS and is a 27 minute video.

Owner Ron Metzger has all sorts of Route 66 memorabilia at his place which once was a stand alone Stuckeys on the south side of town on the other side of Lake Springfield.

This is a spot now on our must-stop itinerary.  We first stopped there back in 2018 during the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour, just a few weeks after the place opened.  Most recently, we saw the St. Louis Blues clinch the Stanley Cup there and you could have been in St. Louis with all the fans and cheering.

Thanks, Ron.

"Gloria"  Not the Shadows of Knight Version, But Laura Branigan's.  This was the Blues' Song.  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Goodbye Peter, a Neon Sign and the Pony Bridge

AUGUST 16--   Actor Peter Fonda  died at age 79.  Famed for the 1969 movie "Easy Rider" along with Dennis Hopper.  The movie cost less than $500,000 to make but made $60 million.

There is a one hour video on how it was made.

Not only was the movie about a unique road trip that ended in tragedy, but that soundtrack was something else.  One of my favorite all-time movies.

AUGUST 20--   The Grants Cafe's neon sign was taken down earlier this month.  In Grant's, New mexico.  I didn't get whether it was being restored or if someone bought it.

AUGUST 22--  What's being planned for the famed pony bridge near Bridgeport?  It's actual name is the William H. Murray Bridge, but most commonly referred to as the Pony Bridge.

It is one of Route 66's most iconic sights  as it stretches for more than 3,900 feet over the South Canadian River and consists of 38 yellow "pony"  trusses.

The problem is that it is too narrow.

That Is One Neat Old Bridge.  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Goodbye Glancy's, Hit and Run at Soulsby's

These are taken from Ron Warnick's Route 66 News blog site.  He has one or more posts every day and in much more detail.  I only take the ones I'm most interested in to write about in this blog.  So for the whole story, you should go to his site.

AUGUST 11-- The Clinton, Oklahoma, city council unanimously voted to condemn Glancy's Motel on Route 66.  It is now in really bad shape and has become a problem with law enforcement.

The motel has declined ever since the famous Pop Hicks restaurant burned in 1999.

Always hate to see a motel go down like this and wish we'd have gotten a chance to eat at Pop Hicks but Liz and I didn't get interested in Route 66 until 2002.

AUGUST 15--  Hit and Run driver damages a gas pump  at Soulsby Gas Station in Mt. Olive, Illinois last week.  Mike Dragovich has owned the station since 1997.  Surveillance camera show the deed was done by motorcyclists.

Henry Soulsby built the station in 1926 and his son Russell ran it for many years until 1993.  He sold it to Dragovich in 1999 and died the same year.

Own Up To It, Folks.  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Rockwood Motor Court, Springfield, Mo. and Tulsa's Meadow Gold Ice Cream Sign

AUGUST 7--  This place will be holding an open house during the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Saturday from noon to 4 p.m..  It is at 2200 West College Street.

It is a 90 year old rock (as in giraffe stone) motor court that was bought last year by  Dannie Wright and will be featuring her restaurant Bigfoot Subs.

The motor court and restaurant opened in 1929 or 1931 and for years was Ginny Lee's Restaurant and most recently Tubby's.

Always good when a place gets saved.  Hopefully they will also revive the motel as if this was the one we ate at a few years ago and asked to see a room, it was unbelievably gross.

AUGUST 10--   A video is out of the historic restoration of Tulsa's  Meadow Gold Ice Cream sign.  That is a neat sign.

--RoadDog

Well, It Wasn't a Complete Disaster (Actually Had Some Success) in a Battle With New Technology

All of the blogs I make entries for today are being done on the new PC which  I was able to set up yesterday all by my self.  I am so proud of myself.

It  will take me a long time to figure out how to use it, but maybe there is hope.  Maybe I'm just  somewhat technologically challenged.

Actually, this is one of the times when I am sorry Liz and I didn't have kids as they would have grown up with all this quickly changing technology and I sure would have liked to have had one of them around yesterday and in the days to come while I am trying to figure out how to use it.

A reckon that is too late now.

Oh well, somewhat success WAS MINE yesterday.

Now, if I could just figure out how to get sound and turn it off.

Not So Technologically Impaired.  --RoadSavvy

Doing Battle With Modern Technology Today: Setting Up a New PC

In a little while I venture into the Great Unknown as I trepidly approach setting up the new HP all-in-one computer downstairs.

Believe me, I am not looking forward to it as technology pretty well buries me.

But, I will do my best.

Wishing and Hoping for Some Success.  --Roaddog

Problems With the DeKalb-Sycamore Electric Line in 1919

From the January 9, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"The latter part of last week the DeKalb-Sycamore electric line had plenty of troubles, along with the snow and difficulty in running its cars on schedule time.

"Between Seventh and Eighth  street a broken rail was discovered, while one car was at Sycamore, fortunately,  and for that reason it was necessary to transfer passengers at the point where the break occurred.  This occurred on one of the coldest of last week and was not very agreeable to the passengers,  but it was one of those things encountered occasionally on any line."

--RoadDog

Eight Killed In Traffic Accidents in DeKalb County in 1943

From the January 2, 2019, MidWeek  :Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"DeKalb County had eight traffic fatalities last year, nearly three times as many as in 1942 when but three people lost their lives in traffic accidents."

--RoadDog

An Unexpected Military Convoy in Clinton, Iowa

Back in August, we were at Clinton, Iowa, on Thursday, August 22, to see a Midwest League, Class A baseball game between the Clinton Lumberkings and the Cedar Rapids Kernels and had a bonus, in that we were driving down Lincoln highway south of town and came across a whole bunch of military vehicles.  Some of them looked to be older than ones in current use.

That is when I remembered seeing some posts about a military convoy driving across the country, mostly on the Lincoln Highway to commemorate the 1919 convoy that drove it along with a young officer named Dwight David Eisenhower.

But, I hadn't figured on seeing it as who would expect them to be in Clinton the same time we were (as this was a pre-planned trip for us to also include Galena, Illinois, as this is our 46th wedding anniversary and we were married August 25, 1973, on the Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, Illinois, had our reception there and then drove to Galena for the honeymoon.

But Here We Were.  --RoadDog

Just Hanging 'Round-- Part 4: Music and Da Pack

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Rain all day.  We've sure been getting the rain.  The Chain of Lakes is closed again.  If we had to pick a year to stop boating, this was a good one as the Chain and Fox River have been either no wake or closed for what seems to have been half the already-too-short season.

Bob Stroud  was lamenting the end of his favorite season, Summer, and Root Saluted it on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  Some of the songs he played:

LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones
SUMMER SONG--  Chad & Jeremy
TIME HAS COME TODAY-  Chamber Brothers

OUT OF TIME--  Rolling Stones
ALREADY GONE--  Eagles
I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN--  Beatles

Plus, the Top Three songs in Chicago this fate in 1969:

1.  EASY TO BE HARD--  Three Dog Night      From the rock musical "Hair."  There sure were a lot of hits from it.
2.  SUGAR, SUGAR--  Archies    Laugh, but I see you singing it right now.
3.  THIS GIRL IS A WOMAN NOW--  Gary Puckett & the Union Gap     Ever notice the theme of this guy's songs?

Drove to the McHenry American Legion for the Green Bay Packer game and enjoyed talking with the people there.  Da Bears are playing tomorrow night.   Then to Sunnyside Tavern and home to watch the very informative and music-heavy Ken Burns special on PBS  "Country Music."

--RoadDog


CROSS PURPOSES:  Which character on the TV series "The Walking Dead" favored the use of a crossbow?   Answer below:


Daryl Dixon

Just Hanging 'Round Here-- Part 3: A Fish Fry, High School Footbal Game, Legion, Historical Society Meeting, Memorial Party and the Sunnyside

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Liz and I went to the Mayor's Fish Fry in Fox Lake at Lakefront Park (which used to be Skipper Bud's where we bought our 4 Winns boat in 1990).  AUCE dish and fixins' for $10 as part of the Fox Lake Fishing Derby tomorrow.  Met Frank and Lianne there.

I dropped Liz off at the Fox Lake American Legion and I drove to nearby Johnsburg High School where they were having a game against Marengo.  Johnsburg lost 33-0.  Then I went to the Legion and met up witj Liz and Kevin and Kelly.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

I went to the Fox Lake Historical Society meeting in Ingleside where we heard a presentation on model trains.  Very interesting but sure glad I never got hooked on them as I got hooked on too many things as it is.  
In the afternoon, we drove over to Richmond, Illinois, where Ken Reid's children were having a memorial party for him.  That Kenny was quite a character and one of those that wherever he is, that is where the part is.  Sure miss him.  Later to Sunnyside Tavern.

--RoadDog

Just Hangin' Around Here-- Part 2: Donovan's, The Grove, PLAV, Legion and Concert

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Cocktails at Donovan's Reef in Wisconsin and Cocktails and steak at The Grove in Spring Grove, Illinois.  (We're right on the Wisconsin-Illinois border.)  Came home and watched Part 4 of Ken Burns' "Country Music" on PBS.  I am a big country music fan.  Part of the show tonight was on Johnny Cash.  I have a Johnny Cash story that I will write about in my Down Da Road blog later.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Liz and I drove to McHenry and had the $1 slider special at the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV).  They are much bigger than White Castle sliders.  For a total of $6, Liz and I were quite full with two sliders apiece and an order of sweet potato fries.  Now, that's real eatin' cheap in the neighborhood.

We then walked over to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed $2 Miller Lite aluminum cans and lots of friendly folks.  Walked over to Veterans Park and saw the band Sweet T, then back to the Legion for the King of Clubs drawing and they had karaoke.

--RoadDog

Just Hangin' Around Here: Gas Gouge, FP, More Expensive, Classic Cars, '67 Firebirds

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Sure been having problems with the internet of late and it is getting very difficult to get on and do these blogs.
Still sitting out FP (Front Porch) most mornings until it gets too cold.    We sure had a gas gouge here in northeast Illinois with gas up to $3.06 in McHenry!!!

A lot of unhappy patrons at Half-Times in Johnsburg as they raised all prices up.  The Tuesday 14-inch pizza, $1 toppings went up from $9 to $12 and the $1 14 ounce draft beers are now $2 for 20 ounces.  Still a good deal.

Drove over to the McHenry Mosse Lodge for  their classic car show and saw a '67 red Firebird convertible.  I am a big, well, huge Firebird fan, especially since I once had a '67 Firebird convertible. Went by Sunnyside Tavern on the way home.

Enjoyed watching the Ken Burns "Country Music" series as I am a big country music fan.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: Red's Giant Hamburg Opens Again in Springfield, Missouri

AUGUST 4--   A new version of Red's Hamburg opens Monday, August 5 in Springfield, Missouri.  This is decades after the original closed.  This new one boasts 700 pictures of Route 66 and Red's and it will have a replica of the famous Red's Hamburg  sign.

The original Red's was torn down in 1997 after Red died.

The new Red's is at 2301 W. Sunshine Street, two miles south of the nearest Route 66 alignment, but well-worth the extra drive for you purists.

Red and Julia Chaney opened the original one in 1947 on Route 66 in a former gas station.  It was originally to be called Red's Giant Hamburgers, but Red misjudged the sign and could only get the word "Hamburg" on it.

They only used beef from their local cattle farm.  Red's also became somewhat famous as being the location of the first food drive-through service in a restaurant.  A popular sandwich of theirs was called the Sooper Redburg which was topped with bacon and ham.

Red's closed in 1984 after the Chaneys retired.

Springfield has a replica of the sign in its Route 66 Roadside Park west of downtown.  A local band called the Morells has a song about the place called "Red's" featuring a video of them playing in the place.  Check it out on You-Tube.

Well, We Definitely Know Where We'll Be Eating Next Trip to Springfield.  Of Course, There Is also That Great Old Steak 'N Shake and Lambert's Also.  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2019: The Windy City Road Warrior and the Gasconade Bridge

These are from the Route 66 Mews site which is your best source for anything going on along the Mother Road.  Ron Warnick has daily postings along with pictures and much more information.  I just pick the stories of most interest to me.

AUGUST 2--  David G. Clark, "The Windy City Road Warrior" has extensive knowledge, and I do mean real extensive knowledge, on Route 66 in Chicago is writing his memoir which you can access in serial form.

He has written "Zeno's Motel and Paradox on Route 66" and ""Exploring Route 66 in Chicago."

He also offers some really interesting walking tours of Route 66 and Chicago architecture, but be forewarned, I don't know many folks who can walk faster than him.

AUGUST 3--  The new Gasconade River Bridge has opened and that has reconnected Route 66 as you had to take I-44 around it ever since the original Gasconade Bridge closed.  That was 8-9 miles.  The Missouri Department of Transportation spent $4 million on the new one and this one opened for traffic August 3.

There is still a big question as to what is to happen to the old bridge.

I'm Hoping It Will Remain.  --RoadBridge

Along 66, July 2019: The Wall and the Eating Place

JULY 30--  The Arizona Route 66 Association was given $10,000 to finish the "Standin' On the Corner" wall in Winslow.  "Take It Easy" there Glenn.  A great song by that great group, the Eagles.

JULY 31--  The renovation of the Red Cedar Inn in Pacific, Missouri, may take two years.  The old restaurant is to be converted into visitors center/museum.  When we first did Route 66 in Missouri, we saw the place and put it on our list of places to eat, but by the time we got back, it was closed.  So, now we'll look toward at least going into the building.

--RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: Grants and Punishment on the Mother Road

JULY 25--  The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces final cost-sharing grants.

Since 2001, they have awarded $2.27 million to 152 propositions for cost-sharing activities.  It is unlikely that Congress will renew it.  Too bad as that money was put to good use.

JULY 29--  The Beacon Car Wash has come up with a novel way of punishment for a teen's flag theft.  The Beacon Car and Pet Wash in Pacific, Missouri, noted for their reuse of the Old Beacon Motel sign on its premises.

The station has three huge U.S. flags and one was stolen by a 19-year-old who said he "accidentally" stole it.  He was caught and punishment will be handing out 150 small U.S. flags to customers and apologizing to each one.

That teenager might just think about the embarrassment the next time he "accidentally" steals something.  Hard to believe that in this day and age, some parents would be willing to have their son punished like that.  Good for them.

Hey Sonny, How 'Bout a Flag?  --RoadFlag

Along 66, July 2019: Two Neon Signs Reinstalled in Albuquerque

JULY 19:  Two neon signs were reinstalled along Route 66 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The De Anza Motor Lodge is a restored new hotel, apartments, businesses, restaurants.  It was built in 1939 by Charles Wallace, a Zuni trader and Indian art collector.

A reproduction of the original Monterey Motel sign has been relit.  It is near the El Vado Motel.

It was opened in 1946 as the Davis Court and was renamed Monterey Court by 1954.  For a long time it was known as the Monterey Non-Smokers Motel.

Give Me That Old Time Neon.  --RoadDog

Young Boys Flipping Automobiles in 1918

From the December 26, 2018,  MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Complaints in number are coming in to the police station, of young boys who are flipping automobiles down town and else where.  The jumping onto cars is very annoying to motorists who are not responsible if children are hurt, and who yet would be blamed.

"Boys seen committing the offense hereafter will be prosecuted, says the department."

I'm not sure what exactly "flipping automobiles" was all about.  Did that mean jumping onto a moving car or actually turning them over.  I'm thinking perhaps jumping onto them.

--RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: Crossroads, Specialty Plates and an Anniversary

JULY 17--  Crossroads Diner in Mt. Olive, Illinois, closed earlier this year.  It was built in 1953 at the intersection of  Route 66 and Illinois Highway 138.

There is no explanation as to why it closed and I believe it is in the Illinois Route 66 Association's Hall of Fame.

I don't remember ever eating there, however.  Maybe it was my fault.

JULY 18--  License -plate program earns $231,000 for the Arizona Route 66 Association.  These are what are known as specialty plates.  And, I'm sure that money will be put to good use.

JULY 24--  The New Mexico Route 66 Association is having a 30th anniversary party this Saturday at the Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post west of Albuquerque.

Love Those Route 66 State Associations.  --RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: On Horseshoes

JULY 15--  How About a Horseshoe Trail in Illinois.  It seems that places all over have been going crazy with the ideas of Trails.  A road trip that involves several to many similar places in an area.  I mean, there are Bourbon Trails and BBQ Trails.

This one involves that Central Illinois gastronomic goodie called Horseshoes.  For those of you who don't know, a horseshoe is a thick-sliced toasted piece of bread loaded with various meats and covered with fries smothered in cheese sauces.

Credit for its creation goes to the LeLand Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, right down the street from the Illinois State Capitol.

A smaller version is called a Ponyshoe--  Get It!!  (I had to ask the first time we had one at Norb Andy's.  There are also breakfast horseshoes with hash browns instead of cheese sauce and gravy.

Writer to the Illinois Times newspaper Tony Leone is proposing this.

You Go, Tony.  Sign Me Up!  --RoadShoe

9-11

**  Last week, I would have liked going to a commemoration of 9-11 somewhere in the local area.  After considerable looking in the internet, I did see that McHenry, Illinois, about ten miles away, had an event at Veterans Park, but couldn't find a time.  Come on, McHenry, you need to better publicize these events like this.

**  Also, I was listening to a cassette tape I had made of WVCO, 94.9, the Surf, out of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and saw the date on it.  It was June 28, 2001.  The terrorists would probably already have been in the United States and taking pilot lessons on that date.

**  I put up my U.S. flags (well, one was already up).  One is out by the mailbox, another is in the front flower bed and a third is actually a U.S. shield with an eagle on it which is hanging from the front porch eaves.

**  But, sadly, the date just about snuck up on me as I didn't remember it until our McHenry County Civil War Round Table president asked for a moment of silence at Tuesday's (September 10) meeting.

Not Forgetting.  --RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 5: Johnsburg's Saufen und Spiel

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

The first weekend after Labor Day in Johnsburg, Illinois, about four miles south of us in Spring grove, is the annual Saufen und Spiel.  Saufen means to drink and spiel means games.  It is kind of an Oktoberfest celebration by different name.  Johnsburg and Spring Grove were settled by many German immigrants so it is a heritage thing.

Saturday is Banjo Beer Night, featuring three bands and lots of beer.

Sunday is the big day, with a parade, oompah/polka band inside, a regular band outside and a cow drop where you can make some money depending upon which square the cow lets loose.  This year we didn't make it over to Sunnyside where we usually watch the parade because of rain drizzle earlier.

Liz didn't want to go to it when we drove to the Johnsburg Community Club grounds so I dropped her off at Sunnyside Tavern and went the short distance to the grounds and parked.  The band Epics was playing outside and doing classic rock from the 80s and doing it very well.  About half of the Sunnyside regulars were over here as well as some of my Fox Lake Sons of the American Legion.

The highlight was definitely the performance by Milwaukee's Glockenspiel group which is essentially a recreation of a German Black Forest clock scene with people drinking, working, making music and doing German dances like Chevy Chase in "European Vacation."  Go to You Tube and type in "Glockenspiel Germanfest to see it.  Be prepared to spend about 17 enjoyable minutes.

Afterwards I went back to Sunnyside where I found a couple large farm tractors parked outside.  Johnsburg and Spring Grove still have a lot of farms.

It was a mighty fun day.

--RoadKraut

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 4: 1973, Wild Turkeys, Pops' 96th and Joe

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Enjoyed WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback to 1973.  Three hours from that mighty busy year for me between graduating from college, getting a teaching job, my first apartment and married.

We went to the Fox Lake American Legion to help celebrate Pop's 96th birthday.  He is called Pops as a stand-in for all of us who have lost their farmers.  His son Ken is one day younger than me.  Afterwards, we stayed for three hours as had a great time with Joe Kadlek playing the guitar and goofing around.

Going over there, we twice had to stop due to flocks of wild turkeys on Sunset Road between Johnsburg Road and US-12.  I guess we live out in the country.

Anybody seen Those Illinois Route 66 Turkey Tracks?  --RoadTurkey

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 3: Magee Teachers and a High School Football Game

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

I drove Liz home and then drove to the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol Wisconsin, where I got together with former Magee Middle School teach Bob for breakfast.  We made plans to go to a Northwestern University football game later this fall.  Got gas in Bristol for the lowest I've seen around here, $2.48.

Later that night I went to the Johnsburg Skyhawk-Rochelle high school football game at Johnsburg High.  It was an absolute beautiful night for a football game.  During the fall, if the weather cooperates, there are few places I'd rather be than at a high school football game.  You get all the fun of a college or pro game without all the hassles and prices.

Johnsburg High is two miles directly south of our house, but kids from out subdivision go to Richmond-Burton High School (as does a WHOLE LOT of my money, about $3300 a year).  We hang out a lot in Johnsburg theses days.  But I will pull for Johnsburg and game they play except Richmond-Burton.  Have to pull for my money.

As a matter of fact, I am about to leave for Richmond-Burton High School for the big rivalry game with Johnsburg.

Johnsburg beat Rochelle (which is west of DeKalb, Illinois).

Football Tonight.  --RoadBall

9-11 Disease Deaths Grow

Continued from my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog today.  It started in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog today.

**  One FBI agent was reported killed on September 11, 2001.  As of this August, the FBI reports a death toll of 15 from cancers linked to toxic exposure in the subsequent investigation and cleanup.

Some 90,000 people have reported exposure to toxic chemicals--  asbestos, burning jet fuel, burning computer parts, pulverized concrete and a myriad of other substances.

Significantly higher rates of blood cancers, and now kidney cancer are being diagnosed among First Responders.

"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?"-- Part 7

This was supposed to have been posted yesterday, but we lost internet connection.  Every year, now, I remember 9-11 in all my blogs.

This song sums it all up for me, well, and also Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

*************************

And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love.

Where were you  when the world stopped turning on that September day?

**************************

Like I said, pretty well sums it up for me.

For the complete song, see my seven blog posts from yesterday and today.

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 2: A Football Time With Da Bears and Packers Rivalry

Recounting a week in the life.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

As usual, enjoyed the FP and OD and fed the chipmunks.

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin,  where we got a room behind the bar where we spent the night.  That way we could watch Da Bears and Da Pack open the NFL season at Soldier Field and not have to worry about driving home.

There was a lot of hoopla and the highlight was when the 1985, Super Bowl XX Bears came out on the field before the game.  That had the Bears fans in the bar standing and cheering.  But, Donovan's is just about three miles north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, so that means the crowd is going to be about half Bear and half Packer.  There is a bar about ten miles from Donovan's which is called the Packer Inn.  Plus, Donovan's is about six miles from K.C.'s Cabin where a Packer fan was once duct taped to the stop sign.

Well, at least the Bears were able to score a field goal after that horrendous double-doink ended our season last year.  That was the offensive highlight for us.  Our defense played well, other than that four play Packer TD drive.  We lost 10-3.

However, both Liz and I got flagged.  During Bears and Packers games, the bars has "Flags."  On entering, you sign a ticker and every time there is a flag on the field, a ticket is drawn and that person gets to drink for free until the next flag and another ticker drawn.  However, you are guaranteed one drink, so as often happens there is another quick file and another ticket drawn.

--RoadBear

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 1: Pizza, Gyros, Bars and Movies

I often get asked why we don't go off on vacation during the summer.  Why should I go elsewhere when there is so much to do around here (and for a lot cheaper than those summer prices).

This past week:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Lots of bands playing in bars in the Chain of Lakes area because of Labor Day, but we instead got together with Kevin and Kelly at J's in Ingleside, Illinois, for half price pizza (BLT) and $1.50 draft pints.  We also played NTN trivia and placed three times in the top twenty places in the country.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Movie Day.  I saw "Angel Has Fallen" and "Hobbs & Shaw" for $5 each at the Fox Lake Theatre.  Also had a gyro dinner at Billy's in Spring Grove.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for a drink, picked up Rocky and drove to the McHenry American Legion for the afternoon.  Returned to Sunnyside.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

Bear Down Chicago Bears

If you come to Chicago or its environs around this time of the year, there is the possibility that you just might hear this song, especially if you get around a bar or sports gathering.  And, even though things did not go well for us last night, it is still one great (and easy to sing) fight song.  We lost 10-3.

It is none other than "Bear Down, Chicago Bears."

The fight song was introduced in 1941 and written by Jerry Downs, who was actually Al Hoffman, who also wrote  many other songs, including "Mairzy Doats."  This was during the early stages of Da Bears' "Monsters of the Midway" era.    It was also the year Da Bears defeated  the Washington Redskins in a resounding 73-0 in the league championship game.

Hoffman, however, has little connection with Chicago or the Bears.  He was born in Russia in 1902 and his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1908 and lived in Seattle until he moved to New York City in the 1920s and got into song writing.  He wrote songs for Disney's original "Cinderella" cartoon, including "Bibbidi, Bobbidi Boo" and "The Work Song."

At home games, a version recorded in 1993 by Bill Archer and the Big Bear Band is played every time Da Bears score.

When our old Usual Suspects are together at the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, we sing this song whenever the Bears win, which hasn't been often lately until last year.

So Bear Down Chicago Bears.  --RoadBear


--

The 1919 U.S. Army Transcontinental Convoy-- Part 1: Test Equipment and Find Out State of U.S. Roads

From the August 12, 2019, Clinton, Iowa, Chamber of Commerce news release.

The 2019 MVPA is covering much the same roadage that the 1919 one did.

In 1919, the U.S. Army decided to  plan and execute  a motor convoy of various vehicles across the country, mostly on the newly formed Lincoln Highway (it was no where close to being paved all the way).

They started at the White House in Washington, D.C. and ended in Lincoln Park in San Francisco.  They covered some 3,200 miles in 62 days.  It was the first  motor transport convoy to ever attempt that.

The Convoy had the following objectives:

1.  Put the equipment through  as grueling of a trial as could be devised.

2.  Study how the varying road conditions affected each branch of the service.

3.  A transcontinental recruiting drive for the Army.

4.  Demonstrate the need for good rads.

5.  And the unwritten  objective was  to say "Thanks" to the American people for their support during WW I.

--RoadVoy

2019 MVPA Transcontinental Convoy-- Part 3: The 1919 Convoy and Thanks to Our Veterans

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) Convoy welcomes the public to witness this historic trip across the United States by coming out to meet it at the various stops and/or just enjoy it as it passes by.  We sure did enjoy part of it that we saw while driving on the Lincoln Highway in Clinton, Iowa.

As the Convoy passes through the cities and towns of the Lincoln Highway, the MVPA intends, with the cooperation of the Lincoln Highway Association, to draw attention to this early road system.

Additionally, the MVPA will present both the historical significance of the original 1919 Convoy and the historical significance of  the military vehicles present  on the 2019 Convoy.  Finally, as the 2019 Convoy passes through the many towns along the route, the MVPA will take every opportunity to also say "thanks" yo out veterans in a most patriotic way.

Sure Glad We Got to see Some of It.  --RoadVoy

2019 MVPA Transcontinental Convoy-- Part 2: That's A Long Way

The convoy will follow the original Lincoln Highway as much as possible.  The old road crosses all of or part of eleven states going to San Francisco and the convoy will be joining it at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The route begins in the lowlands of  of the eastern seaboard,  traverses the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, travels the lush farmlands of the Midwest, crosses the high plains,  dips into the Great Salt Lake Basin in Utah, crosses the Nevada Desert, climbs the Sierra Nevada and descends into Lake Tahoe, and ends up in the splendor of California and the San Francisco Bay Area.

This is a convoy of historic military vehicles of all eras, from World War II to current.  The vehicle roster making the trip includes cargo trucks, through to Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycles, staff cars, jeeps,  to later model  M913 5-ton cargo trucks.  The Convoys' many daily stopping spots include many of the same ones used by the historic 1919 Convoy.

--RoadVoy

About That 2019 MPVA Transcontinental Motor Convoy-- Part 1

From the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) site.

The MVPA will be conducting a 100th anniversary convoy across the United States in 2019 with as many as 90 military vehicles  retracing the original 1919  U.S. Army  Transcontinental Convoy route- much of it along the famed Lincoln Highway.

It will launch from Washington, D.C. on 11 August and arrive in San Francisco, CA. some 37 days later on September 14.  One of the highlights of it will be departing  from the MVPA 44th Annual International Convention in York, PA on August 10.

We are expecting over 50 historic vehicles to make the entire 3,200 mile run with over fifty others joining for parts of it.

--RoadConvoy

Some of the Upcoming MVPA Stops in 2019 Motor Convoy

They were in Clinton, Iowa, on August 22 and are following the Lincoln Highway, as did the 1919 U.S. Army Convoy.

AUGUST 31--  Laramie, Wyoming

September 2--  Rowling, Wyoming

September 5--  Tooele, Utah

September 9--  Austin, Nevada

September 12--  Fallon, Nevada

September 14--  Stockton, California

September 15--  USS Hornet Museum   Alameda, California    End of the convoy.

--RoadVoy

MVPA 2019 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Stops At Clinton, Iowa

I wish I had seen this ahead of time instead of today.  We went to Clinton, Iowa, arriving on August 22 and caught the tail end of the convoy as it headed out west of the city.

From the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.  News release from August 12, 2019.

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association will be conducting a transcontinental motor convoy that will be stopping in Clinton, IA,  on August 22.

They will be parked up on the riverfront between the Clinton Riverview Pool and the NelsonCorp Baseball Field from 2p-3:30p.

Come check out as many as 70 historic military vehicles as they retrace  the route of the original 1919 U.S. Army's Transcontinental Motor Convoy.

Like I Said, I Wish I Had Seen This Ahead Of Time.  I Sure Would Have Been There In Time.  --RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: Of Bottles, Of Mufflers and Al Capone

JULY 5--  Elmer Lang, 72, died June 22, 2019.  He was the eccentric creator of the Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro, California.

This is quite an example of folk art, not to mention eye-catching.

JULY 10--  A New Muffler Man named Frecs (short for freckles) is on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas.  It is a 19-feet tall miner and is just west of Front Street Bridge.  A muffler man for the miners.

You can never have enough muffler men.

JULY 11--  There was an Al Capone presentation at the Mill's 90th anniversary party in Lincoln, Illinois.  It was given by Illinois' own David Clark, aka "The Windy City Road Warrior."

I know of no one else who knows so much about Route 66 in Chicago, and, of course, Al Capone was a big part of Chicago.  I also don't know anyone who walks as fast as David.

Al Capone Slept Here?  --RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: Route 66 Rising in Tulsa, The "Mayor of Route 66," A Museum Turns 50

JULY 3--  The official dedication of the Route 66 Rising statue in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Quite an impressive structure and we'll look for it the next time through.

JULY 4--  Bob Russell is stepping down at the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois.  He is noted for often meeting busloads of folks traveling Route 66.  So much that he often is referred to as "The Mayor of Route 66.

He cites age as a factor for his decision as he will soon be 72.

I know the feeling, Mayor.

JULY 5--  The J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, turned fifty.

Congratulations.

Pontiac, Illinois.  One City That Appreciates Its Route 66 Heritage.  --RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: Afton Station Sold, Death of a 66er

These are taken from the Route 66 News site which has a whole lot more stories as well as information.  I just take the ones of most interest to me.

JULY 2--  The new owner of Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, wants ideas for a Route 66 business to be located there.

Louis Cox bought it for $72,000 at auction on Saturday.

Here's hoping that the city will back him as they can really use the help.  Sure miss the former owner, Laurel Kane, who was always so friendly and nice

JULY 3--  Martha Jackson was a key figure in getting Litchfield, Illinois, its Route 66 Museum and visitors center, has died at age 87.

I didn't know her, but anyone who loves the road as much as I do is alright with me.

Thank You Laurel and Martha, For All You Have Done for the Mother Road.  --RoadDog

Camp Joy Cabin Dedicated at Lebanon Route 66 Festival in Missouri

JUNE 19, 2019:  The sole remaining cabin of Camp Joy in Lebanon, Missouri, has been moved to Boswell Park, restored and dedicated as the capstone of Lebanon's annual Route 66 Festival.

It has taken four months of restoration and about 100 gathered by it for presentation of plaques to those responsible for it.

One plaque was given to Lee Sing who donated it.  Others went to Mayor Jared Carr and City Administrator Mike Schumacher.  Bruce Owen was the driving force behind the whole project.

Camp Joy was an early tourist camp across from present day Cowan Civic Center and founded in 1927 by the Spears family, one year after the gravel road through town became Route 66.  The children of the Spears were in attendance.

The cabin measures 16 foot square today, but the original was 12 by 16 foot, with the extra 4 feet added for a bathroom.  There were 4 acres in Camp Joy and a Sinclair gas station.  Some famous overnight guests were the outlaws Bonnie & Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and singer Tex Ritter.

Liz and I were very happy to be there.

--RoadDog