Kicking Off the 248th Birthday of the U.S.A.-- Part 1: A Parade

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

This morning, I drove over to Fox Lake, Illinois, for their annual 4th of July parade.  As Chevy Chase sang inn the movie "Vacation,'  "I love a parade."  And this one did not disappoint. Two things that I particularly like about the Fox Lake parade is ease of getting to it and park and the fact they have a first-class sound system at the judges table/mc spot.

And, unlike my village of Spring Grove, they don't close down every road within a five mile radius two hours before the parade.  That has kept me from seeing a lot of our parades.

This year's grand marshal is Chris Johnson, chairman and CEO of the Chicagoland Classic Cinema Corporation which has about 17 theatres and over a hundred screens.  They have a nice one in Fox Lake that I go to quite often.  The seats are all recliners and prices are $8 and less in Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Of course, we had the usual politicians out in force with elections coming up.  Plus, lots of local businesses and even the Grant Township High School Marching Band participated as did a lot of their athletes.  By far, my favorite part of any parade is the marching band.

Lots of candy was given out to the tykes of course.

Also, it is easy get to the parade parking and getting out of there.

A Parade.  An Annual Tradition for Me.  --Road4th

Getting My Irish on Tomorrow

Well, I have three options for tomorrow.  A lot depends on the weather which sounds a bit iffy.  Ans, of course, there are the crowds.  Tomorrow seems to be the bigger of the two weekend days even though St, Patrick's is actually on Sunday.

The biggest one tomorrow would be the McHenry (Illinois) ShamROCK the Fox which includes the dying green of the Fox River, a parade and bands.  That is usually a bit too crowded for me.  This involves five bands throughout the day in huge tents. 

If I decide against McHenry, I will go to Lake Villa (Illinois) for their annual parade and then to the VFW for the corned beef & cabbage dinner and a band afterwards.  

If that doesn't work out, the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society is having a group come in at the museum and give an old-time radio broadcast.  Then, it would be a trio to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes (Wisconsin) for free corned beef & cabbage.  Layer, Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove for green beer and entertainment.

SUNDAY, ST. PATRICK'S DAY, McHenry continues bands in the tents and fireworks at night.  The Fox Lake American Legion has St. Baldrick's Day where folks have their hair cut off for a good cause.  (I'm not, I'll donate.)  Then a corned beef and cabbage dinner and entertainment.

Here's Hoping My Tongue Doesn't Get Too Green.  --Road O'Dog

So, What's to Do Around Here: Bar Hopping, Cheap Beer and Food

Okay, so it's still winter for a few days (starts the 19th) and it has been a fairly warm one so far.  So, what is there to do around here (northeast Illinois) until summer gets here.?

MARCH 3, SUNDAY

Went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, then to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove where I had a great $3 Bloody Mary and $7 Italian beef sandwich and fries.

MARCH 4, MONDAY

Sunnyside for $1.50 pints, the Monday special.

MARCH 5, TUESDAY

Back to Saylor Mick's for $1.50 tacos and live trivia.

MARCH 6, WEDNESDAY

Drove to Wisconsin and went to Best Bargains which sure lives up to its name when it comes to groceries.  Filled up with gas at the BP in Twin Lakes for $3.35 (it had been down to $2.50 a month ago).  Still better than Illinois where it is around $3.90.

Played live trivia with Uncle Jeffie at Donovan's Reef.

--RoadDog

Just Hanging Around: Donovans, Saylor Mick's, Mother Road Cruisin'? Pizza and Sad Sox

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for drinks and live trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Then to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove, Illinois, for 75 cent wings and $1 Hamm's pints.

THURSDAU, APRIL 27

Considering going on the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour this year from June 9 to 11.  It's time to get back on the Mother Road.  Haven't been since before you-know-what.

Cut the grass for thye first time.  Should have done it sooner.  I still have to clear up the tree limbs that came down in the ice storm.  Met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg for half-price pizza.  I got Liz and my old special pizza:  sausage, black olives and pineapple.

The White Sox have sunken to new depths this year (and I thought they couldn't possibly go any lower after the pathetic team of last year.  I sure was wrong.).

--SadSoxDog

Got My Irish On for Two Weeks-- Part 5: McHenry's Sham-Rock the Fox and the Usual Bars

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Enjoyed and recorded Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots which was to Jethro Tull's Aqualung album released this week way back when.  One of my favorite albums.

Went to my last day of my two week St, Patrick's celebration.  Drove to McHenry for Day 3 of their St. Patrick;s celebration "Sham-Rock the Fox."  This was quite a bit less than yesterday's party, which was okay for me.  

I went down to Miller Park and watched the band Onset play in the big tents and then to the PLAV for $2.75 Bloody Marys and then to the McHenry American Legion for the $3 rail drinks.  Then to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove for the $1 Hamm's pints.

Wartched March Madness at the last two places and home at Margaritaville.

--RoadO'Dog

Got My Irish On for Two Weeks-- Part 4: Donovan's, CB&C, Saylor Micks and March Madness

FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH   (You know what day this is!!)

Drove to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to have some corned beef & cabbage and watch some of my favorite sporting event of the year, NCAA's March Madness.  That is the 2023 Road to the Final Four and National Basketball Championship.

The place was already crowded when I got there and they were paying attention to and cheering teams on (possibly for betting purposes).  But, nonetheless pulling for teams.  I've been to bars where the games were ignord and that is not much fun.

Every TV was tuned into a different game.  As soon as one would get close, the front ones would tune to that.  Like the NFL's Red Zone TV.

The corned beef & cabbage dinner was $14.

On the way home, I stopped at Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove and had their $1 Hamm's green beer and most of the crowded house were watching and yelling for the games.  A guy came in and put on a good show on an electric piano.

Came home and watched the rest of the games at Margaritaville in the basement.

A Good Irish Sporting Day.  --O'RoadDog

Solon Mills Train Depot (Illinois) Must Move for Second Time in 120 Years

From the April 25, 2022, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois)  "For second time in its 120-year life, Solon Mills Train Depot must find new home, purpose" by James T. Norman.

The old train station was converted into a restaurant fifty years ago in Richmond.  Right now it is on U.S. Route 12 near East Kuhn Road.  The Depot Restaurant closed a year ago.  (I have eaten breakfast there in the past.)

Several organizations are attempting ty save it.

It was built around 1902 in Solon Mills, Illinois, an unincorporated small town (pop. 2020  133) in between Spring Grove and Richmond and served as a train depot for around 50 years before being closed and slated for destruction.  Instead, it was moved to Richmond and reopened as a restaurant.

Either the historical village of Richmond should take it, where it already has Doyle's Pub & Eatery, a former mill, or maybe move it to the McHenry County Historical Society Museum in Union.

--RoadDog

Good Times in the Area: About That Good Old High School Football

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

One of my favorite places to go this time of the year is to the local high school Friday night games on good weather days.  You get all the action  of college and pro football with a whole lot less of the hassle and costs.

Sadly, I haven't been to a game now since 2019, that's two years that I've missed.  Of course, last year, Illinois didn't have high school football until a shortened six game season in the spring.  I'm hoping to get back to the games next year.

I usually go to either the Richmond-Burton or Johnsburg High School games as they are the closest to me.  I pull for both rivals, but when they play each other, I pull for Richmond-Burton as a lot of my money goes there.  That school serves Spring Grove and Richmond, Illinois.

I also follow Palatine High School and even rival Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois.  I went to and graduated from Palatine High (and even went to Fremd for my freshman year as the frosh-soph for Palatine went there, juniors and seniors to Palatfox line High).

I also pull for Round Lake High School as that is where we lived for 17 years and we taught for 33 years in that school district.  Also, pull for Grant High School in Fox Lake as we spent much time boating.

Two other schools I back are Mt. Carmel in Chicago because NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch is head coach there.  Also Goldsboro High School in North Carolina because that is where I was born and lived for five years.  My grandparents lived just down the block from that school.

--RoadHigh

A Great Weekend of Music on Chicago Radio: 80s Music All Weekend A to Z, 1978 and September 5, 1971

Nothing like sitting out on the Front Porch, Flats, Grand Strand, Gazebo, Lower Deck, Deck or Arboretum here at Key North in Spring Grove and listening to some good music all weekend like we have coming up for this Labor Day.  These are all "outdoor rooms" around the house.

As you can see, I have a lot of places to sit outside when I'm not inside.  Plus, I listen to a lot of music inside down here in the basement in the North Woods area or out in the sun room.

And this weekend, we have the music.  

WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive has an 80s weekend that has already started where they will be playing nothing but songs from that great decade of music, the 80s.  This was the last decade that I really liked most all of the music being played.  Since then, it is about 50% in the recent decades.

Right now, they are in the letter "C".

Then, tomorrow, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will spotlight the year 1978 on its Saturday Morning Flashback with Frank E. Lee from 9 am to noon.

Then Sunday, the Drive will take a break from the 80s to go back and play  the songs from September 5, 1971, fifty years ago, on Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show from 9 am to noon.  These would be songs on the radio and in your record collection from back then.

And, of course, WXRT has Breakfast With the Beatles from 8 am to 10 am.

Time to Get In Some Serious Listening Music.  --RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 4: About US Highway 12

Continued from July 8, 2021.

THURSDAY, JULY 1

As I mentioned, US Highway 12 (US-12) has played a big role in my life for many years.

Back in high school, the night crew at the Palatine, Illinois, Burger King would pile into cars and drive on US-12 to Wauconda, and spend the afternoon our on the beach and in the water at Honey Hill.  Liz and I used to go to many places along the 12 while we were dating, including St. George & the Dragon at Dundee Road and the Village Inn.

We'd sometimes drive US-12 all the way to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This stretch would take us right through Spring Grove, where we have lived for the last 29 years.  We always though this place was way out in the boonies and now we live there.

We also often stopped to eat at Mr. Sitka's in Richmond (near Illinois Highway 31 and US-12 (now Dilar's Restaurant).

We also drove part of US-12 when visiting her parents in Palatine and also when her mom moved to an apartment on 12 in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Like I said. US-12 has been important in my life.

Through the Chicagoland area, US Highway 12 is called Rand Road.

--RoadDog

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 4: All Those Road Names, Richardson Adventure Farm and the English Are Coming

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

I have already mentioned that most every north-south road in Spring Grove, upon crossing US-12, has a different name.  However, the one I started out on, Meyer Road, changes its name to Blivin St. for a real short distance and when it crosses Main Street, where the Grove bar/restaurant is located, it changes names again, this time to Richardson Road, a name it keep all the way to Illinois Highway 173, up near the Wisconsin border.

On Richardson Road, you pass several farms and subdivisions as well as you can see the Richardson Adventure Farm off in the distance to the east.  This is a family that has been here a long time and for whom the road here is named.  This is a huge tourist attraction in the area, especially in the fall when they have all sorts of stuff going on and claim to have the world's biggest corn maze.  

In August they will be having a sunflower festival.  Better not tell my little birdies that hang out be the feeders around the house about this as they absolutely love sunflower seeds as to my squirrels.

Today, I decided to turn on English Prairie Road instead of going all the way north to 173.  Spring Grove and Johnsburg were settled by a lot of German people, but a lot of English people settled around this area.  You will go right by the entrance to Richardson Adventure Farm on this road.

--RoadDog

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 3: US-12 Through Chicago's Northwest Suburbs and Spring Grove

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

One thing about roads in Spring Grove, Illinois, is that everyone one of them has a different name depending upon which side of US-12 you are on.  Through Spring Grove, US-12 is essentially an east- -to-west road (while going through Chicago's Northwest Suburbs it runs southeast-to-northwest).

Meyer Road becomes Blivin Street north of US-12.  Once over the railroad tracks, you will find the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery to your left (west) and a small park on Nippersink Creek with a canoe launch and a plaque and a model of the first silo in the United States invented by Fred Hatch of Spring Grove.

The fish hatchery and the silo are probably Spring Grove's two greatest claims to fame.

At Main Street, there is an old bank that has now been converted into a lawyer's office and a bar/restaurant named the Grove that has an excellent outside seating area and lots of live entertainment.  This building dates back to before 1900 and has been in use ever since as a bar or restaurant, usually both.

One time we were there, we saw two horses tied up to the fence.  Yep, we're kind of like out in the country in Spring Grove.

--RoadDog

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 2: A Civil War Connection, the Iron Brigade Highway

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Well, now actually yesterday's Firebird Cruise.

US-12 starts in downtown Detroit, Michigan, and goes through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin and on out to Washington state.  This section of 12 is also called the Iron Brigade Highway after the famed fighting group from the Civil War: 2nd, 6th and 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana and 24th Michigan.  They fought in most all of the major battles of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War's Eastern Theater.

They also suffered huge casualties, especially at the Battle of Gettysburg on the first day.  I have written a lot about their commander for much of the brigade's existence, Edward S. Bragg, from Wisconsin in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog.  As a matter of fact, a Wisconsin state senator has proposed that Fort Bragg in North Carolina be simply renamed Fort Bragg after the Union Bragg instead of the Confederate Braxton Bragg.

Of course, I am really interested in the Civil War.  Two other US Highways in our area also have Civil War connections.  US-6 is the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, named after the post Civil War Union veterans organization.  Then, US-20 is the U.S. Grant Highway as he was living in Galena, Illinois, at the outbreak of the war.  US-20 goes right by it.

And, US-12 is one really busy road.  As a matter of fact, I call it the U.S. 12 Speedway as if you do the speed limit, you get run over, especially when it becomes a four lane road in Fox Lake, to the south of Spring Grove.

--RoadBrigade

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 1: It Ain't That Flat, All Those Parks and All That Corn and Those Subdivisions

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Nice, hot day, today.  Just perfect for a cruise in the old car, with the window down, arm out the window and tunes blaring from the radio.

I did a loop through Spring Grove and Johnsburg, Illinois, about 18 miles total.  In that time, I went by five parks, two agricultural tourist farms, lots of corn and soybeans as well as McHenry County's newest growth, the numerous subdivisions.  Also, lots of farms.  Beware of farm equipment on the roads at all times around here.  I've even seen big old tractors pulled up in front of some local drinking establishments and no parade would be complete without tractors.

Anyone that thinks all of Illinois is perfectly flat might change their mind around here.  We have several good-sized "Hills."

First, I took Sunset Road west to Meyer Road through real high corn.  Then north on Meyer and down a good-sized hill, past the Spring Grove Village Hall to US-12.  Wait and wait and wait for a break in the traffic and I'm on my merry way.

Even better today, I finally remembered to bring along one of my cassettes.  Yep, the Firebird radio also has a cassette deck on it.  I listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show salute to Summer 2020, Vol. 2, which I had recorded last year.  Yep, I still record on cassettes.  As a matter of fact, I recorded a large part of Bob's show yesterday when he featured Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Cosmo's Factory."

Creedence is my all-time favorite rock band, well, Swamp Band or whatever it was that they played.  It was released 51 years ago this week.

--RoadCruiser

Good Times Around Here Last Weekend-- Part 1: Wisconsin, Trivia, Bars, $1 Pints, Flowers, Fish Fry and What a View

Again, the Summer is no time to leave this area. Lots of fun going on all over this part of northeast Illinois.

WEDNESDAY,  JULY 7

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for Jeff's Smart Ass Trivia in the afternoon, then went to BB*Q on US-12 in Spring Grove, Illinois for their excellent wings and plenty of $1 pints of draft beer to wash them down.

THURSDAY, JULY 8

Finally flowers on sale at Menard's so really stocked up.  50 cent geraniums, 50 cent six packs of annuals, $1.25 for six wave petunias. It was all sorts of fun at check out and I still don't know if I ended up over or undercharged.  Oh, well.  Those flowers found a good home for the rest of the season.

FRIDAY, JULY 9

Every morning, I sit out on the front porch for breakfast coffee and to read the Chicago Tribune.  I doubt that anyone in the subdivision gets more use out of their front porch.

Went back to Menard's and bought even more flowers.  Hey, on big sale.  Last year, with the pandemic and folks staying home and planting stuff around those house, there weren't many sales at all.  Usually, by July stores start putting their nursery stuff on sale.

We went to Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch and met Kevin and Kelly and had their beer-battered fish fry, always a delight, even if we like to froze because the air conditioning was hiked up way too high.  Then, adjourned to Lake View on Grasslake and enjoyed that great view of the lake from their high deck and, of course, those $1 draft beers.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 1: The New 'Old' Car and U.S. Highway 12

Thursday, July 1

I finally had our '85 Firebird redone with exterior and interior work as well as engine work.  Now, I am forced to cruise down roads, with the window down, my arm out and listening to tunes on the radio.

A hard life, but somebody's got to do it.

This past Thursday, July 1, I started driving around Spring Grove, Illinois.  First I went through a subdivision and then found myself north of town on US Highway 12.  Most of my life I have been living near US-12.  

It went through Palatine, Illinois, where I lived for all of junior high, high school and part of college.  Then, we lived for 17 years in Round Lake Beach, which is about eight miles from it and now, we have been in Spring Grove for 29 years.  US 12 goes right through Spring Grove.  One of these days I'm hoping to drive it from end-to-end which would be Detroit at its eastern terminus and Aberdeen, Washington on the west.

The next town on the road heading north is Richmond.  It is a village of yesterday, with lots of old stuff and history.  It is also a major gateway to Wisconsin from Illinois and it gets so backed up on the weekends, you try to find ways to go around it.

This being Thursday, I figured the backup wouldn't be bad.

I Was So Wrong.  --RoadCruise

Decisions, Decisions: How to Tell the Good Old Days Are Back

The summer of 2021 sure promises, at this point, to be an improvement over last summer.  

I mean, that good buddy Denny is on another one of his extended road trips.  Liz and I are planning on hitting the road as well.

But, even more important, I now am faced with having to make decisions as to what I'm going to do.

For example, in a few minutes I will be heading out the door for one of two history things.  Either a presentation by the McHenry Area Historical Society at Veterans Park in McHenry or the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Last night I had the choice of going to the Spring Grove Annual Fish Fry to raise money for our Fish Hatchery Park (with a band) or see a band at the McHenry VFW.

Thursday night the choice was between going to Antioch for their weekly It's Thursday concert or go to the Lake House on Pistakee to sit out by that lake and watch a band.

Tough decisions, but somebody's got to make them.

Oft times I am asked why we don't go on many vacations away from home during the summer.  But, why go anywhere else when you have so much to do right here?

Partyin' In the Local Area These Days.  --RoadDog

Back to My 20.4 Mile Road Trip in July-- Part 1

July 25, I drove a whopping 20.4 miles (well actually a bit farther since I initially missed the meeting location and went a ways south before backtracking, plus then drove to a favorite store since I was in the area).

This was the farthest I had driven since late February and early March before you-know-what hit.  Back then, I drove 60 miles to DeKalb, Illinois, from here in Spring Grove.  Liz and I attended two NIU basketball games (both victories), little knowing this was going to be the end of our trips for awhile.

Anyway, on July 25, I drove from Spring Grove to Algonquin for a McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting, which was our first one since February, again, the reason you-know-what.  Plus Round Table folks are not known to be spring chickens so best to lay low.

We usually meet for discussion groups inside at the Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, who let us use a room for two hours.  Some of us started chompin' at the bit and wanted to do some Civil War talking and decided to try meeting outside at the Panera Bread in Algonquin.  We had seven in attendance and it sure was good to get back to some normalcy these days.  Thoroughly enjoyed it.

We met outside under umbrellas, observed social distancing and wore face masks except when eating or drinking.  We follow the protocol for these days.  Especially since we're so old.

We're meeting at the same place again this Saturday and will discuss "The Beast."  That would be the very interesting Union general named Benjamin Butler.  And, he was involved with my favorite Civil War battle, Fort Fisher.

Anyway, I not only got to talk Civil War (one of my favorite things to do obviously) but I also got to go to two of my all-time favorite places and on the way back, stopped at two more places I really like to browse.

It Was A Good Day.  --RoadFun

It's Been A Bit of a Strange Summer for Us So Far (Or, the 20.4-Mile Road Trip)

Usually by this time of the summer, we would have been on several drives along Route 66 in Illinois and even out as far as the Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, and not mention at least once out to the Mississippi River.

But, not so this year and you know why.  We're sticking close to home.  I don't care to go anywhere when I can't just do what I want to do.  Might as well just stay home and that is what we're doing.  We haven't been away overnight since early March and don't plan on doing that for the remainder of this year (and who knows how long in the future).

This was brought to mind with a jolt this past Saturday, when I drove from Spring Grove to Algonquin, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting (our first one since February).  It came to me that this was the farthest I had been away from home since early March.

I looked it up, and it was a whopping 20.4 miles.

Well, at least gasoline expenses have been negligible since March.

Gas, What Gas?

Little Old Homebody Me.  --RoadHouse

What a Strange Summer This Has Been, What a Strange 4th of July

People often ask me why we don't go away on vacation during the summer.  Well, being retired has the bonus of being able to go places offseason when there are fewer crowds and lower prices, two things very important to Liz and myself.

Plus, why go anywhere else when you have a great summer party right here with festivals, parades, bands and parties all over the Chain of Lakes area.

Well, this season, because of you-know-what.  So much canceled.

And, no baseball.  Not even minor league or Legion ball.

I did put out my U.S. flags yesterday and will leave them up until next week.  I usually always have one flying from the garage door frame all the time.  For the first time I can remember in 28 years, our neighbors across the street put out a U.S. flag  yesterday.

This will be the first time since 1993, other than one time when I was in Rome, Italy, with my family,  when we will not be watching our village of Spring Grove, Illinois, fireworks display from the front yard of our house.  We'll sure miss it, but definitely not the skeeters who have the 4th of July highlighted on their best bitin' days.

Most fireworks around here have been canceled due to you-know-what.  But, Spring Grove and Richmond (not to be  confused with that questionable city by that name in Virginia) are having a joint fireworks display at Richardson Farm in Spring Grove which also bills itself as the world's largest corn maze.

Sad, but no parades either, but if the last several weeks and last night are any indication, we will have plenty of neighborhood fireworks.

Sorry, Doggies.  --RoadBang