Savannah Bound-- Part 2: Snow and a Good Deal

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024

So here I am getting ready to drive to the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.  It is named for Army General Billy Mitchell who was raised in Milwaukee and was an air power advocate for the military.

And, what a day to be heading up into the skies.  It started snowing heavily around 3 am and continued all morning, eventually amassing around 3 inches on the deck railings by the time I left.  It then proceeded to snow the whole way until I got to about 15 miles from the airport.  Sloppy driving, but at least no road accumulation.

I did some last minute packing and found that I could get all my clothes into what I hoped could be considered a carry-on piece of luggage to avoid the $35 extra to check in a larger piece. Even then, I felt I had a good flying deal at a $317 round trip price.  At first I had considered driving, but after I paid for gas, eating, as well as a motel room both ways that would about equal the plane flight.  Not to mention the wear and tear on the car for the 3000 miles.

--RoadBird

Hey, a 2 Cent Drop in Gas! (Back in 1922)

From the July 20, 2022, Midweek "Looking Back" for DeKalb County, Illinois.

July 20, 1922

"Two cents a gallon is the drop in price announced today by the Standard Oil Company that is effective today.  This will bring the price of fuel to 23.2 cents per gallon.

"The announcement will be greeted with much joy by the many tourists and people planning to take auto trips.

"The former price had been effective for several months and many people thought it had been fixed as a standard price.    The drop will be a big saving to many people."

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

You know what they say about gas and taxes.  Sadly, that's about what it drops here in July 2022, about 2 cents a gallon every 3-4 days.  It sure went up to $6 quite quickly.

And a 2 cent drop from 25 cents is a bit different from a 2 cent drop from $5.60.

Even Back Then.  --RoadGas

My Second-Longest Trip Since the Virus Hit: Going to Union for McHenry County CWRT-- Part 1

Yesterday, I went for my second longest trip from home to Union, Illinois, some 33 miles from home since March 2020 because of you-know-what.  I went there for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table's (MCCWRT) first in-person meeting since March of that year as well.  (I just got back my from my farthest trip from home, the Indy 500, on May 31st.)

Plus, did some of my favorite things along the way, stopping and looking at flowers and bushes at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Meijer and a Kolze's, private nursery, along the way and now have two unique hostas that I bought at the last place.

I am amazed at how few sales on plants are going on these days.

But what is worse, the gas prices.  Oh my goodness.  Big Oil has a full-on gas gouge going now.  I figured once it hit $3 here in northeastern Illinois, that it would drop.  Wrong.  Every station was between $3.40 and $3.50.

Thanks a lot guys.

I drove  Illinois Highways 31, 120, 47 and 176 to Union.

Good to Be on the Road Again, But Doggone Those Gas Prices.  --RoadDog

England Has a Language All Its Own-- Part 4: Places and Driving in the U.K.

Then, there are those great British place names like Upper and Lower Slaughter, Once Brewed and the Itching Field.  You'll visit "brilliant" (wonderful sights, that will give you "goose pimples" (goose bumps).

Your car will have a bonnet and a boot  rather than a hood and a trunk.  My family has always referred to a car's trunk as the "Boot."  Put it in the boot.  The what?

You'll drive on motorways (as opposed to interstates).  That gal on GPS always refers to motorways.  And, when you driving asphalt becomes divided, you are on a dual carriageway.

Never go anticlockwise (counter clockwise) in a roundabout (traffic circle).

Gas is petrol, a truck is a lorry and when you hit a tailback (traffic jam), don't get your knickers in a twist (upset) --  just be patient and queue up (line up).

Oh, Dem English.  --RoadBrit

Back to My 20.4 Mile Road Trip in July-- Part 2: Half-Price Books

After the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting ended I drove to my favorite store these days.  It is located about two miles south of the Panera Bread.  That meant driving on the super-busy and always under construction Randall Road, not one of my favorite things to do.  But just about every chain restaurant and store you can imagine is located along that stretch.  Plus, of course, lots and lots of stop lights.

I got taken in by a gas station whose top price is the cost of gas without a car wash.  I hate when that happens.  So, it cost me $2.30 instead of $2.10.  Oh well.

The place I was headed for was Half-Price Books.  They have things I still know about:  books, CDs and records.  Even better, the prices are quite low.  It generally costs me at least $25 to $40 to go in there.

Of course, they have a big selection of Civil War and other war books as well as history.  But today I didn't find any books.  Liz was so happy.  I really need to be getting rid of my books, not buying more.  But, I can't help it.

I did find several great CD music collections and bought five of those.

And, speaking of records, Record Store Day will be next Saturday, August 29.

--RoadBookCD

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

A Week in the Life-- Part 4: 1972, Half-Times, Sunnyside, NIU, Football, Donovan's and Back to Sunnyside

TUESDAY, JULY 30

Sat out FP (Front Porch) and later enjoyed Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten which featured the college year for me, 1972.  Of course, my favorite years for music are high school and college 1965 to 1973.     My pick for best of show, "Brandy" by Looking Glass.  If there ever was a song that paints a picture, this one does.  You can just see the nautical water front bar.

We met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had a nice talk with former Fox Lake American Legion Commander Kelli.  Enjoyed the $9 14-inch pizza with $1 toppings and $1 draft beers.  As often the case, you ended up at Sunnyside, which is the Cheers Bar of Johnsburg.  Most times we know everybody in the place.  And, for July, draft pints are just $1.50 from Monday to Friday.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31

Sat out FP the last two days for breakfast.  Good article in the Tribune about NIU's new coach (and former standout running back student) Thomas Hammock.  These guy bleeds Huskie red and black and we're hoping for great things from him.

Went to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for gas which is at $2.80.  In Illinois, because of Gov. Toilet's doubling the gas tax, it is $3.  We went to Donovan's Reef (happy hour 24 oz. draft beer $1.75) where we have been going since the nineties and this is a place like Sunnyside, where everybody knows your name.  It has a Florida feel to it, complete with three tall palm trees (artificial of course) outside.  Afterwards to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

2017 Indy 500-- Part 10: In the Newspapers, 15 Millionth Model T, Scott Dixon Robbed

FRIDAY, MAY 26

Newspaper articles this morning.

Ninety years ago today, Henry Ford and his son Edsel drove the 15 millionth Model T out of their factory.

Vehicle headlights back then were stuck in the tech Dark Ages and were not bright enough.

"Millennials fuel growth in RV sales"  It is expected that RVs will ship 446,000 RVs in 2017, up 5.6%.

OPEC is cutting back oil production.

This year's Indy 500 Pole Setter, Scott Dixon, as robbed at gunpoint Sunday night at the Speedway Taco Bell.

It is getting so warm that I take my sweatshirt off.

Off to the Miller Light Carb Day.  --RoadDog

Warm Here We Come-- Part 9: Help at Enterprise Chevrolet

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

That drive to Enterprise wasn't much fun, worrying about the brakes as we were.    I made sure to give myself plenty of room to brake and applied very slowly whenever needed.  We got to Enterprise and pulled into a gas station and filled up.  It was pretty horrible with that noise when he carefully stopped at a gas station.

I got gas because Alabama is usually quite a lot cheaper in gas than Florida.  I got gas for $2.30, it was $2.60 in PCB the next day.  Liz stood outside the car when I pulled away from the pump and listened.  I had turned off the radio as well so I could hear.  The sound was still there.

We decided to look for a Chevy dealer for the 2011 Malibu to have them take a look.  And, like in any Alabama town, there is a whole lot of traffic at all hours.  Had to be real careful with the brakes to say the least.

Liz looked down a side street and saw a Chevrolet sign so we went back.  Parked outside the service department and explained what was wrong.  They were getting ready to close in 20 minutes, but took the car in and examined the brakes.  One front one was really bad and the other about ready to go.

--RoadDog

Another Gas Station in DeKalb in 1917

From the May 3, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Sawyer & Son of DeKalb have made arrangements with the Standard Oil Company where they will install a filling station there at once and be able to take care of all wants along that line.

"It is said that the filling stations up and down the Lincoln Highway from coast to coast will endeavor to cater to motorists in a tip top manner."

--RoadDog

PCB 2017: Through Indiana

We crossed the Ohio River at Henderson and now ere in Evansville, a city that sure has a lot of stoplights on its stretch of US-41.  And they continue way north to the I-64 interchange.  This is a town (along with Terre Haute) which could really use a bypass.  But, one of these days I would like to spend some time looking at things around town.

But, once through the Evansville area, it is clear cruising, other than an occasional stoplight the whole way (except, of course, Terre Haute) until we got off at I-74.  I had hoped to get gas in Terre Haute, home of Indiana State University, but it was $2.34 to $2.36, a bit higher than what we had been paying.  We were getting mighty low on gas by the time we got to I-74.

--RiadDog

Gasoline Goodies: Downtown Pilot Mountain, N.C.

From the October 2015 Our State Magazine by Susan Stafford.

A 6,400 square foot museum in downtown Pilot Mountain, North Carolina features one man's passion for everything petroleum.

Pilot Mountain is just south of Mt. Airy, N.C., which served as the basis for Andy Griffith's Mayberry.  They would often go over to Mount Pilot on the show.  Pilot Mountain is named for a very interesting mountain as well.

Some really great photos accompany the article as well.

This is the collection of Thornton Beroth, whose father was the Amoco distributor in nearby Winston-Salem. and also had the Amoco-branded Four brothers Food Stores.

The Pilot collection is one of te largest if not THE largest petroleum collections in the country.

Maybe If You Go You Might See Good Ol' Barn and Andy Come Over From Mayberry.  --RoadDog

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

JANUARY 13, 2017

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

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

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

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

--RoadDog

N.C. January 2017-- Part 3: Gas and Indianapolis Rush Hour

JANUARY 12, 2017

Listened to the usual Illinois radio stations while cruising.  That would be METV-FM (oldies) until Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten (1973) began on WDRV, then WJEZ in Pontiac (classic oldies) and WGCY in Gibson City (beautiful music).  Then I found a classic country station out of Champaign.  I like a variety when traveling.

The temperature never got above 32 degrees until I got to I-74, near Champaign, Illinois.  Nicest thing about that was that there was no longer all that slop from melting ice the trucks were putting onto the windshield.

Gas at the usual Crawfordsville, Indiana, stop was $2.25, but I did see it at $1.96 at one place east on Indianapolis.  Usually gas stood at around $2.20 most of the trip.

Leaving home as late as I did, plus losing the hour going into the Eastern Time Zone meant I would be hitting the Indianapolis rush hour right at its peak, but, I went right through.  there was heavy traffic, but now stopping.  As a matter of fact, I found that if I went the 50-55 speed limit, I'd get run over.

--RoadDog

An Unexpected Trip to North Carolina-- Part 2: No Porkchop Sandwiches for Us

June 19th.  We stopped in Mt. Airy, N.C., on our way home this past Sunday.  Unfortunately, Snappy Lunch (and those great porkchop sandwiches) was closed on Sundays.  We did enjoy walking around the main street and looking at all the Mayberry (Mt. Airy served as its inspiration as this was where Andy Griffith grew up).  This town knows how to cash in on the ongoing popularity of this timeless TV show.

Gas at Wytheville (still $2.04) and more traffic going from there through West Virginia than usual.

We got a room at the Clarion in Englewood, Ohio, and went to Bolt's to watch the final NBA game.  Everyone in there was pulling for Cleveland for some reason.  We noticed a BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) across the street and went there to play some NTN and watch the game.

This place was packed and really loud with most everyone cheering for the Cavaliers.  We saw the end of the game at the Clarion bar.

We were pulling for Golden State, but it is always good when a Midwest team wins it all.  We are not LeBron fans and I was surprised that the Cavalier fans accepted him back after that Miami stunt he pulled.

--RoadDog

Sitting Here At the Munger-Moss Motel-- Part 10: Saying Goodbye to Ramona and Hello to Chester's Chicken

APRIL 25, MONDAY

**  Had coffee and talked with Ramona in the lobby of the Munger-Moss.  Caught up on my blogs and then left, saying goodbye to Ramona.  Again congratulated her on owning the Munger-Moss for 45 years.  that is a long time to do anything.

**  She says they would like to retire, but will not sell to just anybody.  The people have to be committed to continuing the motel as it is.

**  They bought the place in 1971, after a particularly hard winter in their native Iowa.

**  We drove Route 66 awhile going east, but got back on I-44, getting off at Exit 163 to get gas at the Road Ranger which I had seen was $1.86.  Filled up.

**  I saw that they had a Subway and, even better, a Chester's Chicken place.  We became hooked on Chester's fried chicken at a little place across from the Driftwood Inn in Panama City Beach, Florida, that sold it.  Unfortunately, they stopped selling it.

It is my belief that Chester's fried chicken is the juiciest and tastiest anywhere.  We had to get a two-piece snack pack and it sure brought back some taste memories.

Mouthwatering Good.  --RoadDog

N.C. for T-Giving 2015-- Part 18: Home Finally

December 4, 2015.  Friday

Finally got home after driving 379.4 miles today.  Overall, I drove 2073 miles on the trip.

I got gas 9 times and spent $122.77, a lot less than pent in recent years.

--RoadDog

N.C. for T-Giving 2015-- Part 15: Homeward Bound

Friday, December 4, 2015.

Weather reports have heavy fog here in Richmond and in Indianapolis as well as 29 degree temps so there will be ice in spots.

People are still in shock over the 14 murders in California this past Wednesday.

Picked up a Christmas station at 92.9 FM out of Dayton, Ohio.  I like to get occasional shots of Christmas music this time of year and actively seek out such stations.

A really foggy drive through all of Indiana  Clear sailing through Indianapolis.  Drove by the Lucas Oil Stadium where they will be having the Big Ten Championship game tomorrow between Michigan State and Iowa.  I like both teams, but the Hawkeyes a bit more so will be pulling for them.  I imagine they will be having a lot more fans than we will in the MAC Championship game in Detroit.

Passed the Beef House at Exit 4 in Indiana on I-70.  I really want to stop there to eat sometime.  They claim to be the best beef in the state as well as rolls to rival those at Lambert's Cafe according to them, but not "throwed."

Gas prices around $1.90 through Indiana, so decided to drive on through to Mahomet, Illinois, near Champaign.

Fog continued into Illinois.  Visibility all day was generally ok, except for a few stretches.

--RoadDog

N.C. for T-Giving 2015-- Part 13: "There's a Tear In My Beer"

Leaving Mt. Airy, WBRF Classic Country in Galax, Virginia, was playing one of my favorite songs, the Hank Williams and Hank Williams, Jr. song "There's a Tear in My Beer."  It doesn't get much better country than this song.

Passed over the Eng and Chang Bridge, named after the famous pre-Civil War Siamese twins featured by P.T. Barnum, who retired and raised families in Mt. Airy and whose sons fought for the Confederacy.

Shortly after getting onto I-77, a big red pickup truck passed me like I was standing still.  I had a big smile on my face a short while later to see him pulled over by a state trooper.

Kind of strange, but there were nothing but trucks going up the long grade into Virginia.  Usually there are at least some cars among them.

Listening to the Jason Blevins show on WBRF.  Stopped for gas at Wytheville and it had gone up 3 cents to $1.89 since I last went through there eight days earlier.

--RoadDog

N.C. for T-Giving 2015-- Part 8: Traffic, Traffic and More Traffic

November 25, 2015, Wednesday.

Traffic on the West Virginia Turnpike got heavier the further south I went, but at least there wasn't a backup at the last two toll areas ($2 each).  Upon entering Virginia, I made my usual stop at the Virginia Welcome Center for my Virginia peanut fix.  They have small samples of the best peanuts I've ever tasted.  The people there said the company does sell the peanuts at a couple places along I-77, but they don't at the welcome center.  They really should sell the peanuts at the center.

Traffic got heavier through the Virginia stretch.  Stopped at Wytheville, always the cheapest gas on the trip to North Carolina.  However, this time it was $1.86 and I had bought gas in Indiana for $1.66 yesterday.  But, of course, this was before the gouge this morning.  Still, I'm not complaining.  Gas below $2 is sure nice these days.

Of course, I tuned in to WBRF, Classic Country at 98.1 FM in Galax, Virginia, as soon as I got into range.  They play oldies country music and is a favorite station of mine.  I kept it on from about twenty miles in West Virginia to about Greensboro, N.C..

I usually stop for a bite to eat in Mt. Airy, N.C., but not this time.  I was now off I-77 and on US-52 heading to Winston-Salem.  Passed by the unique Pilot Mountain  (fictional town of Mount Pilot in the Andy Griffith Show).  I did notice that traffic continued to get heavier the closer I got to Winston-Salem (home of Wake Forest University).

--RoadDog