Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer 2014 Trip-- Part 13; Arrive Goldsboro

July 22, 2014.

Left early and drove 645.1 miles today.   Sadly, too early for the 10 a.m. openings of the Skyline Chili places, but did have a delicious sausage sandwich at Dogwood Crossing in Rockbridge, Ohio, southeast of Columbus on US-33.

Outside of Athens, Ohio, I picked up a station playing some great music at 104.1, WNKU, a public radio station with a good reach as I was quite a distance away at the time.  I bet I can get it most of the way I take through Ohio on I-70 and US-33.  I'll keep this in mind next trip.

Got gas and found they had Uglys at the Hess station in Wytheville, Virginia.  Perhaps all Hess stations have Uglys.  I'll have to check.

Real big back up of traffic south of Wytheville.

Stopped at a Lexington (N.C.) barbecue place in Mt. Airy, N.C. as Snappy Lunch was already closed (at 1:45 p.m..  Good Western Carolina-style 'cue.

Enjoyed listening to the Seventies at Seven on Raleigh's 102.9 FM

No major traffic slow-downs or stops on I-40, even through the Durham/Raleigh I-40 horror.  I was a bit behind rush hour, though.  Arrived Goldsboro at 8:30.  Today, I drove 645.1 miles and the trip odometer showed 1038.8 miles.  MPG was 32.6.

--RoadDog

Dancing At the Munger-Moss on 66

Well, not actually, but "Dancing Songs" were playing.

This past June (June 11th), it was a rainy, drizzly day at the Munger-Moss Motel on Route 66 in Lebanon, Missouri.  I was catching up on my blogs and for the first time listened to one of Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten radio shows on WDRV, the Drive,  in Chicago, via the internet.

Usually the ten at ten shows feature ten songs from a particular year, but every couple weeks Stroud does his show on a theme.  Dancing at the MuMo:

DANCING IN THE STREETS--  Van Halen
DANCING IN THE DARK--  Bruce Springsteen
DANCING DAYS--  Led Zeppelin

DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT--  King Harvest
DANCING FOOL--  Frank Zappa
ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE--  Don Henley
LET'S DANCE--  David Bowie

FOOTLOOSE--  Kenny Loggins
DANCE WITH ME--  Orleans
I CAN'T DANCE--  Genesis

And, Speaking of Dancing, Stroud Could Have Played "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins And We All Could Have Dome the Groundhog Dance.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer Trip-- Part 12: Gettin' Gas

I always find it interesting to note gas prices in different places during my trips.  I round up, so $3.45.9 would be $3.46.  Here are the gas prices I paid:

July 21st: Crawfordsville, Ind. $3.46
July 22nd: Rockbridge, Ohio $3.50
July 22nd: Wytheville, Virginia $3.20

July 24th:  Goldsboro, N.C. $$3.40

July 31st:  Wytheville, Virginia $3.14
July 31st: Rockbridge, Ohio  $3.55
August 1st:  Crawfordsville, Indiana $3.44
August 1st:  Dwight, Illinois $$3.40

Of interest, Crawfordsville, Indiana, had dropped two cents.  Rockbridge, Ohio, had gotten five cents more expensive and Wytheville, Virginia, had dropped six cents.

Wytheville is always the cheapest gas on the trip and a definite stop (plus, now I know they have those Uglys!!).

Eating Uglys and Getting Gas.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer Trip: Gas, Lew and Richmond

No further getting lost as i continued south on Illinois-47 to Mahomet where I got on I-74 past Champaign-Urbana, University of Illinois, and Danville and on into Indiana.  As usual, stopped at the Pilot station east of Crawfordsville and filled up with gas at $3.46 ($3.45.9).

I noticed a sign at the exit for it, 39, for the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum which is located somewhere in the area.  I believe this to be for the Civil War General Lew Wallace and since I have a big interest in this war, I'll have to find out about it.

Stopped at Exit 66 by Brownsburg, Indiana, outside of Indianapolis and had my Slider Attack at White Castle while waiting for the rush hour to die down.  Straight through cruise through Indianapolis to I-70 and then east to the Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana, right on the Ohio border, where I spent the night.

Drove around and enjoyed talking with some folks at the Buffalo Wings and Rings.  There were even folks who knew what my "Fear the Feathers" tee shirt was all about.

My Motel 6 room, which cost $52, also included a jacuzzi.  Wow!!

I drove 393.7 miles today and my MPG now was at 30.0.

--RoadDog

Road CDs: "Bouncing Ball Boogie" and "Scrub Me Mama, With a Boogie Beat"

As I said, when I cruise down the road, I alternate between radio and CDs.  I like to bring several CDs along with me that I haven't listened to before to familiarize myself with them and, hopefully, imprint a tune or two as songs that remind me of the trip.  And there are several that qualify in that category for this past North Carolina trip.

Some of them are "Scrub Me Mama, With a Boogie Beat" by Will Bradley and Ray McKinley; "Boogie Woogie" by Tommy Dorsey; "Bouncing Ball Boogie" by Sugar Chile Robinson.

Elton John's "Madman Across the Water" gave me "Razor Face" and "Holiday Inn."

--RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, Summer N.C. Trip-- Part 10: On Route 66

Whenever at a Route 66 place, I sign the guestbook and then look at the countries from which others have signed it.  In the last several days (before July 21st) visitors from Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and Switzerland had signed it.  They also had 11 signatures from a group touring from Norway.

I usually get back on Ilinois-47 in Dwight, but decided to take a ride on Route 66 the ten miles to Odell to stop at the Odell Standard station.  Nothing like a drive, albeit short one, on Route 66.

Once at the station, I signed the guestbook and then asked the best way to get back to Il-47 from there.  I was given instructions and drove through town, out past the park and ball fields and then got on a road.  I've often seen a sign on Il-47 with an arrow showing to Odell and wanted to drive that road.

Somehow, I didn't make that road and ended up out on Illinoisl-116, which I knew went between Pontiac and Suaneman (and 47 passed by the west end of the latter, so went east and got myself back to Il-47 and proceeded on my way.

Gas in Sauneman was $3.56.

--RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer Trip-- Part 9: Getting a Little Route 66

Made my usual stop at the new Ambler-Becker station with the Route 66 Burger King in Dwight, to get a bite to eat and something to drink.  I don't think the Ambler-Becker folks own it anymore, but they do have a fair amount of Route 66 souvenirs.

Gas in Dwight was $3.34.

Often on my way to North Carolina, I stop at the old Ambler-Becker station which has been restored and now serves as a Dwight Route 66 Welcome Center.  I always enjoy looking at the many pins marking where people come from who visit on their world and U.S. maps.

The European countries are full of pins.

There is always a friendly person or two who are welcoming visitors and giving information.  The woman was originally from Bloomington-Normal and agrees with me that these towns do very little to promote their Route 66 heritage.  She remembers going to the original Steak 'N Shake and said she lived near the gas station someone is attempting to restore there.

Getting My Route 66 Fix.  ----RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, Summer N.C. Trip-- Part 8: Hardee's Coming to Northern Illinois

There is now a Hardee's open in Yorkville in that mecca of road mess they have going on this summer.  I also saw that one has opened in Round Lake Beach.  I saw another one at the Love's gas station at the Dwight, Illinoism exit on I-55.  They are obviously coming to the area now.

And, I am glad to hear that.  They sure have great breakfasts and I'm also fond of their Thickburgers and hot dogs.  And, on our way back from the drive south of the Cape Fear River near Shallotte, N.C., on July28th, we stopped to eat at a Hardee's and they had a gospel/country band playing inside.  Something you don't expect to get along with your burgers.

They had been in northern Illinois, but pulled out for some reason.

When we lived in Greenville, N.C. when I was a child, Dad knew the man who started the chain and had an opportunity to get in on the ground floor, but turned it down.  Had he taken the position, I probably would have remained in North Carolina and never moved north.

Had Dad become the owner of several Hardee's, I probably would have worked for him.

Funny How Things Sometimes Don't Work Out.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead-- Part 7: Road Music

Besides the radio stations, I also brought along several CDs to listen to, especially in the mornings when so many stations do almost all yap.

TURN BLUE--  Black Keys
ROCK 'N' ROLL:  THE EARLY YEARS PART 2
KINDA KINKS--  Kinks
GOING HOME (LIVE)--  Blasters
UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX--  Bruno Mars

These were "hitchhiker" CDs that already were in the 2011 Malibu.

MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER--  Elton John
GREATEST HITS--  Joe Nichols

--RoadDog

Road Work Ahead, NC Summer Trip-- Part 6: Gas and Radio

Left Spring Grove, Illinois, at 10 AM, July 21st with the odometer reading 28,405 miles and 28.5 miles per gallon.  Set trip odometers to zero.

Gas in Fox Lake, earlier in the morning was $3.56 and $3.72 in Woodstock.  I was shocked to see Starks Corner, at Il-47, Il-72 and US-20 at "just" $3.60.  It is usually one of the most expensive places on my drive along Il-47.

Yorkville gas was at $3.34!!  And I hate Big Oil for making me think that is "Cheap" gas.

All along the whole trip today, the roadsides were ablaze with lots of color from what most regard as weeds.  The whites were Queen Anne's lace and I'm not sure what the blues and yellows were.

Listened to Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten until nearly 11 AM (see my August 2nd entry for the songs) and then tunes into 103.1 FM, WJEZ, broadcasting classic oldies out of Pontiac, Illinois, right on Route 66.  However, it was talk radio now and had different call letters.  I started looking for another station and found WJEZ now broadcasting at 98.9 FM, so listened to it while in range.  What I like about them is that they have deejays and not just canned music like so many stations now have.

Give Me Those Oldies.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead: NC Summer trip-- Part 5: Stockpiling Goodies

When I visit North Carolina, I like to stock up on items that I can't get here in Illinois.

Of course, those great Ugly pastries are high on my list.  I now know two stations in Wytheville, Virginia, that sell them and one in Hillsborough, NC.  I bought eight of them of various flavors.

Of course, too, I had to get my two-liter bottles of Diet Cheerwine pop and I got three of them.

I was surprised to see that our local Jewel grocery store in Spring Grove sells the individual packets of grits, but just in the regular flavor.  I bought there boxes of them in various flavors.

Add to my list of booty, one jar of Paul's Famous hot dog sauce and there jars of Chow-Chow relish.

Lastly, I bought one bottle of Bulls-Eye Carolina bbq sauce, even though it is the South Carolina mustard based stuff; still good though.

It is no longer necessary to stock up on varieties of Mt. Olive pickles as they sell them all over the country now.

Stocking Up and Eating Right.  --RoadDog

Take Your Trip Back to 1974

It will be a road trip of another sort.  Since we don't have time machines yet, you can go back 40 years to the summer of 1974 for those of us who remember it.  I was 23 at the time.

This Sunday, Bob Stroud will host part 3 of his annual trip back to summer 40 years ago on WDRV, 97.1 FM in Chicago from 7 to 10 AM CDST.  And, it streams.  Lots of songs, lots of memories.

He also has his Ten at Ten during the week at 10 AM and rebroadcast at 10 PM.  Great songs and events from those years.

MONDAY: 1979
TUESDAY:  1969
WEDNESDAY:  1982
THURSDAY: Cover Songs
FRIDAY:  1976

Taking Me Back.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead-- Part 4: NC Summer 2014 Trip: Ten at Ten 1974

I had gathered some CDs to listen to along the way, but, of course, there were my usual radio stations.

Even better, since I was leaving at 10 AM, WDRV had their Ten at Ten, so listened to that on their two stations: 96.9 WDDV in north Chicagoland and 97.1 FM toward the south.

Bob Stroud hosted it at the beginning of his shift, saying it "was a fascinating year musically and politically as well with the culmination of everything that was rolling in the nation with President Richard Nixon.  It seemed like the eyes and ears were pressed to the radio, TV and newspapers all year long.

Here are the ten songs:

PURE AND EASY--  Who  The group put out a long-player called Odds and Sods, comprised of songs never put on vinyl from their catalog.
RADAR LOVE--  Golden Earring  Dutch band who'd been around a number of years but we weren't hip to them until this song.
ANOTHER PARK, ANOTHER SUNDAY--  Doobie Brothers  From What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.

IF YOU CAN'T ROCK ME--  Rolling Stones  From their new album, It's Only Rock and Roll.
SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks  Canadian who was once a member of the Poppy Family in the late 60s, early 70s who had a couple hits stateside.
BLOODY WELL RIGHT--  Supertramp  From their new release Crime of the Century.
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL--  Grand Funk Railroad  Covering an old, kind of obscure R&B tune from their album All of the Girls in the World Beware.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH--  Bad Company  Their debut, self-titled album out in the summer.  (The group I always get confused with Foreigner.)
THE AIR THAT I BREATHE--  Hollies  Great delivery from Allen Clarke.
ALREADY GONE--  Eagles--  From their album #3, On the Border  (Until I got into Route 66, my favorite Eagles song.  Now, of course, it is "Take It Easy" for some reason.

Great Music to Start of Long Drive.  --RoadDog

Road Work Ahead-- Part 3: NC Trip Summer 2014

Took the same route back home the last two days.  And, surprisingly, all that road work was still there.  I was kind of hoping that they'd be finished.  

I'd estimate that a good 10-15 percent of all road mileage  were under construction.  Talked with others who agreed that there sure was a lot of roadwork out there.  One guy said he was sure all this work was out there so that Democrats would get the vote of road construction guys in the November elections.

From Goldsboro, I took US-70, I-40, US-52, I-77, US-33, I-270 around Columbus, Ohio, I-70, I-465 around Indianapolis, I-74, Il-47 and Il-120 to Spring Grove.

Drove 650 miles on Thursday and the last 400 yesterday.

All That Road Work.  --RoadDog

20 Roads You Should Drive-- Part 2

11.  Hana Highway--  Hawaii
12.  North Yungas Road--  Bolivia
13.  Col de I'lseran--  France
14.  Chapman's Peak Drive--  South Africa
15.  Rolitang Pass--  India

16.  Atlantic Road--  Norway
17.  Interstate 70--  Utah  (I'd also add western Colorado.  For those of you who have something against superslabs, drive this or the West Virginia Turnpike (I-77).)
18.  Karakorum Highway--  Connects Pakistan and China.
19.  Milford Road--  New Zealand
20.  Valley of Fire Road--  Nevada--  144 miles of red sandstone.

Driving 'Em?  --RoadDog