Songs for Cruising Down the Road-- Part 2

Hour 2 Rock and Roll Roots Used Car Lot from May 30th.

HELEN WHEELS-- Wings
THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR-- Paul McCartney
LOW RIDER-- War
HITCHIN' A RIDE-- Vanity Fare
GASOLINE ALLEY-- Rod Stewart

A GALLON OF GAS-- Kinks
TAKE THE HIGHWAY-- Marshall Tucker Band
CHEVY VAN-- Sammy Johns
VEHICLE-- Ides of March
MUSTANG SALLY-- Wilson Pickett
JAMES DEAN-- Eagles

A Cruisin' I Do Go-- RoadDog

Songs for Cruising Down the Road-- Part 1

Bob Stroud of Chicago's WDRV FM, 97.1 and 96.9, does a weekly Rock and Roll Roots show from 7 to 10 am on Sunday. These songs are from the 60s, 70s and now 80s (I'm still not sure about the inclusion of the last decade, but will see.

This show streams live at www.wdrv.com and is three hours well-spent. He is a walking encyclopedia.

His May 30th show was Rock and Roll Roots Used Car Lot, featuring songs about cars. You just can't do much old road cruising without some sort of a vehicle. This would be a good group of tracks to hit the pavement with.

RADAR LOVE-- Golden Earring
SHUT DOWN-- Beach Boys
ROLL ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY-- Baby Driver
MERCEDES BENZ-- Janis Joplin
SS 396-- Paul Revere & the Raiders (a song you could only get from your local Chevy dealer for some reason.)

SWEET HITCHHIKER-- CCR
ROAD RUNNER-- Jr. Walker & the All Stars
ROUTE 66-- Rolling Stones (where else ya' gonna get yer kicks?)
MERCURY BLUES-- Steve Miller band
ON THE ROAD AGAIN-- Canned Heat

NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO-- Chuck Berry
LAKE SHORE DRIVE-- Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah

And this was just the first hour. He also gives comments about each as well.

All this occurs on the corner of Spark and Plug. Of course, he also played the old commercial "See the USA in Your _____." Let's see how many oldsters we have.

His comments and mine are at my other blog: http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com.

2010 Lincoln Highway Association Conference-- Day 1-- Part 4

A LINCOLN HIGHWAY LOVE STORY

I should mention Bernie Queneau and Esther's marriage was a Lincoln Highway Affair of sorts. All these years, he didn't really think all that much of his cross country trip as anything too extraordinary until the LHA contacted him several years back and invited him to a conference.

Esther was more or less put in charge of taking care of him (as he was quite old even then and looking after his wife who was dying at the time). He was invited back a while later and his wife had died and love blossomed so this is a real Lincoln Highway thing. What a story.

We didn't ask, but Bernie has to be at least in his nineties and getting around great and sharp as a tack. Esther is about 12 years younger. This is quite a couple!!


BOY SCOUTING: THE YOUNG AND OLD OF IT

A young boy by the name of Brian Cassler came over and talked to Bernie. Brian has just gotten his Boy Scout Eagle ranking, the highest you can get in the organization.

That would be a great pairing just at that, but, on top it, Brian's project to get the Eagle Scout was to clean, stack and arrange for several thousand bricks from the original Lincoln Highway in Canton, Ohio, to Kearney, Nebraska, where it will be placed in a recreation of the Lincoln Highway at the Great Platte River Road Arch over I-80. Hopefully they will be in place for the 2013 Lincoln Highway Association's National Conference which will be the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway which was started in 1913.

Brian is probably 15 or 16, and for him to do what he did is amazing, even if he has been a part of the Lincoln Highway his whole life as his father Jim runs the Lincoln Highway Trading Post. And, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts.

And, the Story's Not Over. I Got Some Interesting Information from Bernie. --RoadDog

2010 Lincoln Highway Conference-- Day 1-- Part 3

Back to the Super 8 and switched to the Dakota and drove the short distance on Galena Avenue (part of which is the LH) and under the famous arch, to the Loveland Community Center on Second Avenue. It is an old structure itself, having been built in the 1930s. There is a beautiful old stone railroad overpass a block down the street (one of two in town).


THE WET NOTES

I generally take notes to battle my CRS (Can't Remember Stuff, Right). I can't blame it on age, as I've always had it. One of the reasons I keep a journal as well. I took notes of the welcome banquet, but somehow, back at the motel later, they fell onto the ground by the truck and we had a torrential downpour early on the 23rd and they got quite wet. Unfortunately, the ink kind of bled straight through so I am doing the best I can drawing on the old severely limited memory and carefully deciphering what I can with the notebook. Oh, yes, in addition, my handwriting is often sort of undecipherable as well.


REAL LINCOLN HIGHWAY ROYALTY

Denny and I got a table near the front (I'm not at school any more so can sit near the front) and were joined by Bernie Queneau and his lovely wife. Back in 1928, he was one of four Boy Scouts to tour the Lincoln Highway in the summer before all the markers were erected by the Scouts. His wife, Esther, was the former president of the Lincoln Highway Association.

As if that was not enough, then none other than author and primo Lincoln Highway Guy Brian Butko joined us. I tell you, I am simply not worthy to be among such folks. "Wayne's World, Wayne's World."

Closing Out Now. --RoadDog

2010 Lincoln Highway Association Conference-- Day 1-- Part 2

A FORTUNATE "LOSS"

I almost had a really big problem when I left the room. I have both an outdoor and indoor opening door. We left from the outdoor one which I was sure I had shut. Once in Denny's Corvette, he couldn't find his flash drive and looked all over. He had come into my room to throw some stuff away from the car and remembered having it in his hand. I suggested perhaps he had accidentally thrown it out with the other stuff, so went back and checked. The door wasn't closed (it sticks so you have to pull extra hard). Good thing Denny had "lost" that flash drive. And, the drive was in the garbage.


DILLON HOUSE

Actually, the conference materials called for a visit to the Manahan House in Sterling (where Abraham Lincoln once spent a night in 1856), but we weren't paying much attention and ended up at the Dillon House which was built in 1858 and at one time owned by Washington Dillon, co-owner of the Northwestern Barb Wire Company which eventually became the city's biggest employer, the Northwestern Steel & Wire Company.

After some difficulty parking, we walked through the grounds which have a huge old steam locomotive No. 73, one of the last of its kind.

The house is on five landscaped acres and is of the Italianate architecture which was so popular throughout the country back in that era. It costs $2.50 for a one hour tour, but we were able to hold onto our money as the last tour had already been given (even though the docent would have given us a tour. Like old Arnold likes to say, I'll be back).


MANY, MANY WORKERS

Drove back east along the old Lincoln Highway to the new BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) and went in to play good 'ol NTN. All BW3s have the game. I have never seen so many people working there. We were at shift change and in addition, they had "seasoned" employees from other BW3s showing the ropes. Our bartender was a girl from Macomb, Illinois (probably a hundred miles away and home of Western Illinois University).

Played a couple games and then had to get back for the banquet and opening events of the conference.

Never Seen That Many BW3 Workers. --RoadDog

2010 Lincoln Highway Conference-- Day 1

Took the usual Il-47, but turned on Il-176 and went to Marengo and then south on Il-23 to Il-72 and then on to Genoa and Kingston. That Genoa downtown is right out of the picture books although road construction is making it too pleasant at this time.

Continued on Il-72 through Stillman Valley where I saw the Blackhawk War monument. At Byron, I continued straight where 72 turned off and saw some great scenes as I drove along the bank of the Rock River. I'm not sure of the name of this road, but in Oregon, got on Il-2 and took that to Dixon where the conference is taking place.

Listened to the Fratellis and Chesterfield Kings the whole way.

Liz and I will have to do this drive later this summer. Some mighty beautiful countryside.

Checked into the Super 8, registered next door at the Comfort Inn, and got together with Denny G, or Genry as listed on his id badge. we drove to Sterling, about ten miles away and walked around the grounds of the Dillon House and played NTN at a new BW3 that just opened Sunday.

Pretty Tired from Today's Bus Tour and Storms So Will Continue Tomorrow. --RoadDog

Getting My Cruisin' Tunes Ready

I listened to these three CDs on the Route 66 trip two weeks ago, but am bringing them along to "really" hear them (aka cranked) on the Dakota's stereo system. It's a great truck, but that stereo is the best motorized one I've ever had. It has the POWER!!!

I bought all three of these on the trip.


THE MINDBENDING SOUNDS OF THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS-- I've already bought one CD, now a second. If you like 1960s garage rock and psychedelia, this is the one for you. And, who says rock is dead. The cover looks like 60s flower power with the Shadows of Knight and Byrds.

UP ON THE RIDGE-- DIERKS BENTLEY-- Old timey country music with Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson sitting in for two songs.

COSTELLO MUSIC-- FRATELLIS-- a newer group, but as good of pop as you can get. Of course, we bought it for the song "Chelsea Dagger" which was so closely associated with the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks, but the rest of the songs are good as well, especially "Henrietta," "Flathead," "The Gutterati" and "For the Girl."

And, speaking of cruising and car music, May 31st, Bob Stroud did his annual Used Car Lot Rock and Roll Roots show about our car culture. I have been listing the songs, his comments and my own at my Down Da Road I Go Blog for June.

http://downdaroadigo.blogspot.com.

Good Stuff Maynard. --RoadDog

No Seneca LST Days for Me

I was a bit disappointed Saturday when I wasn't able to get to go to Seneca, Illinois, a little over two hours from here along the Illinois River. They were having their annual LST (Landing Ship Tank) Festival. I'd never heard of it before until I read about it in the Chicago Tribune Travel Section three weeks ago.

I have recently gotten interested in LSTs since visiting the one in Evansville, Indiana, in March. These were the ships you often see in WW II clips and movies, up on the beach with bows open and tanks and other vehicle rolling out. Definitely a backbone of our war effort.

For some reason, these ships were never given names, just called by their numbers which ran according to their overall launch.

During World War II, the Seneca Shipyard launched 157 LSTs from 1941-1945. The first one was LST-197, completed December 13, 1942 and last LST-1152 June 18, 1945. LSTs were made at several shipyards across the United States, including one at Evansville (but the one there now wasn't).

Later this summer, we will take a mini-cruise for several days to include Seneca where I will find whatever information I can about LST construction there. They have a LST Park.

We will also do a drive along the Illinois River and IM Canal.

Getting My LST Going. --RoadDog

Getting Ready for the Lincoln Highway

Tomorrow, I leave for Dixon, Illinois, for the annual Lincoln Highway Association National Conference running from Tuesday to Saturday an am also signed up for the post-conference tour of the Route 66/Dixie Highway/Lincoln Highway leaving from Joliet.

We just got back from the Route 66 Association of Illinois Annual Motor Tour June 13th and had considered going to the Route 66 Tri-State Festival this past weekend.

This will take me through my "Road Fix" for awhile.

Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly taken up with bus trips east and west along the Lincoln Highway from Dixon. Friday there are symposiums and talks and then the general meeting on Saturday before leaving in the afternoon.

I also plan on going to three more NTN Buzztime sites, one each in Sycamore, Sterling and Mt. Morris.

On the Road Again. --RoadDog

A Bus Trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field-- Part 7

Back to Tax Day, April 15th, and our bus trip from Sequoit Lodge in Antioch, Illinois, to the world famous home of the Chicago Losers--err, Cubs.

They now have cupholders to place your overpriced drinks in. In the past, I have many times forgotten and kicked over a perfectly good beer or pop.

The rooftops out right field way were quite full compared to the ones on our side. Only three left field rooftops had people (and not many) with several completely empty and apparently closed.

Waveland Avenue by the ballpark was closed off for buses.

Two guys were playing catch and keeping an eye out during batting practice. They would switch over to the right field side when a left-hander came up.

There were lots and lots of school-age kids at the ballpark, both with parents and groups. Must be a nice way to spend a day at school. We would have gotten in trouble back when we were at school.

Still Not Finished, But Hopefully Some Day. --RoadDog

NTN Buzztime Cruisin'-- Part 4

We went to our last two trip NTN sites on June 11th after driving Route 66 from Lebanon to Pacific, Missouri. After registering and getting our material packets, we drove on to our Super 8 in Fenton, checked in and drove north to the Brunswick Zone, a bowling alley in Valley Park, a suburb north of I-44.

BRUNSWICK ZONE-- VALLEY PARK

It is a huge bowling alley with at least 24 lanes. The game was not on when we entered, but the bartender was happy to put it on for us. Obviously, we were the only ones playing. They have just gotten the game.


BW3-- FENTON

Then we drove back the 4 miles and another 4 miles south of I-44 to the BW3, Buffalo Wild Wings, in Fenton, located in a big shopping area atop a bluff and with an interesting waterfall.

There were a couple other players, but as usual in a BW3, no one talked to us.

So, this gave us 8 new NTN sites for the trip.

We could have played at the new Hooters in Springfield, Illinois, but we were on the Route 66 Motor Tour and just had time enough to slide by an old bar that has just reopened as Scooters.

Spending WAY TOO Much Time Playing This Dumb Game. --RoadDog

Sad Scenes from the Riviera-- Part 3

This morning, I read in the Yahoo Route 66 e-mail group that it is believed that the Riviera letters have been removed from the one part of the building that was saved.

That is just one final slap-in-the-face for us 66ers if that is true. I was definitely hoping the letters would end up in some place, preferably the Museum and Hall of Fame in Pontiac, so that we would have our memories.

The person who reported it had heard it was gone, but had not confirmed it. So, let's hope he heard wrong.

If they are indeed gone, perhaps some other part of the historic place might be saved like the clothesline used to send orders up to the kitchen or dumb-waiter that brought them down (supposedly weighed down by a World War II shell). And, at least one of the two "thrones" must have survived.

We Need Something to Remember Her By. --RoadDog

Sad Scenes from the Riviera-- Part 2

Saying goodbye, sadly, to a great Route 66 site.

Here's hoping that at least the letters, or even better, the whole section that remains standing of the old Riviera will be saved. A great place for it would be at the Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame in Pontiac.

We need to preserve at least some part of it, both for those of us who were there and those 66ers who will never have the opportunity.


A FLOOD AT POPS

On an unrelated incident, I read that Pop's in Arcadia, Oklahoma, temporarily became an island thanks to all the massive rain that has hit the state of late. Perhaps they will secede and form their own country. "I pledge allegiance to the pop for which I drink. And should I have to swin for it, so be it."

Sounds Like a Good a Good Job for the Illinois Preservation Committee, Right, John W.. --RoadDog

Sad Scenes from the Riviera

I had heard the Riviera in Gardner was was a complete loss. Liz and I had seriously considered going by the ruins Sunday to look at them and film, but it was a bit out of the way, so took our leave of Route 66 in Dwight going up Illinois Highway 47.

I'm glad we didn't go by the Riviera. Ron Warnick, in his Route 66 News Blog, had a video taken by a couple, and the devastation is complete. After a fire, there is always the hope that the damage can be repaired and the place rebuilt, but obviously that is not going to happen after viewing the video.

We'll just have our memories now.

However, I was glad to see the old streetcar diner in the back of the place looks unscathed and the president of the Route 66 Association of Illinois said it will be moved to a place in Gardner so we can look forward to that.

I have not heard anything about the Riviera's most recent owner. I did hear that he might have left after the fire, but that was just hearsay.

Another reason to see them while you can. You never know when they'll be gone.

A Sad Time at the Old Riviera. Route 66 Lost a Great Place. --RoadDog

NTN Buzztime Cruising-- Part 3

Once we had arrived in the Lake of the Ozarks area and gotten a room at the Shawnee Bluff Motel (after we had stopped at a nearby bar to make sure they could get the Blackhawks Stanley Cup game since we weren't in the Chicago area), we went looking for the two new NTN sites (actually the only two) in the area.


CHICAGO BROTHERS-- OSAGE BEACH, MISSOURI

Liz had miscalculated the distance to the first one, Chicago Brothers, and what we thought was four miles ended up over nine. Once there, we recognized it as a former Risky's which used to be a chain of pizza places in the area that all had NTN.

Big surprise, we were the only ones playing. Wednesdays they have 35 cent wings and $5 Coors Light pitchers. Mondays they have a trivia contest with prizes. There are nearby motels within walking distance. With a name like Chicago Brothers, they had several folks in the place with Blackhawk jerseys. Not many players with 8,099 as top score in Countdown for month. Not a good sign.


JJ TWIGGS-- LAKE OZARK, MISSOURI

Drove the nine miles back to the motel, then another two to the second place, JJ Twiggs. This is a special place to us as Twiggs got its start near us in the villages of Wauconda and Lake Zurich. As a matter of fact, it also used to be a Risky's and we had played NTN there several years back. We went in and were surprised to see the peanut buckets had JJ Twiggs Wauconda, Illinois, on one side.

They were originally in the bar across from our motel now called Road Boaters but had moved closer to the Bagnall Dam and built a Northwoods-style Lodge that is very popular with locals and tourists.

They have two bars with NTN at the larger one, AND, THEY ACTUALLY HAD PLAYERS!!! They have just gotten NTN in (at one time their place in Wauconda also had the game). Buckets of peanuts were sitting out on the bar and tables.

We stopped playing when they wouldn't turn the sound up on the Blackhawks game at the big bar and we moved to the small one where it was on all TVs and with sound and some fans cheering, always more fun. Watched the first two periods.

More details on our Blackhawks efforts in my Down Da Road Blog http://downdaroadigo.blogspot.com under the 7 entries "Not Jumping on the Bandwagon, But..."

Cruisin' and Playin' NTN