On Da Road: Dwight, Illinois

Left home on the 23rd and drove Route 66 in Illinois from Dwight to Hamel. I like to take Illinois Highway 47 as a way to bypass the Chicago hassle.

Dwight- the new coffee business looks to be about 8 feet wide. The Ambler-Becker station is looking good and should be ready for its new use as a tourist center. The former owners now have a BP/Burger King business on Il-47 by I-55. There is a great Route 66 etched glass partition between the booths plus lots of 66 souvenirs.

Drove through the Old 66 Family Restaurant parking lot. The house next door to it has a couple signs saying that Pete's is better. Pete's is another restaurant in town. Wonder what that's all about?

The place to eat is Smaterjax, Home of the Big Mouth Sandwich, and one really great buffet. Monday's featured ham, fried chicken, sausage and potatoes Obryan, pizza, walleye, dessert, and drink for $8.45, tax included. I understand their Black Angus, hand-cut steaks are something else. Smaterjax's used to be Feddersen's for many years and was an auto dealership before that. A bottle of domestic beer is only $1.50 every day. Of course, when I'm driving, I'm not drinking.

The Route 66 shield on the pavement south of town could definitely use a touchup. You almost can't see it anymore.

--RoadDog