Rochelle (Illinois) Cancels Its Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival

From the April 30, 2020, Rochelle (Illinois) News-Leader by Andrew Heiserman.

Fear of you-know-what and the current stay-at-home order has caused Rochelle's annual Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival to be cancelled until next year.  It would have been celebrating its 23rd year in  Rochelle.

Dates for next year have already been set, August 21-23, 2021.

I am beginning to wonder if there are going to be any outdoor festivals this year.

--RoadDog

Along 66, March 2020: Oklahoma's Sidewalk Highway and Illinois' New 66 Director

MARCH 13--  Four options to restore the Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma.

1.  Widening it:  add 16 feet, keeping the original concrete and have asphalt on the sides.

2.  Widen one side.

3.  Widen beyond the existing highway.

4.  A new parallel road

Regardless, all options will cost between $3.8 and $4 million.  Of the possibilities, I like the first one the best.  People can only drive on the sides.

MARCH 14--  The Illinois Route 66 Byway has picked a new director, Casey Wichman.  Hopefully the great job will continue.

--RoadWalk

Building a Viaduct Over What Was to be the Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1904

An interesting photograph of 1904 road construction with a car on a dirt road.

This is in the April 29, 2020, MidWeek "Looking Back."

High Tech Back Then.  --RoadDog

Charles and Irene Custer's Photographs on Route 66 News Site: A Real Slice in Time

The last two posts here have been about a truly wonderful group of pictures of what Route 66 looked like in the early 1950s, even though we don't know for sure they were taken on 66.

The place I directed you to had about 20 pictures, but you can go to the Route 66 News  blog site and see all of the pictures (and click to make them larger).

I highly recommend you check it out.  It is on the April 27 entry.

--RoadDog

Charles and Irene Custer's 1950 Trip Across America

From yesterday's blog entry.

The pictures were developed again after some 70 years after they were taken.  They took the pictures with an Agfa box camera which gave a whole lot of detail.  The pictures were taken on a working honeymoon trip in 1950.

Noted Route 66 personality Michael Wallis compares Custer's pictures with those of Great Depression photographers like Dorothea Lange.

There, unfortunately, are no captions or identifying information and it is hoped people looking at them can help identify.  It appears the batch shown in the Sun-Times was from Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Well Worth Checking These Pictures Out.  --RoadDog

Check Out This Article in the Sun-Times: Charles Custer's 1950s Photographs of Route 66 Americana

For those of you like me, who really enjoy the Shorpy site's pictures, here is an article that you've got to see to believe.  About 20 high-class photographs taken in America's small towns back in the 1950s.  They are the photographs of Charles Custer and his wife taken on their honeymoon across the United States.

You can find the article at April 24, 2020, Chicago Sun-Times  "  Charles Custer, dead at 91, with wife Irene Custer took photos capturing  a time capsule of Route 66, Americana" by Maureen O'Donnell.

Mike Wallace is interviewed for the article.

Well Worth a Look.  --RoadDog

Where to Eat in Cincinnati, Well, You Say Cincinnati, I Say CHILI!!

From the March 22, 2020, Chicago Tribune  by Patti Nickell.

She says she has to get her Cincinnati fix at least once or twice a year.  She goes for the Queen City's cultural attractions and the for the food.

Cincinnati's culinary scene is influenced by several things, including German roots, regional produce and good beers.

She says chili doesn't come to mind for first time visitors, but those who know, know this is not so.  That is my first thought of eating in Cincinnati, thanks to buddy Denny.   He is the one who turned me on to this delicacy.  Something I seek out.  Cincy Chili.  Wow!!

Patti's first choice of chili is Camp Washington Chili.  This is where I got my first taste of Cincinnati chili as well when Denny took me there.  They offer other items, but those in there for the chili, order its 3-, 4- and 5-way chili.  And this is not a bowl of chili like you get most places outside of Cincinnati

Cincinnati chili is more like a thick sauce topping spaghetti, or, you can get it on a hot dog.

In case you're wondering:

3-way:  spaghetti, chili sauce and cheese (and they put lots and lots of finely grated cheese on these)

4-way:  spaghetti, chili sauce and your choice of beans or onions

5-way:  everything.

I usually get the 4-way with onions.

--RoadCincy

No Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival in Iowa This Year

From the April 17, 2020, Toledo (Iowa) Chronicle/Tama News-Herald "Still reason to celebrate Tama's Lincoln Highway Bridge" by John Speer.

The bridge is located in Tama.  And, of course, we know why it is canceled.

But...

An Iowa Department of Transportation grant  to pay for extensive work on the 105-year-old bridge has gained approval.  The local Lincoln Highway group and the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway program of Prairie Rivers of Iowa and City of Tama have been working on putting together funding for this since mid-2018.

Cost of restoration has ranged as high as $200,000.  The IDOT grant will not cover  the planning and engineering costs.

No timetable for the work has been set.

If you've never seen a picture of this bridge, it is a real beaut.

Bridging It.  --RoadBridge

Along 66, 2020: More "V" Cancellations, Illinois

The Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor from Joliet to Towanda has been cancelled but will be back next year on may 1, 2021.

The Edwardsville Route 66 Festival in Illinois has been cancelled.

The Illinois Route 66 Association's annual Motor Tour set for June has been cancelled.

--RoadDog

Along 66, March 2020: "V" Closures on 66

MARCH 20:

**  The Arizona Historic Route 66 Association canceled the annual Fun Run May 1-3

**  La Pasada Hotel in Winsolw, Az. is closed

**  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari is closed

**  Ted Drewes in St. Louis, Mo. is closed

**  The Grand Canyon is closed.

--RoadDog

Feel the Need for 1975 (BCV)-- Part 4: "Shining Star"

Wow, 45 years ago.  Where does the time go?

KASHMIR--  Led Zeppelin
REAL MAN--  Todd Rundgren
HOW LONG--   Ace

PINBALL WIZARD--  Elton John
FIGHTING MY WAY BACK--  Thin Lizzie
DOCTOR WU--  Steely Dan

FREEWAY JAM--  Jeff Beck
SHINING STAR--  Earth, Wind & Fire
YOUNG AMERICANS--  David Bowie

LANDSLIDE--  Fleetwood Mac
LORELEI--  Styx
FRANKLIN'S TOWER--  Grateful Dead

PRESSURE DROP--  Robert Palmer
LOVE IS ALIVE--  Gary Wright

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Took My Love, I Took It Down, Climbed A Mountain And I Turned Around."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Landslide"

Feel the Need for 1975 (BCV)-- Part 3: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"

BCV--  Before CoronaVirus

LOVE IS THE DRIG--  Roxy Music
TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN--  Crosby & Nash
LOW RIDER--  War

THUNDER ROAD--  Bruce Springsteen
SQUEEZE BOX--  Who
EVIL WOMAN--  Electric Light Orchestra

CALL ON ME--  Bad Company
50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER--  Paul Simon
SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND--  Pink Floyd

THERE GOES ANOTHER LOVE SONG--  Outlaws
I'M ON FIRE--  Dwight Twilley
TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT--  Eagles

Name That Tune (From the above songs):  "He Never Gets No Rest Cause She's Playing All Night."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Squeeze Box"

Feel the Need for 1975 (BVC)-- Part 2: "Listen To What the Man Said"

No Social Distancing here.

WORLD TURNING--  Fleetwood Mac
FASCINATION--  David Bowie
I'M NOT  IN LOVE--  10 CC

DOWN BY THE SEASIDE--  Led Zeppelin
LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID--  Paul McCartney
BLUE JEAN BLUES--  ZZ Top

GOOD LOVIN' GONE BAD--  Bad Company
OLD DAYS--  Chicago
WALK THIS WAY--  Aerosmith

CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME--  Eric Clapton
NO WOMAN NO CRY--  Bob Marley
ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY--  Ian Hunter

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Drive-In Movies, Comic Books, Howdy Doody, BaseballCards And Birthdays."    Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Old Days"

Feel the Need for 1975 (BCV)-- Part 1: "Dance With Me"

BCV--  Before CoronaVirus.

Well, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, took me away from the "V" yesterday and back, 45 years to 1975.  At the time I never could have envisioned what is happening today.

1975 was when Liz, Brandy (the mutt) and I moved into our new home ($33,000) in Round Lake Beach, Illinois.  Now, we lived very close to where we worked.  Liz was at Beach School in Round Lake Beach and I was at Magee Middle School in Round Lake.  There are four villages in the Round Lake Area:  Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park and Round Lake Heights.

Songs played:

EVIL WOMAN--  Electric Light Orchestra
TANGLED UP AND BLUE--  Bob Dylan
ALL THAT YOU DREAM--  Little Feat

DANCE WITH ME--  Orleans
(I GOTTA GET A) MEAL TICKET--  Elton John
BEAUTIFUL LOSER--  Bob Seger

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Early One Mornin' The Sun Was Shinin'.  I was Layin' In Bed."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Tangled Up and Blue"

Uniquely Springfield-- Part 9: Mel-O-Cream Donuts

You can get your Kicks on 66, but for a sugar fix you should go to Mel-O-Cream which has been making those delicious morsels in Springfield for over 80 years.  You can get cake donuts, cream-filled donuts, old fashioned, iced donuts, glazed donuts, apple fritters, long johns, cinnamon twists and donut holes and lots of different types of each of these.

Their iced donuts are only second to Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach, N.C., but there you can have any kind of donut you want as long as it is a white glazed one.

There are four locations in Springfield to tempt you and are frequently winners in the Best Donut category in Illinois Times' Best of Springfield awards.

I go to the one at 3010 S. Sixty Street which is a short distance north of the Route 66 Hotel and Convention Center.  Quite often, I walk over to this place for morning sweets.  And, believe me, they are real good.

I just found out there is a Mel-O-Cream Donuts place in Lincoln, Illinois.  I'll keep that in mind the next time in town.

--RoadDonut

Uniquely Springfield-- Part 8: One Other Thing About Horseshoes

One other thing about horseshoes, you can have them for lunch or dinner.  But, you can also have it for breakfast.  A lot of Springfield, Illinois, places offer breakfast shoes as they call them.

It is a horseshoe, but with a breakfast kind of attitude.

At Charlie Parker's you can get it on biscuits, bagels or English muffins and, of course, your taters would be hash browns or American fries.  Topped with cheese or gravy.

And, if you're especially hungry, eat 4 of their 16-inch pancakes in one sitting and it's free!!

Liz and I ordered one and finished one of the four pancakes before we threw in the towel, well... napkin.

--RoadDog

Along 66, March 2020: Afton Station, Bob's Gasoline Alley and Andy Payne

These are taken from the Route 66 News site, your place to get the latest info and happenings on Route 66.  The site has a lot more items, I just pick out the ones of most interest to me.

MARCH 3--  Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma. is up for sale again.  It was sold at auction less than a year ago.  The historic structure is listed for $174,000 and the current owners bought it at auction for $72,000 on June 29, 2019.  Nice profit, guys, if you can get it.

Always enjoyed stopping there after negotiating the Sidewalk Highway and talking with Laurel Kane and the folks who kept it running after her death.  And, Afton sure needs a shot in the arm.  Too bad they aren't going to buy it and do something.

MARCH 4--  Bob Muller, creator of Bob's Gasoline Ally near Cuba, Missouri, has died at age 67.    Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to meet him.

MARCH 10--  Improvements are coming to the Andy Payne Park in Foyil, Oklahoma.  With a $11,000 budget three picnic tables, a covered children's play area among other things have been added.

This is 75% funded by the Cherokee Nation of which Foyil is a member.

Improvements Always Welcome.  --RoadDog

Along 66, February 2020: Bob Waldmire and Harley and Annabelle Russell

From Route 66 News.

FEBRUARY 25--  A new art space at the Powerhouse Visitors Center in Kingman, Arizona, will feature art by the late, noted Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire.

We had the fortune to meet him on several occasions and each was an adventure.  He was a character and a true hippy if there ever was one.  The people who did the movie "Cars" and based Fillmore the VW bus knew what they were doing.

And, Bob had that incredibly loaded VW bus that was so crammed full of stuff that he drove from place to place.

FEBRUARY 28--  How about Harley and Annabelle Russell for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame which has a new class every two years.  They operate the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, we've never had the pleasure of visiting them, but I have sure heard a lot about them.

Some Real Characters of the Mother Road.  --RoadDog

The Old Norb Andy's in Springfield (Illinois) Is Now Anchors Aweigh

From the Springfield (Illinois) Journal Star  "Former Norb Andy's to reopen as seafood restaurant Anchors Aweigh" by Crystal Thomas.

The new owner is is Jeff Moore from Peoria (evidently there is a Anchors Aweigh there also) and the new place has Creole-style seafood  in the lower level/basement of the Hickox Building at 518 E. Capitol Avenue (right down the street from the new Illinois State Capitol Building.

The building's owner is David Ridenour who bought the building in 2010 and opened Norb Andy's for a short time in 2017 before it closed.  He tried to get Moore to keep the old name, Norb Andy's, to honor the ,am for whom it was named, Norbert Anderson, who opened the place in 1937 and kept it running for 40 years.

But, then he realized that the name Norb Andy's had come to mean a place that opened and closed almost on a yearly basis toward the end.

The last ten years, every time we visit Springfield one of the first places to drive by is Norb Andy's to see if it was open again.  It usually wasn't and we'd be disappointed as it was a really fun place.

But, Things Change.  --RoadNorb

About Them Horseshoes-- Part 7: The Norb Andy Experience and the Difference Between a Horseshoe and a Ponyshoe

Only one thing, they had something else on the menu called a ponyshoe.  What?  Ponyshoe?  What's that?  I pondered.  Finally, asked somebody who said a ponyshoe is a smaller portioned horseshoe.    Oh!!  No Duh!!  Should have figured that out myself,  Oh well.

Decided to go with the bigger one.  As it turned out, a ponyshoe would have been enough.  Those things are really big.

And, it was as good as everyone said.  Not something you would want to tell your doctor that you ate.  Loaded with calories and all sorts of good tastes.  A real garbage event (I love garbage pizzas loaded with pretty much everything).

We ate at the bar/restaurant which was packed, both at tables and the bar.  When entering, you go downstairs.  This being a Saturday night, they had a three-piece band.  Ice cold beer and full (we had take home portions left over).

This place was a definite stop for us many years after 2002, but, unfortunately starting around 2010, the place was closed often and started going through lots of owners.  Apparently, it is now called Anchors Away and features New Orleans-style food, so we'll check it out next time in town.

--RoadShoe

About Them Horseshoes-- Part 6: Heading Over to Norb Andy's

The first time we went to Springfield for the Mother Road International Festival in 2002, we had never heard of a horseshoe.  People kept talking about them so we finally asked what they were.  Sounded good.  Pretty much anything that is piled on is good in my book, and this sounded like a really good garbage sandwich.

However, I wasn't too sure how you'd pick one up with all that stuff on it.  (Found out you didn't take it in your hands, especially when hot melted cheese is involved.)

Where could we get one?  Several people mentioned Norb Andy's Tabarin on Capitol Street so that's where we went.  This is quite the historical place.  With a bar/restaurant there since the late 1800s.  It has been Norb Andy's since the 1930s or so.  Its location so near the State Capitol Building caused it to be a hangout for politicians and the like.

It is just a block or so from the LeLand Hotel, where supposedly horseshoes were invented and we heard they used the original recipe for them.  When we mentioned out loud what we were going to order, we had a lot of comments about how good of a choice we were making.

How do you do better than that?

--RoadDog

Uniquely Springfield-- Part 5: Today's Horseshoes

Today's horseshoe typically has two slices of Texas toast, your choice of meat (hamburger, ham, turkey, chicken or shrimp), French fries,  and a rich cheese sauce smothered over the top.  Most people think the secret to that great taste is the cheese sauce.

It is kind of like Canada's poutine.

You can get a smaller version of the horseshoe that is surprisingly called the ponyshoe.

If this has gotten you hungry, there are many places in Springfield, and throughout central Illinois that serve it.  But you can't go wrong at D'Arcy's Pint in Springfield that often wins Best Horseshoe in Illinois Times' Best of Springfield competition.

--RoadShoe

Uniquely Springfield (Illinois)-- Part 4: Horseshoes, the History and Original

You haven't truly experienced Springfield until you've eaten a horseshoe (or at least a pony shoe).  Springfield originated this concoction, consisting of thick-cut slices of bread topped with meat of some sort, then potatoes (usually French fries) and then cheese sauce over the top.

Chef Joe Schweska of the LeLand Hotel created the horseshoe in the late 1920s.  The LeLand Hotel, just up the street from the Capitol building, is now an office building, was located on the corner of Sixth and Capitol streets.

The original horseshoe was made of ham cut in the shape of a horseshoe, wedge of potato (the nails), a Welsh rarebit type cheese sauce and was served on a hot metal plate (the anvil).  (So, that's why they call it a horseshoe.  The ones I've eaten in town have never looked like that.)

--RoadDog

Uniquely Springfield (Illinois)-- Part 3: Chilli (Or Is That Chili?)

Chili is a popular menu item in Springfield, but here it is more commonly spelled chilli, not chili.  The first chilli restaurant in Springfield and the first to call it "chilli", was the Dew Chilli Parlor which opened in 1909.  It was closed, but has now reopened at 1216 S. Fifth.

Another local favorite, which was established by Joe Rogers in 1945 at the Den Chili Parlor, is now called The Chilli Parlor.  If you eat a bowl of their Firebrand Chilli here, your name will be memorialized on the wall.

The  winner of the 2016 (this is from the 2017 Visitors Guide) Illinois Times Best of Springfield, Best Chili Award was The Chili Parlor, 820 South Ninth Street.

I've had the chilli in Springfield.  It is okay, but a bit too greasy in my opinion.  I'll have to give it another try next visit.

--RoadDog

Uniquely Springfield-- Part 3: Hangin' Out and Eating at the Cozy Dog

Liz and I always get the Cozy Basket, which consists of 4 Cozy Dogs and a large order of fries for $11.40.

And, that more than fills us up.

Sometimes we watch them frying our Cozies, but usually we adjourn to a table and I go over to the "library" of Route 66 magazines and pick several which we read while waiting and while we're eating.  Pointing out articles of interest and I didn't know that.

When the order arrives, I go up to the concession stand and "fix" my two Cozy Dogs.  To me, a properly dressed Cozy should have criss-crossed mustard and raw onions draped across them.  Liz eats hers plain.  (But she also eats her Chicago dogs plain and I still don't know how she does that.  To me, a Chicago dog ought to be hard to find under all that stuff.)

We also enjoy watching the other folks in the place.  You can generally tell the regulars from tourists.  But one thing I never understand is when a person traveling Route 66 comes in and doesn't order of Cozy Dog.  If the people are sitting close enough to us, we will engage in conversation.

Always enjoy talking to folks running down the 66.

Cozy Me.--  RoadCozyDog

Uniquely Springfield-- Part 2: Some More on the Well-Hidden Cozy Dog

I had read about the Cozy Dog before our first trip on Route 66 in March 2002 and it was high on my list of places to go.  However, once we got into Springfield, we couldn't find it.  I knew we were in the area, but just couldn't seem to see it.

So... we stopped at a Burger King and ordered some pop and asked nonchalantly where this place called Cozy Dog was.  Have you ever been in a hardware store and looked all over for an item and finally, in desperation, stopped a clerk to inquire.  And, of course, you KNOW where that item is going to be.

Well, it happened here.  Dumb ol' Me:   "By the way, where is this Cozy Dog place I've heard about."  Employee,  "Right behind you, sir."

Turned around, and there it was.

Same thing happened to me that trip when I was at the I-270 rest stop/visitors center by the Mississippi River and asked where the Chain of Rocks Bridge was. Kind of hard to miss a bridge, especially one that size.  But, I CAN do that with ease.  What Bridge?

Embarrassed, But At Least We Got Our Cozy Dogs.  --RoadWhere?

Uniquely Springfield (Illinois)-- Part 1: Cozy Dog Drive-In

From the 2017-2018 Springfield,Illinois Visitors Guide.  Listing some unique eats in Illinois' capital city.

COZY DOG DRIVE-IN

An icon in Springfield is the Cozy Dog Drive-in, home of the original batter-covered hot dog on a stick.  This landmark is located on historic Route 66 and features a great collection of Route 66 memorabilia.

Although corn dogs (and don't even think of ordering a corn dog at the place) are popular at state fairs around the country, you'd have to go here for the original.  And, it isn't one that has been fried up and sitting around for hours.  It is made after you order it.  So nice and fresh and hot.

2935 S. Sixth Street

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood--  RoadDog

Along 66, Feb. 2020: It's About Bob, Harley & Annabelle

FEBRUARY 25--   A new art space at the Powerhouse Visitors Center in Kingman, Arizona, features art by the late Route 66  artist Bob Waldmire.

Sure glad we were able to meet him on several occasions.  A unique fella and true hippie is there ever was one. 

FEBRUARY 28--  How about Harley and Annabelle Russell for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame.  This event is held every two years.  These two are from the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick.

Sadly, this is one place along the route we have never visited, but sure hope to the next time we're through the town

They are in the spirit of Bob Waldmire.

Real Characters of the Mother Road.  --RoadBobHarleyAnnabelle

Getting Impatient for the Lincoln Highway to Be Paved West of DeKalb in 1920

From the April 1, 2020, Midweek (DeKalb County,Illinois) "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"By Decoration Day (Memorial Day), the cement road will be open from DeKalb west and autos can use it.  This was the pledge made yesterday  by Contractor Hart of Hart and Page, to Dr. H.G. Wright , director of the Illinois Highway Association.

"There is a hiatus of about two miles between the edge of the pavement at Corey's place and the east end of the completed cement road, and the other day, the Chronicle voiced the sentiment of the people of that section in no uncertain terms,  as they were threatening to take matters in their own hands and use the sand piled there for that purpose of making the road at least passable."

I'm figuring this road to be the Lincoln Highway.

Getting Impatient in DeKalb.  --RoadDog

Along 66, Feb. 2020: Cuba and the Gasconade Bridge

FEBRUARY 21--  Cuba, Missouri, launches a new tourism app.  Reckon they have something about the Wagon Wheel Motel and murals.  Of course, I can't get any of those apps on my flip phone.

FEBRUARY 22--  The Gasconade Bridge Guardians have won a lawsuit against the Workin' Bridges group.  They were fined $1,000 plus court costs.

FEBRUARY 24-- The Route 66 Association of  Missouri has begun talks to take over the Gasconade Bridge.

If someone doesn't take it over and do something with it, it will be gone.

--RoadDog

Along 66, February 2020: A Book On the Green Book

FEBRUARY 11--  Book review "Overground Railroad:  The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America" by Candacy Taylor.

When the Green Book was first published, half of the 89 counties Route 66 went through heading west were Sundown Towns (meaning Blacks had to be out of them before sundown).  Still, thirty-five percent of the counties did not allow black motorists after 6 p.m. in the 1950s.

Six of the eight Route 66 states had segregation laws.

Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri, once hosted a KKK rally.  A 260-mil stretch of 66 between Oklahoma City and Amarillo had no facilities for black motorists.  In 1947, there was only one motel listed in the Green Book, which showed Blacks where they could stay, eat and use the facilities.

Victor Hugo Green, a postal carrier in Harlem, began publishing the Green Book in 1936.

Sorry to say, Route 66, the Mother Road was a very segregated, anti-black road back then.  And, when we think of the joys of driving it, we need to know such was not the case for Blacks back then.

A much-needed book.  Thanks Candacy Taylor.

--RoadDog

Best of the Midwest-- Part 4: Route 66 in Illinois from Waldmire to Da Bridge

From Wilmington, you go to Pontiac and the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum with all that Bob Waldmire (the inspiration for the hippy van in the movie "Cars") stuff , all those murals, museums and that wonderful county courthouse which I regard as the prettiest anywhere.

Then, on to Springfield for all that Lincoln stuff and a definite stop at the Cozy Dog Drive In, home of those wonderful Cozy Dogs (don't call them corn dogs or you'll be corrected).   This place was owned by Bob Waldmire's parents.   Then four miles south of town is the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Museum, which just opened in 2018 (in an old Stuckey's store) and is a real trip back.

Last stop is at the interesting old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River.

--RoadDog