Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 3: A History Meeting, Buddy Frank, Celebration of Life for Dennis Dohse, Da Bears and Da Bloody Mary

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Few things I enjoy more than going to a history group and learning something new about that subject and today, for the first time since September 2019, I was able to go to a meeting of the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society.  And, we learned about the time the Towne Theatre in Fox Lake, Illinois, had an explosion.  Fortunately, no one was injured, but the theatre was a loss.

They now know this was part of a move by organized crime to make them and other theater owners allow the Film Projectionist Union in.

I got to catch up with the last year and a half with buddy Frank.

That afternoon, we went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for a Celebration of Life for our good friend Dennis Dohse, who died  a week and a half ago of a sudden heart attack.  We've been friends of his since the old NTN days and he was the main reason we ended up having the '85 Firebird redone.  We will sure miss him.  The place was packed.

A great as that victory two weeks ago over Georgia Tech was for NIU, today was a different story with a 63-10 destruction by the University of Michigan.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

The usual, internet, blogs and radio.  Then watched part of the Bears game at home in Margaritaville, our downstairs bar, and then the rest of it at the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed the $2.50 Adequate Bloody Marys.

--RoadDog

That 80s A to Z Music Weekend Continues on the Drive-- Part 2: 'Lunatic Fringe'

And, like I said in the last post, it streams.  If this is a special decade for you, give it a listen.

I have been recording segments of it on cassette tapes and will go back and rerecord my favorites onto one, two or maybe three cassette tapes for play when I cruise in my newly refurbished 1985 Pontiac Firebird with its tape deck.  I have not yet been recording today, but have enjoyed listening to these songs.

Ones that I WOULD have put on the Greatest Hits tapes are shown with and (*).

*MANDOLIN WIND-- Bruce Hornsby

MAN ON A CORNER--  Genesis

MAMA--  Genesis

*MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME)--  Peter Schilling

MAGIC POWER--  Triumph

*MAGIC--  Cars

*LUNATIC FRINGE--  Red Rider

*LOVIN' EVERY MINUTE OF IT--  Loverboy

LOVE WALKS IN--  Van Halen

*LOVE STINKS--  J. Geils Band

LOVE SONG--  Tesla

*LOVE SHACK--  B-52s

*LOVE MY WAY--  Psychedelic Furs

*LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD--  Pat Benatar

*LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR--  Aerosmith

LOVE BITES--    Def Leppard

Name That Tune (from the above songs):   "You Love Her But She Loves Him."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Love Stinks"

Firebird Cruise on McHenry County's Pioneer Road (Scenic Road)

Yesterday, Wednesday, August 12, I took the '85 Firebird out for a cruise in between the storms.  We have certainly been having rain storms the last week, every day in fact.  But, we sure needed the rain after a three week drought.  It's been weird weather this summer.  

This is the second time we have had an extended drought followed by a week+ of lots and lots of rain.  The poor lawns have gone from brown (except over the septic field) to green to brown and now is back to green.  The weeds have done well the whole time, though.

Anyway, I went out to US-12 and took it north to Solon.  I took the wrong Solon Road and ended up on S. Solon Road when I wanted to take W. Solon Road and ended up back at W. Ringwood Road and took that over to Pioneer Road and headed north.

Pioneer Road is one of McHenry County's ten Scenic Drives and is described as 4 miles long in Richmond and McHenry townships.  It well deserves the name with farms and lots of open areas.  

However, going north, twice I had to slow down for work crews cutting up fallen trees and limbs as well as one mile long stretch with so many little branches and twigs all over it that I decided not to go back over it to the southern terminus of Pioneer Road.

The storms that came through Monday and Tuesday had high winds.  Other nearby places had tornadoes.

I took Illinois Highway 31 past Glacial Park into McHenry and, believe me, this stretch of road could also be called a McHenry County Scenic Road.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 8: On the Non-Road and Then to a Cemetery

THURSDAY, JULY 1

One of Hebron's big claims to fame was when its tiny high school, with 98 students, wo the 1952 Illinois State High School Basketball Tournament.  They show their pride by the backboards on the light posts and their big water tower which is painted to look like a basketball with 1952 State Champions on it.  You can see a picture of it in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

I continued west on 173 to Johnson Road and turned right to head up to the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.  I took this road many times over the last fifteen or so years as we used to keep our boat over winter at a farm on this road.  Today, this stretch of road is a pleasure to drive, but most of the years I had to drive it, even the potholes had potholes in them.

That was one really bumpy ride, I tell you.  I was always worried about the boat coming lose.

Johnson Road becomes Nichols Road once you pass Hebron Road.  You take a right on Hillside Road and go a short distance to the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.

I planned to go by two graves there.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 6: West of 173 to Hebron and What I Saw

 JULY 1, 2021, Thursday

I continued west on Illinois Highway 173, past many farms and fields.  I used to drive this road twice a year back when we had a boat.  I did this until just a few years ago, but, alas, we are now boatless.  Like they say, the two happiest days in a boater's life is when they get their first boat and when they sell their last boat.

We kept the boat at a farm a mile west of Hebron, Illinois.  We found this to be a great price for storage.  We paid $30 a month and it was stored inside a barn.  We ended up getting a lot of our friends overwintering there as well.

Hebron, Illinois, is a small village located where 173 crosses Illinois Highway 47, another road I have driven many times in the past.  

As I approached the intersection, I saw a tent with all sorts of flags flying at it.  As I got closer, I could see the name Buck Fiden written on a sign.  I was wondering if this was some sort of an Irish place until I saw all the Trump flags flying, then realized what it was all about.

There were several people there.  I don't know, but you should show some respect to the presidency even if you don't like the current one.

--RoadCrusin'

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 5: Illinois Highway 173

THURSDAY, JULY 1

I took US-12 to Richmond, Illinois, and encountered a big backup at the Illinois Highway 173 stoplight.  This backup is especially bad on the weekends when a lot of Illinoisians head up to Wisconsin.  I decided to backtrack a little and take the road through the downtown out to 173.

Illinois Highway 173 is also called the  was built in 1924 and runs 66 miles from Zion on Lake Michigan to Machesney Park by Rockford.  It is two lanes for most of its length and goes through fairly hilly countryside and has a lot of farms in McHenry County.  It also forms the northern border of Spring Grove.

In 2008, the whole road was officially designated  the 173rd  Airborne Brigade Highway.

The 173rd was activated in 1915 and did serve during World War II, but is best known for its service in Vietnam  It was the first major U.S. Army ground group  deployed in Vietnam and served from 1965 to 1971, losing 1,533 soldiers.  Brigade members  received over 7,700 decorations and more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.

I have driven the stretch of 173 from Richmond to Hebron many times as we kept the boat at a farm in Hebron during the winter for many years.

It is two lane this whole stretch.  At one point, there is a sign for Galt Airport.

--RoadDog

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 5: Trying to Reason With 'Dairy Air', Chain O' Lakes State Park and Fred Hatch (Inventor of Today's Farm Silo)

JULY 26, 2021

I took English Prairie Road to Wilmot Road (which goes north into Wisconsin and becomes Highway W once you cross the state line.  This road then goes to the small town of Wilmot, Wisconsin.

One word of warning about the next stretch of Wilmot Road going south.  Richardson Farm uses manure on their fields and certain times of the year, with the wind generally blowing from the west and you're on the east side of those fields.  Well, you can imagine the "Dairy Air" as we call it.

A short distance south after the smell and you come to the entrance to the Illinois State Chain O'Lakes Park.  This is one popular place for boating and camping during the summer.  They have free launching which will cost you at least $20 anywhere else on the Chain of Lakes.

The Cole Cemetery is across from a funeral home on this road and up front you will see a tombstone with the name "Hatch" on it.  This is where Fred Hatch is buried.  He is the one credited with inventing today's silos.

At Main Street, there is a large horse farm and a smaller one.

Once at US-12, the name Wilmot Road changes to Johnsburg Road heading south.  Like I said, in our area, be ready for road name changes.  At this point, you start going up a steep hill that is what we call a tree tunnel as it is fairly well canopied with the tops of trees.  We love our tree tunnels.  Again, anyone who thinks Illinois is just one big flat state needs to come take a ride around our area.

Illinois Around Here "Ain't Flat."  --RoadBird

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 4: All Those Road Names, Richardson Adventure Farm and the English Are Coming

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

I have already mentioned that most every north-south road in Spring Grove, upon crossing US-12, has a different name.  However, the one I started out on, Meyer Road, changes its name to Blivin St. for a real short distance and when it crosses Main Street, where the Grove bar/restaurant is located, it changes names again, this time to Richardson Road, a name it keep all the way to Illinois Highway 173, up near the Wisconsin border.

On Richardson Road, you pass several farms and subdivisions as well as you can see the Richardson Adventure Farm off in the distance to the east.  This is a family that has been here a long time and for whom the road here is named.  This is a huge tourist attraction in the area, especially in the fall when they have all sorts of stuff going on and claim to have the world's biggest corn maze.  

In August they will be having a sunflower festival.  Better not tell my little birdies that hang out be the feeders around the house about this as they absolutely love sunflower seeds as to my squirrels.

Today, I decided to turn on English Prairie Road instead of going all the way north to 173.  Spring Grove and Johnsburg were settled by a lot of German people, but a lot of English people settled around this area.  You will go right by the entrance to Richardson Adventure Farm on this road.

--RoadDog

Today's Firebird Cruise-- Part 1: It Ain't That Flat, All Those Parks and All That Corn and Those Subdivisions

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Nice, hot day, today.  Just perfect for a cruise in the old car, with the window down, arm out the window and tunes blaring from the radio.

I did a loop through Spring Grove and Johnsburg, Illinois, about 18 miles total.  In that time, I went by five parks, two agricultural tourist farms, lots of corn and soybeans as well as McHenry County's newest growth, the numerous subdivisions.  Also, lots of farms.  Beware of farm equipment on the roads at all times around here.  I've even seen big old tractors pulled up in front of some local drinking establishments and no parade would be complete without tractors.

Anyone that thinks all of Illinois is perfectly flat might change their mind around here.  We have several good-sized "Hills."

First, I took Sunset Road west to Meyer Road through real high corn.  Then north on Meyer and down a good-sized hill, past the Spring Grove Village Hall to US-12.  Wait and wait and wait for a break in the traffic and I'm on my merry way.

Even better today, I finally remembered to bring along one of my cassettes.  Yep, the Firebird radio also has a cassette deck on it.  I listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show salute to Summer 2020, Vol. 2, which I had recorded last year.  Yep, I still record on cassettes.  As a matter of fact, I recorded a large part of Bob's show yesterday when he featured Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Cosmo's Factory."

Creedence is my all-time favorite rock band, well, Swamp Band or whatever it was that they played.  It was released 51 years ago this week.

--RoadCruiser

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 3: Past Problems with the '85 Firebird and the Traffic Bear in Richmond

July 1, Thursday

One thing, however, about the '85 Firebird.  I don't trust it yet to turn it off anywhere but in my driveway or garage.  When I first got it back, it died on me the third time out and I had to have it towed back to the house.  That is when it took three trips to the house from Vince to get it running again.  First, it was the choke which was bad, then the starter was bad.

But, I am hoping to get that trust back.

Okay, now, I am driving north of US Highway 12 to Richmond, Illinois.  Beautiful old town.  But, like I said, it can get really busy on the weekends.  And even though today is Thursday, July 1, the traffic going to Wisconsin, which is right next door, was backed up from the Route 173 stoplight to the downtown.

They have talked about putting in a bypass and I sure hope they do.

Anyway, I figured to miss the backup and turn off in the downtown area, only to find a dead end, so had to backtrack and take Main Street out of town which put me on Illinois Highway 197 west of Richmond.

Well, I figured I would just drive west to Hebron, Illinois.

That would give the '85 a good run at 50 mph.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 2: Have Tunes, Will Cruise

Thursday July 1

So, I am out driving my new old '85 Firebird for what turned out to be its first real long cruise.  

The radio was tuned to MeTV FM, 87.7 FM, which plays more great old songs than you can shake a stick at, including a bunch from the days of yore (50s-80s) that I hadn't heard.  This is a great cruising station and, despite now having much wattage, has a real large broadcast area since it is all the way down at the far end of the radio station numbers.

As a matter of fact, that has proved to be a problem as some car radios won't pick up 87.7 FM.  They advise listeners to check that out when looking into buying a car.

If I get too far away and loose reception, I turn to either the Drive (Classic Rick) 96.9 and 97.1 FM or to WXRT, 93.1 FM.

Plus, even better, I have a cassette player in the Firebird.  And, I have lots and lots of cassettes.

--RoadCruising

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 1: The New 'Old' Car and U.S. Highway 12

Thursday, July 1

I finally had our '85 Firebird redone with exterior and interior work as well as engine work.  Now, I am forced to cruise down roads, with the window down, my arm out and listening to tunes on the radio.

A hard life, but somebody's got to do it.

This past Thursday, July 1, I started driving around Spring Grove, Illinois.  First I went through a subdivision and then found myself north of town on US Highway 12.  Most of my life I have been living near US-12.  

It went through Palatine, Illinois, where I lived for all of junior high, high school and part of college.  Then, we lived for 17 years in Round Lake Beach, which is about eight miles from it and now, we have been in Spring Grove for 29 years.  US 12 goes right through Spring Grove.  One of these days I'm hoping to drive it from end-to-end which would be Detroit at its eastern terminus and Aberdeen, Washington on the west.

The next town on the road heading north is Richmond.  It is a village of yesterday, with lots of old stuff and history.  It is also a major gateway to Wisconsin from Illinois and it gets so backed up on the weekends, you try to find ways to go around it.

This being Thursday, I figured the backup wouldn't be bad.

I Was So Wrong.  --RoadCruise