Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 1: An Oldies Car Show for the '85 Firebird

The summer and fall in northeast Illinois.  Great times.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Bob Stroud back to a great year, 1982 for his Ten at Ten.  Great news, letter from IRS saying we didn't pay enough so had to send a check for another $545.

Washed the '85 Firebird.  One of the problems living out here in farm land is all the dust put up when certain people are working in the fields.  Took it over to the McHenry Moose Lodge where they were having a car show, this week featuring  Pontiacs.  And, since the Firebird is a Pontiac. I figured this would be great first intro to this world of car fanatics.

However, I didn't pitch my chair and sit beside the car like so many do or spend my time getting specks of dust off it.  Enjoyed walking around and there must have been at least thirty Pontiacs there, mostly GTOs and Trans Ams, but a couple Firebirds and even a couple Fieros.

Temps dropped real fast and I left, then Liz and I went over to Stucky's.

--RoadDog

Just Hangin' Around Here: Gas Gouge, FP, More Expensive, Classic Cars, '67 Firebirds

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Sure been having problems with the internet of late and it is getting very difficult to get on and do these blogs.
Still sitting out FP (Front Porch) most mornings until it gets too cold.    We sure had a gas gouge here in northeast Illinois with gas up to $3.06 in McHenry!!!

A lot of unhappy patrons at Half-Times in Johnsburg as they raised all prices up.  The Tuesday 14-inch pizza, $1 toppings went up from $9 to $12 and the $1 14 ounce draft beers are now $2 for 20 ounces.  Still a good deal.

Drove over to the McHenry Mosse Lodge for  their classic car show and saw a '67 red Firebird convertible.  I am a big, well, huge Firebird fan, especially since I once had a '67 Firebird convertible. Went by Sunnyside Tavern on the way home.

Enjoyed watching the Ken Burns "Country Music" series as I am a big country music fan.

--RoadDog

One Week-- Part 1: FP, Yard Work, Blogs, Sunnyside Tavern, Moose Lodge, Classic Cars, Band and Former Student

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

Sat out FP (Front Porch) most every day reading the Tribune and having coffee or breakfast.  A great way to greet the morning.  Relaxing.  Then I go on the internet and post to these blogs for awhile.  Weather permitting, I work in the yard and have been getting some of the back deck flower bed area out of being overgrown.

And, I have surprisingly at this late date in my life, gotten into crossword puzzles (the easy ones).

I also enjoy sitting OD (On Deck) and out in the gazebo.

Met the friendly folks at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg as we do often.  All August (and this past July) they have $1.50 domestic pints, a good price these days.  Met a former student who remembers when I used to deejay the dances at Magee Middle School.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

FP, blogs, yard work.

Went to Sunnyside then over to the McHenry Moose Lodge for the classic car show and the band Heartbeats.  Enjoyed the 3 tacos for $5 and $3 margaritas there, then back to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

A Week In the Life-- Part 5: Enjoying the House, A Band and Classic Cars

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1

FP.  Then on the internet, as I do most every day.  These blogs take a lot of time and effort. Today I also got to enjoy the deck (OD) and the gazebo.  I had to cut the grass, which, this time of the year shouldn't have to happen but every two weeks, but this has not been a normal summer.  All the rain we had through early July as well as the cool temperatures is providing an excellent grass growing condition.  And, it is.

Drove to Antioch, Illinois, and parked which required a walk through that beautiful little park and across Main Street to the Lodge which was standing room only.  Looking for a seat it seemed like it was open season on me.  Wherever I stood, I was in somebody's way.  We finally got two seats at the bar and enjoyed some pre-concert beers.  Thursdays they have half price pizza and 60 cent wings (used to be 35 cents) but the price of chicken wings has gone up with their increased popularity).  We ordered a chicken and bacon pizza.

During the summer, Antioch runs It's Thursday concerts from mid-June to mid-August at their bandshell in a park behind the Lodge.  They always have great bands and it's free.  We always make an effort to see these, but this year, this was the very first one.

Tonight the band was Class of '68, as you can figure, sixties music, right up our alley.  Great show and at the same time they were having a classic car show.

Well, I Sure Was a Happy Lad.  --RoadSixties

Just Got Back from Route 66 in the Ozarks

Liz and I returned home this past Wednesday from an eight day cruise of 1,100 miles through Illinois and Missouri.  The object was to attend  the Lebanon, Missouri, Route 66 Festival, and, of course, a 4-day stay at the Munger-Moss Motel and visit with Ramona Lehman.

We stayed in three historic motels:  Munger-Moss, Wagon Wheel in Cuba and the Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield.

Friday we had a block party on the east end of Lebanon with a classic car show at Munger-Moss and entertainment at Wrink's.  Saturday was the classic car parade (and Ramona was the grand marshal), a band and the dedication of the sole remaining tourist cabin from Camp Joy.

We also enjoyed partying at the Curve Inn, George Ranks and Motorheads in Springfield, the VFW and American Legion in Lebanon, Elbow Inn in Devil's Elbow and Rock Fair and East Office in Cuba.

We interacted with tourists from Germany, Japan and the Czech Republic.

Always a Great Time Out on Ol' 66.  --RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else-- Part 5: Rally-By-the-Lake, Parish Fest, Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

Started the day off listening to Bob Stroud's annual salute to summer 40 years ago.  That would be the Summer of '77 for three hours.  He was playing the songs on the radio and in our record collections from August 13, 1977..  I will be listing the songs he played on my Down Da Road I Go blog later today.

Then, I did some yard work and drove the '85 Firebird over to Fox Lake's Lakefront Park on Nippersink Lake for the annual classic car and motorcycle show.  It really made my day to see another '67 Firebird.  I once had a '67 Firebird convertible and that is my favorite classic car.  Of course, mine was in very rough shape compared to the ones I've recently seen.

Then, we went to Parish Fest for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg and enjoyed the food and one of our favorite bands, New Odyssey.

I left early so I could go over to Veterans Park in McHenry for the annual Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive commemoration of our Greatest Generation, the World War II veterans.  McHenry probably has the biggest celebration for this of any place in the United States.  And it is already good to give our World War II veterans their due.  We had about 17 of them there.

A Really Busy Day.  --RoadDog