Just Hanging Around: Donovans, Saylor Mick's, Mother Road Cruisin'? Pizza and Sad Sox

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for drinks and live trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Then to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove, Illinois, for 75 cent wings and $1 Hamm's pints.

THURSDAU, APRIL 27

Considering going on the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour this year from June 9 to 11.  It's time to get back on the Mother Road.  Haven't been since before you-know-what.

Cut the grass for thye first time.  Should have done it sooner.  I still have to clear up the tree limbs that came down in the ice storm.  Met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg for half-price pizza.  I got Liz and my old special pizza:  sausage, black olives and pineapple.

The White Sox have sunken to new depths this year (and I thought they couldn't possibly go any lower after the pathetic team of last year.  I sure was wrong.).

--SadSoxDog

Along66,September 2021: That Lexington, Illinois Neon Sign

These are taken from the Route 66 News blog which has one or more entries every day along with pictures and much more information.  I just pick out the ones of most interest to me. 

SEPTEMBER 1

That neat neon sign pointing the way off Route 66 to Lexington's downtown celebrates its 75th anniversary.

It was placed there on August 31, 1946 with the purpose of getting folks off that big old highway to spend time and money downtown Lexington, Illinois.  It was restored a few years ago.  It is located by the bike trail that used to be the southbound lanes of Route 66.

It also points to the old Route 66 alignment known as Memory Lane which is opened a few times a year for special occasions (often when the Illinois Route 66 motor tour comes through)  This segment was the original Route 66 and used until 1946.

I remember one particularly hot motor tour when the good Lexington folks were handing out much-needed cans of pop along with copies of maps of the old road.

Thanks, Lexington.  --RoadDog

Along 66, April 2020: Illinois Motor Tour Cancelled, Apache Motel to Reopen

These items are taken from the Route 66 News site.  This is the best site to go to to find out what is happening along the Mother Road.  I only take the stories I am most interested in.  The site has a lot more items and pictures.  So, check it out.

**  APRIL 3--  The Route 66 Association of Illinois' 2020 Motor Tour scheduled for this June, has been cancelled because of you-know-what.  It will be held next year on the 30th anniversary of the group.

Always new stuff to see on this trip.

**  APRIL 7--  The Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, is to be restored and plans right now call for reopening by late summer by the new owners.

It has been long-closed and has rustic southwest decor and one of the larger signs.  The 22-room motel was built in 1968.

Anytime an old-run-down motel on 66 gets a reprieve that is a good thing.  Hoping you-know-what doesn't impact them too much.

--RoadDog

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, June 2019: A Neon Sign Relit and 66 Passport

From Route 66 News blog site.

JUNE 9--  The historic neon sign at Fender's River Road Resort in Needles, California, has been relit.

JUNE 11-  The Mother Road Route 66 Passport is now available along Route 66.  This is from the folks who developed the Route 66 navigation app.  You can get 29 stamps and there are also pages for autographs and for you to write notes.

There are maps by Joyce Harbin Colego.  Jim Hinckley and Drew Brees also worked on it.

People always love those passport stamps and they are popular on the Illinois Route 66 Association Motor Tours.   Good idea.

Stamp Me.  --RoadStamp

Along 66, May 2019: A Muffler man and a Mill Anniversary.

MAY 27--  A muffler man in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is to be restored of its lost arms and axe.  A windstorm blew them away five years ago.  It is on the city's east side and by a popular Vietnamese restaurant.

I always loves my muffler men.

MAY  30--  The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, will mark its 90th anniversary June 7-9.  It opened in 1929 and has now been a museum for the last three years.  This celebration coincides with the Illinois Route 66 Association's annual motor tour.

The tour's Hall of Fame banquet will be held June 8 at the American Legion hall in Lincoln.

There are three passport stops in Lincoln at the World's Largest Covered Wagon, the restored Tropics neon sign, and, of course, The Mill.  There will be a talk by Dave Clark.

--RoadDog

R.I.P. Rick Selle

A good friend of mine from the old Puppet Bar days has passed on.  Rick Selle died at age 64, on July 12 after a short illness.

He used to be quite the partier.  One time his boat, a small fishing skiff, sank while tied to a pier at the Puppet Bar.  I was deejaying and kept telling him his boat was sinking, but he wouldn't believe me.  When we finally went outside to look at it, the boat was about 2/3 submerged and there were a whole lot of empty beer cans floating by it.

He was also very interested in anything dealing with history and had quite a collection of old stuff in his basement.

The last time we saw him and his wife was on an Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour when I recognized a sign with "R.A.S. Concrete" on the side of a truck.

We'll Sure Miss You Rick.  --RoadDog

Along 66, June 2018: An Arch and a Motorhead

JUNE 13--  There is a new welcome arch in Kingman, Arizona.  I love arches.

JUNE 14--  Route 66 Motorheads bar in Springfield, Illinois, has been offered a sales tax rebate of up to $250,000 for being annexed to Springfield.  This is to help offset the cost of a $48,000 waterline to the city.

The new place is at 600 Toronto Road, south of Springfield and used to be a Stuckey's.

The bar opened Friday and they hope to have the restaurant serving food next month.  We dropped in for a drink or two on Saturday during the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour.  Definitely a place 66ers will want to see.

The place has an auto racing theme and Route 66 memorabilia, including Bill Shea's entrance to his former museum.

There is also a Bel-Air Motel sign, a Springfield Tops Big Boy sign and Art's Motel sign from Farmersville.

This Is One Really Good Place.  --RoadDog

ILMOTOUR-- 2010-- Part 10-- Lake of the Ozarks

Since this is our trip to go to where we'll meet up with the Illinois Route 66 Association's annual motor tour which will be meeting up at Pacific, Missouri, outside St. Louis to start the cruise, I promise we will eventually actually get there, or at least to some spot along Route 66 in Missouri.

However, we're still, on June 10th, Thursday morning, about 50 miles from Lebanon, Missouri, the closest Route 66 spot. We had bought a copy of the Fratelli's "Costello Music" album at a used CD store in Jefferson City for $5.99 yesterday, June 9th. This is the one that has the Blackhawk chant on it "Chelsea Dagger." Needless to say, the album got played a lot, and the song even more for the rest of the trip.

I should also mention that yesterday, we bought some of Burger King's new ribs in Moberly, Missouri. Who would have figured you'd ever have the opportunity to buy ribs at a Burger King? You've come a long way, baby. When I was working at the BK in Palatine, Illinois, back in high school, I would have never thought it. But, then again, back then, a Whopper went for a whoppin' 49 cents.

The ribs were considerably more than 49 cents, actually, around $7.99 for the large order. They were very tasty, but too small for the amount they were charging.

Still Not on 66. --RoadDog

Vandalia's Grand Levee

Illinois is fortunate to have some of the biggest names in historical roads, including Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, and the National Road. All have excellent signage, so you don't even really need a map to drive them.

This weekend, the former state capital in Vandalia will be hosting its 39th annual Grand Levee (so-named after the parties and festvities which were held back in the 1830s when dignitaries visited).

This year's will also be in conjuction with the Illinois National Road Festival, in which many of the towns along the Illinois stretch will be hosting activities. We went to this festival a few years ago after the Route 66 Association of Illinois' Motor Tour, and had a good time at several of the towns. Old Abe was walking the grounds of the state capitol in Vandalia. You can also see one of the famous Madonna of the Trails.

Vandalia was the seat on Illinois government from 1836-1838 until Abraham Lincoln and others had it moved to Springfield.

Good Times in an Old Town. --RoadDog