Denny's Back to Cruisin' Again-- Part 4: Western Terminus of US-20 and Those Mom and Pop Motels

On Day 26, July 1, Denny dropped down from Washington state and picked  up the western terminus of US Highway 20.

In Newport, Oregon, there is a sign marking it as the western terminus reading "US 20 East  Boston, MA  3,365 miles.  I wish all U.S. and state roads would have terminus signs like that.  Most people driving them have no clue where the roads actually end up going.  I have never met a person who knows the ends of US-12.  They are always shocked when I tell them.  And, US-12 is a major road around northeastern Illinois.

And, US-20 is of particular interest to us because that is the road we take from Marengo, Illinois, when we go out to Galena, Illinois.  Liz and I spent out honeymoon in Galena before it got as popular as it is today.

One thing I was amazed at was how Denny Gibson kept finding all those nice mom and pop motels for most of the trip.  We prefer mom and pop motels because they are the underdogs competing with the huge chains and usually family owned.  Not to mention also that they are generally a bit cheaper.

But, you have to be careful about the mom and pops as some of them are a bit more than a little seedy to put it nicely.  But, generally you can tell by the outside premises if it is a good place or not.

--RoadDog

N.C. Jan. 2017-- Part 34: The "Begin U.S.-421" Sign

JANUARY 17, 2017, TUESDAY

Well, I'm at the very southern terminus of US Highway (Route)-421.  There is a parking area and boat launch there by "The Rocks" and Battery Buchanan.  And, I really like the "Begin I.S. 421" sign.  On the other side, it has a "End U.S.-421 sign.  I wish all highway termini would have these signs.

Unfortunately, it doesn't say where or how far the northern terminus is.   That would have been even neater if they did have it.

Of course, US-421 is the one we would get on by Wilmington and take it to Carolina Beach, North Carolina, where I spent lots of time growing up.  It is also the bridge over Snow's Cut, where you got that wonderful first-glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean, meaning "You have ARRIVED at the Beach.  Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!"

And, of course, from there you drive through Kure Beach to FORT FISHER!!  So you know how important this stretch of road is to me.

The Road to Paradise.  --RoadDog

N.C. Summer Trip 2015-- Part 18: US-421 and Big Daddy's

After visiting "The Rocks" and Battery Buchanan, Mom and I got back on US-421.  "The Rocks" and battery mark the southern terminus of US-421 and there is a sign saying this is the beginning of 421.  I wish every terminus of every road would have one of these.  The other side of the sign says end of US-421.

I have driven this road all the way from its northern terminus in Michigan City, Indiana, at US-20 to "The Rocks."  It is especially pretty from Madison, Indiana, on the Ohio River to Richmond, Kentucky.  Then you get all the mountain driving you could ever want.

We drove back to Kure Beach and stopped at Big Daddy's Seafood Restaurant, which has a marker saying it was the landing site for the first attack on Fort Fisher.  The place has been there at least since the 1940s.  They had a fish and shrimp lunch special dinners for $12 each.  Not only was it good, but plentiful as we had enough left over for a great lunch the next day..

Driving and Feasting.  --RoadDog

Route 66 Revisited

Some news of the Mother Road:

1. SPRINGFIELD, IL- I got some of this story as I didn't want to pay to get the whole thing- A Springfield railroad enthusiast has made a very detailed scale model of the newly remodeled and reopened Union Station. This cost $12.5 million and is located right across from the Lincoln Museum and Library and will serve as Springfield's tourist center. There is still a lot of controversy as some still think it was money ill-spent. I have seen it and it is ONE impressive structure.

2. Ron Warnick's ROUTE 66 NEWS on the death of Ladybird Johnson, said that hers was a mixed legacy to Route 66. Her 1965 Highway Beautification Act, while it did make America's roads more scenic without the clutter of billboards, really hurt struggling Route 66 businesses as billboards along the interstates were the only way to get customers off the interstates.

3. There was some discussion on a website about the WESTERN TERMINUS of Route 66. Actually, it is at the corner of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica. However, Swa Franzen of www.historic66.com said its spiritual endpoint at Palisades Park at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Ocean Drive because of the Will Rogers historical plaque.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog