Outside Stuff on Illinois' Route 66-- Part 2: Waterfall Glen and The Forge in Lemont

WATERFALL GLEN FOREST PRESERVE, Interstate 55 and Lemont Road, Lemont

This place has pretty much any outdoor activity that you might want to do.  There are 11 miles of meandering trails and you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, all just a short drive from the Mother Road.  

As implied, it has several tiered waterfalls and 740-plus documented species of native plants.  For you birders, it also hosts hundreds of species of our fine feathered friends.

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THE FORGE, LEMONT QUARRIES 1001 Main Street, Lemont

Get ready for some real adventure at The Forge.  Built in and around the picturesque Lemont Quarries, the place has rope courses, zip lines, climbing walls, mountain biking and an assortment of trails for all abilities.

There is also a 1,000 foot zip line.

I Don't Think So.  --RoadNoWay

New Sites Added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail in 2020

From the March 1, 2020, Chicago Tribune by Adrian Sainz, AP.

Two sites in Kentucky and two in Tennessee have been added to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

The Mohammad Ali Center in Louisville and the SEEK Museum in Russellville are the two new sites in Kentucky.  In Memphis, Tennessee, the Beale Street Historic District and the WDIA radio station were  added to the trail which was launched in 2018 to promote civil rights tourism.

The Civil Rights Trail includes about 120 churches, schools, courthouses, musuems and other landmarks, primarily between Topeka, Kansas, and Washington, D.C., that were important to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

--RoadDog

Along 66, July 2019: On Horseshoes

JULY 15--  How About a Horseshoe Trail in Illinois.  It seems that places all over have been going crazy with the ideas of Trails.  A road trip that involves several to many similar places in an area.  I mean, there are Bourbon Trails and BBQ Trails.

This one involves that Central Illinois gastronomic goodie called Horseshoes.  For those of you who don't know, a horseshoe is a thick-sliced toasted piece of bread loaded with various meats and covered with fries smothered in cheese sauces.

Credit for its creation goes to the LeLand Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, right down the street from the Illinois State Capitol.

A smaller version is called a Ponyshoe--  Get It!!  (I had to ask the first time we had one at Norb Andy's.  There are also breakfast horseshoes with hash browns instead of cheese sauce and gravy.

Writer to the Illinois Times newspaper Tony Leone is proposing this.

You Go, Tony.  Sign Me Up!  --RoadShoe

Along 66. Feb. 2019: Another Bicyclist Killed

FEBRUARY 22--  Another bicyclist is killed on Route 66 west of Galena, less than two years after two German cyclists were killed.

The Kansas Historical Route 66 Association has placed a Ghost Bicycle near the spot, painted white.

If motorcycling Route 66 is fun, bicycling it must be even better, but there is, unfortunately, not a lot of it, other than in Illinois, that has been turned into a bicycle trail.  I fully support making large stretched of the abandoned 66 into bike trails.

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, May 2016: Jensen's Point Reopening and Illinois Bike Trail

From the Route 66 News site.

MAY 6--  A formal celebration was held for the new California monuments recently designated national monuments in the state.  This includes the Mojave Trails National Monument which includes Route 66.

MAY 7--  The Jensen's Point grand reopening is set for May 30 at 2 p.m. in Pacific, Missouri.  It was built in 1939 by the CCC.  Now, if I can just get up all those steps I'm sure the view will be worth it.

MAY 9-  McLean County in Illinois is seeking an expansion of its Route 66 Bicycle Trail.  They want to complete seven miles of the trail outside the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area.  they propose 4 more miles between Towanda and Lexington and 3.25 miles south of Shirley toward Funk's Grove and eventually want it across the whole county.  They have already scheduled work on 2.5 miles north of Towanda.

I look forward to one day there being a bike trail across all of Route 66.

And, it sure is good to see that Mclean County, and especially Bloomington-Normal is finally becoming aware of its Route 66 heritage.

Running On Full: A BBQ Trip Across North Carolina-- Part 1

From the Feb. 2016 Our State magazine by Bryan Mims.

A guide to eating your way through the 23 places on the North Carolina Historic Barbecue Trail.

You drive the trail and eat at these places you've had a good sampling of what there is to offer in Carolina Barbecue.

From East to West:

Skylight Inn BBQ--  Ayden
B's Barbecue--  Greenville
Jack Cobb & Son Barbecue--  Farmville

Wilbers Barbecue--  Goldsboro
Grady's BBQ--  Dudley
Stephenson's Bar-B-Q--  Willow Spring

Allen & Son--  Chapel Hill
Hursey's--  Burlington
Stamey's--  Greensboro

More to Eat.  --RoadDog

Mississippi's Blues Trail-- Part 1: Highway 61 Revisited...and More!

From the June 7, 2015, Chicago Tribune "On Mississippi's Blues Trail" by Lara Weber.

If you're a blues fan (and I am) this is a good cruise for you going through towns like Tupelo, Clarksdale, Vicksburg (and Civil War there as well) and Biloxi and lots of others.  This is where "the ghosts of the musicians who played the blues, who invented the blues, float above the fields."

Such as Charley Patton (don't know him), Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters are here and many others, many of whom are much lesser known.  Bob Stroud played Muddy Waters' 1977 "Mannish Boy" on his Ten at ten on WDRV.

And, it is not just along U.S. Highway 61, the 1,400 mile road between New Orleans and Minnesota which is often referred to as "The Blues Highway."  But, its key stretch is in northwestern Mississippi in the region known as the Delta.

In 2003, the Mississippi Blues Commission was created to promote the blues and their main effort came in installing Mississippi Blues Trail markers across the state  The first ones were installed in 2006 and now number 186.

I Refer to Them As Blues On a Stick.  --RoadDog

On the "Grapes of Wrath" Route 66 Trail-- Part 1

From the Dec. 29, 2014, National Geographic Online "On the 'Grapes of Wrath' Trail, the Dust Bowl Still Resonates" by Barbara Paulson.

The author of the article is retracing Steinbeck's route he described in his famous book from 75 years ago.  This is the first of three parts.

A map accompanies the article which features towns not on Route 66: Sallisaw (on the east border of Oklahoma); Hooker, Guyman and Boise City (in the Oklahoma panhandle and Liberal, Kansas, right by the Oklahoma panhandle.  This made me want to know what these towns had to do with the book.

The book is a depiction "of industrial agriculture squeezing out small farmers, climate-driven environmental woes, and migrant workers at the mercy of big landowners."

Sums It Up pretty Well.  --RoadDog

Food Trails Reach Across the Country-- Part 3

Some other food trails worth eating:

THE CONNECTICUT CHOCOLATE TRAIL identifies sweet shops where world-renowned chocolatiers and local artisans create handmade goodies.

NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ICE CREAM TRAIL-- The state has more than 130 dairy farms and this trail spotlights 39 ice cream stands and shops offering locally-made you-know-what. I scream, you know the rest.

THE APPLE PIE TRAIL in Orange County, New York. Includes more than a dozen orchards and farms producing 25 varieties of apples, many offering pick-your-own and fresh pies. I bet there's a few caramel apples, too.

CALIFORNIA CHEESE TRAIL-- Over 50 miles in Sonomo and Marin copunties with two dozen cheese artisans offering farm and creamery tours. Hey, and tasting, too. Wisconsin is so jealous.

FRUIT AND WINE TRAIL in Palisade, Colorado. Learn how fruit, wine and farm products are grown, prepared and marketed. Known as the Peach Capital of Colorado, the area also produces apples, apricots, cherries, pears, plums, melons, chili peppers and more.

Something Every State Tourisn Department Should Get Involved With. Nothing Like Eating Your Way Across a State. --RoadDog

Food Trails Reach Across the Country-- Part 2: SC, the Birthplace of Barbecue?

Most (of the South Carolina BBQ joints) are small, family-owned restaurants and roadside stands witn recipess handed down through the generations, some in one-of-a-kind settings, too. The Schoolhouse BBQ in Scranton, for example, is housed in a renovated former African-American schoolhouse." I wonder if that would be one of those Rosenwald Schools?)

And, South Carolina claims to be the birthplace of barbecue (though I'm sure this is open to debate). Experts at Drayton Hall, the country's oldest unrestored plantation house, "have established the state as the birthplace of barbecue, dating to the 16th century when Native Americans introduced it to Spanish colonists."

Up Next, Some Other Food Trails. --RoadDog

Food Trails Reach Across the Country-- Part 1

From the Nov. 10, 2013, Chicago Tribune by Irene Smith.

The last several days I wrote about the Barn Quilt Trails in Ohio and other states.

Now, it is time to write about Food Trails. As the subheading said, "Barbecue, pies and more on tourism maps." "Trails aren't just for hiking. Increasingly, state and local tourism officials are creating trail itineraries to showcase the unique culinary traditons of a state or region."

South Carolina is known for its beaches and golf, but tourisn officials are hoping to lure tourists inland for food, more specifically, SC BBQ. " A new SC Barbecue Trail 9bbq.discoversoutcarolina.com) identifies more than 162 barbecue joints across the state where travelers can find 'slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone, good ole' barbecue.'"

And, that's good stuff, though mustard-based in the SC places I've eaten.

But, Like I Said, I've Never Met a 'Cue I Didn't Like. --RoadDog

Ohio's Barn Quilts-- Part 2

Today, there are over 4,000 quilt squares on barns and other buildings in 34 states, most located on 120 designated barn quilt trails. Suzi Parron, author of Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement, says, "The trails are very localized. What's going on is local pride."

Quilt squares are painted by farmers, professional artists, high school art students, quilt guilds, 4-H groups and other organizations. Local communities put together their quilt trails and seek grants to cover the materials. Local minicipal departments and people volunteer services.

Barn quilts remind people of their agricultural roots (especially for areas like our McHenry County in Illinois which used to be very farming until the growth of Chicago outward). In Morgan County, Colorado, enthusiast Nancy Lauck, 65, has painted nearly 200 barn quilts since 2007. She has painted 16 small quilt squares on her family's 1909 cattle barn in Fort Morgan.

Many barn owners have also repaired and renovated their barns after receiving a quilt.

It's a Movement I Can Barn. --RoadDog

Down Da 66--Grants, We're #2, and Gas Pumps

Some recent news from Route 66.

1. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY-- Route 66 sociologists who have led four student trips along Route 66 in the past five years have received a federal grant. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out any other information on it. However, I commend these professors. Anytime we can get the younger generation interested and even knowledgeable about old roads, that is a GOOD thing.

2. UK MOTORCYCLISTS RANK 66 NUMBER 2-- In a survey by Bennets Insurance and published on the UK's Motorcycle News, our road came up in second place with 27% of the vote. Number one was the 250 mile long Great Ocean Road in southern Australia. Third place was of interest, Southeast Asia's Ho Chi Minh Trail.

I didn't know that the Ho Chi Minh Trail was still open, but sure heard about it a lot during the Vietnam War. US troops being sent into Cambodia to attack this trail was what prompted the Kent State Massacre and the resulting turmoil on college campuses across the US back in 1970.

I can personally attest to how great a drive the Great Ocean Drive is, having toured that back in 2003. If you ever get to Melbourne, visit it.

3. JOLIET, ILLINOIS-- As part of their "Joliet Kicks on Rt. 66" campaign, five different fiberglass replica gas pumps have been placed around town. Each has a placard in back describing the significance of its location. They are located at:

Texaco by the Rialto
Mobil at the Joliet Area Historical Museum
Sinclair at the Will County Court House
Standard Oil at the intersection of Chicago and Cass streets.
Shell in the Route 66 Park

This was made possible in part by a $150,000 Attraction Grant from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

They also have a "Joliet Kicks on Rt 66" lighted ice cream cone at the Rich and Creamy Ice Cream stand next to the Route 66 Park, and a 12 foot tall "Joliet Kicks on Rt 66" shield in the park.

Personally, I would have liked to see a "Joliet Licks on Rt 66" sign at the ice cream stand. Pretty good play on words.

Now, if we could just get Dairy Queen to buy their original store, also located on Route 66 in Joliet. This would make a great place for a company museum.

However, Joliet is one Route 66 city that has definitely embraced its heritage. Congratulations.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog

Virginia's Indian Heritage Trail

I always like it when someone comes up with a trail excursion for historic sites, and that is just what the state of Virginia has done. It was created to "portray the Virginian Indian in appropriate light." It hopes to prove that the history of Virginia's tribes did not begin and end with Jamestown.

I like to take a linear approach to history, be it going down Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, or The Bourbon Trail and John Hunt Morgan Trail in Kentucky.

The 80 page interpretive guide is available free of charge at any of Virginia's main points of entry (interstates).

Yesterday, the Northwest Herald ran an Associated Press article titled "Virginia revisits its tribal roots on trail".

Part of the trail leads to the Monacan Ancestral Museum in Amherst County where you can learn about Virginia's "Lost Tribe". They claim that they were able to survive for hundreds of years after the colonists came because they were extremely isolated.

The guide also includes photos, histories of Virginia's eight state-recognized tribes, events and places to visit.
Its creators found and researched over 100 museums and sites in the state and narrowed them down to the ones listed. Many of the ones they visited were left off the list because some displays used language offensive to Indians, and some even sold rubber tomahawks and feathered headdresses.

I went online to check out the site. It is not entirely on the web, but there was a list of Native American related sites in the state. I don't if they're in the trail guide.

ABRAM'S DELIGHT- Abraham Hollingsworth traveled the Wilderness Trail when it was still an Indian path. His home is in Winchester.

MATTAPON MUSEUM and MINNE HA HA (well, I have to wonder about the last one), located in the Tidewater Region at West Point- source of handcrafted traditional articles and artifacts, some as old as 5000 years. They also have Pochahontas' necklace on display. Both places have educational programs, pottery, beadwork, cooking, and Indian medicines.

My Hat's Off to Virginia for Their Efforts in This. --RoadDog