Next Up, the Lincoln Highway in Illinois-- Part 2

The two new murals in Aurora and Joliet will join 17 interpretive gazebos constructed mostly in the last year. These gazebos, in conspicuous places, not only offer a spot of shade, but through panels, tell the story of the Lincoln Highway and its impact on the town they're located in.

In addition, other murals have been installed in the towns of Creston, Dekalb and Rochelle. A total of 40 of them are planned for the route.

It is hoped that these murals will get families off the interstates to experience the shops, restaurants and small-town USA. The sooner they realize that the drive is as much a part of the trip as the destination, like us road folk, they more enjoyment they will have. As we see it, the trip is every bit as important as where you're headed.

All of this doesn't come free. The murals alone are valued at $10,000 apiece and are funded by grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce. I don't know what the gazebos cost or who pays for it, but would figure that to be around $10,000 each as well.

I myself am a member of both the Route 66 Association of Illinois and the Lincoln Highway Association of Illinois. So I am into those old asphalt strips.

Crusin' Down That Old Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog

Next Up, the Lincoln Highway in Illinois-- Part 1

The December 9th Chicago Tribune "Murals to tell Lincoln Highway history" by Patrick Ferrell.

This article is primarily about the two 200-foot long murals in Joliet and Aurora, Illinois. Aurora downtown was a scary place in the early 1900s until the city spent lots of money for streetlights. Travelers camped in Joliet's Pilcher Park in the days before motels.

Both cities were connected by America's first transcontinental road, the Lincoln Highway which ran 179 miles across Illinois from Lynwood on the east by Indiana to Fulton on the Mississippi.

Both Indiana and Illinois were the first states to have what were called
Seedling Miles" which were paved mile stretches to show the possibilities of a national series of "hard" roads (meaning those that were paved).

The very first "seedling mile" was by Malta (west of Dekalb and home of Northern Illinois University as I sit here typing in my Huskies tee shirt). It is located in front of Kishwaukee College.

Back to Lincoln. --RoadDog

Talkin' About US-6-- Part 1

From the Nov. 4th York (NE) News-Times. "Route 6 landmark opens in Sutton."

I tell you, Route 6 can't get no respect. None at all. Folks only hear about Route 66 and maybe the Lincoln Highway or National Road, but rarely does the Grand Army of the Republic Highway (or is it Road) come up.

Such disrespect for the second longest highway in the US (#1 US-20 is 120 miles longer).

Like most early numbered US highway, US-6 was put together by a series of existing roads from Cape Cod to California and it could also be called the Capital Road as it passes through five state capitals, including Lincoln in Nebraska.

I have driven stretches of it through Iowa and Illinois. It's another road I want to drive the entire length.

It's a 6 Thing, You Might Not Understand. --RoadDog

David Wickline's 66 Roadhouse-- Part 2-- Good Eatin' at the Roadhouse

The address of his place is 480 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, Ohio. It is just south of I-275 on the north side of Columbus. You can find the web site at www.roadhouse66.com.

Phone 614-505-6140.

He serves breakfast as well and features 5 cent cups of Wide-A-Wake coffee since he has an old sign that says "Coffee 5 Cents." Most of the prices on the menu end in 66 cents.

One really fine appetizer is the CFB as in Country-Fried Bacon. Never had anything like it before.

No item on the menu is over $9.99! Something I can definitely live with. That $9.99 item is a thick-cut 8 ounce Cattleman's Pan-fried sirloin sprinkled with cactus dust. (I would have to find out exactly what cactus dust is.)

More Good Eatin' to Come. --RoadDog

2009 Thanksgiving Trip to NC-- Part 4

IS WEST VIRGINIA TURNING CHICAGO?-- It appears the West Virginia Turnpike is pulling a page out of the Chicago playbook, and that is that they significantly jumped the price of driving along I-77 south of Charleston. I am fairly sure that the last time I drove it, it cost $1.25 at each of the three toll plazas. It was $2 at each this time. Big increases is a Chicago trick. Seriously cuts into my bbq eating funds.

At least the people taking your money were friendly and pleasant, unlike on the Illinois tollways where gruff is often what you get for your dough.


WHAT'S WITH THOSE WV GAS PRICES?-- I always try to fill up in Ohio or Virginia as West Virginia ALWAYS has higher gas prices. It is usually 20 cents higher off the interstate and this last time, $2.95 at the oases. Never understood why their gas prices would be so high. Must be a COAL THING.


FRIGHTENING TRUCK RUNAWAY LANES-- It always gives a moment of reflection when I drive the last miles of I-77 in Virginia coming down out of the mountains and see the signs saying truck runaway lane ahead. The last thing I would want to see is one of those big rigs coming up behind me as full speed as that grill gets bigger and bigger in the rear view mirror. Probably WOULD be the last thing I saw.

However, I'd rather have these lanes going up the side of the mountains than not. Something I can live with.


TUNNELING MY WAY THROUGH THE APPS-- Don't forget to turn on and off your lights at the two long tunnels you go through on I-77. Boy, those trucks really fly through these. Guess there is no fear that old Barney might be running a radar.

It's a Road Thing, You Wouldn't Understand. --RoadDog

David Wickline's 66 Roadhouse-- Part 1

Back on November 24th, I wrote about visiting David Wickline's 66 Roadhouse Bar and Grille north of Columbus, Ohio.

The stated reason was to have him sign my copy of his "Images of 66 Vol. I." We had bought it from Laurel Kane at Afton Station back on our 2006 end-to-end Route 66 trip and found it very useful on the rest of our trip. We didn't have to take as many pictures and his captions provided excellent information. As I said before, anyone considering taking a trip on 66 really needs to have this book along with Jerry McClanahan's "E-Z Guide."

At Laurel's suggestion, we had people sign pictures of their places along the way as an extra keepsake. I bought his "Images of 66 Vol. 2 from him at the 2008 Route 66 Festival in Litchfield, Illinois.

My belief is that David really took the idea of showing off his collection to the extreme. Imagining opening up a restaurant and bar just to show it off. Now that is some commitment to the old road.

Since Route 66 is nowhere near Columbus, this place also just might get more people interested in the road, an added bonus.

Up Next, His Collection and Food. --RoadDog

Road-Travelin' Tunes

This past trip to North Carolina was a country one as far as CDs I listened to going and coming. These were all in the letter "A" and ones I had not gotten around to listening to earlier.

Of course, I was also careful to do a radio check from time to time. I found a really good station from Farmer City, Illinois, which played blues, bluegrass, Americana and all sorts of stuff you don't hear often on the radio. It goes over the web so I now have it as an alternative station when I am not listening to the Beach Music Ones.

It goes by the name "The Whip." I'm not sure if it is strictly local or if there is a national network that the local one taps into.

The four CDs I listened to:

"X"-- Trave Adkins
"Honesty"-- Rodney Atkins
"Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll"-- Keith Anderson
"Triple Feature"-- by Alabama. This was a compilation of their first three albums: "My Home's in Alabama," "Feels So Right," and "Mountain Music." I have all three on albums, but haven't listened to them in years. Really good stuff.

Kickin' It Out on Da Road. --RoadDog

Eating Around Goldsboro, NC-- Part 2

BBQ SANDWICH


I should also mention the great Carolina bbq sandwich I had at Dowdy-Ficklin stadium in Greenville when I attended the East Carolina-Southern Mississippi game Nov. 29th. This puts the stadium right at the top of my list when it comes to REALLY GREAT football food.

It cost $5 and filled me up to the point I didn't want a second one, even though I thought about it.

We were hoping the Dail fried chicken restaurant in Snow Hill mentioned as the best in North Carolina would be open on our way back to Goldsboro, but it was still closed. Obviously, it is closed on Saturdays.

I did try a Hardee's Thickburger for the first time when we got back to Goldsboro. This is one really good sandwich, right up there with McDonald's Angus Burger.


CENTRAL LUNCH

Located in downtown Goldsboro and in business since around 1905. My great Grandfather often ate here as it was just a block from his tire store. A few years ago it was majorly renovated and updated. A great place to get in the Christmas spirit with all the decorations inside and out.

Mom had boasted about how good their Friday flounder dinner special was, so tried it. She was right.

For $8.26, we got two large filets, two sides, and some really fine old-timey biscuits. I could have made a meal just on those biscuits.

Good Eatin' in e Neighborhood. --RoadDog

Pearl Harbor Day

Today marks the 68th anniversary of the event that sent the US officially into World War II. I say "officially" because it was very apparent we were preparing for the war years in advance.

How we were caught so much by surprise is still a mystery to me. It should never have happened.

I have written many entries about Pearl Harbor on my http:cootershistorything.blogspot.com blog.

Sadly, the ranks of the survivors of the event grow thinner every passing day.

Pearl Harbor is a major interest of mine ever since I read Walter Lord's book "Day of Infamy" back in junior high. My students had a one and later three day mini lesson on it the last twenty years I taught.

This is also my seventh entry for the month.

The Greatest Generation. --RoadDog

Down Da Road: The Ten Foot Rooster-- Luminary Tour

Some New News About Old Roads.


1. THE TEN FOOT ROOSTER-- I came across an article in the Nov. 13th Orlando (Fl) Sentinel about Barberville Produce in Pierson, Florida, that sounds like a real good place to stop when you're in the state. It is a two acre menagerie of all sorts of stuff, including a ten foot high rooster that you can take home for $2,300 and become the envy or scourge of your neighborhood.

The place is located at the intersection of US-17 and Florida Highway 40.

You can also buy cast iron Clydesdale's, buffalo, bears, lions, alligators and street lights. There is also a scale model of the Statue of Liberty placed in such a way as to attract tourists.

Only about 1% of visitors are locals, the rest from elsewhere as Fl-40 connects I-75 and I-95.



2. LUMINARY TOUR-- For you Route 66 enthusiasts, the Wilson Creek National Battlefield Park near Springfield, Missouri, is hosting their 6th annual Luminary Drive Tour December 12th.

A luminary is a bag filled with sand at the bottom and a lit candle. Volunteers will light them, then visitors can drive a five mile tour. There will be 2,539 luminaries, one for every soldier killed, wounded and missing in that battle.

People can get a better realization of the number after seeing the luminaries.

On the Road Again. --RoadDog

Eating Around Goldsboro, NC

I had that good old Carolina bbq three. I just could not go to the Tarheel state without savoring some of that good stuff.


WILBER'S

Of course, one definite stop had to be Wilber's out on US-70 Bypass. and serving that bbq since the 1960s. It is now $8 for a platter with the 'cue, two sides and hushpuppies. I also get double cole slaw. To me, the proper way to eat bbq is to have some on each forkful along with coleslaw. Then, wash it down with sweet tea.

The inside of Wilber's with its red checkered table cloths, old wooden chairs and pine paneling just seems to say this is a proper place to consume barbecue.


McCALL'S

Another day, we went to McCall's which is on the other side of US-7- about a half mile away. I like their bbq just as well, but this is also a buffet. Along with salads and vegetables, you can also get fried chicken, bbq chicken, ribs, cracklings, bbq beef, fish and Calabash shrimp. It cost $10 on Sunday after church. Drinks are extra.

I should also mention some of the best peach and blueberry cobbler and banana pudding you'll find anywhere. There is also a new McCall's that has opened in Clayton, outside of Raleigh and across from another good 'cue place called Smithfield's.

Fightin' the Cue Wars. --RoadDog

Thanksgiving 2009-- Part 3

I-77 through West Virginia has lots and lots of roadwork, all causing you to slow down to 55 from 70 with lots of warnings of dire consequences if you don't. Several of the road construction sites, essentially every overpass,had speed detectors that flashed how fast you're driving.

Paid my $6 at the three toll booths ($2 each) on the West Virginia Turnpike south of Charleston. Then drove through the tunnel separating West Virginia and Virginia.

You can really see Pilot Mountain (or Mount Pilot as Andy Taylor would call it) in North Carolina as you descend down the mountain in Virginia before entering North Carolina. It is many miles away at this point, but very noticeable.

Sadly, I missed having one of those mouth watering pork chop sandwiches at Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy, NC, the inspiration for Andy Taylor's Mayberry. Had to settle for grazing at the local Golden Corral.

Took US-52 to I-40 by Winston-Salem and was pleased not to encounter any traffic jams during the rush hour until I hit one by RDU Airport that lasted most of the way around Raleigh.

Way Too Much Driving. --RoadDog

Thanksgiving 2009-- Part 2

Gibson City also has a drive in theater called the Harvest Moon, but it is one with billboard screens. Not really impressive but still a drive in.

Odometer read 27,904 when I got in I-74 in Mahomet, Illinois. At the Illinois border, it read 27,952 at 12:02 PM.

Drove to Indianapolis where I picked up I-70 and took it to Columbus, Ohio, where I took I-270 north to David Wickline's 66 Roadhouse, a premier place for all road fans to stop.

Then, on to Zanesville, where I also found McRibs being back at the McDonald's west of town by the Super 8. Unfortunately, too full of an onion burger and CFB from David's. No McRibs for me.

Driving the National Road. Took this historic route through Zanesville to Cambridge, crossing the famous Y-Bridge and stopping to photograph both S-Bridges.

On the Road Again. --RoadDog

Thanksgiving 2009

I left Nov. 19, 2009 at 7:19 with 27,738 miles and arrived in Goldsboro in the evening of Nov. 20th after driving 1,087 miles. Two days of driving and a night spent at the Super 8 in Zanesville, Ohio.

Stopped at the old crossroads called Starks Corner which has sadly replaced the old gas station and restaurant. Also sad, it is usually the most expensive places for gas on the always expensive Il. Highway 47.

There is one of the largest Wind Farms I've ever seen located east of Odell, Illinois, stretching from Route 66 all the way past Il-47 for about a mile. Everywhere you look, there are windmills with those huge blades.

This past September, we saw one on a modified truck and it was huge. We've seen a big one near Lucille's in Oklahoma, but I think this is better.

Real good news. There was a sign at the McDonald's in Gibson City that the "McRib is Back." That is REALLY GOOD NEWS, but unfortunately, I had had a double bacon cheeseburger at the BP station in Dwight so was full. I am a REALLY BIG fan of these sandwiches. I didn't see it advertised at any other McDonald's along 47.

Sure Would Have Liked to Have Had One. --RoadDog

National Road

Finally back at home after 15 days going to and returning from North Carolina where I had Thanksgiving with family.

I did manage to drive a short section of the National Road in Ohio earlier today from Jackson Town to Reynoldsburg. I had planned to drive from west of Zanesville, but it was just too foggy, rainy, and overcast. It finally let up when I got to Jackson Town.

Saw Clark's where I had that excellent chicken dinner and pie (they're famous for it and get lots of Columbus folks driving out for a bite, especially on the weekends.

Lots of neat old homes along the way.

All in all,I definitely like the National Road east of Columbus better than the Ohio stretch west of it.

Drivin' Them Old Roads. --RoadDog