Great Idea in the Quad Cities

This is one really great thing to happen for public transit and for party folks. You can now hop on a bus and get driven to the down towns of all four Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa along the Mississippi River.

We'll have to check it out the next time we visit as I always get lost in the Q-C. To me, you're either east or west of the Mississippi River. Here, you're north and south of it. I know full well that is the case, but it doesn't make any difference. My mind won't accept north and south, so here's old dog going the wrong way all the time.

Like I said, it connects all four down towns: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Rock Island and Moline in Illinois.

Even better, all this week, it is free. After that, it is $1 between each two towns, or you can get an all day pass for $3. The buses are orange and have the word Loop on them in regards to the 14-mile loop they make. They can carry 30 people and operate Thursday to Saturdays from 5 pm to 1:30 am and Sundays from 11:30 am to 6 pm.

An Idea Whose Time Has Come. Wonder If We Can get a Party Bus Like That Out Here in the Suburbs? --RoadDog

Topicin' the Eagles Trip

Setting the topics for our five day expedition.

FEBRUARY 2nd, TUESDAY: No Hog-- Slip Slidin' Thataway-- Baldies in 'Buque-- Eatin' Cat-- Drinkin' Clinton


FEBRUARY 3rd, WEDNESDAY: Up Close and Personal-- Baldie Nirvana-- Quad Cities-- NTNin'-- Grazin' at the Corral-- Poolin' Out


FEBRUARY 4th, THURSDAY: Poolin' Out Again-- Serious Bar Hoppin'-- NTNin' at Old Chicago with the Zog


FEBRUARY 5th, FRIDAY: Didn't Get Lost-- "Da Lost Eagle"-- Eatin' Lincoln-- Da Dean-- NTNin'-- Da Lincoln Highway Crawl-- NTN at Fatty's-- Deep-Fried Cajun 'Tater Salad


February 6th, SATURDAY: Lincoln Highway Crawl Redux-- B-Ball at the Convo-- Huskies Lose-- Fat Boyz-- McD Deja Vu

So, That's About It. --RoadDog

Back Home Again

Arrived back home last night after a successful eagle watching expedition to the Mississippi River. I'm using a count of 40 and Liz says we saw 50. As long as you see one, you have been successful. Then there was the unexpected one I wrote about yesterday.

We played at five new NTN Buzztime sites and two others that we had already played at.

Saw lots of great roads, sites, and drives as well as the Lincoln Highway in Clinton, Iowa, and from Dixon to Dekalb, Illinois.

Plus, quite a bit of barhopping: Tuesday-- 3; Wednesday 3, Thursday 4; Friday 7: and yesterday 3. That's 20 in five days.

Good eating too: J&D's Steakhouse in Clinton, Golden Corral in Davenport, Old Chicago in Bettendorf, Lincoln Way Cafe in Franklin Grove, Fatty's in Dekalb and McDonald's in Woodstock (McRib's, what can I say). And, we had great prices on those meals as well. I had two whole catfish dinners, one for $7.99 and the other for $6,25.

Stayed four days in three motels as well with one free and the others averaging $80 with tax.

Dekalb shocked us with their 10% sales tax. What do they think they are, Chicago?

Great Trip and Hoping to get back on the Road Again Around the 15th of This Month. --RoadDog

Bald Eagle Flying Along Lincoln Highway in Illinois

We had a pleasant surprise yesterday while driving along the Lincoln Highway in Illinois a few miles west of Franklin Grove. Liz was looking at the fields when she saw a bird she first thought to be a sea gull, but, as it got closer, it was way too big, plus, it had that tell-tale white head and white tail feathers.

Here was our nation's symbol flying over flat fields quite far from the Mississippi River and a great addition to our 40-50 bald eagles that we've seen so far this week, not to mention an unexpected one.

We doubled back to see it, but by then it had flown off into a copse of trees and we waited but didn't see it again.

Too Bad, But, Wow!!! --RoadDog

Two Old Farts Doing the Lincoln Crawl-- Part 1

Well, these days, it is more of a tottering than crawl, but at least with a crawl, you're closer to the ground.

Arrived in Dekalb, Illinois, yesterday, and after a two hour talk with the Dean of the College of Education at Northern Illinois about an endowment, we checked into the Magnuson Inn & Suites on Il-38, the old Lincoln Highway.

We then hit the road to do some NTNin' and visiting old haunts.


TEQUILA ROADHOUSE

Our first stop was to visit a new place out on Greek Row, north of campus, called Tequila Roadhouse. They just got NTN which was the main reason for going, figuring that they had a Mexican/southwest ambiance. You know, "One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!!"

Were we in for a surprise.

The first thing I noticed on walking in was a complete set of all eight Route 66 state shields along one wall.

Then, I saw a 66 shield on the bar. Mentioned to the bartender as he was getting out boards that we appreciated all the Route 66 stuff, something you don't expect to see at a college bar. He said to look at the bar.

Wow!

Starting at one end and working its way along to the other were a series of postcards and pictures of the Mother Road starting in Chicago and working its way to Santa Monica, along with shields and the crest of every fraternity on campus these days, unfortunately, no Delta Sigma Phi since we have now had two chapters fold.


SOME NTN

Sure didn't expect this pleasure. I don't think they will have NTN too long as on a Countdown as we started late and I played poorly on the last five questions, getting 3,300 points and had the number four score for the month. A 6,400 Buzz Time score landed me at number two.

The bartender was a Phi Sig whose house was right across the street (now that sure is handy. he said the owner also has a place in Wrigleyville in Chicago called the Roadhouse 66 and that has even more Route 66 stuff.

The bartender is in his last semester and can't wait to get out of town and to Chicago. I can't imagine anyone preferring Chicago to Dekalb. I sure wouldn't want to live there.

Remember our last guv, Blago, who wouldn't live in the governor's mansion, preferring instead to keep residence back in Chicago.

Hey, Just Getting Started Here. --RoadDog

Must Be a Very Endangered Time

I was looking at one of my alerts for Most Endangered and there sure are a lot of them out right now. Mighty long list.

Just today's had these places either announcing a list of most endangered or calling for people to submit endangered places: Texas, Colorado, Providence, Rhode Island, Knoxville/Knox County, Tennessee and District of Columbia.

February must be an endangered month. Wish it was. I don't have much good to say for it except that now I'm retired and can go elsewhere.

Feelin' a Mite Endangered Myself. --RoadDog

Norb Andy's is Back!!

While we were talking with the guy from Springfield, Illinois, he mentioned that a favorite place of ours is back, Norb Andy's. Until it closed several years ago, no trip along Route 66 in this town was complete without one trip to this venerable institution, located just a few blocks from the current state capitol building.

Loved those $1 drafts and just people watching. Our favorite was a very flamboyant lobbyist who was always there and worth a listen.

This is also where we had our very first-ever Central Illinois food called a horseshoe. That first time, we had seen the name at a bar and someone had told us Norb Andy's was the place to get one so we walked a short distance over to it.

This is where I also made the poignant question, "What's the difference between a horseshoe and a ponyshoe?"

We had once met the owner of the Alamo Bar (home of the local Blues Scene) at that bar and found out he also owned Norb Andy's but had closed when the city tore up the street in front of it. But, we've heard there may have been other reasons.

Anyway, we sure are glad it is open again and look forward to going downstairs once again.

And, speaking of downstairs, I see that the Riviera in Gardner is once again open and featuring all the great food they were so noted for.

Welcome Back, Norb. --RoadDog

Out Drinkin' in Clinton, Feb. 2nd-- Part 2

Our last stop was back at he Frontier Motel in Clinton, Iowa, where we checked out the lounge.

There weren't many people in it, but we were there in time for the Monday-Thursday 4 to 7 happy hour double bubbles, buy one get one free. Two pints for $2.75, a deal I can live with.

We sat next to a couple guys who we found out were in town working on the airport runways. It seems that there are always lots of out-of-town workers in Clinton working on some major project. The Super 8 there was always filled with them.

One was from Springfield, Illinois, one of our favorite towns and we talked about our favorite places there. We go often as it is on Route 66 and I am a big Civil War buff (Lincolnia, you know).

He had often been to the Lake Springfield Tavern, Capital City, Cozy Dog, D'Arcy's Pint, Coz's and Charlie Parker's. He liked our story about the owner of Coz's being the brother of our friend Frank who used to own Costello's on the Chain of Lakes up by us.

He also was very familiar with the Curve Inn, or "Swerve Inn" as he called it. Good name. You can definitely swerve walking out of the place.

The other guy was from one of the Illinois towns east of St. Louis, and we talked about Alton and the River Drive. He suggested a place called Fast Eddie's Bon Aire which he said was a definite place to visit.

The bartender, Twyla was super friendly. She said that everyone was talking about the lack of eagles along the river this year. We also talked about Class A baseball because of the Clinton Lumber Kings (there used to be a major lumber industry in town with a lot of very rich men). I told her the team was once called the Lumber Barons, but she didn't remember and tried to look it up on her phone.

Had a Real Pleasant Time. --RoadDog

Out Drinkin' in Clinton-- Feb. 2nd

We checked into the Frontier Best Western, also on the Lincoln Highway. This motel was built in 1950, so is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is kept up very well and has an indoor pool and hot tub, although it was unfortunately closed when we were there.

We used to always stay at the nearby Super 8 a little ways north, but the bar next door was out of business the last time we were there so we've changed the base of operations to the Best Western.

They are famous for their buffets, especially the fish fry every Friday and Saturday. Then, there is their outstanding breakfast buffet that comes along with the price of the room. If you consider motel continental breakfasts as so-so, you've got to try this one.

Within walking distance (during the summer) there are two good bars: Bonnie's and Legends.

Bonnie's is your locals-type tavern where everyone knows your name. We had mugs of Lite for $1.50. We didn't find the folks too friendly so drove across the lot to Legends which is more your sports/billiards bar. They are featuring new Reuben and Philly cheese steak pizzas which I would have liked to try but we were too full from J&D's. A pint of Lite was $1.75.

One More Place. --RoadDog

Three More Eagles and Clinton, Iowa

We were figuring that we were going to see large numbers of eagles at Bellevue, including one that is always perched in a nearby tree by the lock viewing area, but he wasn't there. We finally did see an eagle in a tree and two out on the ice by the open water.

This was way down from last year.

Drove to Clinton, Iowa, and ate at our favorite place there, J&D Steakhouse. We've been eating here for years and it is right on the old Lincoln Highway in the downtown section, a block north of the department store designed by architect Louis Sullivan.

For $7.99, I got a huge catfish along with soup, salad, bread and baked potato. Liz got two butterfly porkchops with the same sides for the same price. Now, that is what you call good-eatin' in the neighborhood, sorry Applebee's.

This is one of the precursors of the Ponderosas and Bonanzas. I'd say it is based on the old Tad's Steakhouse concept, where you order, get a tray, and go along a line getting your salad, soup and pop.

We then took a ride along the river levee, but didn't see any eagles, so ended up with nine for the day.

Liz realized she had forgotten a bathing suit so stopped at Wal Mart to get one. I bought a Jamey Johnson CD. I've been wanting to get one since I saw him on an awards show. He is country in the David Allan Coe, Waylon Jennings manner.

Out Drinking Next. --RoadDog

Did "Saw" the Eagles

The drive from Woodstock to the Mississippi River along Il-47, Il-176 and US-20 was sloppy with all the spray being thrown up by cars and especially the trucks. Plus, it snowed all the way out until we got west of Rockford. I lost count of how many times I had to turn on the wiper spray and sure hope I have some left for today.

We did stop for breakfast at the local McDonald's in Woodstock. Love those dollar sausage McMuffins. We talked with a local character who could best be described as a semi-cat lady, who was worried about driving home in the snow because she had just moved here from Arizona.

Fortunately, the roads weren't slick. It is always a great drive, especially when you get out past Freeport when the land gets very hilly. Always a pretty sight, but now there was all that white, both on the ground and in the trees.

Took a drive down Main Street in Galena and then continued to the Lock and Dam in Dubuque, Iowa, prime eagle watching territory. We saw two bald eagles perched in a tree as we got out of the car. Glad to report that the viewing tower was open again. The last several years it has been closed (perhaps for security).

On climbing it, we saw two more eagles in another tree and several out by where the ice and water come together south of the dam. Official count was six, but may have been more as they tend to fly around. Got some great video and a few photos of them.

Success Is If We See At Least One Eagle. --RoadDog

Didn't "Saw" the Groundhog

Yesterday, we had best intentions of being out in the Square to see Woodstock Willie do his prognostication, but Mother Nature had other ideas.

We had at least two inches of snow on the ground when we got ready to leave and it was still coming down furiously. Had to get the old snow blower out first and then did a slip-sliding away drive to Woodstock, arriving about ten minutes too late for the ceremony.

We inquired from some folks walking away who happily reported that no shadow was seen, so, you know what that means. We especially had wanted to see Richard Stenzel do his deejay "OK, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties, 'cause it's coooold out there today." He was there and was to reprise his moment of glory.

Saw one guy carrying a horn walking away wearing liederhosen and said this wasn't quite the weather for liederhosen. He replied, "Boy are you ever right!"

We did park by the square and watched the people milling around the gazebo which was featured in the movie.

Next, A Sloppy Drive Pays Off. --RoadDog

Groundhog Days 2010-- Part 2

I forgot to mention one other thing I learned at the trivia contest. Steve Tobolowski, who played Ned Ryerson in the movie, is also on some new show called Glee as a director of the glee club and his name on it is Ned Ryerson.

Drove the short distance over to the Moose Lodge and paid my $15 for the Dinner Dance/Bachelor Auction. This Moose Lodge is the same place used for that in the movie and where Bill Murray showed off his new chops on the piano.

Great Italian buffet with spaghetti and meat sauce, Italian sausage, linguine, chicken parmesan and Caesar salad. I fully availed myself.

Every table had people sitting at them so I asked a couple sitting by themselves if I could join them. That was alright with them. I found out that Drew and Jill had driven in from Alma, Michigan (a ways north of Lansing) and they were here as a surprise birthday present for her. What a nice guy.

She manages a theater there and he is a graduate of Michigan State. We both agreed that we didn't much like the University of Michigan. They were staying at the Town Square Inn on the square, a place I'd like to stay. It only has six rooms and theirs cost $100. He was surprised to get one just two months ago.

The Band and Auction Up Next. --RoadDog

Groundhog Days 2010-- Part 1

January 29th.

After leaving McHenry, I drove straight to Woodstock and parked alongside the historic town square and waited 15 minutes for the "Awakening of the Groundhog" to take place. It was way too cold to stand out in the elements any longer than necessary.

The square was ablaze in white Italian lights on the trees, gazebo and Spring House. A line of larger white lights are on the precipices of the buildings all along the square, making for a festive, Christmas scene.

About thirty people braved the elements. The emcee said that this event used to be called the "Lighting of the Groundhog" but that PETA had complained so the name was changed. I don't know whether this is true or not. We were
asked where folks came from and we had one couple from South Carolina and another who came in from California. The emcee wanted to know why they would be here in the cold instead of the warmer climes.

At 6 pm sharp, two sets of continuous fireworks went off and as they died down, there was the guest of honor, none other than Woodstock Willie waving to us. This Woodstock Willie is a person dressed in a groundhog suit.

He came down and posed for photos with folks.

We were then invited to come inside the Stage Left Cafe for a trivia contest. And these questions were hard, even for a Groundhog Day fan like myself. One question was who was supposed to play Phil Connors before Bill Murray. Answer: Tom Hanks. Another question was how many days was Phil "stuck" on February 2nd and the answer was 34. I'd have to disagree because I distinctly remember Phil telling Rita that it had taken him six months to be able to toss every card into the hat.

Dinner Dance Next. --RoadDog

The Vinyl Frontier, My Kind of Place

January 29th.

During the late afternoon, I left for Woodstock, stopping along the way at one of my new favorite places, a mom and pop used record and CD place at 1326 North Riverside Drive in McHenry, Illinois, called The Vinyl Frontier (Snork, Snork) and browsed through their CD cut out section. Lots of good stuff in there, but unfortunately I already had the CDs I wanted.

I did purchase two zydeco CDs, one by John DuBois called Rendez-Vous Louisianais sung completely in French, and Joel Sonnier's Come On Joe, a combination of French/country styles.

Had a great time listening to the albums on the way back and forth to Woodstock for the Groundhog Days festival the next two days.

I sure miss these old mom and pop places where the people actually know music.

Last year, we lost Record Revolution on the old Lincoln Highway in Dekalb, Illinois, and a few years earlier we saw the last of Full Cyrkle Records in Crystal Lake. Those were great places to browse and gab about records.

Downloading Just Doesn't Do It for Me. I'm Sure Going to Miss It When the Albums Are Gone. --RoadDog