Good Times in the Area-- Part 2

This past weekend:

FRIDAY JUNE 4th-- Kevin and Kelly's End-of-the Year Party on Fox Lake (Illinois).

An annual tradition stemming from our end-of-the-year parties and a worthy successor. Weather was iffy, but it never rained as we were outside by the lake. For the first time ever, the keg was finished off. It has never happened before. No Day-After parties for us this year. We'd come over and continue drinking and eating for as many as three times before this sad date.

Come on guys, lay off the beer!!

SUNDAY JUNE 6th-- Drove back to Captain's Quarters where we had a party with a band called R-Gang, 4 blacks and 2 whites, who played 60s and 70s soul music. With two lead singers, they could do it all. Mighty good time.

Then, it was a Blackhawk victory down in the basement Margaritaville Bar.

Still Growing Older, But Not Up. --RoadDog

Good Time in the Area-- Part 1

Never let it be said that there is nothing going on in and around northeast Illinois and southeast Wisconsin.

The past two weekends:

MAY 30th-- Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake. Your ultimate water party-type band, The Sodas (mostly former members of The Only Sons) put on a show and a half. Besides the excellent musicianship and vocals, all age groups had to like their music.

Beer was #3.25, Bloody Marys $3 and a great $3.75 Johnsonville brat and fries.

MAY 31st-- MEMORIAL DAY-- Went to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, about ten miles away, and enjoyed drinks at Main Street Tap and watched the parade with two marching bands.

Then went to Donovan's Reef, played some NTN and had a great Sal lunch.

Growing Older, But Not Up. --RoadDog

The Not Really Top Ten Reasons for Visiting Springfield, Illinois

Of course, the main reason would be Old Abe. But folks write the reason for being in Springfield on the visitors log at the Union tation Welcome Center.

These are an unscientific sampling of the reasons most written down for visiting Springfield.

10. Trains and train stations
9. Medical School (SIU School of Medicine
8. Snowbirds passing through
7. Rails for Trails bike program
6. Saw Springfield on the Food Channel
5. Visiting someone in hospital
4. Route 66 (Oh Yeah!!)
3. Illinois State Fairgrounds event
2. Military reunion (I know that until this past year the Sons of Confederate Veterans Illinois Division have held their annual conference there. The Sons of Union Veterans also hold yearly events.

1. Meetings, family weddings, graduations.

So, Now You Know Why Folks Come to S. I. --RoadDog

More to Illinois' Springfield Than Lincoln

From the May 27th Springfield (Il) Journal-Register "More than Lincoln draws tourists to Springfield" by Tim Landis.

Marge Heissinger has been involved with Springfield tourism for thirty years. You can find her most days at the welcome desk of the Illinois Visitors Center at Union Station, across from the Lincoln Museum and Library. It is one of fifteen located around the state and one of only two not along interstates.

I highly recommend a stop at the newly restored Union Station, not only for the information, but also for the unique building, landscaped grounds and that wonderful clock tower. I must have spoken with her as the person there could not have been more friendly.

Of course, Lincoln is the biggest draw, but folks are also doing Route 66, visiting the Old State Capitol and some are even in town to visit places spotlighted on the Food and Travel channels (like Cozy Dog).

Next, the Not Really Top Ten Reasons for Visiting Springfield. --RoadDog

A Bus Trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field-- Part 5

Since I was WAY UP in the Bob Uecker nosebleed seats, I took advantage to view the environs. Like I said yesterday, there is rooftop business in a huge way now. Back before the Cubbies got Yuppies, about all you used to see on top of the buildings were maybe a few folks in folding lawn chairs and quite often there would be one or two people looking out the windows of the building with the WGN sign on the mini turret.

But NOT NO MORE.

Every building but three had major bleacher setups. And the three that didn't had signs. Everyone's getting into the money grab. Some of the buildings had rather neat names like "Beyond the Ivy" with a 460 feet sign. You can go to www.beyondtheivy.com. to check it out.

I really don't like these money-grabbers as I hold them responsible for causing the city parking sticker ordinance for all on street parking anywhere you want to go in Chicago. The Money-Grubbing GRBs!!

One of the signs read "Hit Me! 1 Fan. $1 Million!"

A Miller Lite sign said "Nice of Milwaukee to bring the opener." Very appropriate since this was the season opening series.

And the Game Hasn't Even Started. --RoadDog

Nine Most-Endangered New Orleans Sites

This being the time of the Endangered lists, the May 27th New Orleans Times Picayune reports that the Louisiana Landmark Society has released its annual New Orleans Nine. That would be nine sites that are in danger of being no more for one reason or another.

They base it on the annual list of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

THE LIST

Professor Longhair's dwelling, 1880s-- A New Orleans musical legend.
Abandoned churches throughout the city
Bracketed house, 1889-- an example of a New Orleans distinct shotgun house

Former police station 2552 St. Philip Street, 1902-- Queen Anne architecture
Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District-- featured in many movies
General Laundry, Cleaners and Dyers Building, 1939, art deco

Mid City Historic District-- 1850s to 1950s homes
Dew Drop Inn, 1939-- legendary black night club
Audubon Park Tennis Courts
You can see pictures and read more at www.pilothouse.org.

And, Then There are the Levees. --RoadDog

A Bus Trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field-- Part 4

How's this for a way to get out of school and not be ditching? All along the way to the field, we saw lots of high school boys walking along the sidewalks wearing identical tee shirts which said "St. Patrick's High School 25th Annual Walk to Wrigley." Cruz would be so proud of his old school.

Reading and writing and baseball. I bet no one cut "classes" today at St. Pat's.

Walked and walked and walked and finally got to our seats, which turned out to be Bob Uecker seats. Definitely not your "front row." Actually, I could almost reach over and shake hands with the good folks up on the rooftops across the street. Well, not actually.

My seat was Row 8 Seat 109 upper deck left field. The very farthest out seat was Row 9 Seat 112. I figured why almost be in the worst seat when you can actually be in the worst seat so went to No. 112 for awhile.

The famous "El" ran by every so often dropping fans off and heading to and from the Loop. We used to take it it a lot back in the 70s and 80s.

Quite a few people were out on Waveland Avenue catching balls. I don't even remember the last time we were at Wrigley, but there definitely weren't all the rooftop businesses like there is today.

Finally Back at Wrigley. --RoadDog

The Man of Many Tattoos

Route 66 tattoos that is.

From June 3rd Flash News which boasts what they call as offbeat news.

"Route 66 Fanatic Gets 84 Tattoos"

Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones gets his kicks by covering his body with tattoos featuring places along the Mother Road and in the process no doubt keeps various tattoo artists in and around his home of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in money.

He gets new ink every several months and recently got what he calls his most painful one of recently deceased artist Bob Waldmire's yellow VW van. It took three sessions to complete.

He is thinking of more in July but admits he is running out of places to put the tats. Also, Ron somehow has one tattoo that has nothing to do with Route 66. How'd that get on his body?

We know Ron quite well and have met him several times. Once at the Alamo in Springfield, Illinois, he wasn't able to show up because he was elsewhere getting a you-know-what.

And some people think I am too much of a Route 66 NUT!!

A Man and His Tattoos. --RoadDog

Just What Kind of Route 66 Nut Are You?-- Part 5

Liz and I definitely have nailed the last level of 66'dom. We have driven all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica. We did this after I retired in 2006 and this had been on the docket ever since we first found out about Route 66 in 2002.

We plan on doing a repeat this fall, leaving from the 66 festival in Springfield, Illinois near the end of September. there are places we haven't seen that have been there and others that are new.

In 2004, we went to the Tulsa festival and then drove out to Tucumcari which had been the farthest west we'd been before retirement. We'll be on the Route 66 Association of Illinois' Motor Tour next week.

So, I guess we could definitely be ranked as Road Warriors in the fullest extent.

This thread started back on May 15th.

Cruisin' Down That two lane Highway, Nothing Finer. --RoadDog

Down Da 66: Litchfield, Illinois-- No More Dream Car Museum

Some new news about an old road.


1. LITCHFIELD, ILLINOIS-- I came across a picture of the Manske-Nieman Farm in the April 20th Springfield Journal-Register. The farm has been placed on the list of most endangered sites in Illinois. Ophelia Nieman is maintaining the farm and keeping it in shape. "The buildings are all still the same as they were when the farm was first established. Nothing new has been added and nothing old has been destroyed.

Of course, she is getting up in years and it is becoming harder to keep the place up which is why it is on the list. She is probably eighty or older and has no other family to help her. I also read that it is on Route 66.


2. NO MORE DREAM CAR MUSEUM-- I read that this museum in Williamsville, Illinois is up for auction, including its 36 autos, 13 motorcycles and several tractors. Too bad, one less thing to see along the route.

Someone Get Me One of Those Cars!! --RoadDog

What Kind of Vehicle Would You Like to Cruise Route 66 In?

In May, quite a bit of discussion arose in the Route 66 Yahoo e-mail group about a poll asking what kind of a vehicle would you like to cruise the Mother Road in? Most of it revolved around the choices you had to vote for.

Early voting, however, was as follows:

#6 Mustang 5%

Four-way tie for second, all with 11%

Camaro
55-56-57 Chevy
Ford GT
VW Bus

#1 What do you think? See below.

I, of course, being a Pontiac Guy, would have to wonder why there were no GTOs, or even better, Firebirds, especially '67s.





The Number One choice in early voting was the Corvette.

Kind of figured that.

Beep, Beep!! --RoadDog

Lincoln Logs: Murals-- Iowa Trial

Some New News About an Old Road.


1. MURALS-- The April 19th Batavia (Il) Republican reports that a 200 square foot Lincoln Highway Mural will be placed on the side of a building at 10 South Second Street in Geneva. The $10,000 mural is a gift from the Lincoln Highway Coalition which has done so much to increase the public's awareness of the nation's oldest transcontinental highway, dating to 1913.

It will be at the Geneva Masonic Temple and is facing away from the sun to minimize damage. It is expected to last 15 years. Geneva is paying $600 for the installation and plaque. As of yet, there is no decision as to what will be on the mural.


2. IOWA TRIAL-- The April 27th Eastern Iowa News Now reports that Jessica Dayton, 20, of Belle Plaine has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the beating death of Curtis Bailey, 30 on July 18, 2009.

There was a four and a half day trial and jurors deliberated for eight and a half hours before reaching the verdict.

Both worked at the popular Lincoln Cafe in Belle Plaine which has been closed since then. Let's hope someone gets it and reopens.

It's a Lincoln Thing. --RoadDog

Any Old Excuse to Drive the Lincoln Highway

From the May 31st Peoria (Il) Journal Star "Toulon mayor and brother retrace route of the Lincoln Highway" by Gary L. Smith.

Toulon Mayor Richard Collins, 63, a former airline pilot is retired but has a new hobby of "collecting highways." His latest addition is the Lincoln Highway from San Francisco to New York City using road atlases and a laptop with route overlays so he can drive every possible mile, even on gravel and dirt.

He and his wife Barb drove Route 66 in a 1966 Chrysler Imperial a while back.

This trip is partly due to his brother William, 69, a semi-retired archaeologists who continues to teach a semester class at California State University in Chico. He lives the rest of the time in Massachusetts. Richard used his free stand-by mileage to fly to California and join his brother in his trek back home along the Lincoln.

The Lincoln Highway came into being in 1913 and two-thirds of it lies along present-day US-30.

Leaving two weeks ago, they stopped in Toulon for a few days and Barb joined them for the rest of the trip to New York City.

They shoot for 10-12 hours a day on the road, but that usually works out to just 8-10 because of back tracking and when they get lost.

My wife and I drove Route 66 end-to-end back in 2006 when I retired. I still would like to do all of the Lincoln Highway, but that is even longer. Actually, I hav driven all of it from Canton, Ohio to west of Omaha.

Toulon is a town near Peoria.

Just a Bit Envious. --RoadDog

A Bus Trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field-- Part 3

Kind of got tied up with the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival and am now getting back to the trip to the Cubs game on Tax Day, April 15th. The last post was April 27th.

We were at Sequoit Lodge in Antioch, Illinois, early and had a couple drinks before we left. The bus driver caused a momentary gasp when he announced over the PA that Illinois no longer allows drinking on buses. Nice guy. See how that affects your tip.

We had plenty to drink and eat on the way in as I doubted there would be much drinking or eating at the ballpark because of excessive prices. I went right in to watch batting practice and to enjoy the Wrigley experience.

Current Prices:

cheeseburger $6.25
popcorn $4
Cracker Jacks $3.50
peanuts $3.75
draft beer $6.75
Soda $3.75 and $4.75
brat $4.75
hot dog $4.25
Chicago Dog $5.25

So, if you do as the songs says and buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack it will set you back $7.25.

And they wonder why I don't go anymore.

Ridiculous Prices!! --RoadDog

Blocking Out a Trip

We'll be on the road next week, ending with the Route 66 Association of Illinois' annual motor tour from west of St. Louis into Illinois.

That part is planned out already. However, getting there is open, so I usually try to plan routes and towns that we haven't been to as of yet. Along with that, I look for NTN sites as we really like Cruising and NTNing. So far this year we've been to 27 new sites for the year:

Iowa 1
Illinois 9
Tennessee 4
Alabama 9
Florida 3
Virginia 1

Cruising Those Old Roads and Playing NTN, Not Bad. --RoadDog