Florida Scenic Highways-- Part 4

Explaining some of the last post.


GREEN MOUNTAINS-- this road runs down the center of the state and consisted of a lot of rolling hills. I guess in Florida you can make a mountain out of a mole hill.

COURTNEY CAMPBELL-- A 4-mile causeway and bridge on the northern part of Old Tampa Bay. It got its name from Courtney Campbell, a US representative and road person who was instrumental in the beautification of it.

Now, You Know. --RoadDog

Florida Scenic Highways-- Part 3

From Saturday.

CENTRAL REGION

River of Lakes Heritage Corridor
Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway
The Ridge
Florida Black Bear
Green Mountain (Mountain in Florida?)**
Sun Coast Scenic Parkway
Courtney Campbell**
Palma Sola
Bradenton Beach


SOUTHERN REGION

Tamiami Trail-- Windows on the Gulf
Indian River Lagoon-- Treasure Gulf
Lemon Bay/Myakka Trail
Broward County A1A
Florida Keys

** On next blog entry.

I have driven the Florida Keys many times and it is the longest 100 or so miles I've ever driven. There is so much to see and so much to watch out for, i am always ready for a nap when we get to Key West.

Definitely a site to check out.

Driving Down Those Really Flat Roads (Green Mountain?) --RoadDog

Florida Scenic Highways-- Part 2

Yesterday, I wrote about a site that I found on the scenic roads in the state of Florida.

Here is a breakdown of the roads by region. You can view a map of the road and information as well as links at the site:
http://floridascenichighways.com/our-highways/


PANHANDLE REGION:

Pensacola Scenic Bluffs
Scenic Highway 30a
Big Bend


NORTHERN REGION:

A1A Scenic & Historical Coastal Byway
William Bartram*
J.C. Penney Memorial**
Old Florida Heritage Highway
Heritage Crossroads: Miles of History

*William Bartram (1739-1829) was a noted American naturalist famous for his botanic and bird drawings who explored the St. John's River in 1774, where the scenic byway is loacted.

**Yep, that J.C. Penney. Remember to use your Penney Charge Card.


Taking a Tan Break. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC 2010-- Northwestern vs. Illinois

While still on Il-47, I went through the town of Forrest which has an old mom and pop motel called the Midwest Motel and one of those little family restaurants called the Eagle's Nest and the junction with US-24.

I picked up a Chicago AM station with the Wildcat-Illini game which was being played at Wrigley Field, the first football game there since the Bears left in 1970.

Gibson City had the cheapest gas I'd seen so far, $2.72 along with a double-screen Harvest Moon Drive-In.

I popped my Kinda Kinks CD in which had a lot of greatest hits tracks as a bonus to the original ones.

That would have been fun to be at Wrigley, but would have cost more than I would care to pay. The running back we had such a problem with when Northern played Illinois, Mike Leshoure, also ran over the Wildcats in the Illini first possession. Three plays and Illinois had a TD.

The game was referred to as the All-State Wrigleyville Classic (sponsored by All-State Insurance).

Entered Indiana by Danville and stopped at my usual Pilot Station in Crawfordsville and found gas the cheapest yet, $2.60. I'd been on I-74 since Mohomet (west of Champaign).

I saw that there was a White Castle at Exit 66. All that horrendous construction was still going on along I-465 in Indianapolis.

It was getting late. I would have the Illinois-Northwestern game off and on throughout Indiana. Illinois quickly went up 14-0 before the Wildcats figured out where they were. Lost the game most of the way on I-70 east of Indy. I finally picked it up by Richmond and heard the end of the game. Unfortunately, Northwestern lost.

I got Room 110 at the Days Inn for $51.50, tax included.

Played NTN at the Buffalo Wings and Rings a short distance away. I had a #12 nationally, but was the only one playing...as usual.

Enough for a First Day. --RoadDog

Florida Scenic Highways

Florida's not just Orlando and beaches. You can drive down some pretty good roads as well.

Today, I came across of very good site for us roadies to take a look at before our next trip to F-L-A.

Liz and I have gone to the Florida Panhandle the last three years and will no doubt go again thanks to what has all the appearances of a fourth straight cold and snowy winter coming our way.

You can find the site at
http://floridascenichighways.com/our-highways/

The state is divided into four areas and 23 highways. Each one has a in depth look at it. An extensive list of links also accompanies each highway.

Well Worth Checking Out. --RoadDog

Travelin' 'Spenses for North Carolina Trip 2010-- Part 2

I have been these routes back and forth to North Carolina a lot of times so have a pretty good idea of where the cheapest gas is along the way.

Again, you will find West Virginia as the most expensive, followed closely by Illinois. The gas at Crawfordsville is generally the cheapest in Indiana. Ohio is usually the third most expensive.

The interstate stations around Burlington and Mebane, North Carolina are usually the cheapest as well.

Asheville, NC, is normally the most expensive gas along I-40 in that state. If you fill up at Mebane, you can make it through to Dandridge, Tennessee, where the Pilot station has cheap gas.

Generally, anywhere you find a Pilot station, that will be your cheapest gas and they are nice enough to post their prices on signs by the interstate. Where you find a Pilot, other stations in the area usually will match the price as well.

On I-65, my nephew Andy told me that gas at the Tennessee-Kentucky stateline is usually the cheapest, and they were.

More Gas Coming. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC-- 2010-- Goldsboro

NOVEMBER 23RD-- TUESDAY

Mom's Entourage
Bringing Christmas Downstairs
The Evil Christmas Tree
McRibbins
Way Too Young


NOVEMBER 24TH-- WEDNESDAY

Taken at the Retro
Andy & the Gang
Mart-ing
A Holly 'Cue Time at Wilber's
Folks Coming Home
Getting My Veggies
Cat dares
"I Got No Place Else to Go!"


NOVEMBER 25TH-- THURSDAY--

Commiseratin' With Family Over Turkey

Still There. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC 2010-- The Road There

A Quick Look at the Trip.

NOVEMBER 20TH-- Saturday

Road Preppin'
McRib Nirvana
Huskies on the Road
Fall Classic at Wrigley
The Other Richmond
NTNin'


NOVEMBER 21st-- Sunday

Superslabbin'
Another McRib Nirvana
The National
More Hot Air
Takin' Me Home, Country Roads With Big Tolls
carry Me Back to Old Virginy


NOVEMBER 22nd-- Monday

Going Down the Mountain When She Comes
Andy's Home Time
Snappy Chop
NTNin'
Gosbore here I Am

Finally here, or is It There? --RoadDog

Travelin' 'Spences NC Thanksgiving Trip 2010-- Part 1

I drove 1077 miles to Goldsboro, North Carolina and 1,197 coming back for a total of 2,274 miles. In addition, I put on another 102 miles going to Greenville, NC, for the ECU game.

I spent $349.87 in gas. These higher prices Big Oil is keeping this year sure cost me.

Gas prices:

11-20 Morris, Il. $2.87
11-20 Crawfordsville, In. $2.60
11-21 Hebron, Ohio $2.70
11-21 Wytheville, Va. $2.68
11-22 Mebane, NC $2.70
12-1 Goldsboro, NC $2.74
12-1 Hickory, NC $2.76
12-1 Dandridge, Tn $2.58
12-2 Franklin, Ky $2.70
12-2 Crawfordsville, In. $2.86
12-2 Saunemin, Il. $2.80

On Illinois Highway 47, Morris is usually at least 10 cents cheaper than anywhere to the north.

Crawfordsville, Indiana, is always the cheapest between Illinois and Indianapolis.

Get your gas before West Virginia as that is always the most expensive. That is why I filled up in Hebron, Ohio (although Cambridge, Oh is better as far as amount of gas to get across W.V.).

More Gas Coming Up. --RoadDog

The Iron Brigade Memorial Highway

Today, I posted about US Highway 12, which is also now called the Iron Brigade Memorial Highway in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. This unit was one of the Union's best fighting organizations during the war; one that Confederates hated to face.

Three of the regiments were from Wisconsin and one each from Indiana and Michigan.

The Illinois signage is especially striking and we have an example near where I live in Spring Grove at US-12 and State Park Road.

You can view the entry at my Civil War blog, http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com.

I Always Like it When a Road Goes Memorial. --RoadDog

The Bottom of It All

Before today, the last day I posted was Friday. Saturday I spent the day cleaning and preparing for our Bears game party on Sunday. Sunday was the party, then yesterday, our internet and cable system was down all day.

One really nice thing about having parties is that it gives me the incentive to clean the basement and especially my computer area. This is something I rarely do.

I have always wondered how some people (like my wife) can keep their desks so free of clutter. While teaching, we had a lot of women and even men who could do the same. Invariably, my reviews included something about a messy desk. But, hey, I knew where everything mostly was!!

Not me, give me a flat surface and I can clutter it up in no time. And, I'm talking about minutes, not hours.

I can actually see the desk top for a little while. I'd heard rumors it was there, but now we have proof.

But what do I do with that pile of stuff I moved off the desk?

Oh well, I saw pictures of Einstein and Edison's desks and there is a definite similarity.

So, You Might Say I Finally Got to the Bottom of It. --RoadDog

Saluting Our Valiant Heroes at Pearl Harbor

Although this is not related to roads, although part of I-65 in Kentucky is dedicated to Pearl Harbor and I'm sure other roads in other states are as well, every year this time, I take time to honor our fallen military personnel and survivors of that sneak attack that finally got us into World War II.

Our entrance was inevitable by that time, but it was amazing that we could have been caught that unprepared.

Anyway, I put up US flags in both the front and back of the house despite today's extreme cold.

It's sad to see that the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association is meeting out in Hawaii to determine whether or not to end its organization. Age is now doing what Japanese bombs and torpedoes couldn't do 69 years ago today. All survivors are in their upper 80s, lower 90s.

While I was teaching, my students certainly heard about Pearl Harbor, especially when I began teaching US history. What began as a one-day study, eventually became three days.

A little later I'll posting several Pearl Harbor entries on my history blog, Cooter's History Thing at http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com. If you go to the labels I have a large number of posts dealing with the event.

I'll Never Forget. --RoadDog

What US Highway Were You Born Closest To?

The Yahoo e-mail group for US-50 posed this question of interest so I am am repeating it here.

What US highway were you born closest to?

I'd have to say US-70 and US-117 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. One of them went directly by the old Wayne Memorial Hospital on Ash Street near Herman Park and today is classified as a business route.

Of interest, my grandparents on my mother's side lived about two blocks away on Jackson Street. My mom was born in that house.

How About You? --RoadDog

Here's Some Road Music For Ya'

From Dave Hoekstra in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Paul McCartney wrote "Helen Wheels" to be a British version of Route 66 and we all know he drove Route 66 during his 66th birthday. The tune is nothing like "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" but does mention places in England like our song does.

Hoekstra's picks for road songs, especially those dealing with Route 66.

ROUTE 66-- Nat King Cole (Hey, I like Asleep at the Wheel's version the best).
66 HIGHWAY BLUES-- Steven James
OUT ON THE ROAD-- Jimmy Radeo (Chicago)
PROMISED LAND-- Chuck Berry (St. Louis)
LONG WAY FROM ST. LOUIS-- June Christy (Springfield, Il)
BIG TOWN-- Ronnie Self (Springfield, Mo.)
HOPPIN' IN JOPLIN-- Mary Anne Price
CRAZY MAMA-- J.J. Cale (Tulsa)
BALLAD OF HOLLIS BROWN-- Leon Russel (Tulsa)
NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN-- Three Dog Night (Oklahoma)
ONE O'CLOCK JUMP-- Count Basie (OKC)
SO LET'S ROCK-- Bob Wills & Texas Playboys
BLUE YODEL NO. 1 (T FOR TEXAS)-- Jimmie Rodgers
AMARILLO BY MORNING-- George Strait
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX-- Glen Campbell (Albuquerque)
IT WAS I-- Skip & Flip (Southern Arizona)
THREE GIRLS NAMED MOLLY-- Johnny Otis (LA)

Name That Tune. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC--2010-- Back Home Again

Arrived home several hours ago and won't be up too much longer as I am real "tarred." I put another 560 miles on the car today, leaving White House Tennessee a little before 8 am this morning and superslabbin' it on I-65 to I-465 around Indianapolis to I-74, then Il-47 most of the rest of the way home.

I was going to watch for the oval barns in Illinois along 47, but it was dark by the time I got to Dwight, so I didn't see the other five or so remaining along the stretch.

I had snow flurries across most of Illinois, but nothing stuck. More proof that winter is here, or at least, almost here.

I was on the road for thirteen days (five of which were driving).

I will definitely need to get a vehicle that gets better gas mileage than the Dodge Dakota as I spent way too much at the gas pumps and found that we had a gas gouge at some point recently. Gas at the Pilot station in Crawfordsville, Indiana, was $2.60 on November 20th and $2.86 today!! OUCH!!!

THE GRBs Are At It Again. --RoadDog