T-Giving NC 2010-- Cruisin' Illinois-- A Football Game

After leaving McDonald's, I remembered that the Huskie-Ball State game was being aired on 670 AM, the Score, so tuned in hoping I'd be able to hear the whole game as I was driving away from Chicago. (I had even thought about driving to Muncie and seeing the game once I found out that was who we were playing, but got too late leaving to make it.)

Northern was leading 35-7 at half. Ball State scored two quick touchdowns right away, just like Toledo had done the game before this. I don't know what happens to our defense at half time. But the Huskies buckled down and went on to win 59-21.

We definitely have quite an offense this year. (I see in yesterday's paper that we ended up scoring the 11th most points this last season.)

It was great to hear the long-time voice of the Huskies, Bill Baker, all the way to Champaign, Illinois, where I lost the signal.

With this victory, Northern Illinois clinched the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and will meet the East Division winner December 3rd in Detroit to decide the champion.

Wrigley Field Hosts College Football Next. --RoadDog

Route 66 Bike Trail in Illinois

From the October 29th Bloomington (Il) Pantagraph.

McLean County in Illinois is slated to get $1.5 million for a stretch of bike trail to be built along the old Route 66. This will go to making a 4 mile stretch between County Road 29 in Towanda and Normal's Shelbourne Drive. The local share of the project will be #386,000.

The engineering report will be completed by 2011 and the whole project in place by 2012.

The Historic Route 66 Bike Trail will eventually run 370 miles from Chicago to the Missouri state line and run along the former roadway of Route 66 and Illinois Highway 4.

Part of it is completed between Towanda and Lexington. An additional 4.5 mile stretch southwest of Bloomington to Shirley opened a month ago.

Then You Can Drive It or Bike It. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC 2010-- Cruisin' Illinois-- Oval Barns and a McRib

Still on Il-47, I saw another oval barn about a half mile west of the road that I had never seen before. There are another five oval barns along 47, more than I have seen on most roads. They have interesting architecture, but I have never been able to find out anything about them. I call them oval barns because of their shape and they have pre-formed bricks on the sides.

Gas, as usual along Il-47, is more expensive than anywhere else except West Virginia on my trips to North Carolina.

At Main Street, the Fisherman's Inn is for sale. At one time it was one of the premier places to eat in the western suburbs, but had gone down several years ago and closed. Blackberry Inn is still open and the Home of the Bellybuster sandwiches.

During commercial breaks on WXRT (which are very long), I would switch over to Chicago's 100.3, Rewind Radio, which was playing some great music.

I felt it necessary to stop at the McDonald's in Yorkville where we traditionally stop whenever on a trip. Of course, this being McRib time, it was also necessary that one be eaten.

Huskies Up Next. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC 2010-- Part 1-- Proper Road Cruisin'

Day One November 20th

I was late getting off, not until about 10 am. Drove the usual avoid the Chicago hassle route to get around that town. I took Il-47 south all the way to I-74, stopping in Yorkville for a McRib meal at the usual McDonald's we stop at every trip. The meal was $4.49 (we're paying $4.99 in Fox Lake).

I listened to Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback on WXRT as she was spotlighting 1984. I particularly enjoyed "Do It Again" by the Kinks, "Something About You Baby" by Dave Edmunds and a cover of Van Halen's "Jump" by Aztec Camera. Who'd have thought of a slow version of "Jump."

The movie spotlighted was Ghostbusters. Like Bill said, "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!!" And who could forget that big mean ol' Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man?

Construction on Il-47 in Huntley is ongoing, but I have to take it to bypass Chicago. It wouldn't be bad at all if I didn't have to stop for EVERY stoplight. I was glad to see their Dairy Mart was able to survive. It is a town institution dating back to at least the 1950s and back when Huntley was a little-bitty farm town out in the middle of nowhere. Way before the outlet mall and Del Webb's Sun City development.

Huskies on the Air, Next. --RoadDog

Getting Ready to Hit the Old Road

Leaving for North Carolina in a couple hours.

I just found out Northern Illinois is playing Ball State in Muncie, Indiana, this afternoon. Thinking about swinging through there to catch part of the game.

Looks like Il-47 to Forrest then east on US-24 to I-65 to Lebanon, Ind., and Indiana-32 to Muncie.

I wish I had known the Huskies were playing Ball State as I would have left much earlier.

On the Road Again, Almost. --RoadDog

NIU Homecoming 2010-- Part 10-- Footstompin' on the Lincoln Highway-- The Dekalb Footstompers

This band has been a long-time favorite of ours, dating back to the early 1970s. They got their big start at our favorite Dekalb bar, Andy's on Lincoln Highway. Andy's is still there and still has the same name.

Two other regional favorite bands, Howard and the White Boys and Mr. Myers also got there start there. But of all of them, our favorite is the Footstompers.

With a name like Footstompers, they have to be good...and they are. This is one band that really lives up to its name, but what would you expect from four guys playing a guitar, drums, accordion and tuba. And three of them are original back to 1973.

They play a lot of polkas, oom-pah music, oldies and they have a lot of their own "dirty songs" like "NIU Sorority Bitch," "Baby Face," "Vasectomy,"and "International Waltz."

They greeted the crowd, which was standing room only by their start at 5 pm, and said this was their 37th straight time playing for NIU's homecoming. Of course, they do a great version of the "NIU Fight Song" and we did it several times during the course of the show.

The place was swaying back and forth to be sure. And, it was generally an older crowd, many of whom said they'd been to about all of the Footstomper Homecoming Shows. Definitely a case of growing older, but not up.

It had sure been way too long since we were at this tradition, but we'll be back there again next year.

Good Partyin' With the 'Stompers. --RoadDog

Plans for US-20 Byway in New York State Announced

From the Nov. 18th Madison County (NY) Courier "Scenic Byway Unveils 2011 Plans."

The Route 20 Association of New York State held their 10th Annual Meeting and Dinner at the Colgate Inn.

Association President Dr. Ellen McHale announced the association's goals for the upcoming year.

*** A new website, road map and guide

*** Increased visibility

*** Work with the NYSDOT on installation of scenic byway signage

*** Assist in the soon-to-be built Route 20 Tourism Center in the town of Cherry Valley

** Adding to and enhancing the 16 scenic tours of US-20.

It's great to see an organization like this working hard to increase the visibility and public knowledge of one of our old roads like this. Too bad we don't have a similar organization here in Illinois.

Keep Up the Great Work. --RoadDog

Cruising to Cheesehead Land

Liz and I took a ride up north of the border into Wisconsin today.

Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes had their buy one-get one free drink special. Buy that $2 pint, get one free. There is a new cook running the restaurant. We sure miss the one we had, especially on Thursdays when they had half price pizza.

The new guy is considerably more expensive, but today had the biggest, most delicious-looking reuben sandwich I had ever seen. With fries, it was $6.95. I may have to try one next time.

We had a pretty good NTN run with about eight top twenties, including a #1. Not bad considering all the perfect scores people were getting.

Afterwards, we drove over to Mar's Trading Post Inn in Wilmot. Part of the building dates to the 1840s, and if you're ever looking for that perfect small town Wisconsin bar/pub, this be the place.

Great prices as well. Pints were $1 and we had chicken strip sandwiches with chips for $1.

Eating and Drinking Cheap in Wisconsin. --RoadDog

Down da 66: Route 66 Motels

Some New News About an Old Road.


I'm glad to see efforts are being made to save two great old ROUTE 66 MOTELS>


1. DeANZA MOTOR LODGE-- Located at 4301 East Central Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico featuring a great old neon sign with southwest architecture for the units.

Tamara Portnoy is going to restore it to its former glory and is looking for old photos to help her. It is on the NRHP and she wants to restore it to its former glory.


2. TRIANGLE MOTEL-- In Amarillo, Texas. It would be great to see this motel back to its former glory in time for the 2011 Route 66 Festival. Alan McNeil paid $20,000 for it to save it from the wrecking ball. The Route 66 e-mail group set out to raise $3000 to help and needs another $700 to reach the goal.


3. MUNGER-MOSS MOTEL-- in Lebanon, Missouri. This one doesn't need saving because of the gracious Lehmans, but the classic old sign had seen wear and tear over the years and it really needed fixin'. It was turned back on recently in all its former glory.

Save Those Old Motels. --RoadDog

The World's Largest Yard Sale

From the August 23rd Time Magazine.

This outdoor garage sale/flea market runs through six states along US-127 from Hudson, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama.

The Lincoln Highway has been operating a similar event for several years now called the Lincoln Highway Buy Way, but this one, billed as The World's Largest Yard Sale, started 23 years ago and covers 675 miles for four hectic days starting the first Thursday of every August. (This could be a problem with those, like me, who'd like to also attend the Redneck Fishing Tournament.

This year, some of the places offering these must-have items are doing so because of the economy. They've lost their homes.

Some of the larger towns US-127 passes through:

Hudson. Mi.
Cincinnati, Oh.
Covington. Ky.
Frankfort, Ky.
Danville, Ky.
Jamestown, Tn.
Crossville, Tn
Chattanooga, Tn.
Gadsden, Al.

Ready, Set, Sell. --RoadDog

The Redneck Fishing Tournament-- Part 2

The boat that catches the most carp can take home hundreds of dollars and do their bit to save the ecosystem. A definite way to be environmentally correct and no doubt have a good time doing it. I'm not sure if they go by number caught or poundage in determining the winner.

I'm sure alcoholic beverages are all about, especially to those "wounded in action."

"A flying adult silver carp is like a sea-to-air missile." 'One of these nails you, it's like getting hit with a brick,' says Zach Nayden. As the interview on the boat was going on, one of the crew got whacked right in the face by a carp, bringing yells of, "That was awesome!"

Nets and bats are allowed, but not fishing poles.

This past August was the sixth annual competition and boats paid $50 to enter the two-day event.

You can go to http://redneckfishingtournament.com for some great video and information. Bath is southwest of Peoria and northwest of Springfield.

Guess I'll have to make Arrangements for This Drinking, er Competition Next Year. --RoadDog

A Timeline for Chicago's Kennedy Expressway-- Part 2-- President Kennedy

Continued from November 15th.

1955 City Council approves rerouting the northwest expressway to avoid razing St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

1956 North Siders protest the constant burning of wreckage from homes being leveled. Dump trucks continually feed burning fire at Belmont and Kedzie avenues.

Feb. 23, 1957 1,174 families and 202 individuals have been displaced to date.

Nov. 5, 1960 Construction on the Northwest Expressway completed.

Nov. 7, 1960 Henry Kararkiewicz, 42, an auto repairman, becomes the first drunken driver arrested on the new highway.

April 28, 1961 President Kennedy makes his first visit to Chicago since being elected. Hundreds of thousands meet his motorcade along the expressway.

Oct. 19, 1862 Motorists abandon cars and stand on hoods on the expressway, causing a massive traffic jam on Kennedy's second visit.

March 23, 1963 Kennedy in town to dedicate a new terminal at O'Hare Airport, his last Chicago visit. He caused a panic among police and Secret service when he orders the motorcade stopped on the expressway to shake hands with people at Cumberland Avenue.

November 22, 1963 President Kennedy assassinated.

November 29, 1963 The Northwest Expressway is renamed in Kennedy's honor.

From the November 5th Chicago Tribune

Definitely a Kennedy Thing. --RoadDog

Grant in Missouri

My Civil War blog entry for today was the second part of my August 24th entry about the marriage of Julia Dent and U.S. Grant in St. Louis and Grant's attempt at farming that didn't work out so well.

The article in the August 22nd St. Louis (Mo) Post-Dispatch also listed places in the St. Louis area associated with Grant, including the wedding site, Jefferson barracks, White Haven, St. Paul Cemetery, Grant's Farm, the 1904 World's Fair and others.

So, if you are both the Civil War Buff and a roadie like me, you can get the best of both world's in St. Louis on this eve of the 150th anniversary of the war and 84th anniversary of the Mother Road.

http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com.

On the Civil War Road Again. --RoadDog

The Redneck Fishing Tournament-- Part 1

I came across this story in the August 23rd Time Magazine. The article was mainly about the invasion of Asian carp on the Illinois River and efforts to keep them out of the Great Lakes, but it started with information about the Redneck Fishing Tournament held in bath, Illinois, along the river in July.

The event started in 2005 as a way to cut down on Asian carp, specifically solver carp, who have the habit of jumping out of the river whenever a motorized boat goes by.

Asian carp eat like crazy, can grow to more than 40 pounds and with all those bones, few Americans want to eat them. As such, their numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate.

In Bath, there is an eight mile long channel next to the Illinois called the Bath Chute. It is loaded with thousands of Asian silver carp. Once a year, hundreds of fishermen descend on the town with intentions of catching the carp, but without hook or tackle. The idea is to use a hand-held dip net and catch them in mid-flight.

This is not a task without danger as the fish are flying at a high velocity. Getting hit by one is not unlike getting hit with a hard line drive.

But, Yet They Come. --RoadDog

Gettin' My Travelin' Music Together

Sometime later this week, I figure to be out on the old road heading to North Carolina for the Thanksgiving holidays.

I'm not sure exactly which way I'll go, but am thinking of US-34 through Indiana then pick up US-33 in Ohio.

But, I have to also plan the music I will listen to when not tuned into local stations.

My Five Road CDs:

TILL THE LAST SHOT'S FIRED: The Definitive Greatest Hits of Trace Adkins

CHARLESTON, SC 1966-- Darius Rucker

MY KINDA PARTY-- Jason Aldean

THE BIG TO-DO-- Drive By Truckers

HITS ALIVE-- Brad Paisley

On the Road Again in a Country Sort-of Way--RoadDog