Some more facts:
** I went to the fanciest McDonald's I ever saw.
** I was able to get together with buddy Denny G. in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
** Most expensive gas that I bought (not saw) was $2.60. Least expensive $2.37.
** Stopped for gas ten times.
** Spent $260.91 on gas
** Drove 2243 miles
** Drove about half of US-150 from Danville, Illinois to Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
** Drove on five interstates
** Went to eight states
And, thanks Lulu for alerting me to the cop crackdown on Il-47 around Sugar Grove.
Mighty Good to be Back Home. __RoadDog
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Back Home Again-- Part 1
As much as I love to be out on the road and visiting places, it is always great to get back home.
I was gone from August 28th to July 7th. A few facts:
** Gone 11 days
** Played NTN at four new places
** Spent three nights in motels
** Drove on Route 66 and the national Road and passed the old Lincoln Highway.
** Saw three bands
** Ate enough bbq that I don't want any for a while.
** Got together with lots of family members
More to Come. --RoadDog
I was gone from August 28th to July 7th. A few facts:
** Gone 11 days
** Played NTN at four new places
** Spent three nights in motels
** Drove on Route 66 and the national Road and passed the old Lincoln Highway.
** Saw three bands
** Ate enough bbq that I don't want any for a while.
** Got together with lots of family members
More to Come. --RoadDog
Sunday, September 5, 2010
North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 4-- Illinois
I had planned to take US-24 from Il-47 to Watseka, Illinois, near the Indiana border and then Illinois Highway 1 to US-50 opposite Vincennes, Indiana.
Watseka is the birthplace of Henry Bacon, 1866-1924, the architect best-known for designing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. His father, Henry Bacon, Sr., was transferred to Wilmington, NC, and supervised the construction of the "Rocks" which closed off New Inlet of the Cape Fear River.
But, because of my late departure, I decided to stay on 47 south to I-74 and then to Il-1. Highway 47 is smooth-sailing once you get past Morris even with a few small towns.
I was on I-74 and going by Danville when saw an exit for US-150. I hadn't looked on the map to see where else US-150, my old road objective for the trip, went in Illinois.
I got off and found that 150 ran into Illinois Highway 1, so took it. Gas in Danville was the lowest I've seen in Illinois, $2.42.
So, I got my Il-1 and US-150, too.
I Sure Wish Gas By Us Was This Low. --RoadDog
Watseka is the birthplace of Henry Bacon, 1866-1924, the architect best-known for designing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. His father, Henry Bacon, Sr., was transferred to Wilmington, NC, and supervised the construction of the "Rocks" which closed off New Inlet of the Cape Fear River.
But, because of my late departure, I decided to stay on 47 south to I-74 and then to Il-1. Highway 47 is smooth-sailing once you get past Morris even with a few small towns.
I was on I-74 and going by Danville when saw an exit for US-150. I hadn't looked on the map to see where else US-150, my old road objective for the trip, went in Illinois.
I got off and found that 150 ran into Illinois Highway 1, so took it. Gas in Danville was the lowest I've seen in Illinois, $2.42.
So, I got my Il-1 and US-150, too.
I Sure Wish Gas By Us Was This Low. --RoadDog
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Lincoln Logs: Murals in Sterling and Rock Falls-- Lincoln Highway Days
Some New News About an Old Road.
1. MURALS IN STERLING AND ROCK FALLS-- Sterling is set to get a new mural in addition to the 18 the town already has. This time it is compliments of the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition which has been very busy placing interpretive gazebos and murals throughout the length of the road in Illinois. This one is 200 square feet and will show the Lincoln Tavern which was built in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The Taco Bell stands at its former site.
Nearby Rock Falls has already gotten their mural at 1412 W. State Route 30 and shows the now defunct Corn Carnival.
Great job ILHC.
2. LINCOLN HIGHWAY DAYS-- The 27th annual Lincoln Highway Days festival starts in Nevada, Iowa, this weekend.
More Fun Along the Lincoln. --RoadDog
1. MURALS IN STERLING AND ROCK FALLS-- Sterling is set to get a new mural in addition to the 18 the town already has. This time it is compliments of the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition which has been very busy placing interpretive gazebos and murals throughout the length of the road in Illinois. This one is 200 square feet and will show the Lincoln Tavern which was built in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The Taco Bell stands at its former site.
Nearby Rock Falls has already gotten their mural at 1412 W. State Route 30 and shows the now defunct Corn Carnival.
Great job ILHC.
2. LINCOLN HIGHWAY DAYS-- The 27th annual Lincoln Highway Days festival starts in Nevada, Iowa, this weekend.
More Fun Along the Lincoln. --RoadDog
North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 3-- Route 66
We also talked about Diana Oughton (1942-1970) who grew up in Dwight, the daughter of a prominent family. She was a founding member of the radical Students for a Democratic Society and eventually joined the very militant Weathermen and was killed in a bomb explosion in New York City.
She is now buried in Dwight.
The man at the station said the place had been really busy earlier and that one couple from Florence, Italy, had come by. While i was there, a truck came by and the occupants said their trailer had broken down out on the interstate and they wanted to know if there was any tow truck/repair shop in the area. I sure couldn't help them there.
I took a drive down 66 by Fedderson's. It's sad to see that place gone. We had some great meals there and had seen Route 66 friendliness on our first trip on the road back in 2002. Besides great food, they also the great automotive memorabilia and especially that complete run of Illinois license plates with the same number and letters from the 1920s to the 1980s. It was a sad day when Smaterjax sold all of it.
I also drove by the famous windmill by the fancy restaurant that Diana Oughton's parents owned.
A Short, But Enjoyable Stop Along the Mother Road. --RoadDog
She is now buried in Dwight.
The man at the station said the place had been really busy earlier and that one couple from Florence, Italy, had come by. While i was there, a truck came by and the occupants said their trailer had broken down out on the interstate and they wanted to know if there was any tow truck/repair shop in the area. I sure couldn't help them there.
I took a drive down 66 by Fedderson's. It's sad to see that place gone. We had some great meals there and had seen Route 66 friendliness on our first trip on the road back in 2002. Besides great food, they also the great automotive memorabilia and especially that complete run of Illinois license plates with the same number and letters from the 1920s to the 1980s. It was a sad day when Smaterjax sold all of it.
I also drove by the famous windmill by the fancy restaurant that Diana Oughton's parents owned.
A Short, But Enjoyable Stop Along the Mother Road. --RoadDog
North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 2-- Route 66
Illinois Highway 47 goes through Dwight about twenty miles south of Morris. And, even for a short stretch Il-47 is along the alignment of Route 66.
I stopped in Dwight, Illinois, to visit the Ambler-Becker Station which now serves as the town's welcome and visitors center. For many years, the station was in bad shape and falling apart, but it has been completely restored now and is open during the summer and on certain times during the winter.
I had a nice talk with the 82-year-old man who was there, who has lived in Dwight ever since he was five. He said the coffee place across the street is still for sale but h doubts there is enough business in town to keep it open.
The old Fedderson's restaurant, most recently Smaterjax, is now owned by a windmill company and has been remodeled. There are sure a lot of those giant electricity-generating windmills both south of town by Odell and now even north of Dwight. He says they will eventually hook up to form an even bigger wind farm.
The blinking red lights are really pretty at night and during the Christmas holidays lend a festive feeling. He thinks it is too bad they don't put up green lights on some of the windmill tops during the holidays.
Still in Dwight. More to Come. --RoadDog
I stopped in Dwight, Illinois, to visit the Ambler-Becker Station which now serves as the town's welcome and visitors center. For many years, the station was in bad shape and falling apart, but it has been completely restored now and is open during the summer and on certain times during the winter.
I had a nice talk with the 82-year-old man who was there, who has lived in Dwight ever since he was five. He said the coffee place across the street is still for sale but h doubts there is enough business in town to keep it open.
The old Fedderson's restaurant, most recently Smaterjax, is now owned by a windmill company and has been remodeled. There are sure a lot of those giant electricity-generating windmills both south of town by Odell and now even north of Dwight. He says they will eventually hook up to form an even bigger wind farm.
The blinking red lights are really pretty at night and during the Christmas holidays lend a festive feeling. He thinks it is too bad they don't put up green lights on some of the windmill tops during the holidays.
Still in Dwight. More to Come. --RoadDog
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
North Carolina Bound: Summer 2010-- Part 1
DAY ONE: AUGUST 28th, SATURDAY
I did not leave home until noon even though Liz wasn't with me. It is always hard to get Liz going in the mornings on our trips as she is definitely not a morning person. But this time, it was all my fault, but I have several big excuses.
The inside plants needed watering and I had not yet packed. Plus I had to cut the grass. I had intended to do this yesterday, but had ended up going to Gasoline Alley to meet up with some friends. It was too dark when I got back.
That meant I had to wait until the dew dried up to cut the grass. Then, I had to water the outside plants with extra helpings on the ones in pots and baskets. Those are the ones that dry out the quickest. Ever since the flooding, we have had a dry spell.
ON THE ROAD, FINALLY
Left at 12:09 and drove out to Woodstock, Illinois, where I picked up Il-47, our bypass around the Chicago hassle, even though it puts about 35 extra miles on our trips. Il-47 goes pretty much straight south all the way to a little past I-74 west of Champaign.
It is getting considerably slower these days as Chicago's sprawl has grown out to it. The towns of Woodstock, Huntley, Yorkville and Morris especially have a lot of traffic and stoplights.
Once you get past Morris, it is an easy ride, no more really big towns and very few stoplights. Plus, you get a little Route 66 in Dwight.
Finally, On My Way. --RoadDog
I did not leave home until noon even though Liz wasn't with me. It is always hard to get Liz going in the mornings on our trips as she is definitely not a morning person. But this time, it was all my fault, but I have several big excuses.
The inside plants needed watering and I had not yet packed. Plus I had to cut the grass. I had intended to do this yesterday, but had ended up going to Gasoline Alley to meet up with some friends. It was too dark when I got back.
That meant I had to wait until the dew dried up to cut the grass. Then, I had to water the outside plants with extra helpings on the ones in pots and baskets. Those are the ones that dry out the quickest. Ever since the flooding, we have had a dry spell.
ON THE ROAD, FINALLY
Left at 12:09 and drove out to Woodstock, Illinois, where I picked up Il-47, our bypass around the Chicago hassle, even though it puts about 35 extra miles on our trips. Il-47 goes pretty much straight south all the way to a little past I-74 west of Champaign.
It is getting considerably slower these days as Chicago's sprawl has grown out to it. The towns of Woodstock, Huntley, Yorkville and Morris especially have a lot of traffic and stoplights.
Once you get past Morris, it is an easy ride, no more really big towns and very few stoplights. Plus, you get a little Route 66 in Dwight.
Finally, On My Way. --RoadDog
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