Road Trip to Franklin Grove, Illinois- Saturday

Finally got out on the first road trip of the summer, thanks to Big Oil's Greed and my desire NOT to make them any more wealthier than they already are.

We left Spring Grove Saturday and drove to Franklin Grove, Illinois, a small town of under 1000 population about 90 miles from us, that at one time was the National Headquarters of the Lincoln Highway Association, but now is the Official Tourist Center after we were able to get a full-time national director who is based out of South Bend, Indiana.

The reason we went there was to meet and greet with Michael Wallis and Michael Williamson who are on a coast-to-coast book tour for their just published book "The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate."

They gave a short talk and then signed copies of the book. I also had Michael Wallis sign a copy of his Pulitzer Prize nominated book "The Mother Road" about Route 66. He is probably the best known Route 66 author and served as an advisor in Disney-Pixar's "Cars" movie last year. He was also the voice of the Sheriff on it. He has authored about 15 other books.

Michael Williamson is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer for the Washington Post and he took the pictures.

As an added bonus for us, another noted "road" author was there as well. Brian Butko is one of the foremost authorities on the Lincoln Highway and roadside attractions. I had him sign two books, "Greetings from Lincoln Highway" and "Roadside Attractions."

Boy Am I Getting Some Culture. What Next, Opera? --RoadDog