589 Miles, Two Cities, and Two Meetings Later-- Part 4-- Cozy Dogs and Bars

April 18th-- continued

I drove over to Cozy Dogs and got one for myself and one I intended to take home for Liz as well as those great fries. Sue Waldemire, current owner, was working the counter. Called Liz, who said I might as well go to the the Route 66 meeting in Litchfield, Illinois, tomorrow and said she was feeling better. Decided to go and was "forced" to eat that second Cozy.

Rained all the way to Litchfield. Stopped at Art's Motel in Farmersville (another Route 66-era place) but the restaurant appeared to be closed and only one bar open downtown, so went on to Litchfield.

Found Majestic Banquets (the old Masonic Lodge, circa 1900) where the meeting was going to be held tomorrow. Checked into America's Best Value Inn (our usual place to stay in Litchfield and where Liz and her family stayed when they went to Kansas City to visit her mother's family back in the 50s and 60s when it was a Best Western and on the Route 66 bypass).


ONE FOR THE CHAPP

Went to Chapp's and watched some of the Cubs-Cards game. This area is heavily tilted to the red (hey, it's only 50 miles from St. Louis). I'm a Sox fan, but pull for the Cubs any other time than when they play our guys.

Had the house specialty, called a Red Royal. This is a $3 shot with 3/4 Crown Royal and 1/4 amaretto. Good stuff.


SHAW'S

Then went over to Shaw's which has been serving drinks on 66 since the 1920s. Watched the end of the game and CUBS VICTORY. One Cardinal fan had to use a Cubs cozy on his bottle of beer because his team lost. I found it on the floor quite a ways away once when returning from the bathroom. He was not happy to get it back.

The current owner, Rita Shaw, gave me a Shaw's tee shirt when I admired the one she was wearing. Shaw's, a definite stop now. We'd driven by it many times in the past as it doesn't look like much from the outside. But last year, during the June Route 66 Festival, this place became the unofficial gathering place for Route 66 folk. We had such good time that we have now been back twice since then.

Back to the motel and TV.

Coming, the Route 66 Meeting, Jack in the Box, and Rain Drive. --RoadDog