2019 Route 66 Trip to Lebanon-- Part 6: A Gully Washer, a Cut and a Wagon

MONDAY, JUNE 17

Trying to decide whether  to stay in Lebanon one more day or go to Cuba because of the threat of storms all day.  Went to the office and had coffee and talked with Ramona and Jess McEntire.  This is one of my favorite things to do every morning we stay at the Munger-Moss.  Always a good conversation and usually with other Route 66 folks.  While there, we had one of the worst downpours I've ever seen.

At the Munger-Moss, the office is at the lowest point on the property and it wasn't long before we were manning the sandbag brigade by the two doors as water was starting to come in.

Decided to go to Cuba and drove Route 66 to St. Robert.   It rained, drizzled and cleared up the whole way.  Stopped at Chester's in St. Robert, on the north side of I-44.  If you like fried chicken, this is definitely a place you want to go.  Delicious.  Then we did Highway Z, the four lane highway through Hooker Cut, as I said, my favorite Route 66 place.

In Cuba, we had to wait for another downpour before getting a room at the Wagon Wheel Motel.  Frisco's is closed on Mondays. but Rock Fair, just off 66 wasn't and we had a good time with the locals there as well as at the East Office Pub, near the Wagon Wheel.

--RoadRain

I'd Celebrate That!! July 2-8: 4th of July!! You Know

JULY 2, MONDAY--  I Forgot Day**  What?

JULY 3, TUESDAY--  Fried Clam Day **  Since I can't eat oysters anymore.

JULY 4, WEDNESDAY--  Independence Day**  Let's hear it for the U.S.A.!!!

JULY 5--  THURSDAY--  Workaholic Day  Too much work makes RoadDog a droll boy.  Bikini Day**  Of course.

JULY 6, FRIDAY--  Fried Chicken Day**  I'll put the fried chicken of Jewel grocery store up against anybody!!

JULY 7, SATURDAY--

JULY 8, SUNDAY-- Chocolate With Almonds Day**

What, No Saturday?  --RoadDog

REDNECKS AND COMPUTERS:  You know the computer belongs to a Redneck if:  The mouse is referred to as a "critter."

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 6: Eating Our Way Across 66-- Chicken, Tacos and Cookies

APRIL 25, 2016, Monday

Said our goodbyes to Ramona and we'll definitely get back sooner.  Got gas for $1.85 at a Road Ranger at Exit 163 which is by Hooker Cut.  We were happy to find a Chester's Chicken place at the station and had to get some.  Best fried chicken anywhere.  Drove Hooker Cut, my favorite stretch of Route 66.

Also paid our respects at John's Modern Cabins which fall apart a little more every time we see them.

Tacos at Jack's in Sullivan.  Of course.

Took I-270 around St. Louis to see the Chain of Rocks Bridge.  Stopped at McDonald's on the way and bought their 3 chocolate chip cookies for $1.  Had to wait as they were baking them.  Hot and gooey, some of the best cookies ever.

--RoadDog

Where Are the Nearest Places to Chicago for That Great Food?

The Tribune had a graphic and of the US and a table showing 8 different food places, closest location, miles, what they're known for, and if they are planning on coming to Chicago. I added my comments at the end.

CHICK-FIL-A- Racine, Wis.- 75 miles- chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries- around Christmas 2008.
I have eaten at a Chick-fil-A in Goldsboro, NC. They are good, but I like Popeye's better.

MAID-RITE- Rockford, Ill.- 80 miles- loose meat sandwiches (like sloppy joes, but less sloppy)- by Christmas.
I've had one at the Amana Colony in Iowa. This is a great sandwich. There is also one in
Springfield, Ill, that I plan to visit the next time we're there. A great Midwest tradition.

SONIC- Champaign, Ill- 136 miles- slushees drinks and Toasters (burgers using Texas toast)- within two years.
I've eaten at the one in Clinton, Oklahoma on a Route 66 cruise. Great food and slushes-very retro.

JACK IN THE BOX- Litchfield, Ill- 245 miles- Sourdough Jack sandwich, tacos, curly fries- no plans at this  point. We've been to this one many times. Both Liz and I are big fans of the Monster
Taco. We had Jack in the Boxes in the Chicagoland area at one time, but they've
all since pulled out. We got hooked at the one in Palatine, Ill, at the corner of Pala-
tine Road and Northwest Highway (US-14).

I remember a Jack in the Box opening at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb my
sophomore year. George, my roommate at the Delta Sig house, got a job there. It
was great excitement at the house when he got home after his night shift, as he
would bring home any leftovers. I, as first roommate, always got first choice. It
was a sad day when he quit.

We've eaten at the Litchfield one, even if we were full from eating at the Cozy Dog in
Springfield, about 50 miles away.

FATBURGER- Southfield, Mi.- 277 miles- the Fatburger, a one-third pound burger with all the fixins- fall
of 2007. Never had one of these.

WHATABURGER- Ridgeland, Ms.- Whataburger with cheese, Whatachick'n with bacon- no plans beyond
ten Southern states. I think we had one along Route 66, but can't remember for sure.

CHAROCHICKEN- Las Vegas- 1,760 miles- Fire-grilled chicken with lemon garlic butter--not for a long
time. Haven't heard of this one, but sounds like a place to check out next time
we're there.

IN-N-OUT BURGER- Las Vegas- 1,747 miles- the double-double- no time in the near future.
This chain has been around since the 50s, but only has stores in California,
Arizona, and Nevada. I'd never heard of them until I came across an obituary
on the co-founder and found it of interest. We ate at one in California on last
fall's Route 66 trip. Then, we ate at one of three located in Las Vegas. Well
worth a stop!!!

Gettin' Hungry Just Typing This. --RoadDog

When is It Alright to Stop at a Restaurant Chain While on the Road?

If you're really, really hungry. Or if it's 10 PM and nothing else is around. But especially if you can't eat at that place around home or you've never seen the place before (which means it is not around your area).

When we're on the road, it's mom and pop joints for us, or any place featuring regional cuisine. Quite often we will have a meal in a place that has NTN/Buzztime. We always stop at new NTN sites while traveling and have been to almost 600 places across this country from Hawaii, California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Florida, but that is another story.

The July 5th Chicago Tribune ran an article titled, "Would you like some nostalgia with that?" by Kevin Pang. Most of the article was taken up talking about the Brown family of West Chicago who drove 75 miles to Racine, WI, to get Chick-fil-A sandwiches. They were living in Virginia when they got hooked on them, often eating at Chic-fil-A two to three times a week.

It went on to discuss that, as children, your brain translates anything that is high caloric as delicious. Plus, food leaves indelible imprints on your brain that will stay with you throughout your life. That cream pie that Aunt Mary made, Uncle Buck's steaks. Those will take you right back.

When Krispy Kreme finally got to the Chicago area in 2000, this was the "Big Thing". Lines formed of people who had fallen under its spell while visiting other parts of the country. Two years later, when one opened in the Loop (Chicago's downtown), "college-age students camped out literally- with lawn chairs, portable TVs and grills."

Eatin' on the Road, Ah, There's the Rub. --RoadDog