Dekalb, Illinois-- Part 1

Drove into Dekalb February 5th near the end of our trip out to see the bald eagles along the Mississippi.

We met with the Dean of the College of Education at Graham Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. Since Liz and I are both graduates of that college and taught all those years, we have decided to follow my dad's path and set up an endowment (his is at East Carolina).

We must have talked for two hours about our time at Northern back in the late 60s/early 70s and teaching experiences. He is originally from South Carolina.

We then got a room on the Lincoln Highway at the Magnuson Inn (we like it because it is right next to Fatty's, a place we like to tip a brew or two and play NTN. Plus, it is the unofficial home for Huskie athletics.

OUT CRAWLING

We then drove out to Greek Row and went to Tequila Roadhouse and played NTN. We were very pleased to find all the Route 66 stuff around the bar.

Then, we drove past the old Delta Sig House on Greenbriar and the first one on Augusta on our way downtown to do the Lincoln Highway Crawl as in days of yore.

Wettin' the Old Whistle, One beer at a Time. --RoadDog

Traveling the Lincoln Highway to Dekalb

February 5th, we checked out of the motel and drove I-74 north to I-80 and took it around eastward to I-88 and took it to Dixon, Illinois where we got off and onto the Lincoln Highway which we took the rest of the way to Dekalb.

We have on more than one occasion not made it to I-88 and headed off to parts unknown.

West of Dixon, I-88 turns into a tollway, but for some reason you can exit at Dixon without paying money.

We were very happy to see a bald eagle flying out in the fields west of Franklin Grove. That sure made our day. We had an excellent lunch at Lincoln Way Cafe in Franklin Grove and I visited the Lincoln Highway Headquarters.

The Beacon Inn in Rochelle is now a Chinese buffet and sadly, they took the lighthouse off the sign out front.

Cruisin' Some Old Two Lane Highways. --RoadDog

Great Day for Eagle Watchin'

Yesterday, we drove the short distance from Clinton, Iowa, to the Quad Cities.

Our first stop was in Princeton along US-67. In the past, we've seen lots of eagles here, but today, just one. But this one was something else, perched on the tree by the Mississippi. We got some great shots, both video and camera, when a lady at the house by the tree came out and invited us to go out onto her deck for an even closer look. Was that ever nice.

We saw two others flying a short distance down river.

None were in LeClare, but as we got nearer to Bettendorf, we started to see more. We got a great shot of one just south of the I-80 bridge. Then, we hit the jack pot by the Bettendorf lock and dam. We must have seen at least 20 there.

The sky was the bluest blue, temps in the 30s and not much wind. Great eagle watching westher.

Seeing Our Baldies. --RoadDog

No Hog, But Eagles

Yesterday, we drove to Woodstock in a snow storm and arrived just a little too late for Woodstock Willie's groundhog forecast. He did not see his shadow (we would have been very surprised had he seen it) so that means an early spring. The other hog out in Punxsutawney had seen his even though friend Denny G. who was there said it was overcast.

We then had snow all the way to Rockford, along with lots of slush and spray compliments of the many trucks on the road.

Drove out to Dubuque,Iowa, on the Mississippi River and went to the lock and dam where we saw six bald eagles. Continued south on US-52 to Bellevue where we saw three more. There were none in Clinton, Iowa, where we spent the night.

Heading to the Quad Cities today.

For a more detailed account, go to http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com.

Mighty Impressive Birds!! --RoadDog