589 Miles, Two Cities, and Two Meetings Later-- Part 5

SUNDAY, April 19th

Had an excellent breakfast omelet at Jubelt's, a restaurant dating back to 1922 in Mt. Olive. At one time, there were six places, but now, just this one, located next to the Ariston. The place was crowded with pre-church folk.

Went to Majestic Banquet, but I was too early. Drove over to the Wal Mart and bought six hit collection CDs for $2.50 apiece, four other CDs for $3 each, and a Johnny Horton GH CD for $5. "North to Alaska," you know.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois directors meeting was going on when I got back to the Majestic. Sat across from John Weiss, Mr. Route 66 in Illinois. He and his wife Lenore have authored a guide book for the road, found an old Illinois Highway 4 symbol on a bridge in Poniac, and their names are synonymous with preservation.

Ernie Edwards (The Old Coot on Route 66) and wife Fran were also there. Ernie, 92, a former owner of the popular Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell from the 30s to early 90s, tended his resignation as Logan County Director because of age and added, "You don't listen to me anymore," in typical Ernieism.

I went to Jack in the Box with Bob Boromak, owner of Lincoln Printing in Lincoln. We bought back tacos for Ernie and Fran and ate with them.

We then had the regular meeting. Sad to find out that Jim Allen is selling Scotty's in Hamel. Hope the new owners keep the place the same. It's a Route 66 classic.

After the meeting, I picked up ten tacos to go for Liz (about a 200 mile delivery) and had a couple more for myself. Then, had the pleasurable experience of driving the whole way back in the rain.

Good to be Home, But Wait, Out on the Road Again the Next Weekend. --RoadDog

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

589 Miles, Two Cities, and Two Meetings Later-- Part 3-- Confederates and Records

Saturday, April 18th.

Went to the Sons of Confederate Veterans Illinois Division annual convention in the downtown Springfield Hilton from 9 AM to 3PM. We had the meeting 27 floors up in the air with a great view of downtown Springfield, and especially the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, a few blocks away.

We did our division business and reports were given by each camp and officer. We broke for a delicious lunch, then had an interesting presentation by the commander of the Indiana Division on recruitment.

For more on this meeting, see my blog on the Civil War: http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com.


RECYCLED RECORDS

When the meeting was over, I walked across the street from the Hilton and went to a favorite destination, Recycled Records, to look at their great collection of albums and CDs. Today was also National Record Store Day across the nation, a day to honor the old mom and pop stores as they are rapidly dying out.

I will sure miss them. Nothing is much more fun than flipping through albums and CDs and talking music to the informed and fans.

The place was packed and there was a local radio station playing some obscure stuff and doing a live broadcast (always better to have live than dead broadcasts).

I ended up buying seven CDs, including "Western Union" by the Five Americans and "History" by John Fred & the Playboys. Great songs on both. The other five CDs were Time-Life Country Collections from the 80s.

Next, Heading for Those Cozy Dogs. --RoadDog

589 Miles, Two Cities, and Two meetings Later-- Part 2-- Partying on Route 66

Took I-72 west from Decatur to Springfield and played NTN at the capital City bar and grill on the southeast side. I have a regular NTN-Buzztime Name on the board, Sixtcx (for the road as I wasn't allowed to use Sixtsx, something about sex).

I was sorry that I had just missed buddy JJ, but had a great talk with a new player named Wes who is at the UI-Springfield library. JJ is security at the Abraham Lincoln Library.

I had that great all-you-can eat walleye special for $5.99. Now, that is good eating.

Drove over to the Travelodge and got a room. This motel is on an alignment of Route 66. I then drove the short distance to the Curve In, so-named for the curve Route 66 made leaving Springfield back when the place opened in the 1930s. This is a REAL Route 66 Roadhouse. Always a good time and food there. They'd already started their Friday outside parties with live entertainment. Bud products were $2 today.

Then went back to the Travelodge for a nightcap or two at the in-house bar, the South Side Pub. Had a great talk with a truck driver who stays there two nights a week and really enjoys the pool during the summer. Another guy was staying there and in town for his daughter's wedding. Very eclectic juke box and especially enjoyed the late-great Dan Seals' song, Bob," one of the great songs ever made.

Good Times Friday NTNing and 66in'. --RoadDog

589 Miles, Two Cities, and Two Meetings Later-- Part 1-- NTNin' and Drivin' Through Central Illinois

I was on the road Friday until just a short time ago.

Friday, I drove to Springfield, Illinois, Friday, so I could go to the Sons of Confederate veterans Illinois Divison meeting at the Hilton Saturday and the Route 66 Association of Illinois quarterly meeting in Litchfield on Sunday.

I took the usual avoid-Chicago route, Il-47, from Woodstock to Dwight, then got my Kicks on Good Old Route 66 to Bloomington-Normal, then I-55 around it to US-51 south to Decatur.

Gas most of the way was $2.05 to $2.10, but $1.90 around Normal.

This was a ways out of my way, but I wanted to visit some NTN sites that I had been to before.

First stop was at Snapper's on Clinton's beautiful town square. I asked the bartender to play the game and she had no idea what I was talking about. I found out later that NTN was coming to Snapper's. I'll sure go back. Besides a beautiful old town square, there are also several historical places.

Then, I played NTN at B-Dub (Buffalo Wild Wings) in Forsyth, a town a few miles north of Decatur.

Then, went to a great Cheers-type bar with a great name, Just One More, in Decatur. The place was packed, both inside and out with folks enjoying the great weather. I had to look twice upon driving in. There were so many pick ups parked in the lot, I thought it might be a dealership.

Unfortunately, not many people play there. I was the only one playing and I got in on the last eight questions in Countdown and my 5900 ranked #5 of 9 who had played there for the month. My 7300 in the new game ranked #1 for the site. No way that should rank that high this late in the month. If they don't get more players, I'm sure they'll drop it, which would be too bad.

By the way, this was the 800th different NTN site I had played at in the last 12 or so years. I believe this to be the most of any of those of us who are addicted to this dumb game.

Getting Ready to Bar Hop on Route 66. --RoadDog