Trip On Route 66 June 4-10: To Springfield

I'm not sure when this was from as it was just in my draft section.  But it sure brings back better memories of a better time.  Sure looking forward to doing this soon.

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Earlier in June, which was why I did not post much that month, we took a ride along Route 66 in Illinois and Missouri.

JUNE 4, MONDAY--Took Il-47 to Dwight and then I-55 to Shirley, Illinois, where we got on Route 66.  Stopped at Dixie Truckers' Home and went to Atlanta, where we found a bridge on 66 south of town under construction.  Took I-55 to Springfield and got off.  Still sad to see Bill Shea's sitting there forlorn and abandoned.  Sadly, Norb Andy's is no more.

Enjoyed a couple at George Ranks' and then had our Cozy Dog fix.  Checked into the Route 66 Hotel and then went to the Curve Inn and finished the evening at the hotel bar.

--RoadDog

2019 Route 66 Trip-- Part 8: Tropics, No Bonanza, Palms, Horseshoes and Traffic

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

We had another rainstorm this morning.  Seems like we either had a storm or had storms threatened this whole trip.  As a matter of fact, this was the same situation in the five days at the Indy 500.  This has been one really rainy spring.

Took I-55 north to Williamsville then drove 66 north to Lincoln.  The Mill wasn't open so drove to Bonanza Steak House for lunch, past the newly reinstalled and relit Tropics neon sign at the McDonald's.  Glad to see it back.  But, real sad to see that Bonanza was no longer in business.

Went to Atlanta and ate at the Palms Grill, which has gotten quite a bit more expensive than I remember it, but the food is still high quality and plentiful.  I had a pulled pork horseshoe and could have gotten by with a ponyshoe.

Drove I-55 the rest of the way to Dwight as we were hoping to get through Yorkville and Huntley before rush hour.  Turns out their rush hours start at 2:30 and with all the stoplights along Illinois Highway 47 it took a real long time to drive through those two towns.  Making it worse was the cross traffic was much favored, causing huge backups.

Finally got home after 1,100 miles on the trip.

--RoadGladToBeBackHome

2019 Route 66 Trip-- Part 7: Shelly's, Wascally Wabbits, Tacos and Bars

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

Had breakfast at Shelly's Rt. 66 Diner, a few blocks west of the Wagon Wheel and talked with a  guy doing Route 66 for the third time from the Czech Republic.  A wascally wabbit had escaped her cage and provided entertainment before we left the motel.  Drove to Sullivan and Stanton before getting on I-44 to I-270  to Illinois.

Then I-55 to Hamel and then Route 66 again to Litchfield, stopping at Rich Henry's in Staunton where we met one of his newest wascally wabbits.  We had Jack's (Jack-in-the-Box) tacos at Litchfield, then I-55'ed it to Springfield.  This time we were able to get a room at the Route 66 Hotel.

We went to George Ranks and the Curve Inn, two of our favorite bars in Springfield.  Finished at Brille 69. the new restaurant/bar at the Route 66 Hotel.

--RoadWabbit

Got Our Kicks on 66 This Past Weekend-- Part 3: Pontiac to Towanda

May 7, 2017, Sunday

We went to downtown Pontiac to get a Red Carpet Corridor button (all towns had a different one) but found out they had all been given out yesterday.

Drove to Chenoa and found out the same thing.  No buttons.  They must have been popular.

We then went to Lexington and walked on Main Street awhile, but didn't find any place with buttons.  It is nice to see that the old Filling Station restaurant will be reopening as Kelly's on 66.

Last stop was Towanda where we found about a half mile of the unused old Route 66 lanes converted into a half-mile long classic car show with lots of people and cars.  Sorry to see Schenk's Garage is essentially no more.

We then drove home.

Always a Great Time on the Mother Road.  --RoadDog

Got Our Kicks on Route 66 Last Weekend-- Part 2: Pontiac

MAY 6, SATURDAY

Into Pontiac, past the Meramec Caverns barn which is looking worse for wear.  Past the Log Cabin restaurant and to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum where I paid my dues for the association and saw Bob Waldmire's minivan (we we saw so many times before at various festivals.  Went through his bus outside and walked around the wonderful square and that beautiful old court house.  Drove out to I-55 and got a room at the Super 8.

Went back downtown and saw the Kentucky Derby at the Mill Street Tap, then went to Bob and Ringo's and J & J's Bar.  We were happy to find Bull's Place, a bar and gambling place, right by the motel so had a few more cocktails there before walking across the parking lot to our room.

To Towanda.  --Road66

Got Our Kicks on 66 This Past Weekend-- Part 1: Joliet to Odell

We sure had a great time on Route 66 in Illinois this past weekend.  We drove the Mother Road from Joliet to Towanda (just north of Bloomington-Normal) and made many stops.

SATURDAY MAY 6

We drove to Joliet, toured the museum and then we did he stretch of 66 which we don't usually go on between Joliet and Dwight.

Really sad to see the site of the former Riviera Roadhouse outside of Gardner where we sure had great times there.  Glad we were able to meet the Krafts, and, of course, Bob holding "court" in his bar.  We had root beer floats at the Trolley car Diner and 66 cent pork sliders at Vino's in Gardner.

Stopped at the old gas stations in Dwight and Odell and then went to the Illinois Route 66 Museum and Bob Waldmire bus in Pontiac.

--Road66

Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor This Weekend: Getting Our Kicks

We are planning on leaving shortly for a short trip down our favorite road in our favorite state.  That would be Route 66 in Illinois.

We'll be starting in Joliet and make our way to Towanda, just north of Bloomington-Normal.

We went on this once before, but haven't been on it for a long time.  I figure to reup my membership in the Route 66 Association of Illinois at the Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac.

Great To Be Back On the Road.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You get a speeding ticket when you're parked.

A Munger-Moss Motel Trip-- Part 7: Rich Henry and Springfield

APRIL 25TH, MONDAY

Drove past that ever-impressive Chain of Rocks Bridge on I-270 and on to I-55, getting off at Staunton and actually finding Rich Henry's Rabbit Ranch with no trouble.  Rich's was the first regular Route 66 stop we made on our first trip on the road and a big reason we ended up caught in the 66 fever.  Thanks a lot Rich.

Then Route 66 to Litchfield and I-55 to Springfield.  Checked into the Route 66 Hotel and then drove to a new place, Costelloe's.  This is owned by the the former members of Coz's, a famous Springfield restaurant.  Then to Curve Inn and to the Filling Station at the Route 6 Hotel where we watched the St. Louis Blues-Chicago Blackhawks playoff game.  It was game 7, winner goes on to the next round, loser goes home.

Sadly, we went home.

--RoadDog

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 1: Illinois and Missouri

We left this past Thursday, April 21st for the 500 mile drive to Lebanon, Missouri, for the 70th anniversary of the Munger-Moss Motel on Route 66.  Not only has the motel been serving 66ers since 1946, but owners Bob and Ramona Lehman have had the place for 45 years (1971).  That alone is quite a feat.

We have been coming to the motel since our second trip on 66, back in 2003

The first day was spent driving in Illinois with stops at Dwight for the Route 66 90th Birthday celebration, Dixie Truck Stop, George Ranks, The Cozy Dog and stayed at the Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center and their Filling Station Bar.

The second day, April 22,  was another driving one with a stop at Jack's (Jack-in-the-Box) in Litchfield for our taco fix, then getting lost in St. Louis.  Then lunch at another Jack's in Sullivan, Missouri.  (We don't have Jack's by us and have a big desire for their tacos.)

We took a ride along Hooker Cut, my favorite stretch of Route 66, and a stop at The Devil's Elbow Inn and the Munger-Moss Motel.  Talked some with Ramona  and then went to Senor Pepper's on Missouri-5 and Applebees.

Great to Be Back On the Old Road.  --RoadDog

Back on the Mother Road-- Part 6: Motor Tour, Day 1, Crossing the Bridge

Drove to the famed Chain of Rocks bridge and got in line to cross it (the only reason Liz wanted to go on the tour).  While waiting, we saw a truck with a name plate on it reading "R.A.S. Concrete Gurnee, Ill.".  Could this be my buddy Rick Selle?.  I walked over to it and, sure enough, it was.  I hadn't seen him for many years, even though I had deejayed at his and Jenny's wedding many years ago.  We did some catching up and again on the several occasions we encountered them the next two days.

We were the last ones off the bridge, but caught up with the rest at Route 66 Rides in Hamel, Ill., for the second passport stamp.  Then to the really crowded Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Stanton.

We got the next stamp at Soulsby Station (Shell Gas station)  in Mt. Olive.  Even better, this was the first time we ever got to go into this mighty small, mighty old gas station.

--RoadDog

Time for Route 66, the Civil War and History

Springfield here we come.  SCV meeting tomorrow and all that good Mother Road cruising on the way down.

Hoping we don't encounter much in the way of flooding as we really got drenched the last two days.

Looking quite overcast and weather reports call for a possibility of rain or SNOW!!!  Yuck.  It won't be a great day for 66 cruising, but even a bad day on Route 66 is better than a good day at work.  Even if you don't work "no more."

Cozy Dog here I Come.  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  Headlines--  Energizer Bunny Arrested!!  Charged with Battery!!!

Just Got Back from Route 66 Part 1: Odell, Pig Hip, Ariston and Munger-Moss

Liz and I just got back from an eight day Route 66 trip covering 1200 miles, 1000 on the dear old Mother Road.

We left last TUESDAY and checked out the 1932 Standard station in Odell, Illinois, just as a busload of tourists from upper Minnesota came in. They were impressed with all the Route 66 stuff on the Malibu. We had a long talk with Ernie and Fran Edwards at the site of the Pig Hip restaurant that Ernie operated since the 1930s. Dinner was at the famous Ariston Restaurant in Litchfield, Illinois (dating also to the 1930s). We stayed at the motel that used to be a Best Western where Liz stayed quite often as a child while driving to visit family in Kansas City.

WEDNESDAY-- Took a ride around and walk around Litchfield while waiting for Liz to get up. Ate lunch at the Jack-in-the-Box in Litchfield. On the old roads, we make it our choice NOT to go to national chains on trips, but this is the closest Jack-in-the-Box to us and we're quite fond of Monster Tacos and Jumbo Jacks.

Had those great "concretes" at Ted Drewe's in St. Louis and drove 66 out to Rolla. We stopped along the way to play NTN at three new sites, one in Illinois and two in Missouri.

Made it out to the Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri and had a talk with Ramona Lehman, a real Route 66 character. Also met up with Jeff Meyer, winner of Route 66's John Steinbeck Award. He said he wasn't going to the Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Illinois, this weekend because it is nothing but a glorified car show.

On the Road for Some More. --RoadDog