Somewhat Near Normal Last Saturday: Some of My Favorite Things

As another month hurries by.  And, I mean HURRIES BY!!  Why does time go so fast when you're having fun, and even here in the "V" fun.

People asked me in the past why I don't travel much during the summer.  Why travel when you've got a travel destination right here in the area.  I mean, Illinois' Chain of Lakes (or Chain 'o Lakes) is as much fun as you can have and we haven't had a boat since last year.  But there is always stiff going on with weekly concerts in many local towns, car shows, parades, holidays, bars and bands.

But, this year has been different with so many things canceled.

But, last Saturday, I came as close as you can to a return to the good old days. 

I went on my longest road trip since March 3, a whopping 20.4 miles to Algonquin, Illinois.  Usually by now, we would have been to Missouri on Route 66 at least once and out to the the Mississippi River at least once, but since we can't just have the fun we want because of you-know-what,  might as well just hang around here.

However, this past Saturday I got to do a whole bunch of my favorite things.  First, we had our first meeting of the MCCWRT discussion group outside at Panera Bread with facemasks on, then to my favorite store, Half-Price Books and then to one of my favorite fast-food places called White castle.

Last two stops were to check out plants at Meijer and Home Depot, something else I really enjoy.

That night, closer to home in Johnsburg, Illinois, we had fresh Stade corn on the cob and a band outside of Stucky's.

I Was Smilin'.  --RoadGrin

Every Blooming THing: Early July

The yard is approaching max color as lots of things blooming right now and lots more getting ready to bloom.

The spirea are blooming as are the Missouri primrose, a spreading plant with yellow flowers, a yellow upright perennial, daisies, wild daisies, some mums and marguerettes.

The purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and hostas are getting ready to bloom.

I have a real lot of every one of these plants thanks mostly to transplanting.

This has been a strange year as far as cutting the grass which has been growing like it does in spring ever since I started cutting it in April.  Usually by mid June I can raise the mower to 3 inches and even miss a week of cutting every so often.

I am still trimming the boxwoods which took a big hit in the polar vortex earlier this year.  Same with the burning bushes.

By the way, in June we took a trip along Route 66 through Illinois and Missouri and drove by the old gas station in Waynesville, Missouri, that is now a flower shop called Every Blooming Thing, where I got the name for these yard and flower blog entries.

Strange Year in the Yard So Far.  --RoadDog

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

2019 Route 66 Trip Lebanon-- Part 4: Lebanon Route 66 Festival

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Big storm this morning.  Encountered the big group of motorcyclists from Germany on the way out to California on Route 66 in the Munger-Moss lobby.  We had also seen them at the Motel 6 in Springfield, Illinois, Thursday morning.

At 10 a.m., we had a classic car parade go by the Munger-Moss with Ramona Lehman as the grand marshal and looking all spry with the tiara and spray of roses.  We then went to Bosley Park for the dedication of the Camp Joy tourist cabin and there was a ceremony.

Spent time talking with the good folks at the Missouri Route 66 Association's booth and also talked with Smokey of Smokey and the Bandit fame.  Enjoyed the music from the Bucket Band who played oldies.

Afterwards we went to the VFW for a barbecue, then to the American Legion and back to the Munger-Moss Motel.

--RoadDog

2019 Route 66 Trip to Lebanon-- Part 3: Hardee's, Museum, Wrink's and Munger-Moss

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Drove over to Hardee's for breakfast then went to Wal-Mart and bought CDs.

Back to the room for awhile and then to the LaClede County Route 66 Museum and enjoyed the Willem Bohr miniatures and other artifacts and momentos of the road.  This is a really good museum.  I also went into the library which takes up the rest of the old K-Mart building and spent some time researching.

Stopped at Wrink's, now Vintage Cowgirl at Wrink's and they are doing a very good lunch business.  I tried one of their fried bologna sandwiches, chips and drink for $5.  I'd never had one before and it is a good one.

Liz and I went to the American Legion on the west end of town and had a few brews then back to the Munger-Moss where we encountered problems getting in with all those old cars out front.  A local Springfield TV station was broadcasting live out there.  This was the block party celebration for the Lebanon Route 66 Festival.  A band was playing at Wrink's

One of the vendor booths was the Route 66 Association of Missouri and I had a nice talk with Bob Gehl, membership chairman and I reupped my dues for four more years.  Great organization.

--Road66

2019 Route 66 to Lebanon-- Part 2: Hooker Cut, Elbow Inn and Munger-Moss Motel

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

We took I-55 to I-270 to Missouri and a traditional stop at the welcome center at the border.  Then 270 to I-44 to Sullivan and stop for lunch of those great tacos at Jack-In-the-Box, or Jack's as they're now called.  We really like those tacos.

Then Route 66 to Fanning Outpost, home of the giant rocker west of Cuba and gourmet popcorn.  I-44 around Rolla.  Then a drive by John's Modern Cabins and the Trail of Tears.

Of course, my favorite place on Route 66, Hooker Cut and a stop for a beer at the Elbow Inn and Devil's Elbow, Missouri.

Checked into the Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri , and talked with Ramona.  We will sure be missing Bob this year as he died a few months ago.  We found that our usual liquor store was gone as was Senor Pepper's.  But the VFW was still there and we had a great time three.

--RoadDog

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 5: Bennett Spring and the VFW

APRIL 24TH, SUNDAY

Another trip to Hardee's for breakfast.  I spent a lot of time in the Munger-Moss Motel lobby seeing folks on their way home.  This is probably one of the best places in the world to go if you want to see movers and shakers of 66 and hear lots of great Route 66 talk.

Among those there were Kip Welborn, Jeff Meyer "The Roadologist", Roamin' Rick, Jerry McClannahan and Bob Giles.

Liz and I drove to Bennett Spring, about 14 miles from Lebanon and saw lots of trout fishermen and a trout hatchery.  The place is known for its rainbow trout.  I had never eaten trout so we went to the 1920 Lodge restaurant and I had rainbow trout almandine.  I'll sure be back.

Spent several hours at the Lebanon VFW on the way back.  Sat out by the picnic table at the Munger-Moss and talked with a couple riding their motorcycle across Route 66 from Williamsburg, Virginia.  Then went to the bowling alley across Route 66 from the motel.

Getting Our 66 Fix.  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN: the lobby is waist-deep in Euros.

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 2: Save the Gasconade Bridge Rally

APRIL 23, SATURDAY

This was a busy day for us.  I kicked it off with a trip to Hardee's for breakfast and brought back biscuits and gravy for Liz.

We drove out to the Gasconade Bride, 14 miles east of Lebanon, for the Save the Bridge Rally.  There were several hundred people there, and, of course, a fair number of classic cars.  The bridge was closed back in 2014 as it is unsafe for vehicular traffic anymore.

It is a classic bridge, one where you really know you're crossing a bridge, not one of those with the huge concrete blocks which just don't say bridge to me.

Walked across the bridge and could really see why they closed it.  They had food and vendors.  I rejoined the Missouri Route 66 Association.

--RoadDog

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