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

This Past Weekend

FRIDAY, JUNE 27TH:  Cut the grass and did yardwork.  Went to Popeye's (not the chain of restaurants) in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for their great fish fry overlooking Geneva Lake and the Riviera Docks.  Stopped at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes and then went to Kevin and Kelly's on Fox Lake and sat out by the lake for a Friday happy hour with the Usual Suspects.

Last stop at the Legion on Nippersink Lake for Ron Payton and the Country Tradition Band, playing classic country songs.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH:  Spent the whole afternoon trimming bushes and sure am glad that is over as that is the hardest yard chore to do, even with all my bushes that suffered winter kill.

Went to the Legion again for the Sons of the American Legion (of which I am a member) first annual gun raffle and chicken bbq.  We split one of those chicken 'cues with corn on the cob and five fixin's and were plenty full.  The Second Chapter Band provided music.

SUNDAY, JUNE 29TH:  We went to Nauti-Knots on Bluff Lake and sat out at the tiki bar and had their deckshoe sandwich (actually Springfield, Illinois, horseshoe sandwiches, a real taste treat).  Then checked out a new place that opened this last week, 'Cuda's and then to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake.

I wasn't too happy to find out that they had sent the band home early as they played old country music and most agreed they didn't play it very well.  But, I must admit being shocked as the deejay at Captain's actually talked and goofed around with the crowd some.  Usually, mum's the word for him.

That kind of threw a wrench in my Seven Bands in Seven Days effort as it was too late to get the boat and go out to Blarney Island to see their band and we didn't know of any other places with entertainment.

Stopped at Antonio's on the way home, then enjoyed the lights I had put up in the gazebo earlier today.

Oh, Well.  Still had Plenty Good Time.  --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS TURN GRAY EARLY (Selected test answers):  Q:  How can a man go 8 days without sleeping?  A: Easy, sleep at night.