2020 Was a Weird Year

Definitely a different year for us.

**  We didn't even play one game of NTN (Buzztime) at a bar.  Granted, every year this number has been declining, but even then.

**  We stayed in a motel only twice.  Both times were in DeKalb, Illinois, where we had gone to see NIU basketball games.   Usually we stay in motels at least 35-40 times a year.  Both motel stays were before the you-know-what hit.

**  The furthest we drove from home was 60 miles the two times we went to DeKalb for the basketball games, and, of course, both times were before the you-know-what.  After the you-know-what, the farthest I went was 25 miles to Algonquin, which I did three times for Civil War Round Table discussion group meetings.

Usually, we have at least two 1000+ mile trips along with a lot of ones around 100 to 300 miles.

**  I only saw 14 movies at the movie theaters for the year, the last one on February 28.  Usually I see 50 to 70 movies a year in the theater.

Fun and Games With You-Know-What.  --RoadStayAtHome

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  Among the islands of the West Indies are the Pyjamas, noted for their toilet sponges.

Last Weekend, January 20-22, 2017: 1050 Miles, Chili, and Packers

JANUARY 20, FRIDAY

A day spent on the road.  Left Goldsboro and encountered rain all the way through North Carolina.  Stopped in Mt. Airy (Mayberry) for my porkchop sandwich fix at Snappy Lunch and was smart enough not to try to eat the whole thing.  Then Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio.  Unbelievably warm for January, with temps in the 60s the whole way.  Spent the night at the Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana.

JANUARY 21,  SATURDAY

Drove 415 miles through Indiana and Illinois to home.  Temps in the 50s the whole way.  Then went to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion for the chili cookoff and there was an entertainer.  Later went to Sunnyside Tap.

JANUARY 22,  SUNDAY

Spent the afternoon at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg and saw the Green Bay Packers closely resemble Da Bears in their ineptness.  Was that Aaron Rodgers or Jay Cutler out there?  But, we had a great time with the crowd, which included quite a few Packer fans.

Drivin' and Cryin'.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You spend every vacation visiting "Maxwell House."

Cold Ahead: N.C. T-Giving Trip 2014-- Part 2

NOVEMBER 21ST:

Drove south from the motel about 8 miles to US-33 and took it southeast to West Virginia, stopping in Athens, Ohio, for breakfast at Burger King (great biscuits) and then to I-77 and south through West Virginia and the W.Va. Turnpike. ($6 for three tolls).

Gassed up in Wytheville, Va., always the cheapest on the trip.  It was $2.56.  Decided not to stop in Mt. Airy, N.C., so I could hopefully get through the Durham-Raleigh traffic mess and driving along I-40 made it.

Took US-70 to Goldsboro and stopped at the Wal-Mart east of it and bought some items.

Arrived at Mom's and we went to Goldsboro's Paramount Theater and saw Jason Coleman's show.  He is the grandson of noted Nashville country pianist Floyd Cramer who was famous for his instrumental "Last Date" and his slip note style of playing.  I did not know he played piano on so many country hits.

--RoadDog

A Perfect Fall Weekday on Monday

Monday, October 20th was something we don't get around here much this fall, a perfect day for enjoying autumn as winter is preparing to rear its ugly head.

We went out in the late morning for a cruise around Fox Lake on our boat.  Then we drove to Geneva Lake in Wisconsin for our annual Fall Color Blast Tour around the lake.  Judging by our trees here in the neighborhood, we figured that the color must be at its peak there and it was.

We started on the south shore of the lake, driving along South Shore Drive and hit our two side trips to the shore with some remarkable tree color.  Then, we caught North Shore Drive to Williams Bay, then Wis-50 to Lake Como and a drive along those shores.

Best trip, of course was on Wisconsin Rustic Road, Snake Road.  Almost three miles of the biggest and prettiest color you'll ever see.

We then had lunch at Popeye's (not the fried chicken chain) on Geneva Lake and overlooking the Riviera Docks in downtown Lake Geneva.

Can't Beat the Old Local Color.  --RoadDog

On This Big Travel Day

I was  planning on coming into Goldsboro today, but after encountering the horror of DC yesterday, decided to push on home as it were.  And, there was a traffic jam north of Richmond.

No jams south of Richmond, but plenty of traffic and the 70 mph speed limit was just a suggestion to be ignored.

And, they say that today is the busiest travel day of the holidays, perhaps even for the year.  My sister Julie arrived just a few minutes ago.  A d surprise, she wasn't  in a SUV, but a Cruze Chevy.  I never expected her to get anything other than an SUV.

From the November18, 2012, Chicago Tribune "Turkey travel" by Lolly Bowean.

GETTING THERE:  43.6 million travelers expected this Thanksgiving weekend.  Sixty percent of drivers polled say their vehicles have 100,000+ miles, so it is an aging fleet, one more likely to break down.  My 2011 Malibu just passed 12,000 upon arrival.  The '03 Malibu has about 110,000, but we just use that around town.

TRAVEL MODE:

39.1 million by auto, 3.1 million by air and 1.3 million bu other modes including trains, bus and boat.

LOGISTICS:  By percentage

DEPARTURE
Nov.19 16%
20  16%
21  45%  My sister
22  18%
23  5%  My sister's kids

RETURN
Nov. 22  10%
23  13%
24  17%  My sister
25  36%  My sister's kids
26  25%

Well, I left on the 18th and traveled until the 20th.  I'll be returning around the 29th or 30th.

ROUND TRIP MILEAGE

50-150 miles 20%
151-250 miles 18%
251-400 miles 14%
401-700 miles 20%
701-1500 miles 14%
1501+ 14%

I expect to drive about 2500 to 2600.

That's a Fact (Or Two).  --RoadDog

Is an RV in My Future?

I doubt it, but you never know. It might be just the thing for roadtrips of which I am very fond. I also like staying in the mom and pop motels which are generally cheaper. And then there is the huge cost of gas, low RV mileage, and big gas tanks on them.

I probably won't make up my mind until I get the opportunity to go out in one.

Right now, my brother and his wife have a RV and two of our friends, Sue and Paul, just got bitten by the bug. They just bought one at the beginning of the summer and enjoyed it so much, they're already looking to buy another one. One that, as they say, is more to their specifications.

I also am a Road Advisor on the Road Trip America forum, and the guy who started it got into roadtrippin' after his home in California burned down in a forest fire. They bought a really big RV and "hit the road."

Anyway, what brings RVs to mind is an article in the June 16th Chicago Tribune titled "A shrine to kings of the road" by Bob Sector. It is about the new RV Hall of Fame museum in Elkhart, Indiana.

I will write about the article in my other blog http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com

Still Wonderin'. --RoadDog

Road Trip- 34th Wedding Anniversary Part 1

In honor of our 34th wedding anniversary, Liz and I took a road trip, essentially reversing what we did all those many, many, many, many years ago. Back in 1973, we got married in DeKalb, Illinois, and went to Galena, Illinois, for our honeymoon. This year, we went to Galena first then to DeKalb on the actual same day of the week, Saturday. We drove by the current Best Western (Holiday Inn in 1973), where we had the reception. We also went inside NIU's Newman Center where the marriage took place.

Along the way, we encountered floods, forded flooded roads, played NTN, crossed the Mississippi River in a downpour, went to two festivals, visited a Japanese garden, drove some absolutely beautiful roads, saw lots of corn, ate lots of corn, dripped butter on myself, did some Lincoln Highway stuff, DID NOT buy any souvenirs, and went to a museum/aquarium.

I'll be highlighting the trip here, but will go into greater detail on the roaddogsroadlog blog.

More to Come Later. --RoadDog

Mrs. Mike's Gourmet Corn Cheesy Style, Freeport, Illinois

As we travel down those old roads, every so often it becomes necessary to stop for a bathroom break. Often it is at a fast food place or gas station/convenience store. If I do not buy gas, I always make sure I buy something in way of thanks for using their facilities.

That usually means something from their $1 snacks. I always look for something I've never seen  before.   This past Friday, while driving along Illinois Hwy 72, we stopped and I bought some of the best cheese popcorn I've ever had. It was called Mrs. Mike's Gourmet Corn Cheesy Style. It looked cheesy and believe me, it was.

It is made by the Altona Company of Freeport, Illinois, which advertises "From the makers of the BEST POTATO CHIPS ON THE PLANET" on the package. If their gourmet corn is any indication, I would have to believe them. This was the BEST I've ever eaten.

Freeport, Illinois, is known even better for pretzels.  Even their high school teams are called the Pretzels.

They have a website at www.mrsmikes.com

Check them out, and, if you ever see it sold, buy some.

Mighty Good Eatin'. --RoadDog