brownwho63
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Posts posted by brownwho63
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It's time to start sorting this out beginning with a date. If you are at all interested in the cruise discussed in this thread, please help pick a date with the poll here.
Any of the 4 weekends in the poll are okay for us at this time....Bliss
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I just received my IA Lincoln Highway Association newsletter and note that the 2nd annual motor tour will be conducted August 28-30, 2009. This year's motor tour will run west-to-east, as the association plans to alternate tour direction annually. I heartily recommend this motor tour to anyone interested in having fun and doing a little time travel over the Lincoln in IA.
More details can be found at the official site listed below....Bliss
You can now download the motor tour registration form, tour flyer, and lodging info at the ILHA site. Last year's initial motor tour was a winner and I'm confident this year's will be as well....Bliss
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I remember Joey Chitwood's show coming thru New England back in the, what, 1950's. He must have performed somewhere in Maine because I (vaguely) remember seeing posters for the "Joey Chitwood Auto Thrill Show" - or some such back then.
I watched his show in the fifties at the Western Illinois Fair held in Griggsville, IL. As I recall, the show was using Fords at the time......probably because if one was damaged beyond repair it was no big loss to the automobile world.....Bliss, still a Chevy guy
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And here's our then & now...I was chasing daylight like you wouldn't believe!
And here's my contribution from the February '07 Sweetheart Cruise........Bliss
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Hi folks....I'm leaving this afternoon for a quick trip to Kansas City for a funeral. I thought on my way back Friday I'd make lemonade out of lemons for this somber trip and take US 40 through Missouri back east. I've not experienced 40 in MO, so any tips, suggestions, etc would be appreciated. Am I wrong in that 40 and I-70 are signed on the same path? And old US 40 is basically frontage road throughout most of the state? I'll have my laptop tonight to check on replies. Thanks in advance for this short-noticed request!
I'm not all that familiar with U.S. 40 in MO but have been on a few stretches that are original alignments away from the slab rather than just being I-70 outer roads. Some (I don't believe all) old alignments are marked with a green 40 sign and the stretches I remember and recommend for your return are:
Boonville to just west of Columbia
Kingdom City to Graham Cave State Park
High Hill through Jonesburg, Warrenton, and Wright City to Wentzville
These old alignments are true Americana through rural MO and very enjoyable....Bliss
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Hi! I'm Kat. Former RVer until I had to trade my RV and truck due to unemployment. Am hoping to get a van or a small class B RV in the future if I ever work again. I see there's another SW Ohio person on here. The last couple of days we've really had winter!
Hi, Kat, and welcome to this group of roadies. Mary Sue, my bride of 48 years, and I talked endlessly about RVing the country's back roads before we retired but since actual retirement I've had a change of heart and prefer to cruise a Chevy instead. And we haven't actually cruised all of the states as we had planned. Instead, we prefer to take shorter, closer cruises like IL and MO 66 motor tours, IA Lincoln Highway motor tour, Sweetheart Cruise, Pat and Denny's spring or fall cruise, etc. Ironically, the main reason we don't cruise more is due to a general dislike for motel lodging.
Anyway, Kat, welcome again and we look forward to hearing about your past and future adventures. (But being a Wal-Mart shareholder for 25 years they bin bery, bery guud to me and I hope there's a profitable store built everywhere)...Bliss
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Would the cruise be slabbing from Richmond to Springfield or two laning?....Bliss
Please ignore above foolish question, as I reread your post about using the National Road. Duh...Bliss
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So the basic idea is a trip on the National Road from the Madonna in Richmond, IN, to the Madonna in Springfield, OH, then down US-42 to an overnight in Lebanon, OH. We would continue south to Cincinnati and the Sign Museum the next day. Of course, as Pat pointed out, running this in the reverse direction is quite reasonable as are other variations. One negative might be pricing at the Golden Lamb. We can probably get a small discount but it would still be around $100 per room. An alternative is the nearby Shaker Inn which I've always thought looked promising and I'm sure is cheaper. However, the Golden Lamb is a one-of-a-kind place and if we stay there and at the Golden Inn in Richmond, we can call this the Golden Slumbers Cruise.
The target is a weekend toward the end of April. Maybe the 18th or 25th. What say ye?
As far as I know at this time, we can make it. Slab time required from STL to Richmond is what; 5 hours? Would the cruise be slabbing from Richmond to Springfield or two laning?....Bliss
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I'm home again with the whole Christmas & New Year's outing at http://www.dennygibson.com/cer2008/index.htm. I covered the planned route in ten days but got in just an itsy-bitty piece of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the eleventh day so posted that too.
I'm envious, Denny. Wish I coulda ridden shotgun in the Vette.....Bliss
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GREAT news everyone. Check out the story on the Road News page on our website http://americanroadmagazine.com/road_news/road_news.html . We recently received the good news from the Director of the Vandalia Tourist Center.
I can't help but hope that the letters they received from American Road readers and Forum members contributed to this outcome. What an awesome holiday gift!
That's great news, Becky! Thanks for your post....Bliss
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I just received my IA Lincoln Highway Association newsletter and note that the 2nd annual motor tour will be conducted August 28-30, 2009. This year's motor tour will run west-to-east, as the association plans to alternate tour direction annually. I heartily recommend this motor tour to anyone interested in having fun and doing a little time travel over the Lincoln in IA.
More details can be found at the official site listed below....Bliss
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Hello Friends,
I was out looking at old iron bridges last weekend, and ran across not one but two separate locations in the area East of Decatur that had road names involving "Star Route." First, coming right out of Decatur and paralleling the Sangamon River is "Star Rte Rd." (incidentally right next to "Stare Rd."
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...131149&z=13
Then, down on 121 near Bethany (ESE of Decatur) I saw (and couldn't resist turning on) a road called "Blue Star Route." It merely went east, then south and ran back into 121. But, a short distance later, another road with the same name turned off to the north or east. The roads on the map are not labeled, but I think the one I drove was the eastbound continuation of Main St., all the way east to the T, then south to 121. The next "Blue Star Route" road was likely the road that turns north in Dunn, or the next one SE of Dunn.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...131149&z=13
Has anyone seen or heard anything about a "Blue Star Route?" Does anyone know if the Blue Star Route and the Star Route are related?
Just sheer curiousity...
Thanks,
Wes
I have a photo of a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker from the outskirts of Carthage, MO that says, "A tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America. Sponsored by Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri in cooperation with Missouri State Highway Department and Carthage Floral Study Club and Mimosa Garden Club." There is no date on the monument.
There is another such marker at the intersection of old 66 just east of Cuba, MO and County P which goes to Leasburg. It has similar markings and it's my understanding these monuments were erected by various clubs that may or may not have been garden/floral related working with the highway department in honor of WWI and WWII forces.
I seem to recall that we cruised a Blue Star Highway in MI that runs north-south alongside Lake Michigan a few years ago. If so, it appears these monuments were erected throughout the midwest and possibly other areas as well....Bliss
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It was announced today by Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood that the Brickyard Crossing Inn is closed effective immediately and will be torn down in a matter of months.
Bliss and Denny both stayed there in 2007 during our Cool Roads Cruise, so we'll all live through their tales of slumber. The full article can be read here. The cool sign in the first pic below was replaced sometime in the early 1990's. The 2nd pic is one I took last year.
RIP, Brickyard! 1963-2008:
How sad! Seems as if every place we like gets torn down. Here's a shot of the motel just under turn 2 of the Indy speedway that was taken on the Cool Roads Cruise......Bliss
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Thanks for the replies, gents! I figure if it's a looooong winter like it was last winter, I'll be doing a lot more of these to keep my sanity. There are plenty of roads in this state that have a story to tell, so I'll do what I can.....along with Jim.....to get these dudes up on search engines.
Obscure IN two laners - potential spring cruise?.....Bliss
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Note that, even if they close the place, you'll still be able to cruise by.
Today's STL Post-Dispatch sez that after today's operation the Vandalia State House will shutter its gates, along with several additional IL historic sites.....Bliss
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I'll send my letters tomorrow. I'm a big fan of old U.S. 40 in IL and have cruised past the building numerous times....Bliss
Your letter will be much appreciated!
I received a reply yesterday from IL Senator Frank C. Watson who agrees that the Governor's actions in this matter are "outrageous." He also said he would do everything he could to prevent the Old State House closing....Bliss
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I was on the phone yesterday with the Director of Tourism in Vandalia, Illinois. She informed me that funding is being cut to keep the Old Capitol open.
I'll send my letters tomorrow. I'm a big fan of old U.S. 40 in IL and have cruised past the building numerous times....Bliss
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Heading out on the road in about a week and a half. Hope these prices remain low.
Here in Fox Lake, in northeastern Illinois,it has gotten down to $2.24 a gallon. What are prices in your areas now?
The local Shell's price was $1.96 Tuesday morning.....Bliss
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Did you know you could drive through a covered bridge on the old National Road in Illinois?
While out driving the National Road from Greenup to Greenville on Friday, my wife and I saw a sight to behold. On the old alignment coming out of Greenup to the west, we came upon an operational covered bridge!
Here's another one on the old National Road in Clark Center, IL (between Marshall and Martinsville). It's a recent build and nicely done.....Bliss
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Great weather & scenery for our first trip to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN area. Traffic in both towns is insane. Backs up for miles & miles.
We cruised to that same area 3 (I think) years ago during June and I agree with you about the insane traffic. Had we realized how insane it really is we probably would have gone elsewhere. The scenery, however, was beautiful and worthwhile. Rented a cabin for a week just outside Pigeon Forge and spent most of our time at a park south of Gatlinburg. Here's a summer shot of the TN hills between PF and Gatlinburg....Bliss
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Matters of the Heart, Texas
The ride to Alpine the other day was of a different tempo! There is a first for everything. What a better way to celebrate two years on the road with an Ambulance ride to the Hospital!
The heart just gave up. Spirit was left behind and I went ahead for some care and maintenance. First the bike, now myself. We will all be brand new soon. We are going back today as we made it here when released, more tests and needing to spend some time with a Cardiologist, either here or in Odessa.
Be well… Ara & Spirit
I experienced the same problem ten years ago, spent a few days in the hospital getting adjusted to my stent, and have had no real problems since. At the time I thought life as I knew it was a thing of the past but it wasn't. Hang in there with a positive "spirit"; you've got lots of roads to explore and miles to ride.......Bliss
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A year ago you could have bought about ten gallons of gas with a share of GE stock and yesterday you could have bought, let's see, about ten gallons of gas with a share of GE stock.
I did some temp work for GE about 10 years ago and as I recall, a share of common stock was going for about $54 at the time. I think it closed yesterday around $19 and even at that price, it was an "up" day for the stock. There may have been a split in the last 10 years, however, of which I am unaware. Anyway, I noticed a local Shell yesterday which had a $2.49 price posted....Bliss
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You're feeding the savage beast in us with these pics, Dave!
More, more, more!! This is a perfect example why we love our abandoned alignments.I love this kind of stuff! On a related note, check another "road under water" from Tombstone's site. We have walked and explored both sides of the lake with Steve and others....Bliss
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Almost to Denison, here's a shot entering the outskirts of town. Denison is much larger than I imagined and I was curious to see the town where the mom of one of my best kid friends grew up. Big Blue and I got a "thumbs up" from the local cops who pulled up beside us....Bliss
We headed to Woodbine after the passport stop in Denison where the tour enjoyed an excellent burger and dog lunch. Also received a free tour T-shirt. This was my final stop on the motor tour and I headed back to Missouri after lunch. What a fun motor tour!.......Bliss
http://americanroadmagazine.com/forum/inde...=si&img=429
Milan Hoosiers
in General Discussion
Posted
Each time I watch the movie "Hoosiers" I think about all of the old towns, old schools, old roads, etc. in the old days. What great time travel!
Anyway, I recently watched a black and white of the actual 1954 IN state title game between Milan (aka Hickory) and Muncie, the larger school and greatly favored to win the game. I had previously thought that Milan just had a better team but I'm now convinced that Muncie was greatly outcoached and that cost them the game. For example, Milan ran what is now called a "motion" offense (aka a weave) versus the wide open run and shoot from 35 feet by Muncie. I was amazed that Milan took only "good" shots and I couldn't believe that Muncie never seemed to run any kind of inside offense and that most of their shots were from what would now be beyond the 3-point line. Milan did a great job of blocking out on defense and came up with most of the rebounds. Muncie never did catch on to this fact and played the game in a "playground" manner.
Bobby Plump (aka "Jimmy") was not the great shooter the movie made him out to be but he took only "good" shots and could shoot a decent jumper, a fairly new concept in 1954. As I recall, he scored less than 10 points in the game but did actually make the final shot as depicted in the movie. He didn't say "I'll make it" in the huddle like in the movie and was told from the beginning of the huddle by Coach Wood that he would take the last shot. He held the ball until the remaining 5 or 6 seconds, drove from the top of the key to his right, stopped and took about a 15 foot jumper that swished with no hands in his face. He said that Coach Wood was a soft-spoken man very unlike Gene Hackman in the movie and only had to slightly raise his voice to get everyone's full attention.
Would like to cruise to Milan one day and see the town and the old school but, man, it's in southeast IN waaaaay down there from STL......Bliss