DennyG

The Lincoln Highway Trading Post offers something on Indiana and Ohio ( http://www.lhtp.com/detail.asp?product_id=008 ) but the description is severely lacking in details. Anyone here familiar with either of these items? Yeah, I know you asked about Indiana but, by linking the Indiana & Ohio Map Packs, the LHTP has given me an opening to mention Mike Buettner's excellent Ohio Guide. The whole thing is available free on line at http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/preface.html or in hard copy or CD at http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/LHStore.html for very reasonable prices. This is something I've used and can definitely recommend. Now, to really stray from the original subject, I'm going to mention that Mike has done some really nice articles on other roads in Ohio that can be seen at http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/articles.html . Mike is currently president of the Ohio LH League and a very valuable resource for Ohio roadies. Ask about the LH in IN and get the CCC in OH. That's close, isn't it?

Glad you're coming Bob and hope Susan & Kevin can make it, too. I've heard no complaints so assume that making reservations has gone smoothly. We're not yet at risk of Wigwam overflow but I believe we have reached critical mass. I count five teepees full so far and plenty of time (and teepees) remain.

Here (Dave Trippin: Cave City, Ky) is a newspaper article apparently published today (How does Google do it?) about a Cave City visit. The writer stayed at Wigwam Village but doesn't give a lot of details. He does talk about Mammoth Cave & Dinosaur World which won't be part of Saturday's cruise but would be great places for visits on Friday or Sunday or beyond. Kip & kin really enjoyed Dinosaur World on their trip last fall. Read about that here . Some readers of the newspaper article may notice that the Cave City stop was on the way to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and are wondering just how that went. Quite well, thank you. The top band was the Sean Carney Band from Columbus, OH, and the second place solo/duo was Sonny Moorman from Cincinnati, OH. Yep, Buckeyes can boogie.

OK, we're starting to get semi-serious about this so you can do some planning. Picking a date was step one and Saturday April 28 is the winner. We will plan on leaving the Cave City Wigwam Village sometime in the morning and driving a loop that will bring us back to the Wigwams for the evening. There will certainly be roadie chit chat in the center of the circle of wigwams and we may even have a cookout there for Saturday's dinner. That detail (and a lot of others) have yet to be worked out. There are ten wigwams with one double bed and five with a pair of them. We have a group rate of $40.50 for the singles and $49.50 for the doubles. Everyone should make their own reservations by calling (270) 773-3381 and mentioning Gibson. Current thinking on the Saturday cruise is to follow the Dixie Highway (US-31W) north to Elizabethtown then either US-62 or the Blue Grass Parkway to Bardstown for lunch at Talbott's Tavern. From there, we'll take the Jackson Highway (US-31E) south to near Cave City. There are a number of possible stops along the way and which ones we schedule will depend on your feedback. The same goes for selecting the Elizabethtown->Bardstown route. We are considering the Coca-Cola Museum in Elizabethtown, the Whiskey Museum in Bardstown, and Lincoln's Birthplace near Hodgenville for starters but there is also a car museum in Elizabethtown and a distillery in Bardstown plus we are certainly open to any other suggestions. Arriving on Friday or staying through Sunday may make sense to some and the group rate applies to those nights, too. Pat is thinking of possibly having a Friday cruise down from Indianapolis and I'm guessing sub-groups from other directions are also a possibility. All that's required is to be at the Wigwam Village by whatever time we decide on. (Yeah, that's up for discussion, too.) There is talk of a visit to the Corvette Museum on Sunday, Mammoth Caves is real close, (It is called Cave City;-), and Nashville isn't all that far away. All we're really coordinating is a Saturday drive and evening chit chat, er, I mean pow wow as a focal point but we'll gladly help with any questions on pre- or post- cruise activities. The date is over two months away so there is time to work out details but sooner is better than later in reserving wigwams and voicing interests. Getting a preliminary head count is also a good thing. Let us know your plans by posting here or dropping Pat (roadmaven@aol.com) or me (denny@dennygibson.com) a note. For you Dixie Highway experts, any guidance you can offer will be appreciated even if you can't join us and even more if you can.

Wow! Bisbee to Needles in a single message. Looking forward to your pictures. Especially the Gadsden Hotel. I had not heard of it before but, after your description and a visit to their website ( http://www.hotelgadsden.com/ ), it's on the list. Also hoping you've got a shot or two of the Space Age Lodge in Gila Bend.

You've answered my basic question which was "Does the Blue Book show the NOTR through Gallup, Springerville, or both?" A 1925 ACSC map shows just the Springerville route. A map in a 1924 book by Judge J. M. Lowe, or at least carrying his name, shows both routes. Text in the book describes the Gallup route. Again, I know I've read a story or two about this but can't find a thing now. I believe that Gallup was the "proposed" route but that Springerville became the "practical" route because of frequent mud problems on the other one. I'll probably stumble on the Gallup-Springerville story when I'm looking for something on Boston or something else totally unrelated.

Looking forward to your impressions of Bisbee since it's on my to do list. I've only been to Tombstone once but it was during the annual Clanton Family Rendezvous, a time when the popular but increasingly questioned idea that the Earps were the good guys in a certain gunfight gets less support than usual. A fun visit. Sounds like you may be pretty familiar with this area so know that Tombstone is almost 100% amusement park - not Six Flags roller coaster amusement park but Disneyland fantasy amusement park. Practically the whole town seems to make its living off of three dead guys. In that area, Old Spanish Trail kind of means US-80 and if you're thinking of following that route you might want to keep your eyes open for a copy of Eric Finley's Phoenix to San Diego Traveler's Guide. And, in addition to Jeff's (Is his middle name really In?) previously mentioned site, you might find DriveTheOst useful.

I haven't seen any of this east of Tombstone but Jeff (Is his last name really Tucson?) has and gives some good guidance here. Poke around his excellent site and you'll find good info on AZ & CA, too. If your route includes Bisbee, check out the Shady Dell. It's a "motel" using old trailers. I've wanted to stay there ever since I heard about it but have yet to actually do it. Any clues on the specific route you have in mind?

Well, it seems my guess was completely wrong. I knew better than to assume that US-40 initially followed the NOTR and it seems that Fulton & Cottleville are two places where it did not. I just checked out a mid-1920s atlas and it shows both of those towns being bypassed by the new US route. The atlas shows no copyright date but it brags that it has the "New Federal Numbering System" and it shows what we know as US-66 as US-60 so I figure 1925/26 is about right. Three types of roads are marked: paved, improved, & unimproved. The path through Fulton (i.e., Boone's Lick Road & the NOTR) is marked as improved while US-40 is unimproved. Cottleville does not appear on the 192X atlas maps but US-40 certainly appears to go straight to Wentzville without the southern curve required to pass through Cottleville. This impression is reinforced by a 1925 NOTR map and a 1935 atlas which do show Cottleville. But here's another question. US-40 originally ran through St Charles. It now runs directly from St Louis to Wentzville. So Fulton & Cottleville were never abandoned by US-40 because they were never on it but St Charles was. When did that happen?

This probably continues the "day late" streak but that may be just as well. East of Holbrook, there is a choice of NOTR routes. I can't put my finger on the details just now but I believe that the Gallup route was sometimes almost impassible (mud?) so a route through Springerville was used. Arizona's Madonna of the Trail is actually in Springerville (although I recall that the choice may have had more to do with people than places). I'm curious as to what that 1921 Blue Book holds regarding the NOTR around there. The reason I said that it might be just as well that this arrives late is that you are hopefully on your way to check out El Rancho and not even thinking about a detour to see one statue (not that there's anything wrong with that:-).

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto on La Posada. Even if the schedule doesn't allow an overnight there, stop in for a look. It's extremely nice and might be even a hint at what the future holds for El Garces at Needles. El Garces is another former Harvey House and Allan Affeldt, who restored La Posada, has reportedly signed on to help salvage it, too.

I think the National Old Trails Road and US-66 were pretty much the same between Kingman and Santa Fe so you can continue being an auto trails guy and just pretend you're on the NOTR rather than Sixty-Six I'm guessing that by now you have or are about to pick up those books in Kingman (The Powerhouse is probably a good source.) so aren't looking for the normal suggestions (e.g., Seligman, Hackberry, etc.) and that's about all I could provide. Since I'm so useless when it comes to appropriate "swell suggestions", I tried to make up for it by checking out the Grand Canyon Caverns website. Looks like the motel is still there but on winter hours with calling ahead recommended. (928) 422-3223.

I've not been on the Lincoln west of some bits in Illinois so I'm not familiar with Cheyenne's Lincoln Motor Court. I saw the post and jumped to the conclusion that the Lincoln Motor Court near Bedford, PA, had gone down. I've never stayed there either (my one chance ruined by a lousy navigator - me) but I have looked it over and intend to spend a night there when I get the chance. I certainly don't want to downplay the loss of the Court in Cheyenne but must admit to a little relief to learn that the Court in Bedford is still there.

Actually, Alex, Junior seems intent on staying in this building quite awhile. I've been meaning to ask if that Firebird in your signature represents your favorite weapon. If it is, I guess I should point out that I have no known connection with it maker but I think one of your ancestors may have made my first set of drums.

Moxie is alright by me. The flavor is nowhere near as extreme as I was lead to believe (or I'm less discriminating than I should be:-). But then, I am a Dr. Pepper drinker and the Moxie taste is certainly closer to Pepper than to Coke/Pepsi. Better 123 years late than never.

The internet seems almost unaware that The Midland Trail existed anywhere outside of West Virginia. But Dave Schul ( http://www.marion.ohio-state.edu/fac/schul...al/midland.html ) indicates it went through Jefferson City (a US-50 town) and so does Mark Everhart's poster ( http://www.users.uswest.net/~everhart/highways.htm ). Mark says his map is more or less a 1924 snapshot. Not sure what date Dave had in mind. Could you verify that the 1918/1920 maps ran the Midland on the same route as Boone's Lick? A 1925 Nation Old Trails Road map seems to pretty much match the Boone's Lick Road route that Dan Rothwell has in his book which is the sum total of my Boone's Lick Road knowledge. I'd guess that 1926 version of US-40 basically overlaid the NOTR in Missouri and streamlined things later. I bet the people in Fulton & Cottleville, just like the folks in Santa Fe, knew when it happened.

Alibris has copies available starting at $2.95. I just ordered one (based on the "if it's good enough for Mike & Kip..." theory) but I splurged and spent the extra $1.79 for a hard cover. When I saw the Florence reference, I thought I might have to buy two books. But it seems one of the big attractions of the Stringtown novels (apparently there were several) was that characters in them were recognized by people living in Florence. But that was in 1900 so today would only apply to folks considerably older than 106. I don't know many that fit the description so decided to pass on the novel. Reading excerpts on line reinforced that decision. Folks who travel I-75 through northern Kentucky will recognize the modern Florence by the "FLORENCE Y'ALL" on the water tower.

I absolutely have to tell someone about this and you guys win/lose. Once again, I found something interesting on the internet while searching for something completely unrelated. This time it was the fact that, within a half hour's drive from my old home town, there is a restaurant that serves the world's first mass produced soft drink, Moxie. I knew of Moxie but had never tasted it. It's pretty much concentrated in the northeast. The restaurant's name, Nifty 50's Old Tyme Cafe, raised my interest even more. Yesterday, I headed there after a visit with my parents. The Old Tyme Cafe is pretty cool. Lot's of Coke memorabilia and a cooler stocked with unusual soft drinks including Moxie. They were out of their signature breaded tenderloins so I went with a (marginally healthier?) grilled tenderloin. When I grabbed a Moxie, the gal at the counter was so convincing with her "Do you really like that stuff?" that I decided not to risk my meal on what is always described as a acquired taste and went with a grape Nehi instead. I did buy some Moxie for later study. But the surprise bonus is the real reason I'm posting this. Two doors at one end of the restaurant lead to the Dreamland Museum and Dinner Show. This is where the artist formerly know as Phillip Stanick now performs. Phillip was raised in the circus and worked as a clown and then an animal trainer. Only after he turned 21 did he learn that he was adopted. It seems he was really the offspring of an extra in the movie Blue Hawaii and the movie's star. Phillip legally changed his name to Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr., and began, not impersonating that other Elvis, but performing musical tributes to him. A subtle but important difference. Several months ago, after years of touring, the younger (but not quite young) Elvis settled down in St Marys, Ohio. During the summer he did three or more shows a week but there is just one in the current winter schedule. By the most incredible luck, I had arrived about an hour and a half before the weekly show. Did I stay? Silly question. The museum is interesting and the show entertaining. The performance is clearly on the leading edge of karaoke technology. At first it's a little unsettling to hear the guy who used to live in Graceland referred to as Elvis, Sr., but you get used to it and it's actually a nice touch, I think. As proof that I'm not making this up, I give you http://www.elvisjr.com/ and http://www.seemore.org/otherattract.html and a pair of exterior shots in the dark in the gallery here. elvisjr.com is a little behind times and the other site is off on a few details but they're close. Dreamland is on OH-703 but OH-66 goes through the center of St Marys just a few miles away. I understand that officials are currently looking into the possibility of renaming that US-66, Jr.

The Sixty-One part of the trip was a later, but not last miniute, addition. I could have solicited some advice from you or Alex but I didn't realize that Old 61 would not be obvious. Oops. I did stop at the toutist center at Tunica but it was... any guesses?... closed. Why I didn't make a brief visit to Helena I just don't know. I remember thinking about it but don't recall why I stopped thinking about it. I had the Cheeseborough book with me and one by Richard Knight, too. I think either would get you to some good spots. I also had Tim's book along but I'm not sure I opened it once. That's not a knock. It did provide, as you said, some great inspiration but it doesn't pretend to be a guide book. On one hand, I wish I had spent more time exploring Clarkdale but I knew I'd be back so, even though it was my first visit, I didn't panic. Thanks for the CatHead address. I just signed up to help with that next visit.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that plans for a Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor visitor center and headquarters have been approved. That article is here: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_487868.html The LHHC it a "200-Mile Roadside Museum" that runs through six west Pennsylvania counties. A very nice usable-in-the-car guide is available through their website ( http://www.lhhc.org/ ) for a couple of bucks. Thanks to Jeff Kitsko for posting this news in the Lincoln Highway Yahoo group.

Good news & bad news. The good news is that with a different (presumably correct) spelling of Boonville, I got some hits on both. As for the Stein House, the good news continues with a very recent review and a better shot of the electric stein ( http://www.midmodiningguide.com/ ). The bad news involves the Hallway Club and a June of '06 fire but it sounds like it was already an ex-club when the fire hit ( http://www.kmiz.com/news/default.asp?StoryID=2716 ). There is even a current menu for the Stein House ( http://www.midmodiningguide.com/businessdetails.cfm?id=447 ) although my browser wouldn't read the PDF directly and I had to save it locally first. The ravioli is indeed gone but for two bucks they'll put those portabellas in the $7 fettuccine.

Their signs are easy to find ( http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/midwes...verns/index.htm ) but I'm sure you knew that. A place with a neon beer stein out front and one claiming to have "the best tap beer", eh? I like the way you think. (Is this a personalized enticement?) For the Stein House, I found a menu from 1998 ( http://eagleinfo.com/SteinHouse03.htm ), when Portobello Ravioli was $5.99, and a rather uninformative blog entry about a visit on November 28 of '06 ( http://noroomthanks.blogspot.com/2006_11_26_archive.html ). Looks like they're still open and probably not too pricy although the six dollar ravioli is probably long gone. Less luck with the Hallway Club although BigBook does show a Klucks Hallway and Loft in Boonville. Coincidence? In case you're thinking of this for Sunday, I did see a "Closed Sunday" on the Stein House menu. Of course, things might have changed in nine years. There is a contact link on that blog so you might be able to get some recent impressions from that. I sure wouldn't walk a mile for a camel but drive 500 mile for a beer? I'm still thinking about it.