Chris Rowland
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Posts posted by Chris Rowland
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Never had that kind of experience. But, I believe it was sold over the past year or two, so apparently ownership isn't the only thing that changed there.
I think the experience would have been pleasant enough if we hadn't gotten there just before an incident occurred. You don't really know what people are like until they are put into a situation like that and you watch how they react. I don't think their reaction was that different than employees of most places would have been in similar circumstances. We just happened to be there at a bad time where what we might have typically dismissed as lack of friendliness was exposed as callousness. Maybe they had started out in a bad attitude because they had to work on a holiday, anyway.
I don't want to discourage anyone from eating at The Launching Pad or enjoying it--but it kind of burst our bubble. I liked to imagine that 'Mom and Pop' types of places would treat customers with a little more interest.
On our trip, we did enjoy almost a dozen other local diners and cafes that were spectacular!
Chris
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BTW Chris, how was the US 52 journey??
I'm going to have to head down to the Peppy Grill for lunch sometime this month...
The US 52 journey was great! It was very scenic and direct. I finished uploading pictures last night and hope to post the write-up by tonight.
We did go to the Launching Pad in Wilmington, IL, as you suggested, but my wife was definitely not impressed by the staff. The food was tasty enough, though. (Read more if you dare)
Chris
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Steak n Shake will always be a good friend to my tummy.
Have you tried the Workingman's Friend at 234 N. Belmont Avenue in Indianapolis? I think they have some of the best cheeseburgers in town. They are definitely Steak 'n' Shake style, really thin and delicious!
Chris
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My '03 Matrix just took me 3,656 miles to Saskatchewan and back (write-up coming later this week). Even with the car-top carrier, I averaged 29 mpg (I got 34 on our last trip without the cargo carrier). This is a photo in front of the Plaza Motor Motel in Sault Ste. Marie, which I highly recommend!
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Is an Ox and Gas powered car called a hybrid?
Keep the Show on the Road!
Dave
Oxen were corn-powered long before Ethanol. Truly ahead of their time. Although I'm not quite sure how clean their exhaust was...
Chris
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This will be different from my past writeups in that in the past, I write it up and that's that. But this will be a living set of Web pages for some time as I find more information and make return trips to experience/photograph things I missed before.
Kind of like a living 'reference work'--definitely something I will probably refer to in the future!
We're headed northbound out of Indy on the Michigan Road on June 22...
Chris
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Does anyone (roadmaven? mobilene?) knows something better?
Also, if left to my own devices, I'll probably head directly home at the north edge of Indy - or sooner - but I could be talked into a detour through Plainfield to sample a tenderloin at The Diner if I knew I'd have company. Any Indy area folks not grilling out tomorrow?
Denny, I'll second what Jim said. Heading through Logansport would be the way to go.
Sorry we won't be in town to stop by The Diner with you. I ate there last Wednesday, but we are traveling tomorrow and probably arrive too late for dinner.
Tonight we are also at a motel on the Dixie in Cartersburg, Georgia, ready to head home in the morning.
Just took this picture this morning between Tunnel Hill and Dalton, Georgia. Thought you might enjoy:
Chris
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I enjoyed reading through your trip and looking at the photos. Thanks for sharing!
Chris
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Do you have any old maps showing the MR being labeled MR through town? All my maps show Northwestern/Southwestern and MR north of about 38th St.
If you look at this one: http://indiamond6.ulib.iupui.edu/cdm4/docu...R=125&REC=4, you can see that just after the turn of the century, Southeastern was called Michigan Avenue, the part headed northwest is called Michigan Road, and then of course you have Michigan Street which is something else, entirely..
Chris
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2. The official Nebraska Highway Patrol speeding warning issued to the Hypotenuse Trail Blazer as he struggled along his route.
Thanks for the authentic speeding warning! I have been using it as a bookmark as I read through "The National Road" (edited by Karl Raitz).
Chris
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That's good to hear. I've been quite concerned about the status of the road here in Indianapolis with the efforts to change the name of Michigan Road to M.L.K, Jr. Street.
Do you remember when it used to be called "Northwestern Avenue"? It kind of had two names back at that time. I remember it was called that even as far north as 71st street or further, but then it had the dual name of Michigan Road too, and it was always confusing what the actual name was. Then when they renamed Northwestern to MLK up to 38th, they standardized on Michigan north of there and took down all of the Northwestern signs. I thought that was a good compromise.
As a southsider at the present time, I would like to see Southeastern renamed back to Michigan Road, also. (but then as an east-west numbered street, it would probably be confused with Michigan St).
Chris
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My name is Steve Williams and I am a lifelong "roadgeek".
Welcome, Steve!
Later this month will be headed from Dalton to the Homer/Commerce area and didn't know if you had an opinion on which route was best. I am considering either taking GA 52, or going down US 41 to GA 136, to Jasper and catching GA 53. I think I have been both ways before but it's been a few years and can't remember which one was best. If you are familiar with these and have an opinion, I would appreciate the feedback.
From the photos on your site, I can tell you really like the road signs!
We look forward to your contributions.
Chris
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One warm Sunday afternoon in April, our family stopped at the Green Hill Drive In, which is on the eastern edge of Morgantown, Indiana, on the south side of State Road 252/135. We had driven past it many times, but the last couple of times we have been in the area, we have made a point to stop.
There aren't many dining options in Morgantown, which may be one of the contributing factors to why the Green Hill is still in business. While we ate in the dining room, our waitress was also helping with orders at the window (see the sign for "curb service"?), and also drive-in customers.
At night, the angled pole in front of the left side of the building has lights that still race upward. I don't believe that the neon above the main Green Hill sign works anymore, and the top part of the sign could use another coat of paint.
The atmosphere inside is from a different era. The old, sturdy wooden chairs, the chalkboards, the glass cabinet, and the floor tile that may be original! They also have kept the tiny bathrooms immaculate despite their antique hardware.
My wife and I ordered their cheeseburger, and our boys shared a pizza. The food was delicious. On the wall next to our booth, they had a listing of the 24 exotic flavors of soft serve ice cream that they had available. They had quite a variety of intriguing flavors. We may need to come back to sample some more...
If you are passing through Morgantown, I recommend a visit!
Chris
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Since it's been decades since an auto trail was created, we at American Road want to celebrate the occasion of the birth of The Hypotenuse Trail with its own subforum here on the American Road Forum!
Can we get his previous posts moved under the new subtopic?
Chris
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If the weather holds, on Saturday I will begin to travel and document the Michigan Road in Indiana.
I have also been eagerly waiting for you to take this trip, too! I look forward to following along.
Chris
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I wonder if a Hypotenuse II is possible…Arizona to Maine…hummmm?
That hypotenuse would certainly pass near Indianapolis...
Almost forgot--we are still looking forward to seeing the map of the actual route.
Chris
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Enjoyed the movies! Now I'm wondering whether I need to upgrade my 8mm tape camera to something digital...
By the way, your links for videos 7 & 8 both point to video 7.
Chris
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Clicking on the link should bring you viewing delight!
It certainly lived up to the hype! I've never seen so many oranges at one time before!
Chris
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you (and lots of your neighbors) need to be giving them all the business you can.
Just stopped by The Diner for lunch today with a friend of mine from work. I'm not a tenderloin person, so I ordered the Patty Melt. It was wonderful! This was my first time there. It was a friendly and pleasant place to be.
I'm scheduling a return visit with a larger group from our office on Wednesday, May 21 at 11:30 a.m. if anybody wants to join us.
Chris
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Just post here “I’m in for my rightful share of the Hypotenuse Goodies”
“I’m in for my rightful share of the Hypotenuse Goodies”
But really the best gift of all will be when you can post more detail, photos and videos of your trip for the whole world to enjoy!
Chris
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Bob's Big Boy and other "Big Boy" restaurants have obviously shrunken to near oblivion. ...
And is Hardies still alive anywhere? Seems they tried a comeback several years ago and then died again.
Here in Indiana we had some Frisch's Big Boy restaurants that expanded and contracted from Ohio where they seem to still be going strong. More than three letters, though.
Our Hardee's just got remodeled. Now they have this store-within-a-store "Red Burrito" they are trying to market. Don't know how successful that has been because I haven't been inside a Hardee's for over 5 years.
Chris
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I went over the Continental Divide at a little above 9600 feet on a solid surface of packed snow...
Have you had the top down on that convertible much?
Chris
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In the past week or so, I keep having to re-login to this site, both at work and at home.
It's been happening to me for the past month or so. I thought it was normal. I use 3 or 4 different computers, so I just figured that some of my cached credentials had timed-out. It never happens on the same day, though.
Chris
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I stopped in Kearny at the Great Platte River Road Archway, which spans the entire I 80 freeway....a nice stop. The fellow at the front door was ready to pose for a picture, and was not only well informed, he was a big booster of the Archway.
The Archway is done pretty well--glad it will get a mention in the Hypotenuse Trail guidebook. It's an interesting concept with building it over the road, but with it being all about roads and trails, it seems fitting. I thought the huge escalator at the entrance where you ascend the hill into the back of a covered wagon with all of the scenery and characters joining you was imaginative. The section in there about the Lincoln Highway was nice--I think they had a drive-in and diner recreated there, too. My only complaint was the food at their dining room.
Glad you didn't have a run-in with whoever was lodging at the abandoned service station.
Chris
Saskatchewan And Back
in U.S. Highways & Auto Trails
Posted
I just completed posting the write-up of our family's trip the past two weeks from Indianapolis, Indiana to Regina, Saskatchewan and back:
Saskatchewan 2008
My wife did most of the writing--she is a more interesting writer than I am...
We headed out of Indianapolis on the old Michigan Road/Dixie Highway, following Lake Michigan on US-31, over the Mackinac Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie. We then headed across the length of the Upper Peninsula, around Lake Superior and through the northwoods of Minnesota. We skirted Lake of the Woods, and headed to Winnipeg, Manitoba. We avoided the Trans-Canada highway from there to Regina, Saskatchewan, enjoying some nice gravel and dirt highways.
While in Regina, we took the Corner Gas tour. If you haven't seen this television program, you really should! It has been the most popular program in Canada for over 5 years now. It is broadcast in the states on WGN and we are huge fans.
On the way back, we took what they call the "Can-Am Highway" which turns into US-52 at the border with North Dakota, and pretty much followed US-52 back to Indianapolis (the shadow of the hypotenuse!).
Anyway, read along and enjoy the trip with us. I haven't geotagged the 365 photos yet...
Chris