roadmaven
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Posts posted by roadmaven
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I just realized we have some pics from the Dixie weekend that I didn't inform anyone of. So, here goes ya!Has it been 2 months already??
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Great trip, Jim! One of these days we'll have to hook up for some road sleuthing. Just some observations from your web site:
--I remember when the 4-lane alignment of 36 between Avon and Danville was built, around 1980, give or take a couple years. My grandma is buried out in Hendricks County in North Salem, so Danville was usually part of our route. **NOTE**: For a fun little 10 mile or so drive, head north on IN-39 from Danville and then take IN-236 west into North Salem. Reward your completion of your drive with some tasty grub at the Red Dog Saloon in N. Salem! Fun little road that's twisty and some rolling hills. Good views of farm country out there. As for where Old 36 blends back in with New 36, you are correct that the strip of grass is where Old 36 made a westerly curve. You can still see part of that on your map with the little culdesac there.
--As for the gravel section near Bellmore, *likely* it was an alignment of 36 that was never paved. Based on my experience with "Dirt 66" out in Texas, many sections of US highways in their infant years were unpaved and continued to be so until 1. they were paved, or 2. a new, paved alignment was built, thus abandoning the unpaved alignment. I suspect this is the case with the Bellmore alignment.
I don't know if you have any interest at all in Route 66, but even if you don't, I'd highly suggest you grab a copy of the video "Bones of the Old Road". Jim Ross & Jerry McClanahan do a great job of exploring old, forgotten alignments of 66. It'll give you the bug to go searching for more abandoned stuff! You can purchase it from Jim via his website: http://www.66maps.com/products.html
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Ahhh, so THAT is why he never posts on the forum! Since he's one of those big, fancy movie stars, I reckon he doesn't have time for us little people.
**DISCLAIMER** The preceding was a useful tool called sarcasm. Any truth in jest is purely coincidental.
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For those of you expecting to see John Schneider at the 4th Annual Cruisin' to Litchfield on Route 66 Car Festival this coming weekend, celebrity look-alikes will have to satisfy you!
We'll be there anyway, so if you're in the area, stop by & look for the blue Corvair!
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OK folks, we're off to the Dean Martin Festival in Steubenville, Ohio for the weekend, so ya'll behave yourselves around here while we're gone!
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OK, time to chime in here. I learned Roadology 101 from Route 66 professors Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan. Jerry was out digging up old alignments of 66 back in the early 80's before the Route 66 Revival even began. I sent both of them the link to this thread to see if there's anything they'd like to add (in the hopes they'd reply here!) and this is what I got from "McJerry":
Looks pretty good, Pat, although there are always exceptions to the rule!
"And anytime you approach a cut or fill, look left or right because the old road went around, not across or through."
This is generally excellent advice, but there are some exceptions, like the "big cut" on the early route between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Here was a huge cut that the old road did go thru.
Also, while the "old road" did go thru the center of towns, by the time the US Highways came around, some of those downtown routes had already been bypassed. Odell Illinois is an example, where SH 4, which became 66, was routed to bypass downtown.
Just two minor quibbles, which probably don't really need to be included.
This list of tips sure takes me back to my early days of Route-spotting.
Memories.
McJerry
PS: mention might be made of the help offered by the aerial photos on Terraserver.
By the way, Jerry & Jim collaborated on the "Here It Is" 8-map series covering Route 66 from Chicago to LA (available at the American Road online Hitching Post) and did a great video "Bones of the Old Road", which they illustrate on-the-scene finds of various old alignments of 66. The video is a must for those of us fascinated with old alignments.
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Is this the French Lick Hotel of which you speak, and who or what is Pluto?
That is the place! "Pluto" was the, for a better word, mascot at French Lick Springs. The Valley was known for its sulphur springs, many of which were on the grounds of the French Lick and West Baden Hotels. People drove for hundreds of miles to drink "Pluto Water", which was believed to "cure what ailed ya". There was a rail line from Chicago that dropped off guests daily.....Al Capone being one its more notable guests. The springs are now capped off, but some of the limestone gazebos that were around the various springs are still there, and the smell of the sulphur is very prevelent.
Both the FL and the WB Hotels are worth touring. Now that the WB has reopened, I believe tours are scaled back. However, if any of you can get your hands on their video "Save of the Century", it is not only fascinating, but gives inspiration to those of us like minded preservationists. If the WB can be brought back to life, anything can. Me thinks our next American Road forum gathering (midwest region!) might have to be at French Lick/West Baden. Not only are the hotels there, but the Indiana Railway Museum has a nice train riide that takes you through a 1500 foot tunnel.
Anyone interested??
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Wasn't Larry Bird from French Lick?
Here's a cool shot of the garage at the house where he grew up: Larry Legend
As for that nickname, well, he didn't attend "French Lick High" (since it didn't exist), but as a Blackhawk at Springs Valley High is where he earned a basketball scholarship to play for Bob Knight at Indiana, only to drop out less than two months later to transfer to Indiana State. The rest, as they say, is histree!
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Madison, Indiana- I had a picnic lunch in the park overlooking the Ohio and that beautiful bridge. Did I hear correctly that it is slated for demolition?
Well, not in the near term: Troubled Bridge Over Waters
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Greetings Jim, and
It appears we traverse some of the same roads on a daily basis and hear the same "sweet music" of 33 of the fastest cars in the world every May, as we reside in Speedway.
I'm really looking forward to getting home tonight to read more of your blog from your SR 37 quest. We took much of those same alignments a few weeks back on our way to Cave City, KY for a little American Road forum gathering and cruise. Not only were those old 37 alignments fascinating for, well, being old SR 37 alignments, but more importantly because those old alignments were once 37's predecessor, the Dixie HIghway.
We hope you stick around and contribute. We've got a wide array of "road geeks" on here from all over the country (and a few from around the world), with many of them stationed here in the midwest. Feel free to post some of your road pics in our gallery as well. I'll touch base with you on that 36 alignment through Indy soon!
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There's an interesting article in today's Indy Star regarding the high gas prices, and why the midwest has the highest prices in the nation right now. Also, it breaks down the myth that stations are doing the gouging, when in reality, they're barely making anything on gasoline. Good read here: got gas?
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Just to add my
:In no particular order:
-Nashville, Indiana (can't argue there)
-Mackinaw City, MI (never been disappointed)
-Metamora, Indiana (a lot like Nashville, but with a nice mill, canal boat)
-Madison, Indiana (GREAT old river town)
-Park Rapids, Minnesota (great place to relax in a little cabin on a lake)
-Wisconsin Dells, WI
-Cave City, KY (more to do than just Wigwams!)
-Speedway, IN (gotta see the motor speedway just once in your life!)
OK, I've hit a roadblock at 8. Guess I need to get out more!
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Didn't see this posted anywhere, so here goes! For those of you who can't make it to Clinton, OK for the national Route 66 Fest, the 4th Annual Cruisin' Route 66 to Litchfield Car Fest is June 22-24 in Litchfield, IL, with celebrity guest John Schneider from Dukes of Hazzard fame. We've been to all three and are looking forward to number four. Details can be found here.
Some pics from the '05 show can be seen here.
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From Inside Indiana Business:
A Ball State University telecommunications professor is traveling the Indiana portion of the National Road to tell the stories of the people along the historic roadway as part of a new documentary. Nancy Carlson, chair of the telecommunications department, and students will create "Stories along the National Road." The documentary will be used as a public television program, as well as in visitor centers, museums and schools across the state.
The rest of the story can be read here.
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Seems as if we address this problem every summer, doesn't it? I'll toss in some random thoughts regarding saving money on the road in an attempt to compensate for higher gas prices.
We love our Chevy supercharged V6 Monte Carlo so all of my car thoughts are centered upon this. I supposed we could trade it or the old Vette for some type of ugly hybrid that gets 50 mpg but what the heck; you gotta have some pleasure in life. Besides, the Monte averaged 27.4 mpg on a 2004 trip to CA that included 66 going and interstate at high speeds on the return trip. Yeah, it requires premium fuel to keep from pinging but it runs like a mad dog with its tail on fire whenever I feel the need for speed or sails in auto-overdrive at less than two grand on the tach otherwise.
We carry 2 coolers at all times on the floor behind each seat. One contains cold happy hour fluid at an average cost of $.40 per container versus $2.00 to $2.75 in a saloon. This alone saves us a minimum of $10 per day. The second cooler is used for soda, water, tea, OJ, snacks, etc. that was purchased at Wally World at a fraction of what convenience stores or vending machines would cost. Estimated daily savings are $5.
We like mom 'n pop motels as much as anyone else but refuse to stay in any kind of dump just to save money. A room inspection is a must before actually checking in. Otherwise, we'll spend another thirty bucks or so for self comfort at a trendier place. Never, ever use the costly in-room phone for anything other than a local call. Besides, doesn't everyone have a cell? Or an On Star system?
We usually skip breakfast unless the motel provides it and then have a light lunch to save money and avoid sleapiness while cruisin'. The main meal of the day is dinner with or after happy hour and even then, we avoid buffets for health reasons. Don't know how much cash this saves us but we feel good about it.
All lodging, fuel, and "major" purchases are paid for with credit cards. This provides positive cash flow (enjoy the purchase now; pay later) and allows us to carry less actual cash. The key to this system is to be certain to pay the credit card bills in full each month to avoid an 18% or more interest charge.
Avoid impulse purchases for some gadget or cutsie thing that will just gather dust in the closet when you get back home.
Take lots of photos - digitally.
I don't know whether or not any of the above is actually a big deal but the system works for us. Happy Motoring.....Bliss
All very good tips! However, one thing I've done that saves time and reduces aerodynamic drag on my car is when I started getting a hair shave instead of a hair cut about 5 years ago. I save valuable road time by not having to dry it (since it's 1/4" thick) and reduce aerodynamic drag while traveling, thus decreasing fuel consumption. Your mileage may vary.
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Wow, based on the pictures in the gallery you took of it , it sure didn't look in bad shape. Another one lost recently was the "Wilsonian Motel" on US 31 in Greenwood, Indiana. Surrounded by sprawling retail, I knew it wouldn't be long for this world, and the construction equipment in the parking lot a few weeks ago confirmed that. Ahh, but I'm sure somewhere a non-descript corporate box motel is opening its doors for $70 a night, and the world will be less of a place for it.
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The weather's looking good for Saturday: Partly cloudy, High of 72. Of course partly cloudy also means partly sunny. If there are any of you out there still on the fence as whether to go, GO! Even if the Wigwam is booked up, there are several motels within a mile of it.
See you all Friday!
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Peter,
All I can say is THANK YOU! Actually "thank you" is no measure of how happy I am to see someone take the time to *finally* document this piece of Indy history the way you have. BRAVO!! When I get home tonight, I'll be planted on your site. This is the coolest thing. I'll be sure to pass this on to my brothers who used to take me there on Friday & Saturday nights back in the 1980's. Thanks again....and I'll probably have more questions & comments for you once I wake up!
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Sounds like a fine 2-lane weekend. My dad's an "A-er" himself, as he's got a '29 Town Sedan and a '31 Tudor. The '31 is quite the story. He originally bought it in 1960 and put it into storage, as he had now where to put it at the time. It never ran, and looked like it belonged in a junkyard. For the longest time I remember mom & dad paid a little old lady $5 a month to store it. Fastforward to 1986 after my mom passed away, dad built himself a garage and brought the '31 home....where it continued to sit for another 10 years! One of my brothers and I finally convinced him it was time to start on it (he was retired 3 years and needed something to do after restoring the '29 he bought in '92), so he took it apart and rebuilt it from ground-up. Now he's got himself an award winner. It's hard to know the history of the '31, but when he bought it in '60, it was black and had old-style Phillips 66 shields on both doors, so at some point in its life it served as a P-66 company car of some sort. Who knows, maybe it once carried around Frank Phillips. Ahh, we'll never know!
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C'mon 'Dog, be nice to the Corvair!
I would say there's an 80% chance you're going to be traveling with one in Kentucky next week. I truly question those stats about the Corvair's numbers in Illinois. There are two Corvair clubs in Illinois, one in Springfield and one in Chicago. I know for a fact the Chicago club has some 300 members and the Springfield club draws a lot from central Illinois. Heck, the St. Louis club also has some that live on the Illinois side of the river. I just wouldn't think that many would be driving around without current plates. Then again, we Corvair owners are notoriously cheap sunny beaches. P.S....You might like the t-shirt I just picked up on ebay last night: Unsafe, you say?
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Nice find....Looking at the photos from the Mojave just reminded me how lonely it can be out there. Utah is state I'm really looking to explore in the near future. My dad's very high on Utah from its scenice perspective, and I recall Jim Ross telling me a couple of years ago how incredible southern Utah is. Might have to actually come up with a trip plan shortly.
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The Indiana House and Senate last week approved a resolution designating U.S. 27 through the state a historic highway.
The community owes considerable gratitude to Mary Walker and the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau for their dedicated perseverance in this effort, the full benefits of which have yet to be realized.
Read more here.....
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Just thought I'd mention it's 2 WEEKS FROM TOMORROW when we converge on Cave City. Anyone else ready for a roadtrip?
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Just bringing this topic back up to date. The West Baden Springs will re-open this coming June. There's a nice story on a local TV station about the progress. As someone who saw this place in 1986 as a rundown shell of its former self, all I can say is that the one time "8th Wonder of the World" ranks right up there as the save of the century....as their video they sell would attest!
Us 36 In Western Indiana
in U.S. Highways & Auto Trails
Posted
Jim,
I forgot a pretty useful tool for here in Marion County from the IndyGov web site. It's called the "General Data Viewer". It's basically a Terra Server thing, but the great part is they have "layers" that date back as far as 1937! It's been very useful in researching old alignments as well as some old motels & other structures throughout Marion County. It's a little tricky to get to the old aerial pix, but here's the link for you to spend HOURS on: http://imaps.indygov.org/prod/GeneralViewer/viewer.htm
Let me know if you need any tips on navigating it.