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Day 1: May 14, 2005 |
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Day 1: May 14, 2005 |
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The plan was to meet Pat & Jennifer at The Diner on US-40 around 6:30
AM. It's something like a two hour drive and there's an hour time
difference. I figured that if I was on the road by 5:00 my time I'd be in
good shape. But the predicted severe weather (T-storms, hail, tornados)
threatened to really stretch the drive time so, finding myself awake and
more or less ready, I headed west a little ahead of 4:00 AM. Fears about
driving conditions seemed to be immediately confirmed by flashing lights
near the end of the expressway entrance ramp. A huge wrecker and tilted
semi-trailer were in the median. Rain was non-stop and sometimes heavy.
There were even a few lightening flashes but no hail. The scariest moment
came about halfway to Indianapolis when I saw headlights coming my way.
My guess is that the driver became confused in a large orange cone
populated construction area and ended up in the wrong lanes. The car made
it past me and the three semis behind me and was, I believe, dramatically
aware of the error. No harm but that will really get your heart pumping.
I reached The Diner around 6:00 and immediately dived into some bacon
& eggs. Conversation with the waitress, California transplant Yvonne,
helped pass the time until P & J arrived.
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The rain was lightening up by the time we hit the road but it was far from
gone. I followed Pat as he followed some of the old alignments of the
National Road. Occasionally, we popped out of the cars for some pictures
but the rain discouraged any extended exploration. The Clabber Girl sign
marks the east side of Terre Haute which nearly marks the west edge of
Indiana. The row of buildings is in Marshall, IL. It is the same row
appearing in George Stewart's 1953 U.S. 40: Cross Section of the United
States and T & G Vales, U. S. 40 Today: Thirty Years of
Landscape Change in America. Frank Brusca provides a great way to
compare the 1950's version with his own 1996 version
here.
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In Vandalia, some sort of festival was in progress but it was well before
noon and rain had stopped not all that long ago. Not yet much of a crowd.
The young fiddler was part of a group performing bluegrass on the porch
(portico?) of the old state capital building. You'll note that she does
bring the group's average age down a few years. Stewart & Vale also
photographed Vandalia's Madonna of the Trail. Trees were responsible for
much of the difference between their two photos. I have even more trees,
a lower angle, less skill, and more people. The base of the Madonna was
being used as a backdrop for the sale of raffle tickets. Prizes were
identified by numbers on the bottom of plastic ducks in the blue pool at
her left side. It's for a good cause and she's probably seen worse.
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Randy and Melody joined us in Vandalia to make it a three car caravan.
The rain was but a memory by the time we reached the Luna Cafe in
Mitchell, IL, where we met up with a much larger group. A few were there
just for lunch or to say hi but most were joining our little caravan for
the drive up Route 66. I've been by Debbie's Custard twice in the past
but both were in the early morning and, naturally, the place was closed.
No one else in the group was really interested in a visiting Debbie's
since they had all been there before and it was about three miles in the
wrong direction. Or, maybe they knew something. Agreeing to meet the
group in Staunton, I headed solo to the frozen custard stand. No cars, no
people, and sure enough, an orange "Closed" sign in the window.
It's two o'clock on a Saturday afternoon! It's early spring!! It's 75
degrees!!! The place sells frozen custard!!!! It's closed!?!?!?
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I entered Staunton on the wrong Sixty-Six alignment to pass
Henry's Rabbit
Ranch but eventually got there with help from some residents. I
stopped here in the fall of 2003 but the Muppet's
Electric Mayhem
was parked outside and I spent so much time admiring it and chatting with
its owner that I forgot to get even one picture of the ranch itself. Rich
and Linda Henry operate the place and have plenty of rabbits around. Some
with four feet; Some with four wheels. That's queen of the ranch Montana
with Rich.
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On the way to Springfield, Kent Sanderson guided us along several older
alignments including that fantastic stretch of brick near Auburn. Sure,
there are some black clouds and the wind was blowing but it was a dry
wind.
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Our overnight stop was the Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center in
Springfield, IL. This place has really gotten with the Historic 66 program
and even offer a $66 rate for groups. Right up the street is the world
famous Cozy
Dog where we headed for dinner. Kip handled the camera to capture some
"I was there" evidence. Back at the motel, I joined the group
for a couple of beverages in "Jane's Lounge & Conversation
Pit" but finally had to put an end to my long day (by my count, about
seventeen hours driving - off and on). Conversation and lounging were both
going strong when I left.
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