Day 1: June 13, 2019 It's Normal Comment via blog

Prev Next

I left home without breakfast and without any idea about where it might be obtained. I started looking shortly after entering Indiana and came up with this place not far from the expressway in Batesville. I figured there was a railroad connection because of the name and wall decorations reinforced that. The Big Four Cafe is indeed named for the railroad that once connected Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, and Saint Louis, but there is more to it than the name. Although I didn't realize it while I was there, many items in the current restaurant, including the carved back bar, date from the days when passenger trains big in the town. I need to return and take a closer look now that I know. Of course, the food was good enough to make me want to return even without the history.

The sky was completely covered by dark gray clouds when I left home and I encountered a fair amount of rain in the trip's early miles. A strong head wind was also apparent. In Illinois, I stopped at a rest area about half way between Champaign and Normal. As I headed back to the car, I was struck by the change to a bright blue sky and friendly looking white clouds. The wind, as the flags show, was still strong.

I'd read some news items about the restoration of Sprague's Station, but this was the first I time I stopped in myself. The unusual -- and unusually large -- station is impressive. It's a two story building with living quarters on the second floor. A large room, that I assume was once the restaurant area, is now a gift shop (Ryburn Place) and there are separate service bays. Terri Ryburn is the person responsible for all of the historically accurate renovation. She's also the one occupying those upstairs quarters and sitting on the fender of her dad's truck with her brothers beside her.

Of course Normal has a brewery. Inside Destihl's I took a picture a third of the way through my visit and another just before I left.

My motel is actually in Bloomington surrounded by chain restaurants. I asked the desk clerk about independents and her suggestion was perfect. Lucca Grill has been around since 1936 and puts out some fine ravioli. I bet their other dishes are pretty good, too.

I had passed this statue on my way to Sprague's Station and thought of going back for a picture but hadn't. Then, when I parked to eat at Lucca Grill, there it was right in front of me. It's Abraham Lincoln with a couple of locals, Jesse Fell and David Davis, who were instrumental in his career. A nearby plaque offers some details.

[Prev] [Site Home] [Trip Home] [Contact] [Next]

democrat