Goofing off in Chicago & environs

            Thursday, 5 July.  A relatively quiet day.  I headed out early so I could sample one of Henry’s Hot Dogs.  It was worth it.  The “dog” was quite tasty.  It must be a “kosher hot dog” as they have taste.  Then a leisurely drive to Romeoville & Fat Ricky’s.  I used the wait time to good advantage by relaxing & reading.  –  Lulu showed up a little bit before 5 bringing a well thumbed tour book for IL.  We nattered away & discussed all the many things to see on the way down 66.  –  Right about 6 Kat & Darren Sloan arrived.  The conversation was heavy, & we had to remember to order the pizza.  This was Kat & Lulu’s first meeting, tho they had exchanged much via the ether.  –  Eating between words we finished up by amusing the other patrons as we took many photos.  Pixels are cheap!  I showed Darren my car as he is interested in such things.  I really like my Saturn Red Line.  It is fast when I need it to be as it is supercharged.  The racing seats aren’t too shabby either.  –  We finally broke up at about 9.  A most excellent evening.
            Friday, 6 July.  I got a leisurely start to the day.  I took the CTA downtown.  I’m not driving in workaday traffic in Chicago’s center.  No place to park either.  –  I 1^st visited Roosevelt University.  I got my BS from here in 61.  I then headed across the street to get photos of Buckingham Fountain.  It is such a neat fountain.  The place was packed with tourists as “A Taste of Chicago” was on.  Along he way I ran into some German tourists & was able to try out my very rusty German on them.  It was fun to do.  I don’t get much chance to speak any German.  –  I nattered with a number of other tourists, gave out some Rt. 66 e-group cards, talked about Tolkien & Upfield.  Delightful.  –  I walked over to the Sears Tower, but it was getting late, & I didn’t care for the hour wait.  Maybe tomorrow.  –  Had breakfast at Denny’s for dinner.   – Read some.  Finished Shane Maloney’s latest Murray Whalen novel.  Excellent as usual.

Taking my first steps down Rt. 66!

Tuesday, 3 July – Late report.  –  Had a very nice dinner at Bertucci’s in Highwood with the Bernstein’s [I met Sam in the late 60’s.  We both were hooked on TLOTR.] & the Flaherty’s [Chuck was a classmate of mine in HS!].
Wednesday, 4 July.  –  Taking advantage of the holiday I sallied forth and drove the potion of Rt. 66 between Paulina/Adams and Ogden out to Lyons.  I did see the major highlights of the drive: the Castle Car Wash, Henry’s Drive In [Closed for the day], the Berwyn’s lighted glass block entry marker & the Rt. 66 signs, Hoffman Tower & the Snowflake Drive In [Closed & for sale - ].
    Traffic was light and I took only about 60 photos.  I shall do better.  –  It was very interesting to drive along Ogden & then Joliet Rd.  This had been the main route west for decades.  –  Later I met up with an old friend, who still says I changed her like with my call for Tolkien nutters back in the late 60’s.  See, it really is all Tolkien’s fault!  I joined her and her friends to watch fireworks.  Not bad, but nothing on Gandalf’s.

Cleveland to Chicago

Up & out fairly early on the 2^nd. – The drive to River Grove [Chicago] went well. Traffic was light until just outside of Chicago. Construction & heavy traffic slowed things down. – Finding the Super 8 was easy, tho I did manage to miss my exit. – Again, I did have some problems getting on line, but after a call to the help desk got me sorted out. – Made arrangements to meet up with some old friends, non-Roadies, for dinner on Tuesday evening. – Connected up with Lulu. She will ride shotgun on Monday when I/we drive 66 in the neighborhood of Romeoville. Looking forward to it. – I had a nice Italian dinner.
The 3^rd has been a hassle. More computer problems. Sigh. I just operate in a clue-free environment. Going to kick back today and relax. I plan to get up early tomorrow and explore Rt. 66 SW from the Chicago/Cicero border. I’ll probably push further SW on Thursday. – I do want to spend a day or two in the center of Chicago just being a tourist. – Sunday will be for doing 66 from Lake Shore Drive to the Chicago border. – Who knows? I may do it as I planned.
I finished a neat book about the 1st woman auctioneer.  “Sold to the Lady in the Green Hat!”  My friend Lea [martianmooncrab] sent it to me.  Back in 85 I went to Auctioneers’ School in KC.  I love auctioning.  I mainly do it at SF cons at the art show & charity auctions.  It is theatre, and I get all the good lines: “Sold!”

From Albany to Cleveland!

Up far too early.  However, I did head out at the time I wanted which was 0900.  –  As is my want I started the drive by listening to the sound track from TLOTR.  Overall the drive was easy and delightful.  –  I drove thru mainly woods in their deep summer green foliage.  Too many folk think, asphalt, when someone says NY.  Upstate NY is oh so beautiful.  New England ain’t too shabby either.  –  I took my time under mostly sunny skies.  The most clouds I ran into were around Buffalo.  Traffic for the most part was light.  I took some photos around Angola.  Shortly thereafter the clouds blew away and I drove on under sun.  –  As it was in the upper 60’s/lower 70s F/ around 20 C I didn’t have to put on the AC.  Even in cool temps cars can heat up under the sun.  –  I got to my Motel 6 just at the junction of I-480 & I-80.  It has broadband.  Funny, I could receive email, but couldn’t send it.  ARGH!  –  All in all it was a good day, tho it will get better once I can send email.  Maybe  tomorrow  in Chicago at the Super 8.