DennyG

The kid's birthday is the 29th so that's as far as I got in defining "late April". Of course, you could always take me with you to Hawaii and I could visit the kid later. As for knowing the area, the only time I've visited both sons on the same trip, I flew betwixt them. If this trip comes together (on April 29 or any other date) I'll definitely be looking for some advise. I would certainly intend to stay along the coast as much as possible.

One of the members of another online group occasionally reports on real dreams he has had with some sort of road connection. When I first saw this topic, I thought that might be what was going on here and am relieved to see it's not. I have started to think of 2008 a little bit even though I hope to squeeze in one more 2007 outing over Christmas. With the National Route 66 Festival in Litchfield next year, I know some sort of road trip will be centered on that in June. Probably start in Chicago and go as far as I can before needing to turn around for the festival. Like mobilene, I have the Indiana Lincoln in some corner of my mind. I'd also like to get back to some of the Maryland section of the National Road. I'm just starting to think of a west coast trip from Seattle, where one son lives, to San Francisco, home of the other one. It would be a fly & drive probably at the end of April for a grandson's birthday. I've looked into it just enough to determine that the car companies don't seem to mind a one way rental between those cities. If that happens, I'd hope to hook up with KtSotR for at least a free beer. My current thinking on Christmas is New Orleans via Montgomery with a return through Memphis. Alex, I'll be in touch as that gets firmed up. The best guess I've got right now is Memphis around the 29th or 30th.

I stumbled on that sometime back and agree that it's nicely done. I even subscribed to its RSS feed but confess to not visiting it often. I've often said that if I had been aware of blog packages like Wordpress when I started my cybermumbling, I'd never have done it the way I have. Whether or not that's actually true, we'll never know but it does seem that they make updates fairly straight forward and allow folks to concentrate on the message and not the medium.

I too missed having a tenderloin there. My only meal there was bacon & eggs. I'm not a very dedicated tenderloin tester but I've downed my share. Forum member ypsi-slim is also a tenderloin connoisseur and once reported that his favorite was served several miles east on the same road. That was the Midway (midway between Indianapolis & Columbus) which closed several months ago. When I reported the closing to slim, he told me his new favorite is Nick's Kitchen which is also featured at Davydd's porktenderloin site. I was able to enjoy a tenderloin at the Midway and, with endorsements piling up, I can definitely see a Huntington, IN, trip in my future.

's all right. Shut de box. I don't even like Ruebens and I'm enjoying the banter and am bowled over by Chris' Reuben Realm. There was a period in my life when, to please my mother-in-law, I ate sauerkraut every New Year's Day - with a smile - I'm hoping that viewing all of the kraut in the Realm's gallery will absolve me, at least a little, for my backsliding. Good show.

I saw many of this group when they stopped in Springfield, OH, while driving the National Road in 2006. They have some very interesting vehicles in the fleet. Check out their website here. I encourage a visit to anyone in the area. My great-grandparents were members of the group's first incarnation back in the '20s when the tin cans were freshly emptied and on real radiators, too.

Perhaps with video of the actual devouring.

Wow, you guys have real Matrices. I've just got a Sears Matrix and it's not even the right color. But I still like my Vibe just fine. 60,000 miles and it's been nowhere near Yellowstone or Oregon but it has seen Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri, and a few points in between. And I have slept in it.

Good stuff. I've been busier than usual so, even though I can see posts going by and even steal a minute here and there to read them, I have little time to respond. The videos present an additional problem since I can't easily listen to the audio here even if I did sneak the videos in. I did manage to catch up on most of the videos (including this one) last night and found them quite enjoyable. With long standing addictions to both a pay check and sleep, I didn't take the time to respond so am sneaking in a quick response now. I'll catch up eventually.

I believe the only time I ever ate at The Diner on US 40 was when I met the Bremers there for a run to St. Louis in 2005. I've always looked forward to stopping there again but folks who are "looking forward" aren't very bankable. And that $1.75 million price tag is both a blessing and a curse. It may be worth that to a MacDonald's or a Wal-Mart but you have to sell a lot of tenderloin sandwiches to play in that league. When the land becomes worth more than the business, it's hard to fault a guy for not hanging around to brew coffee for the regulars. If that's even a semi-reasonable guess at the property value, our best hope may be for someone save the Mountain View part of the building and relocate it.

Good thoughts and great memories. My Dad turned 83 this year and he has slowed quite a bit. I try to cover a few chores when I visit but I know I'll never get him repaid. Dads are like that.

I've not been there and realized that I haven't even been to Georgia for many years. It sure looks interesting and I did do a map check to see how it might fit into future travels. Dave, if we happen to get there at the same time, I'll meet you at the yellow Tg-500 in the center of their home page photo. Even touring the website is worthwhile. (You didn't think I actually recognized the Tg-500 on my own, did you?)

Welcome, Les. I don't know much about 1918 Dodges but I do get to Cambridge (birthplace of William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd) now and then. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch that Dodge Brothers touring car on the road someday.

Woohoo!! I've got a brand-new key chain and it's really cool. That "small token" Becky mentioned arrived yesterday. Very nicely done with the American Road Magazine logo. Now I'll have to get a brand-new key.

I'm home and I actually have all the e-paper work done including posting some geocaches. All four days (really 3.25) are posted and I even got the locator map done. Jennifer: I found four caches and dropped off two travel bugs. Whew, that's a lot of work. One of the caches was at the Wigwam Village in Cave City. You probably have a picture of it. Alex: Sounds like mysterious forces are at work to get you to the Lane Museum. It is an interesting place and a little different than most car collections. KtSotR: I just did a search on Winnemucca to check out your theory that it has little in common with Nashville and figured I could prove you wrong by finding numerous similarities. But the first site listed has a menu selection for "Brothel Information" - something I couldn't find on any of the Nashville related websites. I guess you're right.

I actually moved two but I haven't logged the second one (OH->TN) yet. I already had a destination in mind when I picked it up or I wouldn't have done it. I couldn't even find the cache at that location but fortunately had a backup and all is well. I think that will be all the TB toting I do for awhile. I'm not very good at it. The phrase is from a John Prine song which, even though I know the name is Paradise, I still call "Muhlenberg County". The lyrics are here. Prine fans may have noticed another reference when I trumpeted the posting of the recent Indiana trip's first day. "Hot dog bun. My sister's a nun." is from his Illegal Smile.

I'm out and about so my greeting's a bit late but it's still sincere. I hope everyone's turkey was tasty and your football team won. Since I don't want to detour this thread, I've used another to leak news of my Thanksgiving Day travels.

A few days ago I decided that Nashville would once again be my Thanksgiving destination and I went to bed Wednesday planning on pretty much superslabbing my way there in the morning. But, when the morning came, I did a little web browsing and ended up taking a detour through western Kentucky. I ended up in Hopkinsville and learned that Ryan's Buffet (the other choice was Shoney's) serves turkey on Thanksgiving. What a surprise. I'll get to Nashville on Friday but what I've done so far is at http://www.dennygibson.com/tg2007/index.htm

Your post reminded me of a website from a fellow who chose "to buy" in 2005. He wanted to drive a classic American car around the country and bought a 1963 Buick Riviera. Of course, your situation is entirely different but you may find some value in his experience with insurance, registration, etc. plus the actual trip is pretty entertaining. The site is http://www.ealees.com/roadtrip/index.html I know I have seen a few discussions of a buy vs. rent nature and, although I don't remember details, it seems they usually end in favor of renting. Then they often move onto one-way vs. round-trip comparisons. A trip down Route 66 is what's often involved the discussions I recall and your situation is quite a bit different from those, too. One big difference is the fact that you are planning multiple visits in advance. My hunch is that storage and maintenance would eat up any savings over rental but I certainly don't know that.

Hmmmm. I hadn't noticed that and it is certainly curious. Like you, I'm not aware of that ever being DH although we do know there were plenty of variations. The implication is that, in 1925, it was in better shape then what is now US-25. In 1920, my great-grandparents more or less followed the future US-25 between Cincinnati and Lexington. Granny didn't call it the Dixie Highway or any other name but they apparently thought it the best route at that time.

Please tell us that you folks got together.

I first learned of and explored this website back in 2004 after, I believe, her first visit. I had no idea that there had been more visits and more pictures. I was fascinated by the site back then and again today. I'm glad you posted it.

As a result of the recent "Case of the Missing Milestone", I've made the electronic acquaintance of Sue Douglass and she has provided me with the press release for a bridge related meeting next Wednesday. I can't possibly make it but, for those who live in the area, it sounds like a good opportunity for contact with one of the key National Road communities. What follows is the press release: ---------- PRESS RELEASE RE: Blaine Bridge community Preservation Project Contact : Sue Douglass Date: Nov. 9, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Blaine Bridge Community Preservation Project will hold a public meeting WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14 , at the Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church , located on the Historic National Road in Blaine, Ohio. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and refreshments will be served. The group is closing out this year’s sessions with a theme of thankfulness, and they are hoping to see many of the people who have participated in the successes beginning in 2001. The culminating event of the project’s work was in September 2005 when the meticulously completed rehabilitation of the historic 1828 Blaine Bridge was celebrated. With the treasured structure secured for the future, the group remains thankful for that accomplishment as it looks to how the site will be developed and the artifact featured in the days to come. While the Bridge remains in the county’s hands, the site is directly involved with the Pease Township Park District. Plans from those trustees have yet to be developed. Currently, the 1828 Bridge is open to visitors and pedestrian traffic only, free of charge, with parking on the road to and on the land nearest the structure. Tours are self-guided . Additional information is available at www.blainebridge.org, the group’s official website , or from any member of the community group. This session will be the last meeting until 2008, when the group will gather on an as needed basis . While they are pursuing additional project work on such items as local history and tourism events, meetings will be announced with press releases and information as it occurs. “ These folks have earned a breather”, stated Sue Douglass, founder of the group. “ We are very happy to have succeeded in saving and focusing attention on this very significant American treasure . Everyone in this effort worked hard, stayed the course, and provided solid support since the day we first met in October 2001. Now we remain anxious to showcase it, eager to share the Bridge and its story”, said Douglass. No individual invitations have been sent but the group hopes to see as many of the “ Bridge Friends” as possible. That large contingent of support is widely scattered yet the project wishes to reach out to them , hoping they will attend . “ Please spread the word, call your friends, forward email, and remind everyone they are welcome to join us, and celebrate our gratitude”, encouraged Douglass. An added bonus to this meeting will be an appreciation sale of 1828 Blaine Bridge logo items. Everything from shirts to pillows to ornaments will be $5 with supplies limited to what is available. Cash sales only. Free information and maps also will be available as supply allows.

I had an old address for Toshio Koshimizu's website. He provided the correct one ( http://isao-net.com/driving/ ) in a prompt and friendly reply to my question. I also heard from Kathryn who says there isn't all that much photo space provided by WordPress. She intends to post the photos elsewhere but (and we can all relate to this:-) there "never seems enough hours in my day". With the exception of roundamerica.com, I've met or had email contact with the owners of each of the websites I've mentioned and am confident that any would welcome a question or two.

Even though this is exactly the opposite of my current idea of an enjoyable road trip, I really appreciate what the guy did. As a younger and even more foolish fellow I might have considered it.