Weigh in about Route 66 July 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Web sites.1 comment so far
A person from VirtualTourist.com asks this question on a BostonNow.com community forum blog under the title “Route 66: Overrated or Underappreciated?”:
Q: I’m going to be in the U.S. for five weeks, and I’m trying to figure out whether I should do Route 66 as I head east?
The response provides both pros and cons of doing the Mother Road.
A response says that “only portions of the original route … remain,” which makes it sound like remnants are few and far between. However, it’s widely acknowledged that at least 85 percent of original Route 66 still exists, and that’s not counting obscure alignments.
You know what I think. But, if you wish, surf on over and give the fellow some friendly advice in the comments section.
Catsup Bottle party goes on July 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Attractions, Events.add a comment
This is short notice, but I received word Thursday that boosters of the Official World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill., are holding a picnic after 11 a.m. Sunday, literally under the water tower that resembles a ketchup bottle.
The event comes after the recent cancellation of the Catsup Bottle Summerfest because of infighting between city officials.
According to the e-mail from Mike Gassman:
It’s finally official - we can’t have our traditional bash, but we’re still gonna party!
The Catsup Bottle Fan Club Executive Committee is hosting a small “Bring-Your-Own-Everything” picnic-type event for friends, family, and fan club members only. We’re calling this exclusive little mid-day the “World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Summerfest Birthday Party Picnic!” [...]
Bring your own picnic lunch, drinks, lawn chairs, etc.
This will be an afternoon of relaxation and just hanging out. We’ll have a boom box for tunes and have some games to play. We’ll bring the hula hoops and water balloons … anybody got a Jarts set?
The bottle is on Illinois 159, just south of downtown Collinsville. It’s not on Route 66, but it’s frequently mentioned in Mother Road guidebooks anyway.
Illinois bridge being restored July 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Highways, People, Preservation.add a comment
John and Lenore Weiss are at it again.
The two Illinois Route 66 preservationists are restoring the original appearance of the Division Street Bridge in Pontiac, which carried the original Illinois Highway 4 and the first alignment of Route 66 in the state during the 1920s, according to the Pontiac Daily Leader.
Their work on the bridge is a good illustration of “repair, don’t replace” and trying to retain a historic site’s original appearance.
