Sunday Drive

Part One

Posted by Suzanne - z5 IL (My Page) on Sun, Apr 25, 04 at 18:40

Back in the '50's and early '60's there was a great family outing called the Sunday drive. It seems to have disappeared as people found themselves stuck in a car for long commutes.

Back then families only owned one car, and mom and the kids were stuck at home all week while the auto and dad were at work. Saturday was for running errands and grocery shopping, but Sunday was for driving through the countryside.

Sometimes we would have a destination, and sometimes we would just follow the road. Mom would pack a lunch, or we'd decide to stop at one of the many roadside bar-b-que stands that dotted the countryside. We'd head up towards Wisconsin, traveling along the Fox River. In those days there were lots of roadside rest stops and picnic areas.

Mr. Suzanne has been busy with commitments, and yesterday had the chance to attend the Chicago Bears draft pick. That meant I spent my day at a family function with my mother-in-law. Today he had his weekly golf game and I was determined that my day would not be spent hanging out with his mother.

So early this morning I gassed up the car and took a Sunday drive, heading west on Route 64. I didn't have a map, but decided to just drive west, keeping in mind that I needed to be prepared for the same distance back.

I invite you to come along on my Sunday drive. There's lots of interesting things to see. There is a destination, but I'll let that be a surprise.

First we need to gas up the car, and it's $1.86 a gallon. This station is the only thing for miles around, and even though the ownership has been changed many times, it's still known to locals as "Pride Pantry". This was in the day when they flew a huge American flag at the corner where these people are standing.

Last Sunday was very warm, and all the bikers were out in force. It's very, very cool today, but bike season has begun and they don't let a little chill or rain keep them off the road.

These people were assessing the weather in each direction, deciding which way they would travel. We're going to head west from here.

Bikers at Pride Pantry

Sunday Drive - Part 2

Sun, Apr 25, 04 at 21:15

We've got a long way to travel, so we better get going.

Heading west on Route 64 we'll pass through Maple Park. We won't consider that the next town, because there's nothing there but vet clinic, a catholic church and a beauty parlor. Next stop is Sycamore, Illinois, home of the world famous Pumpkin Fest.

Bob Jo's Speedway is on the right. If you pick up an old beater and knock the windows out, you can race on a Saturday night. They sell racing fuel back at Pride. It's $3.94 a gallon, and once I pumped it by mistake into the Chevy S10. That mistake cost me a fortune, but it didn't make the truck go any faster.

Evergreen Village trailer park is just on the edge of town. It's an old park and I always wonder about the people living year round in small travel trailers. Beyond that is the driving range and miniature golf course. This year the owner has purchase an old Chrysler mini-van and parked it out in the middle of the field. You can buy a bucket of balls and try to hit the van.

Next is a testament to the fact that drive-ins are alive and well in small town America. Dari-Ripple is my favorite ice cream place, and there are tables out back where you can sit under the trees and watch the corn grow in the nearby field.

It's very early and they're not open yet. Maybe on the way back we'll stop for their specialty - a Turtle sundae with those salty pecans and real whipped cream.

We'll continue our journey tomorrow. For now, here's the Dari Ripple.

Sunday Drive - Part 3

Mon, Apr 26, 04 at 21:14

We're entering Sycamore, which is a typical midwest town. The beautiful, old county court house stands in the middle of town. The carvings adorning the building are superb, and the entire structure is testatment to a quality of construction and craftmanship that is long gone. The library, constructed of dramatic red stone stands opposite the courthouse.

Small storefronts line the street, and the businesses include a bar & grill, an antique shop, a jewelry store and a Ben Franklin, which is the only 5 and dime store that I know of left in Northern Illinois.

The town movie theater, "The State" is holding it's own and still shows first run movies.

As you head out of town there's a small stream on the north side of the road. The large concrete pillars stand alone in the streambed. They once supported the rail line that ran to the west. The old rail bed leads toward our next destination - Oregon, Illinois. There are some interesting things to see along the way.

Here's a photo to show the stonework detail on the DeKalb County Courthouse. I'll post a picture of the roof of the library at the Gallery. It's so spectacular, you must check it out!

DeKalb County Courthouse

Sunday Drive - Part 4

Mon, Apr 26, 04 at 22:20

It's 34 miles to Oregon, Illinois. This area of northern Illinois is flat, flat, flat, and could rival Montana for the title of big sky country. You can see from horizon to horizon in every direction, with nothing to block your view. Farmhouses and barns are spaced a couple miles apart, and road are arranged in a grid pattern.

Halfway to Oregon, the land falls away to the west, forming a low plateau. As you come up over a small rise at the edge of the plateau you're presented with a fantastic view that I call "The Big Valley". It's become a joke, and if we're riding as a family we all say in unison...THE BIG VALLEY.

The road curves sharply to the right and then to the left. A small country road continues north while Route 64 turns to the west again. A road sign points north to Esmond, 2 miles away. I've often wondered about Esmond and the small antique store that posts it's sign by the roadway. This trip isn't about getting anywhere on time, so we're going to take the country road north.

Small farms line the road and before I realize it, I've passed Esmond. I turn back and turn left, finding myself in front of the curious building housing the antique store. It's a flatiron type building, surround by small homes and a large grain elevator. Nothing gives me a clue as to it's original use. Outside there's all kinds of "stuff", including a rusted garden arbor with built in benches. It's good thing that they don't open until 12 noon, because I might be tempted.

The air is cool and it's so quiet. There can't be more than 40 people living in this small community, and the sound of the birds and the wind blowing through the trees sounds like music to my ears.

We're going to head out again. There's something really great I spotted on the way in. If the birds and wind are music to the ears, this is will be music to the eyes and nose!

Esmond Antiques

Sundary Drive - Part 5

Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 7:54

Dairy farms are everywhere in nearby Wisconsin, but in northern Illinois they've all but disappeared. As I drive back towards Route 64 there's a farm that keeps dairy cows. It's not a large herd, just a few cows, so it's not clear if he's selling the milk to a dairy.

The weather was turning, and it started to drizzle. The picture was taken from the car window. The farmer might have gotten a good laugh out of a city slicker standing in the rain to take pictures of his cows, but my thought was to be unobtrusive on a Sunday morning.

It's at this point, with the window open that I get a big whiff of cow manure. Having spent time staying with friends on dairy farm as a child, it's a familiar odor. Cow manure is #1 on my list of farm waste...horse manure would be second (slightly different)... but hog waste is a blight on humanity. When passing a hog farm all windows must be tightly shut, with your shirt pulled up over your nose.

The Bovine Sisters

Sunday Drive - Part 6

Posted by Suzanne_IL z5 IL (My Page) on Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 22:27

One of my favorite forums at the Garden Web (other than the GP) is Farm Life. I really love reading their journal entries and enjoy it even though I don't have a clue what they're talking about sometimes. Broody hens for example.

It seems to me that they are the kind of people that love a more solitary life. They sure aren't afraid of hard physical work, and if you live on a farm your wouldn't need a membership to a health club. It would be an attractive proposition to be your own boss and work close to nature. I love driving my garden tractor and can imagine how it would be to ride over a thousand acres on a real rig.

We drifted apart from our childhood friends who lived on the dairy farm, so I never had the chance to ask the kids what it was like to grow up in such a rural place.

This is a typical scene between Sycamore and Oregon.

Country road......

Sunday Drive - Part 7

Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 22:43

Just outside the little community of Kings, is the loneliest little cemetery. I've always thought it would make the most dramatic photograph.

This little cemetery lies just to the north of Route 64, at the edge of a cornfield. There's no fence and the farm carefully plows around the small space. In wintertime it seems all the more desolate and lonely.

There's a small sign and a smooth granite marker to denote the spot where a Revolutionary war veteran is buried. All total there are perhaps a dozen graves, none recent.

It makes you wonder what the countryside was like when these folks were laid to rest.

The field and small path are very muddy, and a corncob serves as a scraper before I climb back in the car.

Here's the cemetery outside Kings, Illinois.

Lonely Resting Place

Sunday Drive - Part 8

Wed, Apr 28, 04 at 21:54

The green sign on Route 64 points north and says, "Church Camp". This is where I turn to get to Brick Road, it's about a mile down the road. We turn left and another mile takes us to the place where my sister owned and operated an herb farm.

The herbs are gone and the new owners don't seem to be gardeners. The only thing thriving are hundreds of hosta, split and moved by my sister from a single plant. They've not kept up her tradition of mowing a meditation path through the tall prairie grass.

Another quarter mile takes us to a spot where rural and modern life clash in a dramatic visual. In the middle of the grain fields lies the Byron Nuclear power plant. Nobody wants these type of structures in their backyard, and especially this week as we are reminded of the disaster at Chernobyl. But we all need power and they must stand somewhere.

It's possible to drive right in front of the towers, but I imagine that after 9-11 they wouldn't be too thrilled about a hobbyist photographer snapping up close and personal shots.

When pass by the towers you are struck by the silence, and the visual of water gently pouring down the lower part of the concrete structure. I suppose this is part of a cooling process, but it resembles a new age tranquility water feature.

My son has always joked that this is where the glowing three-eyed fish cross the road in the middle of the night.

John is getting anxious to see Oregon, so we must move on.

Home of the three-eyed fish

Sunday Drive - Part 9

Wed, Apr 28, 04 at 22:08

Very seldom will you see a historical marker alongside an interstate, but they dot the rural countryside. There must be a master listing somewhere of all the markers in Illinois. I have encountered three on this drive and there are many more.

Some are located in such out of the way spots, on seldom traveled roads, and only the locals see them. One such marker stands a little further on Brick Road, which by the way, is only about 3 miles in it's entire length.

The marker reads, "The Brick Road - Built on the old Chicago & Iowa trail, this road was the first paved road in Northern Illinois. Begun in 1914, it was dedicated on August 24, 1915. One lane of fired bricks was put in the north lane, a dirt track in the south lane, 1 and 5/8 mile long."

Everything else has been paved over. This is all that remains of the historic brick road.

Follow the Old Brick Road

Sunday Drive - Part 10

Posted by Suzanne_IL z5 IL (My Page) on Thu, Apr 29, 04 at 19:21

About 5 miles outside of Oregon, the topography changes from flat farmland to rolling hills. We are approaching the Rock River Valley.

There's a statue of an indian that stands along the river, and is visible from the road that snakes up the west bank. I drive across the bridge and past the long low head dam and drive up the western bank. About a mile up the road I spot the statue. It's quite impressive standing alone on the 200 ft. bluff overlooking the river, especially at night when it is illuminated.

I wondered if it was possible to get to the up close to the statue, so I drive back across the river and up the eastern bank. The statue stands in Lowden State Park, which was once a retreat for artists. Now it serves as a campground, picnic area and a small road winds back to the spot where the statue stands.

In 1907, one of the artists, Loredo Taft, teamed up with a German sculptor and built the statue. It's formed of concrete, and unfortunately doesn't seem quite as impressive up close as it does from the far bank. Time has taken it's toll on the material.

This area was heavily involved in the Blackhawk Indian Wars of 1832. Most of the indians were removed to Iowa, but Chief Blackhawk refused to leave and traveled up and down the Rock River Valley trying to gather support. Eventually the Chief was removed to the reservation.

Chief Blackhawk looks to the west, from the bluff over the Rock River.

Sunday Drive - Part 11

Thu, Apr 29, 04 at 19:34

Breafast this morning was a piece of toast and a cup of coffee, and now I'm getting hungry. I drive back across the bridge and past Jay's Drive-In. There's a McDonald's a couple of blocks away but I opt for a cafe on one of the side streets. This is only a block from the courthouse square.

Two scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, hash browns and a cup of coffee is just a little over $4.00. As I sit and enjoy the farm fresh eggs I look out over the town. The big box stores are quite a distance from here, so the local shops make a modest living. It's certainly not enough revenue to allow them to refurbish the downtown, and they haven't gotten federal grants for that purpose, so the place looks a bit seedier than Sycamore.

It seems to me the folks around here believe in the old adage, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without". And that's not a bad thing.

The tiny movie theater closed years ago. Another business moved into it's spot, and this businessman saw no need to tear down the marquise and put up a new sign. He just used what was there.

Bob's TV and Appliance.

Sunday Drive - Part 12

Fri, Apr 30, 04 at 19:15

The morning started out dreary and overcast, and it's drizzled all day. Traveling west from Oregon, it starts to rain in earnest. For a moment I entertain the idea of turning around and heading home. It's doubtful I'll get any photographs in this weather.

All that waits at home is laundry, so I figure what the heck, I might as well keep driving. A quick check of the trunk after breakfast revealed that I'd left the atlas at home, so I'm not sure how far it is to the destination I had in mind.

I pass through Mt. Morris and at this point it becomes apparent that this is serious grain farming territory. The farmhouses are many miles apart, and I drive long distances without seeing another car. At the top of a rise I spot a fantastic sight, two large trees that form an arbor over the road.

There's an auction in progress at the intersection in Mt. Carroll, but it's probably just farm equipment, so I drive on. The next small town is Lanark and beyond that Savanna, Illinois.

Here lies what I was looking for - the mighty Mississippi! This river holds a special place in my heart and mind. Many hours were spent reading Mark Twains adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. It seemed a bright spot to a child to imagine that you could run away and have adventures out of the control of the adults in your life.

I've crossed the Mississippi in many spots, up river in Galena, further in Minnesota, St. Louis & Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and near New Orleans. It never ceases to fascinate me.

Here's the Mississippi and Savanna, Illinois seen from the west bank in Iowa.

Sunday Drive - Part 13

Sat, May 1, 04 at 10:04

It's time to head back across the Mississippi. The thought of crossing the bridge again makes my stomach start to churn. There's not anything in this world that acutally frightens me except bridges spanning large bodies of water.

I was in Florida the year that a ship hit the supports of the bridge crossing Tampa bay. Many motorists drove off the apex of the bridge to their deaths in the dark. It's an event that fostered many nightmares.

This bridge is old and what I would refer to as creepy. It's extremely narrow, there's no pedestrian walkway, and the roadbed is not solid, but metal grates that chatter as you drive over them.

I don't even entertain the thought of glancing out the window because I know the swift current of the Mississippi will be visible through the grates. Modern construction engineers know how to give you a sense of security. The interstate bridge crossing just south of St. Louis is wide and substantial.

As I reach the Illinois side of the river, I must decide whether to turn left and head up to Galena, Illinois (home of Ulysses S. Grant) or turn right and return via the same route. Not being sure how long the return trip would be through Galena, I turn right and head back.

Besides, there's something I need to do in Sycamore.

The Blue Bridge

Sunday Drive - Part 14

Sat, May 1, 04 at 10:18

The ride home gives me time to take in some of the sights again, especially the tree arbor and some of the beautiful and lonely side roads.

When I woke up this morning it was so dreary, and the idea of driving out to the Mississippi just popped into my head. Something I learned a long time ago was to be able to be spontaneous, and although that means laundry doesn't get done, it's served me well.

My wonderful stepfather rarely traveled interstates. He used to say, "There's nothing much interesing to see, and besides there's no place where you can get a nice piece of pie." Traveling with him was sometimes a challenge because we would have to stop regularly for pie.

You've been wonderful traveling companions, not once did anyone stand up in the back seat and say, "Are we there yet?".

As a treat we're going to stop back at the Dari Ripple, where a fresh crop of high school students work their first job. I told this young girl to smile for the camera, that I was working on a photo journal, to which she nervously giggled and replied, "Oh, yeah....OK.."

Turtle sundae at Dari Ripple.

Thank you for a wonderful series Suzanne!


Photos Sunday Drive Part One Posted by Suzanne - z5 IL (My Page) on Sun, Apr 25, 04 at 18:40 Back in the '50's and early '60's there was a great family outing called the Sunday drive. It seems to have disappeared as people found themselves stuck in a car for long commutes. Back then families only owned one car, and mom and the kids were stuck at home all week while the auto and dad were at work. Saturday was for running errands and grocery shopping, but Sunday was for driving through the countryside. Sometimes we would have a destination, and sometimes we would just follow the road. Mom would pack a lunch, or we'd decide to stop at one of the many roadside bar-b-que stands that dotted the countryside. We'd head up towards Wisconsin, traveling along the Fox River. In those days there were lots of roadside rest stops and picnic areas. Mr. Suzanne has been busy with commitments, and yesterday had the chance to attend the Chicago Bears draft pick. That meant I spent my day at a family function with my mother-in-law. Today he had his weekly golf game and I was determined that my day would not be spent hanging out with his mother. So early this morning I gassed up the car and took a Sunday drive, heading west on Route 64. I didn't have a map, but decided to just drive west, keeping in mind that I needed to be prepared for the same distance back. I invite you to come along on my Sunday drive. There's lots of interesting things to see. There is a destination, but I'll let that be a surprise. First we need to gas up the car, and it's $1.86 a gallon. This station is the only thing for miles around, and even though the ownership has been changed many times, it's still known to locals as "Pride Pantry". This was in the day when they flew a huge American flag at the corner where these people are standing. Last Sunday was very warm, and all the bikers were out in force. It's very, very cool today, but bike season has begun and they don't let a little chill or rain keep them off the road. These people were assessing the weather in each direction, deciding which way they would travel. We're going to head west from here. Bikers at Pride Pantry Sunday Drive - Part 2 Sun, Apr 25, 04 at 21:15 We've got a long way to travel, so we better get going. Heading west on Route 64 we'll pass through Maple Park. We won't consider that the next town, because there's nothing there but vet clinic, a catholic church and a beauty parlor. Next stop is Sycamore, Illinois, home of the world famous Pumpkin Fest. Bob Jo's Speedway is on the right. If you pick up an old beater and knock the windows out, you can race on a Saturday night. They sell racing fuel back at Pride. It's $3.94 a gallon, and once I pumped it by mistake into the Chevy S10. That mistake cost me a fortune, but it didn't make the truck go any faster. Evergreen Village trailer park is just on the edge of town. It's an old park and I always wonder about the people living year round in small travel trailers. Beyond that is the driving range and miniature golf course. This year the owner has purchase an old Chrysler mini-van and parked it out in the middle of the field. You can buy a bucket of balls and try to hit the van. Next is a testament to the fact that drive-ins are alive and well in small town America. Dari-Ripple is my favorite ice cream place, and there are tables out back where you can sit under the trees and watch the corn grow in the nearby field. It's very early and they're not open yet. Maybe on the way back we'll stop for their specialty - a Turtle sundae with those salty pecans and real whipped cream. We'll continue our journey tomorrow. For now, here's the Dari Ripple. Sunday Drive - Part 3 Mon, Apr 26, 04 at 21:14 We're entering Sycamore, which is a typical midwest town. The beautiful, old county court house stands in the middle of town. The carvings adorning the building are superb, and the entire structure is testatment to a quality of construction and craftmanship that is long gone. The library, constructed of dramatic red stone stands opposite the courthouse. Small storefronts line the street, and the businesses include a bar & grill, an antique shop, a jewelry store and a Ben Franklin, which is the only 5 and dime store that I know of left in Northern Illinois. The town movie theater, "The State" is holding it's own and still shows first run movies. As you head out of town there's a small stream on the north side of the road. The large concrete pillars stand alone in the streambed. They once supported the rail line that ran to the west. The old rail bed leads toward our next destination - Oregon, Illinois. There are some interesting things to see along the way. Here's a photo to show the stonework detail on the DeKalb County Courthouse. I'll post a picture of the roof of the library at the Gallery. It's so spectacular, you must check it out! DeKalb County Courthouse Sunday Drive - Part 4 Mon, Apr 26, 04 at 22:20 It's 34 miles to Oregon, Illinois. This area of northern Illinois is flat, flat, flat, and could rival Montana for the title of big sky country. You can see from horizon to horizon in every direction, with nothing to block your view. Farmhouses and barns are spaced a couple miles apart, and road are arranged in a grid pattern. Halfway to Oregon, the land falls away to the west, forming a low plateau. As you come up over a small rise at the edge of the plateau you're presented with a fantastic view that I call "The Big Valley". It's become a joke, and if we're riding as a family we all say in unison...THE BIG VALLEY. The road curves sharply to the right and then to the left. A small country road continues north while Route 64 turns to the west again. A road sign points north to Esmond, 2 miles away. I've often wondered about Esmond and the small antique store that posts it's sign by the roadway. This trip isn't about getting anywhere on time, so we're going to take the country road north. Small farms line the road and before I realize it, I've passed Esmond. I turn back and turn left, finding myself in front of the curious building housing the antique store. It's a flatiron type building, surround by small homes and a large grain elevator. Nothing gives me a clue as to it's original use. Outside there's all kinds of "stuff", including a rusted garden arbor with built in benches. It's good thing that they don't open until 12 noon, because I might be tempted. The air is cool and it's so quiet. There can't be more than 40 people living in this small community, and the sound of the birds and the wind blowing through the trees sounds like music to my ears. We're going to head out again. There's something really great I spotted on the way in. If the birds and wind are music to the ears, this is will be music to the eyes and nose! Esmond Antiques Sundary Drive - Part 5 Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 7:54 Dairy farms are everywhere in nearby Wisconsin, but in northern Illinois they've all but disappeared. As I drive back towards Route 64 there's a farm that keeps dairy cows. It's not a large herd, just a few cows, so it's not clear if he's selling the milk to a dairy. The weather was turning, and it started to drizzle. The picture was taken from the car window. The farmer might have gotten a good laugh out of a city slicker standing in the rain to take pictures of his cows, but my thought was to be unobtrusive on a Sunday morning. It's at this point, with the window open that I get a big whiff of cow manure. Having spent time staying with friends on dairy farm as a child, it's a familiar odor. Cow manure is #1 on my list of farm waste...horse manure would be second (slightly different)... but hog waste is a blight on humanity. When passing a hog farm all windows must be tightly shut, with your shirt pulled up over your nose. The Bovine Sisters Sunday Drive - Part 6 Posted by Suzanne_IL z5 IL (My Page) on Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 22:27 One of my favorite forums at the Garden Web (other than the GP) is Farm Life. I really love reading their journal entries and enjoy it even though I don't have a clue what they're talking about sometimes. Broody hens for example. It seems to me that they are the kind of people that love a more solitary life. They sure aren't afraid of hard physical work, and if you live on a farm your wouldn't need a membership to a health club. It would be an attractive proposition to be your own boss and work close to nature. I love driving my garden tractor and can imagine how it would be to ride over a thousand acres on a real rig. We drifted apart from our childhood friends who lived on the dairy farm, so I never had the chance to ask the kids what it was like to grow up in such a rural place. This is a typical scene between Sycamore and Oregon. Country road...... Sunday Drive - Part 7 Tue, Apr 27, 04 at 22:43 Just outside the little community of Kings, is the loneliest little cemetery. I've always thought it would make the most dramatic photograph. This little cemetery lies just to the north of Route 64, at the edge of a cornfield. There's no fence and the farm carefully plows around the small space. In wintertime it seems all the more desolate and lonely. There's a small sign and a smooth granite marker to denote the spot where a Revolutionary war veteran is buried. All total there are perhaps a dozen graves, none recent. It makes you wonder what the countryside was like when these folks were laid to rest. The field and small path are very muddy, and a corncob serves as a scraper before I climb back in the car. Here's the cemetery outside Kings, Illinois. Lonely Resting Place Sunday Drive - Part 8 Wed, Apr 28, 04 at 21:54 The green sign on Route 64 points north and says, "Church Camp". This is where I turn to get to Brick Road, it's about a mile down the road. We turn left and another mile takes us to the place where my sister owned and operated an herb farm. The herbs are gone and the new owners don't seem to be gardeners. The only thing thriving are hundreds of hosta, split and moved by my sister from a single plant. They've not kept up her tradition of mowing a meditation path through the tall prairie grass. Another quarter mile takes us to a spot where rural and modern life clash in a dramatic visual. In the middle of the grain fields lies the Byron Nuclear power plant. Nobody wants these type of structures in their backyard, and especially this week as we are reminded of the disaster at Chernobyl. But we all need power and they must stand somewhere. It's possible to drive right in front of the towers, but I imagine that after 9-11 they wouldn't be too thrilled about a hobbyist photographer snapping up close and personal shots. When pass by the towers you are struck by the silence, and the visual of water gently pouring down the lower part of the concrete structure. I suppose this is part of a cooling process, but it resembles a new age tranquility water feature. My son has always joked that this is where the glowing three-eyed fish cross the road in the middle of the night. John is getting anxious to see Oregon, so we must move on. Home of the three-eyed fish Sunday Drive - Part 9 Wed, Apr 28, 04 at 22:08 Very seldom will you see a historical marker alongside an interstate, but they dot the rural countryside. There must be a master listing somewhere of all the markers in Illinois. I have encountered three on this drive and there are many more. Some are located in such out of the way spots, on seldom traveled roads, and only the locals see them. One such marker stands a little further on Brick Road, which by the way, is only about 3 miles in it's entire length. The marker reads, "The Brick Road - Built on the old Chicago & Iowa trail, this road was the first paved road in Northern Illinois. Begun in 1914, it was dedicated on August 24, 1915. One lane of fired bricks was put in the north lane, a dirt track in the south lane, 1 and 5/8 mile long." Everything else has been paved over. This is all that remains of the historic brick road. Follow the Old Brick Road Sunday Drive - Part 10 Posted by Suzanne_IL z5 IL (My Page) on Thu, Apr 29, 04 at 19:21 About 5 miles outside of Oregon, the topography changes from flat farmland to rolling hills. We are approaching the Rock River Valley. There's a statue of an indian that stands along the river, and is visible from the road that snakes up the west bank. I drive across the bridge and past the long low head dam and drive up the western bank. About a mile up the road I spot the statue. It's quite impressive standing alone on the 200 ft. bluff overlooking the river, especially at night when it is illuminated. I wondered if it was possible to get to the up close to the statue, so I drive back across the river and up the eastern bank. The statue stands in Lowden State Park, which was once a retreat for artists. Now it serves as a campground, picnic area and a small road winds back to the spot where the statue stands. In 1907, one of the artists, Loredo Taft, teamed up with a German sculptor and built the statue. It's formed of concrete, and unfortunately doesn't seem quite as impressive up close as it does from the far bank. Time has taken it's toll on the material. This area was heavily involved in the Blackhawk Indian Wars of 1832. Most of the indians were removed to Iowa, but Chief Blackhawk refused to leave and traveled up and down the Rock River Valley trying to gather support. Eventually the Chief was removed to the reservation. Chief Blackhawk looks to the west, from the bluff over the Rock River. Sunday Drive - Part 11 Thu, Apr 29, 04 at 19:34 Breafast this morning was a piece of toast and a cup of coffee, and now I'm getting hungry. I drive back across the bridge and past Jay's Drive-In. There's a McDonald's a couple of blocks away but I opt for a cafe on one of the side streets. This is only a block from the courthouse square. Two scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, hash browns and a cup of coffee is just a little over $4.00. As I sit and enjoy the farm fresh eggs I look out over the town. The big box stores are quite a distance from here, so the local shops make a modest living. It's certainly not enough revenue to allow them to refurbish the downtown, and they haven't gotten federal grants for that purpose, so the place looks a bit seedier than Sycamore. It seems to me the folks around here believe in the old adage, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without". And that's not a bad thing. The tiny movie theater closed years ago. Another business moved into it's spot, and this businessman saw no need to tear down the marquise and put up a new sign. He just used what was there. Bob's TV and Appliance. Sunday Drive - Part 12 Fri, Apr 30, 04 at 19:15 The morning started out dreary and overcast, and it's drizzled all day. Traveling west from Oregon, it starts to rain in earnest. For a moment I entertain the idea of turning around and heading home. It's doubtful I'll get any photographs in this weather. All that waits at home is laundry, so I figure what the heck, I might as well keep driving. A quick check of the trunk after breakfast revealed that I'd left the atlas at home, so I'm not sure how far it is to the destination I had in mind. I pass through Mt. Morris and at this point it becomes apparent that this is serious grain farming territory. The farmhouses are many miles apart, and I drive long distances without seeing another car. At the top of a rise I spot a fantastic sight, two large trees that form an arbor over the road. There's an auction in progress at the intersection in Mt. Carroll, but it's probably just farm equipment, so I drive on. The next small town is Lanark and beyond that Savanna, Illinois. Here lies what I was looking for - the mighty Mississippi! This river holds a special place in my heart and mind. Many hours were spent reading Mark Twains adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. It seemed a bright spot to a child to imagine that you could run away and have adventures out of the control of the adults in your life. I've crossed the Mississippi in many spots, up river in Galena, further in Minnesota, St. Louis & Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and near New Orleans. It never ceases to fascinate me. Here's the Mississippi and Savanna, Illinois seen from the west bank in Iowa. Sunday Drive - Part 13 Sat, May 1, 04 at 10:04 It's time to head back across the Mississippi. The thought of crossing the bridge again makes my stomach start to churn. There's not anything in this world that acutally frightens me except bridges spanning large bodies of water. I was in Florida the year that a ship hit the supports of the bridge crossing Tampa bay. Many motorists drove off the apex of the bridge to their deaths in the dark. It's an event that fostered many nightmares. This bridge is old and what I would refer to as creepy. It's extremely narrow, there's no pedestrian walkway, and the roadbed is not solid, but metal grates that chatter as you drive over them. I don't even entertain the thought of glancing out the window because I know the swift current of the Mississippi will be visible through the grates. Modern construction engineers know how to give you a sense of security. The interstate bridge crossing just south of St. Louis is wide and substantial. As I reach the Illinois side of the river, I must decide whether to turn left and head up to Galena, Illinois (home of Ulysses S. Grant) or turn right and return via the same route. Not being sure how long the return trip would be through Galena, I turn right and head back. Besides, there's something I need to do in Sycamore. The Blue Bridge Sunday Drive - Part 14 Sat, May 1, 04 at 10:18 The ride home gives me time to take in some of the sights again, especially the tree arbor and some of the beautiful and lonely side roads. When I woke up this morning it was so dreary, and the idea of driving out to the Mississippi just popped into my head. Something I learned a long time ago was to be able to be spontaneous, and although that means laundry doesn't get done, it's served me well. My wonderful stepfather rarely traveled interstates. He used to say, "There's nothing much interesing to see, and besides there's no place where you can get a nice piece of pie." Traveling with him was sometimes a challenge because we would have to stop regularly for pie. You've been wonderful traveling companions, not once did anyone stand up in the back seat and say, "Are we there yet?". As a treat we're going to stop back at the Dari Ripple, where a fresh crop of high school students work their first job. I told this young girl to smile for the camera, that I was working on a photo journal, to which she nervously giggled and replied, "Oh, yeah....OK.." Turtle sundae at Dari Ripple. Thank you for a wonderful series Suzanne!