need to get out on the road!!!

galla4 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 07:35 PM

Looking for a new good route no more than 2 hours out (and no more than that on the return) of town that provides a good non-expressway drive (for a majority of the trip). If there's an establishment that could provide a cool beverage of choice as well along the way, that would be good. Not sure when Peg and I want to go, but all we know is we want to be out in the car this weekend (jeesh, we are sounding like empty-nesters, we are!!). Surely there must be some good (& specific) route to follow that you could recommend. How was the back road route to Madison? Hey Sid, what was that route? Thanks.

tim

Lowell W · #2 (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 09:21 PM

Take 38 or 72 or 64 west from Chicago for a couple of hours and then take one of the other routes back. Or...take Rt. 66 to Pontiac and then take 23 north and any of the above routes back to Chicago. I'd be glad to meet you folks along the way but I'm working this weekend and can't leave town.

Lowell

RedSnake351 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 11:18 PM

Tim, taking Lowell's suggestion, a brunch or lunch stop at White Pines State Park would be a good destination. On the way out take Rt. 64 through Oregon then head west another 10 miles or so to the park. There are a number of small towns to stop and some may have some kind of festival going on.
I'll look into taking a ride out that way this weekend and will check if there is anything going on for the holiday.
Lowell, can you check your newspaper see if there are festivals in your area and let us know?
Ralph

Lowell W · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 06:45 AM

Ralph,

Ubetcha, Buddy. I'll take a look and see what's going on. Maybe you should troll through Algonquin on the way out...

Lowell

CHRIS DAMSCH · #5 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 07:13 AM

Hey Lowell,

When fall arrives, Sid and I are planning a trip down RT. 2 to Sterling. Or start in Sterling and take the ride back up north. Or go both ways (like Sid).

Have you taken Rt. 2 up and down? It looks like it runs right along the river the whole way.

Lowell W · #6 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 03:01 PM

Chris,

Yeah, I've taken Rt. 2 from Lyndon or thereabouts to Rockford. The nicest part is between Dixon and Rockford and it does parallel the Rock River most of that distance. Very pretty during the day; lots of deer and drunks after dark. A friend of ours works in the Dixon hospital ER and she won't drive Rt. 2at night.

Sid...is that really true?

Lowell

hot427cobra · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 03:51 PM

Who is going out for a drive this weekend and where? The weather looks to be outstanding.

Mark

galla4 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 05:10 PM

We are thinking about hitting the road on Sunday and will try one of the recommended routes, not sure though we can't keep up with those big blocks - but we're game!

tim

Bob Malmen · #9 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 07:24 AM

Im looking to burn some fuel, if anyone's running count me in!

Poolw · #10 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 08:13 AM

We maybe able to do Saturday, but Sunday and Monday are planned with family.

I thought the run we did last year for the October Fest would be a fun trip again. We could start off at around 9 - 9:30 and have lunch in Woodstock and return.

galla4 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 01:43 PM

We're going to try the State Park run, never been there before. We'll head out Sunday 9-9:30A from Schaumburg. If any others want to hook up, let me know. Everyone, have a safe and fun holiday weekend.

tim

RedSnake351 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 11:59 PM

Tim, I will try to make it this Sunday, if at all possible. Here is the site for the restaurant at the Park:
http://www.whitepinesinn.com/content/view/48/29/

It's too bad that they won't start serving their Family Style BBQ until 3pm.:
http://www.whitepinesinn.com/compone...te,1188716400/

There is also another excellent restaurant overlooking the Rock River just slightly north Oregon, on Hwy. 2. :
http://www.maxsonrestaurant.com/
Ralph

Lowell W · #13 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 08:39 AM

Ralph, et al.,

Well, I checked all the small towns around here and can't find any special events. There are local AA meetings and a Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting which may be of interest to some of you and you know who you are... There's a storytelling festival here in Sterling but that wouldn't be anything new for some of you guys! But most of the special events are either behind us by a week or two, or starting on Sept 8th.

You may want to consider taking Rt 38 west from Chicago to Dixon, then go north on Rt 2. Rt 2 is mostly west of the river, so by the time you get there, you shouldn't have to look into the sun to see the river scenery. Grand Detour, with the John Deere Homestead, is just north of Dixon. The grounds are probably open, but I don't think there are any special events planned. If you want to stop at White Pines, it's about a 10 mile detour west off Rt 2, otherwise continue north, have dinner at Maxon's on the river and then decide how much of a hurry you're in to get home. You could take I 90 from Rockford, continue north on 20 and 251 to 173 and take the long way home through some of the same area we covered last fall, or take 72 home through Chris's neighborhood. I take 173 east from 23 a lot when I go up to southeastern WI. It has some long straight sections, goes through a few little towns and also has some scenic areas with some curves here and there. 173 will get you farther east without running into traffic than any of the other E-W roads, but then you'll be way north of Chicago...maybe take 12 southeast back into the city.

Whatever you guys do, be careful!! There'll be lots of cars and cops out and it will be easy to get into trouble.

Have a safe drive; wish I could go along,

Lowell

RedSnake351 · #14 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowell W

Ralph, et al.,

...Whatever you guys do, be careful!! There'll be lots of cars and cops out and it will be easy to get into trouble.
... wish I could go along,
Lowell

Lowell, let me assure you, as long as you're not coming along there won't be any trouble!

Thanks for the information, Lowell.
Ralph

Lowell W · #15 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 01:11 PM

Lowell

hot427cobra · #16 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 01:03 AM

Well it is 2:00am and we just got home from partying. I don't think we will make it without a wake up call. Have fun and drive safely.

Mark

PS: Laura already lit it up.

Blas · #17 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 10:05 AM

I drove by the house, saw no activity, and went for coffee....Maybe I missed the plan....Next time...

galla4 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 02:25 PM

Blas: I heard you go down the street, I ran down and opened the garage door and you were gone! I wasn't sure if you were going or just terrorizing the 'hood. Peg and I hung around until almost 10 and then took off.

The run was fun, I think I need a putty knife to scrape off all the bugs - jeesh! Speaking of bugs, my recommendation - don't stop long to admire the Rock River after a month of rain - the skeeters are huge and numerous - I had to hit one with a tire iron as he tried to suck the life out of the Cobra.

Thanks for all the pointers. Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.

tim

P.S.: I need a lesson on rev limiters - anyone know when it kicks in on a 5.0L? I figured I hit it at least twice but I wasn't watching the tach.

RedSnake351 · #19 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 07:55 PM

Tim, I did a 200 mile round trip out west also but didn't leave the house till 1 pm. I decided to make a surprise visit to Lowell's place out in Sterling.
What a surprise, after driving a hundred miles, nobody home!

I stuck around about 20 minutes and started towards Oregon when about a half mile away from his house I spotted Lowell and his family going towards his house, he also saw me and pulled over and was definitely surprised.
Anyway I spent about an hour with him sitting in his garage shooting the bull and drinking diet Pepsi. (No alcohol, Blas!)
On the way back ended up going north on Rt 2 going through Oregon, through Byron and then Rt.72 east. I j just came in from the garage after 20 minutes of cleaning my windshield.
You can't appreciate the long drive Lowell has to make to see us in our local area till you tale that long drive by yourself in a Cobra. He must really love us to go that distance!

Now for the next trip to see the distance Eric in Bloomington has to drive!

Car show in St. Charles on Labor Day!

More info to follow!

Ralph