On My (Our) Way

Opening words to a Porgy & Bess Operetta song by George and Ira Gershwin as Porgy, riding in his goat pulled cart, starts off for New York City to find Bess who has gone to seek her fortune.

Instead of heading North as Porgy did, Kathy and I are headed West. We met Andre & Sarah on the South side of Chicago to transfer cat & car, and then began our journey in earnest heading Southwest on Interstate 55. Interstate 55 follows the reminants of US route 66, a roadway in legend and lore, from Los Anglos California, following a Southern course, to Chicago Illinois via St. Louis Misouri. No longer a designated highway, one has to watch for the "Historic Route 66" markers but soon we were able to travel both I 55 and US 66, the Interstate overlaying the original route, diverging at times, getting back together for another high speed run. Sustained headwinds of 25 to 30 MPH, gusting to 40 and 45 MPH profoundly impacted our gas milage (13.5 down to 9.5) so we pulled into gas stations often onto Historic Route 66. Our first night we spent in a clump of trees upon a flat land of knee high corn, "Camp-a-While" RV site of 2 acres, 15 RV's mostly permanently situated, and self-serve. Put cash or personel check in an envelope with your name and address on it, put the envelope in the locked mail box with the red flag up, and plug in your electricity. We were helped in this process by a permanent resident who proceeded to tell us about the expected 50 MPH winds predicted for the night. He also was a long term aficenato of Historic Route 66, giving us information and recommendations for our next segment of travel. We parked Rudy, plugged in the electricity, opened all the windows, roof vents and door, listened to the wind in the trees, and fell asleep. Up in the morning, all possessions intact, stopping at the Lincoln Illinois Welcome center, to find a non-fast food breakfast resturant in town, and so we did. The head of the local Chamber of Commerce guided us to Arcade Cafe, open from 6 AM to 2PM, cash and local personal check only. More information on Route 66, the 167 mile garage sale this coming weekend, and the "must see" attractions in Springfield Illinois. The Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library provide insite into pre presidency life and times, and the difficult Civil War times. Striking were the cartoons and charactures of Lincoln from the War's beginnings, holding him personally responsible for the mounting casulties, criticism that he was not doing enought, too much. The Emancipation Proclamation was characterized by abolitionists as a political "trick". The Lincoln Museum presents the context of the Proclamation, New York Times editorials; personal comments: "its not what he says, but what he will do"; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Taney, "Negros are property not people". Not until after Lee's surrender at Appomatix Summer 1864 and the 13th Amendment to our Constitution in January 1865 did the person vs property issue get settled and became the law of the land. Very moving experience for Kathy and I. Continuing our Route 66 nostalgic encounter, we stopped at Cozy Dog, the site of the original Corn Dog, a legacy of a 1942 GI cook's attempt at adding variety to the "dog face's" menu, a hot dog on a stick, dipped in a corn meal batter, deep fried. KK and I shared one. Mid afternoon we left the Illinois State Capital and continued our Journey to St. Louis, then onto Columbia Missouri and beyond. At the Arrow Rock State Historical Site, some 13 miles North of Interstate 80, we pulled in for our campground night's stay. Again, self serve, although a little while later the campground Host, baseball cap bedecked, riding a green golf cart, registered us, took our $14 cash, and then informed us about the impending weather: "Tornado Watch from now until 4 AM; severe thunderstorms and large hail possible. The fire department will come and warn us if there is a Tornado Warning, then we should drive to the Visitor's center an 1/8th of a mile down the road for protection. If there is not time, go into the Shower stalls and wait out the storm." The night was hot (95 degrees) and humid. The wind was still blowing at 25 to 30 MPH, the darkening sky with lightning bolts was to our West and North. Try as we might, we could not get to sleep until turning on the air conditioning, cooling Rudy and ourselves. By 6 AM, we had a cold front in our area, (low 50's) I shut off the air conditioning, opened the windows, doors and roof vents, and we slept until 8:30 or so. Bright sunny day, cloudless, gentle breeze, we pack up and head out on a two lane windy road, more or less headed to Kansas City. Eventually we met up with I 80 and proceeded more directly to our later that day destination, Hesston Kansas. We arrived in the early afternoon, proclaiming to all who would listen, that we had brought the fair weather (70's), breezy; Kansas at this time, lush green. JD and Vilma's Wedding Reception, State's side, began with a slow accumulation of guests, from around USA, munchies and beer, culminating in a champaign toast, and, as Leah would say,"burgers on the barbie". Late night for us, we slept in a local hotel arising somewhat before the sun had reached its zenith. Today is casual until late afternoon, then a more formal get together. Tomorrow, Sunday, up early, a chinese firedrill of people coming and going back home, we are headed first to Laramie WY at 8600 feet elevation. Monday, onto Mountain House Idaho 630 miles further, then, onto Vancouver Tuesday. Wednesday is a allow-for-delays and schedule changes. We leave Thursday, 11:30 AM, Air North, for Whitehorse, North West Territories (NWT).